Today, Comic-Con International (“CCI”) posted its guidelines for lining up for Hall H at San Diego Comic-Con 2019, which contained basically the same information they provide every year about what you can and can’t bring into line with you, and where you can use the restroom in the middle of the night. Also included in the article was CCI’s policy regarding the Hall H “Toucan Tracker” wristbands. The procedure seems to be mostly the same as last year, in that wristbands for each day are distributed the night before. However, we are currently missing some crucial information: (1) the location of the Next Day Line (“NDL”) — where the wristbands will be handed out — and (2) the times that the wristbands will begin distribution each day.
This year will be the sixth year that CCI has implemented a wristband system for lining up for Hall H at SDCC, having started doing so in 2014. The rules and details have changed slightly from year to year, but ultimately, it is meant as a marker to indicate how likely you are to make it into Hall H for the first panel of each day. (Remember, Hall H does NOT clear the room between panels, so people can and will sit in the room for the entire day.) Typically what happens is that you will be given a color coded wristband with the letter A, B, C, or D, with each letter indicating approximately 1/4 of the room’s capacity. So if you get an A wristband, you know you’ll be in the first 1/4 of people who get into the room, and likely get a close seat, whereas if you get a D wristband, you’ll be among the last 1/4 of attendees let in, and be at the back of the room.
A new element that began last year is that once you receive your wristband, a staff member will scan your badge. Then when you enter Hall H the next day, you’ll need to not only show your wristband, but also scan your badge. So if you passed your wristband off to someone else, or if someone is using a counterfeit wristband, they won’t be able to get in because their badge was not scanned to indicate that they received a wristband.
Backing up to the moment after you receive your wristband and have your badge scanned, you can either 1) stay in line, 2) have someone from your party stay in line and then you can come back and meet up with them later (before 7:30am the next day), or 3) your entire party can leave and will be allowed to return to the end of the wristband line as long as you return before 7:30am. Which means that if you only care about being in the room, rather than having a close spot, you can actually sleep in your nice, comfy hotel bed, rather than on concrete!
In the past (except for Wednesday night, when Thursday wristbands were given out in the general Hall H line in Plaza Park), wristbands were handed out at the Next Day Line (“NDL”), which previously was located behind the convention center. However, according to the Toucan Blog, the location of the NDL will change this year. It doesn’t indicate where yet, though.
Additionally, we are usually given the wristband distribution start times in advance, but we don’t have those (yet?) either. The Toucan Blog says you’ll be able to find information on “how to get [the wristbands] and where to line up” in the Quick Guide publication that you can get when you pick up your bags, books, and lanyards at the Sails Pavilion upon arrival at SDCC. However, the Quick Guide is also typically available online a few days before SDCC, so we likely won’t need to wait until we get there to find out the info. It remains unclear if the distribution times will in fact be announced in advance in that Quick Guide. For reference, last year’s distribution times varied between 7:45pm and 9:15pm, depending on the night.
Like last year, you may save space in line for no more than 5 people, whether you’re in line waiting for a wristband, or already have a wristband. Anyone you save a spot for must have the correct color wristband — so someone with a D wristband wouldn’t be able to move up in line to join someone with an A wristband. (However, someone with an A wristband would be able to go further back in line to join someone with a D wristband.)
[7/12/19 UPDATE] The SDCC 2019 Quick Guide is now available online, and has revealed the location of the NDL as well as wristband distribution times. In the past, the NDL started at the back of the lawn behind the convention center (next to where the Adult Swim offsite is usually located), closer to Hilton Bayfront. It is still behind the convention center, but now begins further North, on the other side of Marina Park Way, next to the stairs behind the convention center, closer to the Marriott.
The wristband distribution times and locations are as follows:
Wednesday, July 17 (for Thursday Hall H panels): 8:00pm in the general Hall H line in Plaza Park
Thursday, July 18 (for Friday Hall H panels): 6:15pm at the front of the NDL
Friday, July 19 (for Saturday Hall H panels): 8:45pm at the front of the NDL
Saturday, July 20 (for Sunday Hall H panels): 9:30pm at the front of the NDL
You can read more information on the Toucan Blog.
