Anime Boston

Could anyone give me an idea of how dumb it might be to attempt to drive into Boston this Friday morning, the 27th, from NH, to make it to the Sheraton autograph sign-up room by 8 am? It's about a 65 mile trip. Is the traffic into Boston on the Friday before Memorial Day typically bad? I know we'll hit traffic from people going to work. The Google map says it will take about an hour and 20 minutes to get there, but I am thinking I should expect to leave NH by 5 am to make it to Boston, park, and get into the Sheraton before 8 am. I just don't have any idea how bad the driving will be. I rarely drive to Boston.
Another option would be to take the Downeaster train, which arrives at North Station at 7:50. If we take an Uber to the Sheraton Boston, we might arrive around 8:20, which may be too late to get an autograph pass.
Going home Friday night is scaring me, too. Traffic going north might be very bad, but I don't know how bad. Should we wait til later in the evening to head home, or will it be just as bad?
I get anxiety at the thought of driving in Boston, but I don't want my daughter to miss the autograph thing.
Thank you for any advice!!

Did you put your planned departure time? Google maps factors in expected traffic. Plus people with be lining up at 7 to get first chance. Realistically you should be in the building before rush hour but that would put you on the road at like 5:30 am. As for end of day its usual city traffic avoid between 4:00pm and 6:30pm. Also watch out for start and when Red Sox/ Celtics games end traffic will be bad around those times too.

If you haven't preregged so you can get your badge on Thursday, you'll have a problem as Registration doesn't open until 8:30 am on Friday, and you could spend quite awhile in that line.

Thank you both for the tips. I didn’t know that about Google maps. Thankfully I did preregister. I didn’t realize line might start at 7!! Wow, it sounds really hard to get a pass. But we will try. Thanks again!

I am biased as I am a Waze Map editor but I will always suggest using Waze over Google Maps. XD

If you like, you can try using http://waze.com/livemap as Waze uses historic traffic data. Of course, I don't think you can use it for travel over 24 hours from now but you can at least get an idea...

Last but not least, remember that this weekend is a holiday weekend so there may be some more traffic than usual, even of Friday...

If you are driving in, I would STRONGLY recommend you wait until the evening to head back home. It is Memorial Day weekend so traffic gonna be bad throughout the afternoon, it is a Friday after all.

long holiday weekend, start of tourists season, graduations, a bunch of people headin "south" to the Cape as the Summer Season opens, and also friday morning traffic overall.....

It sounds like you may have a bad time in traffic in any direction


Do you know if this particular guest may be doing paid autographs later? as a backup plan, just in case

jenniferdemars wrote: ↑Tue May 24, 2022 9:53 pm Thank you both for the tips. I didn’t know that about Google maps. Thankfully I did preregister. I didn’t realize line might start at 7!! Wow, it sounds really hard to get a pass. But we will try. Thanks again!

Important clarification: Pre-registration is definitely helpful and allows you to pick up your badges on Thursday, but you still do need to have your badge to obtain autograph passes. If you're not planning to pick up your badge until Friday, you will need to do that before obtaining the autograph passes, and registration does not open until 8AM on Friday for pre-registered members.

Disregard.

As someone who regularly makes the trek into Boston, to get to the Hynes by 8, leave by 5-5:30 the absolute latest. That way you have time to get across town and parked by 7:30.

basharoftheages wrote: ↑Wed May 25, 2022 10:09 am

jenniferdemars wrote: ↑Tue May 24, 2022 9:53 pm Thank you both for the tips. I didn’t know that about Google maps. Thankfully I did preregister. I didn’t realize line might start at 7!! Wow, it sounds really hard to get a pass. But we will try. Thanks again!

Important clarification: Pre-registration is definitely helpful and allows you to pick up your badges on Thursday, but you still do need to have your badge to obtain autograph passes. If you're not planning to pick up your badge until Friday, you will need to do that before obtaining the autograph passes, and registration does not open until 8AM on Friday for pre-registered members.

The autograph policy page says preregistrated guests can get in line for autograph passes without their badge if they have the printed QR code and a photo ID. Has that changed? Just want to know which is true because I was planning to get my badge after the autograph passes!

Beebo wrote: ↑Wed May 25, 2022 6:12 pm

basharoftheages wrote: ↑Wed May 25, 2022 10:09 am

jenniferdemars wrote: ↑Tue May 24, 2022 9:53 pm Thank you both for the tips. I didn’t know that about Google maps. Thankfully I did preregister. I didn’t realize line might start at 7!! Wow, it sounds really hard to get a pass. But we will try. Thanks again!

Important clarification: Pre-registration is definitely helpful and allows you to pick up your badges on Thursday, but you still do need to have your badge to obtain autograph passes. If you're not planning to pick up your badge until Friday, you will need to do that before obtaining the autograph passes, and registration does not open until 8AM on Friday for pre-registered members.

The autograph policy page says preregistrated guests can get in line for autograph passes without their badge if they have the printed QR code and a photo ID. Has that changed? Just want to know which is true because I was planning to get my badge after the autograph passes!

You are correct. Disregard. Apologies for the confusion.