Botcon have posted information on their Frank Welker VIP package. The event will be an extra $200 on top of the as-yet unrevealed cost of a Primus Package / Golden Ticket, and will only be open to members of the Transformers Collectors Club.
What it gives those participating is an autograph and photo opportunity with Frank Welker, plus an exclusive art print and a pin of Megatron. It also guarantees seating at Frank Welker’s panel.
For full details, check out the official Botcon homepage.
allew
It would have been nice to see something different than the usual Megatrons or Soundwaves but since you can't do it the challenge is still on! Let's see which brave soul gets Mr. Welker to drop some rhymes on their carded Wheelie!
xZAOx
Couldn't agree more there.
Shin-Gouki
Again though it comes down to me not wanting to give them any more than I have to, and the toys have been lacking in recent years in my eyes anyway.
xZAOx
You won't miss out on extras. It has been *several* years since stuff was sold out on Friday morning. They have mentioned they were cutting back on addon amounts this year though, after 2013 and 2014 where the only addon that sold out was the rainmakers on Saturday.
All that said – they limit (or are supposed to) the amount people can buy, so that there is no risk of it selling out until general admission on Saturday, where the limits are removed. You're totally fine to just wait until Friday morning (like me!) and get it then, if you do decide to do Primus again some time.
Watch them botch the numbers and make me a liar this year, hah.
Bed Bugs
I'm kind of curious what will be the final tally as far as Megatrons vs. Soundwaves vs. Everyone else that get signed.
Shin-Gouki
No I was not mad at you at all. If I am going to miss out on getting extras by doing that I am not going to give people that insulted me a cent more than I have to and I'll go Gen Admin like I said before.
xZAOx
Calm down, friend! I'm just trying to see both sides of the situation.
I think the best advice was already given – don't stand in the Thursday line. Just show up Friday and walk right in. Hell, it's what I do, and I don't have any disabilities.
Edit: FWIW, I'm not saying FP shouldn't make concessions for you. I'm just saying it's an easier problem to avoid than to get FP to change their policies, most likely. Remember how much persuasion it took us to get them to drop the fax machine? Hah.
cobra zartan
Totally would as wheelie is my fav character but I can't make it this year
Shin-Gouki
Sorry, I was referring to xZAOx saying FP thinking I was "Faking it"
flux convoy
I think we were all fairly sympathetic to your story. No need for that.
Shin-Gouki
Well I could pull up the back of my shirt and show everyone the scar over my spine.
allew
I hope someone here gets Wheelie (either the GDO or legends version) signed by Mr. Welker
flux convoy
You could bring a wheelchair. You could also just get your stuff Friday morning. Takes minutes instead of hours. You just run the risk of souvenirs selling out by doing that.
xZAOx
It's sounding like he's not technically disabled though. FunPub may have been worried he was "faking it" or something. I'd like to think that surely if he had disability proof they'd have accommodated him. I dunno.
If he's not technically disabled, but has knee and back problems, god knows standing in line for conventions will surely kick him over the edge soon enough…although I'd heartily recommend sitting instead, like a lot of us do for those long lines.
Calabask
Yeah. That's why I Was thinking. My mothers cousin is disabled due to having lost most of the use of one of his legs due to polio when he was younger and he went to a race at Daytona and they didn't accommodate him with any sort of real help and now there's a federal case pending against them because of that, and it was the state who has filed it on his behalf. So you should definitely be seeking some sort of legal action. Do you have the emails and whatnot yet? Because that would be key evidence.
Dragonclaw
I'm pretty sure you'd have a case against them because it sounds like they violated the Americans With Disabilities Act. They cannot force you to buy something extra to accommodate you if you are disabled.
Calabask
It's disgusting that they made you do that. I would actually see if you could file a complaint somewhere because conventions should be accommodating of disabled persons beyond telling them "fork over cash and we'll take care of you." That's a terrible stance to have.
Shin-Gouki
Oh absolutely. In fact if I ever go again it will be the cheapest way, General Admission as my back and knees are so injured that the last time I went and spent 4+ hours in line getting my admission stuff I was so messed up that I was in pain the rest of the weekend and wound up in bed for a few days after I got home. The next year I asked for a disability accommodation and was told I would have to buy a Golden Ticket to not have to be in line. That finished me with anything pre-reg at Botcon so yeah if I go it'll be on the cheap so I don't hurt myself again.
Bed Bugs
That is an interesting question.
It's only been explicitly stated that you have to have a Primus Package to buy the Frank Welker VIP Package.
No where did it state that the VIP Package is only 1 per Primus Package.
So in theory, one could get a Primus Package, get 4 friends on the Minicon Package, and 5 Frank Welker VIP Packages. Which would mean that if you piggy-backed off a Primus, Welker's autograph would only cost you about $300.
That is, unless Pete says that the VIP Experience is limited to 1 per Primus until all 300 sell out…..
mykticon
That is very true, but like xZAOz mentions, you can also "trim the fat" and still have a great time. I have lots of fun seeing people I only get to hang out with for a few days out of the year.