Planning Your Trip - Budget, Budget, Budget

 

There's no way around this, Star Wars Celebration is expensive. So unless you've got a camtono of beskar lying around you're going to need to budget.

It's certainly possible to have an absolutely fantastic time at Celebration without spending anything on top of your tickets, hotel, transport, and food costs, but if you're planning on buying any of the exclusive merchandise or getting an autograph or photo with your favorite Star Wars celebrity then the costs can add up real quick. My best advice here is to start saving as soon as you can, even a little a month will soon add up, and the sooner you start saving, the more prepared you'll be.

The Essentials

There are basically four essentials for Star Wars Celebration.

Your Tickets

The good news is at this point your Celebration badges are likely bought and paid for, so that's one expense you don't have to worry about anymore.

Your Travel

Unless you're traveling locally or waiting for a last minute deal on flights then your transport costs are also likely to be covered well before you even set foot in London. Whilst this is a big expense you can hopefully put out of your mind before you go, it will also be a big chunk of your budget if you're travelling internationally so check the average prices, factor that into your budget planning, and keep an eye out for any sales that might come up.

Your Hotel

This is the one you need to keep your eye on. The vast majority of hotels will charge your card on check in/out so it's important to keep in mind that your hotel bill will likely hit at the same time as the bill for all your Celebration spending. One good idea might be to set up separate funds for your hotel and for your spending. This may seem really obvious, but believe me, when your hotel has been booked for months it's easy to forget you haven't already paid for it.

Unfortunately there's no getting around the fact that hotels, even budget hotels and those in the official block, are expensive this year. The best rates will be away from the ExCeL Center and even then you'll be paying London and Easter weekend mark ups. So if you're hunting for a bargain look at the underground maps and try and find something that's a few stops away and balance what's best for you in terms of budget and travel time.

Your Food

How much you spend on food depends completely on how much you want to eat, where you want to eat, and how big your group is. Convention center food is known as being over priced but if you're trying to get the most out of your day (and avoid the lunchtime rush) it's probably the most convenient.

The ExCeL Center has a range of food options from sit down restaurants to fast food. Outside of ExCeL itself is a bit more limited, with hotel restaurants being the main options without hopping on the underground back towards the city.

There is however a Tesco Express and Nisa corner shop within walking distance where you should be able to grab a drink and a sandwich, which leads nicely to our third option - taking food in with you. It's a cheaper, and likely healthier, alternative to convention center eating.

As a very rough budget I'd say estimate anywhere between £20-70 per person per day for food during Celebration depending on your eating plans.

So that's the four essentials. Now it's time for...

Everything Else

The four essentials are all you need to enjoy Star Wars Celebration. But the likelihood is you're going to spend more. Probably a lot more.

If it's Star Wars and it's officially licensed then the chances are you'll find it at Celebration. That's why having a budget is so important. Especially if you're like me and can get a little carried away when you're on vacation!

My personal advice? FOCUS ON CELEBRATION EXCLUSIVES.

Not because they will or won't be worth more later but because Celebration actually isn't the best place to look for Star Wars bargains. You will find some great buys (and if you do then go for it!), but on the whole you're better to focus on the things that you can't get anywhere else.

Autographs and Photo Ops

 

If you want to meet the stars who bring your favorite heroes and villains to life then this is where you'll be spending most of your money.

At the end Celebration Anaheim Ewan McGregor told fans he'd see us all again next year so hopefully he'll be able to make it to London! With the 40th anniversary of Return of the Jedi and Andor's filming in the UK, this Celebration could have an amazing line up of guests both old and new.

The guests tend to be announced in weekly batches 2-3 months before the event so we should hopefully start to see announcements early in the new year. When the 2023 guests are announced you'll find all the information here.

One thing I will say here is that if you really want to meet someone, and you can afford to do it, then go for it. I did the photo op with Mark Hamill in 2016, which was amazing. But I decided to get Mark that year and get one with Carrie next time because I didn't think I should spend the money on two photo ops at the time. In the grand scheme of what I spent at that Celebration, I could have afforded the 2nd photo op. Now I'll never have the chance. You never know in life, so if you can afford it then go for it, don't let it become a regret.

The Celebration Store

It's always fun to see what unique items they come up with for the Celebration Store. Sure, there will always be the traditional mix of shirts, plush toys, and pin badges, but every year they always manage to throw in a curve ball. Whether it's Ponda Baba Oven Mitts or a Space Slug Jack in the Box, be prepared for them to throw out something wacky that you'd never have expected.

If you want a good idea of what to expect you can check out all of Anaheim's goodies right here and the current 2023 pre-orders here.

Speaking from experience, it's easy to get carried away in the show store. Before you know it that "little" purchase of a few shirts and a pin badge is qualifying you for that Jabba the Hutt pin you can only buy after spending $150. Not a bad thing, just know your budget going in. And how much room you have in your case if you're flying!

One tip is to pick what you want when the merchandise is officially revealed (normally just before the event). Not only can this help you stay in budget but it also helps you know what you're looking for when you get in the show store.

The Art Show

The Art Show is another fantastic element of Celebration that has something for everyone, with prices ranging from roughly $40-$125 and pieces showcasing characters and themes from every part of the franchise.

The entries in next year's Art Show will be announced and available for pre-order a few months ahead of Celebration. And be prepared as some pieces will sell out ahead of the show. Artists normally hold back some to sell at the event itself, but for peace of mind I'd recommend you pre-order if you see a piece you love. Once the pieces are revealed I will post them all on the Art Show page.

Other Exclusives

Almost everyone who sells Star Wars merchandise will have a Celebration exclusive of some form.

2019 saw the introduction of a pre-Celebration lottery for the big three - Hasbro, Funko, and LEGO - whilst this year saw a lottery for Funko and Loungefly with Hasbro offering a pre-order at their booth. Expect at least Funko to use the lottery again in London.

Everyone from Del Rey Books to RockLove Jewelry is likely to be there. And let's not forget the always incredible Her Universe! There's pin trading, fan made swag, and so much more.

I'll keep a full list of vendor exclusives here as they are announced. But for now you can check out Anaheim's exclusives to get an idea of what to expect.

That's why I think it's generally best to focus on the things you can't buy anywhere else, or at least not in regular stores. If you find a bargain or something you've been after for ages, that's awesome, but there's more than enough at Celebration just with the event exclusives. That said, if anyone finds a Hot Toys Crait Luke Skywalker there for a sensible price please let me know!

Time

Perhaps even more valuable than money. There is so much to do and see at Celebration, your time will be the most valuable thing. No one can be in two places at once so you have to pick the experiences and exclusives that are most important to you.

We won the Loungefly lottery but it clashed with the Lucasfilm Showcase. Sometimes you just have to make a choice. Some exclusives will sell out on day one, others will have an allocation for each day. Pick what's important to you and prioritize that. If you're there for multiple days then go for exclusives that don't have a daily allocation on your first day.

For autographs be aware that bigger names generally mean bigger queues. For the last two Celebrations the autographs and photo ops have both been well run, but still be prepared for some time in line. Take advantage of the ability to switch times slots, and even dates, once the full schedule is revealed and you know which panels you want to see.

So, yeah, save and budget. Use previous Celebrations as a guide for what to expect and then maybe add a little extra just in case there's any surprises. And, if you're flying, just remember you will have a weight allowance. Or maybe just pre-book an extra hold bag for the flight home!