Daisy Brookes/Ekko Cosplay

Let's get 2020 started with the first Access Review of the year! And talk about the last convention of 2019, Wales Comic Con.

With Wales Comic Con all wrapped up and over I am officially done with conventions for 2019. A nice 3 month break from events is ahead of me and I for one am looking forward to resting up, although I may already be looking to next years new cons and costumes.

Wales Comic Con is another small-ish local convention best known for its big guest line up. Previously held at Wrexham University, this year saw its first turn at Telford’s International Centre, which really drew in hopes of better organisation and less stressful queues. I had planned to attend all weekend but after coming down with flu, I had to drive myself home Saturday night and I spent most of Sunday fast asleep.

The journey began bright and early on Saturday morning, I’d moronically forgotten all the accessories for Endgame Natasha so with the help of my friend Katy we threw together a fairly botched but passable Yelena cosplay which, if I’m honest, I’m still surprised went down as well as it did. We arrived at the TIC around 11:30 and with the help of some friendly security guards working the roads, we were guided to some accessible parking. Parking at the TIC is free and ample, but I’m not sure they expected quite the amount of attendees and I did hear that a number of folk ended up parking in the large shopping park a few streets away. Although not the furthest walk for abled bodied guests, we attempted a bit of the walk later in the afternoon and it was far too far for me and my legs.

Avengers Ladies at Wales Comic Con access review disability cosplay magazine disabled cosplayer — Avengers Ladies at Wales Comic Con

Earlier in the year there was a fair bit of online fanfare around the applications for Access bands and Carer tickets. As they were two separate passes but on the same application it caused quite a bit of confusion and people were left unhappy with the results they got. One of the prominent parts of how WCC is run is through its very responsive and interactive Facebook page, which of course can be a blessing and a curse. Whilst it’s great that people are able to reach out and discuss so freely parts of the event, it spiralled quickly around the Access and Carer passes and many were left worried they’d have to go without. It seemed that if you applied for both and only qualified for the Access bands you automatically had your request denied, but the fact that you could reapply just for an Access pass wasn’t very well explained and so, chaos ensued.

I thought I’d give it a go myself to see if it really was as many were saying, impossible to qualify, but after supplying the evidence (the same evidence MCM and LFCC ask for: pip, blue badge, doctors letter etc.) I received an approval email for both the Access pass and Carer ticket. In a sense I am lucky that I am able to so easily supply this evidence, I know events need to be able to give the right kind of help to the people who need it but I also know how gutting it is to get those emails denying you the help you need. I personally think, on this front, WCC would benefit from having separate applications for the separate parts of their Extra Help Scheme, that way the confusion and stress can all be avoided.

Once we’d arrived, getting in and around wasn’t too hard for us. Again I was lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time so spotted a friend who was able to guide us to some very helpful volunteers who showed us the right way to get our tickets and access passes. There was a separate table and once they’d checked me off the list we were given our tickets and ventured in to the con itself. Pretty easy and with no long, stressful queues.

The con itself was spread out across two of the halls at the TIC. A pretty standard layout of stalls and tables meant that manoeuvring was fairly easy. That being said, as the day went on and more attendees filled the hall, it was pretty clear that even at this new venue, it was going to be tight on space. Because Wales Comic Con is so guest centred, there never quite seems to be enough space to fit all the auto and photo queues, which as you can imagine really blocks up a con hall.i think with such big name guests, and so many attended trying to meet them, space really is a necessity that’s hard to come by.

Stepping away from space and layout, an issue I did find with the venue itself was its lack of toilets, and signs guiding toward said toilets. The main block of toilets were pretty slap bang in the middle of all the chaos and queuing, meaning that there was a near constant crowd of folk trying to get to this set of toilets which were set down a narrow corridor. The most complicated part being that the disabled toilets were right in the middle, and let me tell you, squeezing past tens on people desperate for the toilet, all of them giving you the stink eye because they think you’re cutting, is not fun.

I never found the toilets upstairs, but what I did find was some seating, which I desperately needed whilst my friends went off to get their photo ops. Although there wasn’t tons, for a smaller con at a smaller venue it was nice to see a whole separate area for food and rest. A canteen was selling hot food and people were dotted about the space, eating and catching up on themselves. The queue system to get food was horrific but I honestly think that was down to the fact that the vendors really did not expect the kind of turnout that comic con brings and were a little overwhelmed by the sheer demand for burgers and chips.

Queuing! access review disability cosplay magazine disabled cosplayer — Queuing!

As a cosplayer I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s a must event, it really is geared and designed around its guests and if you’re not there to meet someone, then there really isn’t a lot to do. I think the venue in Wrexham’s saving grace was that it had that university charm and lots of places for cosplayers to wander and take photos, whereas Telford’s International Centre is, well, just another convention centre. But for a day trip it’s a fair amount of fun, and the free Kinder Buenos’ really did lure me in.

From a purely Access point of view, I really believe the new venue is a huge upgrade for Wales Comic Con. The space works so much better for them and they’re able to do so much more than they were before. There are still steps that need to be made to make the con the best it can be for its disabled guests but I’m pleased to say it’s getting there. Hopefully the next time it comes around they’ll have adjusted to the new venue and things will be better!

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