I wonder if they will rush out the Registration for this weekend... or give people a week to digest the brochure.
I'm hoping it is next week, so that I'm back to be able to more easily register.

They said that they would be trimming back on toy numbers this year, but maybe they only meant the at-show toys, as the boxset figures have double the amount of loose sets to last year, which would mean a LOT less boxsets than last year if the total number was indeed reduced.
Last year had 1600 boxsets and 250 loose sets.
This year has 500 loose sets, which would mean about 1350 boxsets if they have the same total number as last year.

The boxset price is lower than I had predicted, but not by much.

The two pre-con tours are pretty much what I expected, as there isn't too much for tourists in Chicago.

The increase in Golden Ticket price AND an additional 10 tickets available, is a lot of extra money for them... which I hope is helping pay for the guests like Welker.

Seeing that you get an autograph and photo with Welker for the GT, plus close to the front seating at his panel (just a couple rows back from the front for the VIP pass holders), I'm not sure if I might get the VIP pass now.
The exclusive pin and print isn't that desirable as they will probably just end up in a box somewhere as worthless trinkets... but the personal signing of something is really the only thing I'd want, but maybe not for $200 (which is the only thing extra I would be getting for the $200). The Golden Ticket holders get an autograph card with his signature on it, which is all I care about when it comes to autographs.

I wonder if the Custom Class will have the alternate colour Pretender Shell with a small inner toy... just to get a little more usage from the mould.

The Saturday night dinner is a more formal event this year, which I like having something mature/serious at the convention.