I spent all four days at MegaCon in Orlando, Florida, this year doing panels, the vendor floor, Artist Alley, and checking out amazing cosplay. The event was bigger than ever this year, with more celebrities than I could keep up with, fandom-specific areas (Lorcana game, anyone?), and something for all ages on the main floor. Brendon Fraiser told some great stories (“I’m Chewbacca…“.) and I heard the Clone Wars panel got a little “spicy.”
If you’re planning to go next year, here’s a little insight into how to plan your trip, what I loved, and what I hope changes a little for 2027.
The 4-Day Breakdown: Pick Your Battle
MegaCon is not like anything else. There are more panels than Gandolf can shake his staff at, celebrities (each with their own schedule), games, speciality merchandise, and more. If you want to see it all, go all four days. If you can only make it one or two days, though, pick your quest:
- Thursday: Best for shopping and lower stress, but can have less going on in terms of panels and celebrity access.
- Friday: Balanced with decent crowds and access to panels and celebrity opps.
- Saturday: High-level chaos, biggest day for show-stopping cosplay. Expect high crowds, intense traffic, and a high-energy vibe all around.
- Sunday: Can be slower and it’s a good day for last-minute shopping, but not as much going on in terms of panels and celebrity stuff.
If crowds are the main villain in your story, avoid Saturday.
Navigation – Easier Than Previous Years
Vendor floor layout felt confusing at first, but once my brain understood what was going on, I realized it worked.
The biggest weak point on the floor this year was signage. We need more than just overhead aisle banners. End cap markers with “booths X – X” would be nice. They did this for Artist Alley and it helped a great deal when it came to returning to a booth later in the convention.
Pro tip: If you want to find a booth again, take photos like you’re documenting a crime scene:
- Item you’re interested in
- Booth name
- Booth number
- Aisle view
This helps me find my way back 90% of the time.
Navigating the rest of the convention relied on knowing which room the panel or event was in, and then it was just a matter of turning left or right when you left the vendor floor. East/West is straightforward in its layout, which is why I prefer it over the North/South concourse for MegaCon. It’s also easier for those with accessibility needs to get around.
Panels: High Energy, Packed Rooms
Panels delivered this year, especially when the MCs understood the audience and how to control a crowd. My standout panels were: The Mummy reunion and Halloween Horror Nights. They both had great pacing and the MC knew how to run the show.
I did not attend The Lord of the Rings reunion panel or the special events celebrating the 25th anniversary, but the people who did attend couldn’t stop talking about it. I wish I had at least spent the money on the Second Breakfast.
It would be an injustice to The Transformers panel if I didn’t mention Frank Welker doing his impression of a Beverly Hills watchdog…what made this so fun was that he did it next to the sign language interpreter.
Pro Tip: If there is an additional cost for sitting up close/early entry to a panel that is on your “must attend” list, go ahead and pay it. Otherwise, if they have open seating, get in line at least one hour ahead of time. This prevents you from missing out on something you want to see and avoids the disappointment of not getting in for open seating. It also opens you up for enjoying the convention more instead of standing in lines.
Vendor Floor: Massive, Fun, But Showing Growing Pains
We talked about the layout of the convention as a whole. Now, let’s dive into the vendor floor by itself. The vendor floor is where I live at conventions, and Megacon does it right; unfortunately, a few cracks in the execution are starting to show.
What worked:
- Nice selection
- Artist Alley expanded
- Appeared to be something for every fandom
- It wasn’t hard to find items that are trending in pop culture right now.
What didn’t:
- Way too many of the same 3D printed items (keypad clickers were at every booth that had 3D printed items)
- Drop shippers marking up obvious mass-produced items (or vendors claiming they made something when a quick Google search tells you they didn’t)
- Repetitive styles in Artist Alley
If you’re new to the convention, some of this probably won’t bother you. To someone who has been attending for over 13 years, it’s a weak point that’s becoming hard to ignore.
A shout-out to my favorite vendors. Paisley ‘n Polka Dots sold engraved high-quality tumblers, hats, and wallets.
Megs Mashables was in attendance, and I was really happy to get a Snurtle and a selfie with Meg herself. I love watching Meg’s TikTok videos when I should be sleeping at 1 AM.
The Quiet Room: The Biggest Miss This Year
Last year, the quiet room was run by a different organization and it was awesome. They had free fidgets, coloring, and plenty of room to support the crowds. They actually had two, one on each side of the convention.
This year, someone else took over and it was frustrating. On Friday, I went in tired and overwhelmed with a migraine starting to form. When I went into the room, they had colored glow cubes on each table and on the floor. They also hosted meditation and yoga classes throughout the day. It wasn’t a truly quiet and stimulation-free space. It had its own stimulations that made it feel less like a quiet space and more like just another environment at the convention.
Parking & Survival Tips
If you are driving, arrive one hour before the convention opens and be prepared to be in traffic an hour after it closes.
In 2027, MegaCon will be on the same side as this year, the East/West concourse (aka the “old side” to locals). Don’t park at the East/West garage unless you enjoy sitting in traffic. It will become your side quest for the evening.
The Destination Garage was pretty easy to get into, but getting out was a nightmare if you left with the crowds. My suggestion is to try for the North/South concourse lot and walk.
If you can swing it, even if you’re local, I strongly suggest getting a hotel and walking. This helps avoid the stress of the traffic and lets you enjoy the convention the longest without worrying about sitting in your car trying to get home.
Final Verdict: Planning for 2027
MegaCon 2026 was a success, with more celebrities than I could keep up with, panels for every fandom, and a vendor floor that made my credit card cry. The independent artists brought their strongest game and I walked away with more than one new addition to my collection. My favorite treasure from the convention is my new Apothecary Diaries acrylic stand of the “frog scene” (if you know you know) and the new friends I made with a few of the vendors.
MegaCon 2027 will be May 20 – 23 at the Orange County Convention Center East/West concourse. I’m already planning my cosplays (and my hotel). See you there!
Disclaimer: GeekDad was given a media badge to attend this event.
