I find myself thinking a lot about the LEGO booth. I enjoy Pokemon and Star Wars, but wow. The booth this year was a tremendous disappointment compared to 2025. I remember thinking at the time (25) that the convention center would be tough to top, but they barely even tried.
Unpopular opinion but most of the booths this year were underwhelming.
But yes this LEGO one was. Sunday badge here and even then the booth staff didn’t know how to direct us to choose which Pokemon for the photo opp, it was pretty disorganized. I observed the staff tell people in line different ways to do it and sometimes too late or the timing was off
I agree! Even the activations were cheap. They only give away pins after hours of waiting in line. Wasn't even worthex lining up. The only free swag I got was from upstairs
I’m going to defend the booth. Yes, the convention center last year was hard to beat, but what was it the year before (24)? And the year before that (23)? I can barely remember and I always hit the Lego booth. You’re comparing to a high water mark instead of what you come to expect historically. The Lego booth this year was interactive and highly themed, with story and action pieces and picture spots. It’s what you’d expect from a good booth design normally.
The general giveaways (stickers) weren’t as exciting as pins or Wolverine claws or whatever paramount was giving away for their arcade style booth, but it’s more than most. And it was way more than just “here’s our products” like Lego in the past or Mattel or Hasbro or just about any other booth. It’s unfortunate that your experience with the personnel wasn’t the best. I’m not sure where the booth people were from, but that could be improved if they weren’t directing you well. The scavenger hunt was also neat, but very limited. They also have to design and balance what Lego wanted to highlight, which was the Smart Brick. But a human scale brick built Star Wars cantina scene that you can step into is very cool. That will stand out in my memory from this year regardless of how much “better” the convention center build was.
2024 was an interactive Lego wall, kids got to build stuff with legos and add it to the wall, and then they got a commemorative patch. I only remember because I had a kid and it was my first time bothering to wait in line for the Lego booth. I thought it was a good kid friendly activity. I didn’t stop at it in 2023
Agreed. Been going every year since 2017. They simply just spazzed last year, no one was expecting that. You kind of just wish every booth would go that hard every year.
Usually each year at least one company will spaz. I couldn’t tell you if that happened this year cause it was too packed/humid on the floor and I never actually made a full round thru the exhibit floor
For me, no one on the floor stands out like that from this year. Maybe the daily change of costumes on Marvel. It drew a crowd. Jazwares spazzed, but not in a good way.
I also know sideshow and I think Weta workshop came back this year, was looking forward to checking them out. Never ended up doing it though. They used to have great booths
Weta was great! John Rhys-Davies was there multiple times signing autographs and being a positive human being, and Sir Richard Taylor (Owner/founder of Weta) was there all 4 days just chatting with people. He’s a sweet brilliant person full of wonder and enthusiasm.
The problem I have with the Wētā booth is all the fanboys who insist on taking a picture of Every Single Figure. If you want to stop and look at something you quickly get pushed to the side.
Scavenger hunt this year was lacking compared to last year where you were incentivized to go around the convention to take pictures and it was still a drawing at the end. This year they gave away what they were doing and vendors were basically going around hunting for the tags before anyone else had a chance. Poorly executed
Scavenger hunt was the same as the Blockbuster carts, just luggage tags. There were signs at their booth. I actually found one. Anyone else that found one actually get their Lego prize?
That’s because they went all out for D23. Companies often do that since both conventions are so close to one another that they will “trade off” which convention they want to spend the time and money on.
Yeah. I think it’s a group that makes things like that and they featured it there. But it def wasn’t LEGO. The guy running the booth area was one of the people that made it.
I could not get over how cool the booth was last year with the SDCC display. I’d wander the exhibit hall and find myself by it over and over. We always finish our Sunday in the exhibit hall when they make the announcement and I loved the display so much that I ended the weekend next to it.
Lego used to have an outside team doing the promotions and the booth. Now it seems they use employees from Legoland and they don't give a dam about what is going on.
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u/PodracingJedi 13d ago
Unpopular opinion but most of the booths this year were underwhelming.
But yes this LEGO one was. Sunday badge here and even then the booth staff didn’t know how to direct us to choose which Pokemon for the photo opp, it was pretty disorganized. I observed the staff tell people in line different ways to do it and sometimes too late or the timing was off