So turns out I was completely wrong in my prediction! Over the moon about Nana Vistor being there! Her addition more than makes up for any cancellations for me. Won't be buying a photo shoot until the day before though that's for sure!
If only Patrick Stewart wasn’t filming Picard. He would have shown up since he lives relatively close.
Jeri Ryan also won't be there - it also seems pretty obvious on reflection considering Picard Season 3 is filming! Someone posted a tweet in the DST Unofficial Facebook group in which she confirms she won't be there so I'd definitely hang off buying photo shoots. So that's yet another guest cancellation the organisers have sat upon and another voucher I'll be claiming! The lack of transparency really is frustrating.
Is anyone buying tickets for paid talks? I'm considering "Oh my" with George Takei and potentially "On the bridge of Discovery" although this one clashes with ESA's - Destination Mars. If you haven't seen the timetable yet it's available here: https://www.destinationstartrek.com/timetables
I'm unlikely to until the last second. Might take the Sunday Coffee with the Captain if I go for any. Anyone heard back from the organisers about photo ops that have moved to next year and whether they can be switched for credit against a current year photo? Most importantly, my commanders FC/Nem uniform has shown up. Gonna look dope! Although they have fucked up the badge placement so might need to find a replacement badge
I learned years ago not to buy anything until the night of. Getting refunds is always messy with these kind of groups
I got tickets for Oh My!, Captain on Deck and Discovery - Looking Back So Far. Having said that, I bought them with some of the funds from the Jeri Ryan refund voucher. I'd really advise against buying stuff with proper cash in advance. I'm still doing battle trying to get a Doug Jones voucher so I can get photos with other guests. I just hope I can get it before the convention starts! (Really want photos with Blu del Barrio, Mary Wiseman and David Ajala).
Re the photo refunds - technically yes. If the guest hasn't been announced for 2022 then you get a voucher pretty much instantly (as was the case with my Jeri Ryan voucher). Regarding the ones that have been moved over for 2022 you can get get a voucher but I've been really pushing for a Doug Jones one for about two weeks now to no avail. They say to leave it two weeks but two weeks from their last reply would be after the convention. Not sure if it's just because of how busy they are or if it's a cynical way to get people to go next year. Re the vouchers - you can use it on any DST related stuff on Eventbrite so you can use it for photos and talks.
Tim Russ and Roxann Dawson now out as well, leaving only Kate Mulgrew and Garret Wang still on the official billing from the voyager main cast. Surely the group photo is now untenable? Interestingly when Russ vanished from the schedules two days ago, people who emailed asking why were told it was an "admin error" and he was still coming. Really not helping the PR impact of all this when every cancelled guest is left up to purchase after they clearly knew about the cancellation. We all know pandemic era cons are tricky, but be open and honest about the situation.
That's saddening. I always avoid London and I'd rather have skipped DST this year but I decided to pursue it because it's the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet the VOY cast. Well, that opportunity has passed but now I'm committed. Ah well, just gonna focus on having fun.
I do feel like an idiot buying the captain’s package now. Oh well… at least I’ll be saving money on photos
Are people still up for the BBS pint over the weekend? Would be pretty cool to put faces to names like. Could either set a meeting point and time or if it is easier, PM me and can coordinate that way.
Can't believe it's this week! In spite of all the drama I'm still really looking forward to it and am excited by the heavy Discovery presence. Got my ticket to the Prodigy premiere which should be fun. Really hope I get my refund voucher for one of the cancelled photo shoots by the time the convention starts. I'm hoping to get photos with Wilson Cruz, David Ajala, Blu del Barrio and Mary Wiseman. If the voucher comes through I'll be able to put it towards one with Kate Mulgrew or Nana Visitor (turns out I've been spelling her name wrong for ages!). Really hope they don't sell out but considering the drama involved in getting vouchers I'm not running the risk of losing out. Plus, I'm going on the Friday so that tends to be quieter. Find all the issues with the way the event's been handled to be rather disappointing really - usually just go to small Doctor Who conventions and events and this is my first big convention (and indeed my first non-Doctor Who one!) but I think even if I do end up being free next year (which isn't likely) I think given the rather questionable business practices I may avoid DST and LFCC in future. I'm in a wheelchair so won't be overly mobile and so plan on just sticking around the Excel but hoping to see people from the forum at the con!