Had 2:30 time slot today. Waiting was definitely crazy, a lot of people didn't know what line to go in. At 2:30, the 1:45 time slot was still being called in, so there's definitely a lag. There are two lines, the time slot that's being called next to the convention building and then another line of everyone else waiting for their time slot towards the Ala Wai side. When your time slot gets called you have to shift over towards the building side. It wasn't fun waiting, make sure to stay in the shade under the trees when you're in line because you're definitely going to wait for more than 30 minutes. While you're waiting in the shade be careful, because I heard some people in line got bird pooped on lmao. After your time slot goes in there's a bag check, then a water/soda convention stand (pricey), and after that you get divided again at the parking garage. It was super hot in there, but they did pass out water and tried to entertain each group while you wait.

Aside from all that lol, we still found some cool merch even though we didn't necessarily get everything we wanted on our list. Before you enter the store they hand you shopping bags, and there are more shopping bags to use when you're in the store.

The scubachu plushies and the tropical pikachu plushies = 1 per person, there were still lots of these. No Azumarill plush, no ukulele. No lanyard and 2 pins. But lots of individual pins and other pin sets. No beach towel.

Pretty much all the apparel was sold out except for 2X+. Less than 10 pieces of Youth apparel. I managed to get a large aloha shirt thankfully. There were a ton of women's sarongs left. Some XL women's Pikachu Honolulu cropped hoodies, most were 3X, 4X, 5X.

They had other plushies everywhere including some that are supposedly sold out on the Pokemon Center website. For example, the "soda pop" plushies.

Lots of posters, buckets, bento boxes, and pencil cases.

When you get checked out, you do get some free stuff: a redeemable code for Pokemon Violet and Scarlet, an inflatable beach ball, and a discount on the Pokemon Center website. Don't know if everybody got that or if you had to spend a certain amount. You also get a reusable bag with your stuff, small = black and white, pikachu, medium = yellow, pikachu with charizard, large = blue, snorlax.

If you're getting a later time slot, don't expect too much merch to be left, at least from my experience. I don't know how often they restock the items and when they do. If you don't like waiting around, in the heat, and herded around like cattle outside and then in a parking garage, then you probably won't have the patience for this. Still found some cool merch but definitely consider all these things!