Beware False Advertising for VIP Packages!
Edit: the point of this post seems to have been missed. Since the VIP Table/concierge was very apologetic and was the one that told me to reach out to FanExpo Support. FanExpo told me in a support chat (that took a month and separate ticket to get a response to) and is posted no where else. No other "fast pass" or VIP ticket works like this (as far as Im aware) - including the Disney Lighting Lane, and Disney is always pretty happy to screw people over 🤣 if a ride is closed, they offer a substitution or refund. Thats always been my experience with other events/Cons too so I mistakenly made the same assumption here since not posted otherwise.
I was just trying to give a heads up to other newbies like me that haven't had this experience at other types of events - as it's unusual - to spare them the disappointment. It's not like y'all can issue me a refund personally 🤣 I expected no "resolution" from this post, other than to share my experience/spread the information.
An expensive lesson learned, but learned nonetheless. No biggie, life goes on.
Everyone is giving their opinion since VIP table (that I was instructed to use) was not in alignment with FanExpo Support (which also would've curbed my confusion - had I gone to the table and they said " sorry not possible" that would've been different then - "were so sorry about this, this shouldn't happen, I would reach out to support ASAP")
Me asking the same question (that no one has yet to answer - where is this information posted/available to the public) is apparently me " throwing a trantrum". If the information is so readily available/well known - why can't anyone (including FanExpo) provide it in a link available to everyone?
The solution is easy for me - don't attend another event from them and "put my money where my mouth is" and move on. The toxicity I've gotten from some of the redditors/responses on this is nuts to me. If you disagree, thats fair, simply state that. The name calling/disrespecting for me trying to educate/inform others is O.O to me. If this post recitfies even one other persons misconception about the package and saves them money they don't need to spend, Idk how thats a negative thing but y'all got this one. I admit defeat and will stick to my Anime conventions & event holders I've had positive experiences with in the past. Yikes, is all I can say.
Original post:
This March I splurged on a VIP package for MegaCon Orlando. The MAIN reason for for the "VIP Express Perk" which states:
"VIPs will be escorted by a member of the VIP Services Team to the celebrity of your choice and placed in the front of the line."
I could only attend MegaCon for 2 of the 4 days so I explicitly wanted to ensure I got all signatures with this perk...
You can guess what happened...
I was turned away (with the VIP "concierge") from Aleks Le's autograph! I was told the "line is capped" and that even VIP can't jump the line... Not that Aleks was leaving/done for the day. There was still a significant amount of people in line and still getting signatures. But I was not allowed jump the line as advertised...
I could've saved myself $600+ USD and just waited in line (granted, starting earlier in the day) like everyone else and done a ton more shopping ...
Here's my conversation with "support" (where they state "rules" that are NOWHERE on the Zendesk site - I was thorough and wanted to understand my pricey purchase ahead of time (of which I had to open TWO tickets, because I just never got a response to the first one)
[I had my friend start the email chain on my behalf originally since I purchased the tickets under her email since we were all going together and purchased multiple packages at once.]
REALLY disappointed with this. Paid all that money for pretty much no reason. I only wanted 4 signatures total and could've absolutely just waited in line had I started "on time". I didn't rush because I paid over $600+USD for an "Express pass" to "jump the line" which has a pretty big "gotcha" that isn't mentioned ANYWHERE. Not being able to displace a capped line I imagine is a common issue at an event like MegaCon Orlando so they fact I was supposed to somehow mindread FanExpo intent and infer that VIP jumping the lines is only if the line is still actively accepting even non-VIP is pretty nuts to me. I
I typically stick to Anime conventions. This was my first (and probably last after this) FanExpo/Comic Convention. Superrrr bummed and out a ton of money I would've much rather have splurged on merch instead!
Also went ahead for ease and posted all references to VIP perks as I quoted in the emails.
