The Master of Tediousness

The day before

Kura Sushi x Hololive collab: My group ordered at least 3 of each of the 3 limited edition sushi and my friends got the Hololive collab bottle. I brought my AZKi "friends to Go" nui for oshikatsu pictures.

Animate Los Angeles: I saw the Alien Stage area and there was a spot where Virtual Witch Phenomenon was on display.

Day 1

Cygames booth: Waited in line for this first since my friend wanted Granblue Fantasy merch. I got myself a Payila deluxe acrylic portrait stand since I figured I might as well get myself something while I was there waiting in line. We didn't realize that the bundle sets had some randomized merch. ^^; There was quite a section for Uma Musume with a crane game (line had to be cut off for it) and statues of Special Week and Tokai Teio. The TV screen showed ads of other Cygames games, and sometimes the english version of Umapyoi Densetsu was showing since the Uma Musume english server was recently released.

Yostar booth: Visited the Yostar booth just to pick up Arknights freebies. I picked up only the file. There was a section for Arknights, Azur Lane, and Mahjong Soul.

Gryphline booth: By the time I reached this booth past 1pm there was almost no line for buying merch but there was a line for playing the Arknights Endfield demo. I did just the first 2 of the stamp rally for the bag and fan freebies. I was eyeing this booth to buy a Chen Qianyu charm, but then I caved and got charms of the other 2 girls Perlica and Yvonne as well.

Love and Deepspace activation space: There were 2 sections for this booth area, the line for giveaway freebies and the line for displays to take pictures at. I first went in line for the displays to pass the time for the next giveaway timeslot. The freebies giveaway had stock in limited amounts per sections of time per day (morning, afternoon), and each guys' bag had goods all of that 1 same guy (with the photo cards being a set including all 5 guys). My friend got Rafayel and I got Zayne (who is her bias), so I gave my Zayne freebie to my friend and we traded the Rafayel with a person in front of us so I could get a Xavier bag.

As an aside, there was a tall Sylus cosplayer (I didn't see him when I was at the activation space area, but I saw him around when I was getting food).

Day 2

406AB panel room: I sat in with another friend for part of a Kuni Yoshida calligraphy panel since she wanted to do the origami workshop that was afterwards in the same room.

Peach-Pit gallery: Since Anime Expo invited Peach-Pit for their 25th anniversary and I was around the area at the time, I took a look inside the gallery. It was free to enter the gallery during its open hours but no photo-taking was allowed. Some of the artwork can be purchased and most of the goods have to be purchased, though a flyer was free to take.

Arknights cosplay gathering: I got the time wrong that I went to the Arknights gathering when it ended. Still saw lots of Arknights cosplayers hanging out at the site.

Otome 101 panel: Panel is hosted by Hiroto Kuramasu of Cybird. He went past some introductory material and talked some more about the otome and joseimuke market over the years. I was surprised the freebies at the end of the panel was a whole set.

Day 3

Artist Alley: Since the crowds get really crowded after the first 2 hours since opening time, I've just been visiting AA booths that I had noted ahead of time to buy from rather than wandering through all AA booths. I redeemed for stamp rallies for Arknights and Love and Deepspace.

Granblue Fantasy cosplay gathering: Actually made it on time to the beginning of the cosplay gathering this time. There was a guy who came from Japan cosplaying as the NPC guy. Someone who recognized that I had SilvaSorn on my itabag backpack when I was at the Cygames booth the other day also recognized me today and gave me a summer Sorn acrylic stand. ;w;

Cybird booth: The Bustafellows life-size panels were on display here today (though I forgot to do the social media campaign for badge freebie). 2pm had an otome fan gathering where we could fill out introduction nametags and meet and chat with other otome fans (non-Cybird games included).

Sora Gumi x Arknights pop-up: After leaving Anime Expo, we went here to check the pop-up for Arknights Ambience Synesthesia goods. I bought myself a Ch'en acrylic stand since I was here.

Beard Papa's x Zenless Zone Zero collab: Impromptu got cream puffs since we saw there was the collab.

AA artists bought from

Arknights

nhiku

hideaway melon (+ Celeste prints)

riko_illus (photocard holder)

bevsnailmail

migmats

kirabunni

Love and Deepspace

gyuppii

kyupls

yukianesa

strawberry macchiato

zearyu (+ Sorey & Mikleo keychains)

Genshin Impact

emmikn

breeonne

loltinami

yuerise

shannanigans

Kagerou Project

ibble

zerii

Haikyuu!!

moonpoo

jianrou

helenpeanut

aechungg

Experience/Advice

I don't have as much advice tips compared to some of my other friends who are Anime Expo attendee veterans. The ones I can think of are:

Line up early for something you really want, whether it's a popular panel or goods that may sell out. After the first 2 hours since doors open, Artist Alley and the lobby get really crowded to walk through. Sitting in on the panel that is right before the panel you want to see can help you get a seat since most rooms don't clear out in between panels unless it's explicitly stated.

For bathrooms that may actually have more open stalls, avoid bathrooms near high foot traffic areas (entrances) and walk further for less crowded bathrooms.