Accessibility

GalaxyCon, Animate!, and Nightmare Weekend events are exciting and fun! Still, they also tend to be highly stimulating environments, and can sometimes be challenging to navigate, which can trigger sensory overload for many people. Triggers vary by individual, but these are some of the most common sensory challenges encountered at large conventions like ours:

Auditory Triggers

• Crowd noise: Constant talking, cheering, shouting, and sudden surges in volume
• PA systems: Loudspeaker announcements, stage hosts during panels
• Music & performances: Concerts, DJ sets, idol stages
• Unexpected sounds: Airhorns, prop sound effects, fandom groups, jumpscares

Visual Triggers

• Bright or flashing lights: Stage lighting, LED displays, camera flashes, props/costumes, vendors in the exhibition hall
• Visual clutter: Dense signage, vendor booths, banners, screens competing for attention
• Movement overload: Large crowds moving in different directions, cosplay props in motion, jumpscares
• Cosplay details: Highly detailed, high-contrast, or reflective costumes

Tactile Triggers

• Crowding & accidental touch: Bumping, brushing, jostling in tight aisles
• Costume textures: Itchy fabrics, heavy armor, wigs, face paint
• Badge lanyards & wristbands: Scratchy materials or constant contact with skin
• Temperature discomfort: Cold/Hot areas, possible limited ventilation, outdoor lines

Olfactory Triggers

• Strong perfumes or colognes sometimes worn by other attendees
• Body odor in crowded or poorly ventilated areas
• Food smells: Mixed aromas from food courts or nearby vendors
• Cosplay materials: Latex, foam, glue, paint, or plastic smells

Interoceptive & Cognitive Triggers

• Long waits & unpredictability: Lines, schedule changes, unfamiliar signage
• Decision fatigue: Choosing panels, vendors, or activities among many options
• Social demands: Small talk, photo requests, navigating unspoken social rules
• Hunger, thirst, fatigue: Easy to miss body signals during long days

Compounding Factors

Sensory overload often stacks:

• Noise + lights + touch at once
• Masking or social performance on top of sensory strain
• Pressure to “not miss out” despite exhaustion

This stacking effect is a common reason meltdowns or shutdowns occur later in the day, rather than immediately.

Helpful Personal Strategies

• Wearing earplugs or noise-canceling headphones
• Taking scheduled breaks away from the show floor
• Attending during off-peak hours
• Using fidget tools or grounding items
• Pre-planning routes, panels, and exit options
• Having a clear “I need a break” plan with friends

Large conventions can be exciting, but also physically demanding. Planning can make a big difference in comfort, safety, and enjoyment.

Before You Arrive

Plan your energy, not just your schedule.

• Pick some “must-do” activities per day and treat everything else as optional.
• Expect long travel distances inside convention centers; even “nearby” rooms can be far apart.
• Build rest time into your plan, just as you would for panels or events.

Review the accessibility information early

• Check the convention website or app for:
• accessibility services
• registration options
• quiet or rest areas
• accessible routes and restrooms
• Screenshot maps and key info in case cell service is slow.

Pack for comfort and safety

• Bring any mobility aids you use at home (canes, braces, rollators, wheelchairs).
• Consider:
• portable seat or cane seat
• compression garments
• braces or supports
• cooling towels or fans
• Pack medications, snacks, and water—even if food is sold onsite.
  

Plan your arrival and departure

• Arrive earlier or later than peak times when possible.
• If using rideshare or accessible parking, note which entrance is closest to registration.
  

At Registration & Entry

Use available accommodations

• If standing in line is difficult, ask the staff about:
• accessibility or priority queues
• seated waiting areas
• You do not need to explain your disability to request assistance.

Ask early, not after you’re exhausted

• If a line, crowd, or route feels unsafe or painful, ask for help right away.
• Staff can often help with:
• alternate routes
• seating
• holding your place in line
  

Navigating the Exhibit Hall & Crowds

Expect crowd density changes

• The exhibit hall is often busiest late morning through mid-afternoon.
• Aisles may become tight quickly, especially near popular booths.

Use edge routes when possible

• Walking along walls or along the outer aisles is often easier than cutting through the center.
• Don’t hesitate to backtrack or take a longer, easier-to-traverse route.

Take frequent breaks

• Sit before you feel pain or fatigue.
• Rest areas, benches, or even quiet corners can help prevent crashes later in the day.

Protect your space

• Crowds move unpredictably. Keep mobility aids clearly visible.
• If you need more room, it’s okay to ask people or staff for assistance navigating through.

Panels, Programming & Seating

Plan for seating limits

• Popular panels may fill quickly.
• Seating is sometimes limited, so arrive early when possible.

Know that leaving is okay

• You can step out if you need to stretch, adjust position, or take a break.
• Re-entry policies vary, so ask a staff member if you’re unsure.
  

Managing Physical Strain & Health

Hydration and food matter

• Dehydration and low blood sugar worsen pain, dizziness, and fatigue.
• Drink water regularly, even if you don’t feel thirsty.
• Eat small snacks throughout the day.

Listen to your body

• Pain, weakness, dizziness, or shortness of breath are signals to rest.
• Leaving early or skipping an activity is not a failure; it’s self-care.

Use medical and accessibility services.

• First Aid and Accessibility Services are there to help, not judge.
• If something feels wrong, get help early.
  

General Safety & Support Tips

• Attend with a friend or have a check-in plan if you’re going solo.
• Keep emergency contact info with you.
• Take photos of where you park or enter, as it helps with navigation later.
• If you use a service animal, plan for water and rest breaks for them too.

Please visit the Convention Center's Website to view placement of facility restrooms and elevators per facility level.

We use Google Live Transcribe to provide written transcripts in real time of our panels for the hearing impaired.

Please notify us two weeks in advance of the event so that we can make sure this technology is engaged in the panels you’d like to attend if you are hearing impaired: info@galaxycon.com

In general, animals are not permitted inside the Savannah Convention Center except for the following instance:

Service animals, which the Americans with Disabilities Act defines as a dog that has been individually trained to do work or perform tasks for an individual with a disability. The task(s) performed by the dog must be directly related to the person’s disability. The dog must be trained to take a specific action when needed to assist the person with a disability. Emotional support, therapy, comfort, or companion animals do not qualify as service animals under the ADA. Also, service animals in training are not considered service animals under the ADA.

Attendees requiring the assistance from a service animal may pick up a Fast Pass Button at the Info & Disability Booth that will allow them access to the Fast Lane in the Autograph and Photo Ops area of the convention.

All sanitary needs for animals are the responsibility of the handler, and the animal must remain in the control of the handler at all times.

Those requiring assistance from their PCA may request a complimentary companion day pass at the info & disability booth. This pass grants the PCA access to the event as well as a Fast Lane Badge for Autographs and Photo Ops in the celebrity area. PCAs are not granted VIP badges, even if the person requiring assistance has a VIP pass.