Wizard World Con: A Fan’s Perspective

When I saw the incredible lineup Wizard World Comic Con was presenting at its Philadelphia stop, I knew I couldn’t miss out on the chance to meet some of my favorite actors in the Marvel cinematic universe! So I began to budget as best as I could and hoped for the best.

I have been to other conventions before – such as New York Comic Con and conventions specific to the shows/movies I love – but I knew this one was going to be massive. Thanks to someone’s unbelievable generosity, I was given the Avengers Platinum VIP ticket package free of charge! After buying the few extras I could beforehand, I was all set for an unforgettable weekend. 

Day 1

I got there bright and early Saturday morning to secure a seat to the Captain America panel, which consisted of Chris Evans, Sebastian Stan and Anthony Mackie. I managed to snag a third row seat and took some fantastic pictures throughout the panel. The guys were funny, charming and sincere and looked to be having the time of their lives. Sebastian was even given plums by the host of the panel since Bucky never got to have his! Overall the panel was a real delight and set the tone for the day.

After that, I killed time looking at all the amazing art provided by the vendors before I got in line for the Thor panel. I was able to obtain a great seat for that one as well, only a few rows back. Both Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston were absolutely charming and very endearingly answered fan questions. Hiddleston even teased Hemsworth about how big his biceps were and you could tell how much love and appreciation they have for one another.

Next up was Anthony Mackie’s autograph booth, which I waited an hour and a half in line for. Mackie was a real bundle of joy and we joked about how much we love Hemsworth’s hair. I was amazed by how bubbly Mackie is and how he took his time with each fan, making sure they had a great experience at his booth. Even his handler was very friendly.

I spent the rest of Saturday browsing the rest of the convention and hanging out with friends, since everything else I purchased took place on Sunday.

Day 2

Once again, I was up before dawn to get in line for another day full of my favorite Marvel cast members. First up was Sebastian Stan’s autograph booth.

Thanks to arriving so early and my friends needing to catch a flight, I only waited about an hour. I would have gladly waited longer considering what a real joy Stan to be around. He’s unbelievably charming and he clearly cares A LOT about his fans (his booth was the only one we were allowed to take pictures at). We chatted about his time at the convention and he even gave me a hug. He was one of the people I was looking forward to meeting the most and he did not disappoint.

Naturally after Stan I was headed to Chris Evans’ autograph booth – can’t separate Stucky! – where I waited about thirty minutes in line for thanks to the VIP pass. He was very kind and made sure I was happy with my autograph. I shook his hand and thanked him for coming, then I was off the wait in the insanely long lines for my photo ops.

Unfortunately, the photo op area was the biggest mess at the convention. Every single photo op was pushed back and I ended up waiting hours for each photo op. The photographers were rushing through each photo and herding people in like cattle, it was immediately clear that Wizard World sold far too many photo op tickets/VIP ticket packages. While I wasn’t terribly fond of my photos – minus my Sebastian one since I got to him early in the day before things got out of hand – I felt sorry for the guests who were visibly exhausted from taking so many photos. I think in the future Wizard World should put a limit on the amount of photo ops/autographs they sell that’s a bit more reasonable.

I also rushed over to get my Chris Hemsworth and Tom Hiddleston autographs since my friend informed me they both had to leave the convention soon for their flights (Hiddleston ended up staying since his line was so long and he didn’t want to disappoint his fans). Hemsworth was so friendly and attentive, despite his autograph signing being so rushed. I shook his hand and thanked him for coming, to which he said he thoroughly enjoyed meeting his fans. Hiddleston was a ball of energy beaming from ear to ear, and insisted on chatting with me for a moment even with his line being so long.

Weekend Review 

Overall, it was a good experience for me. I got the chance to meet the actors I admire and they were even lovelier than I imagined! I just wish the convention was more organized and the staff were well informed, as well as the photographers taking a bit more time to make sure the photos turned out properly. Unfortunately, some attendees photos were blurry, lopsided or dark and they didn’t offer many reshoots or refunds. I’m grateful I had this opportunity and that the guests made the trip to Philadelphia, I just hope Wizard World is better equipped to handle that many high profile celebrities in the future.

Photo Credit: Wizard World