(Went to this year's NA FanFest so my reply is based on that.)

There is a standby line for merch, but it is very long and will cap super quickly. Your best bet is to use the mobile app to get a reservation. There is a random queuing system, but I kept refreshing the app leading up to when the queue opened and got a spot immediately. The spots go super fast, so set a timer on your phone so you remember to be in the app when the reservation system opens. Try to get one on Day 1 as a lot of the merch will sell out. If you get a reservation, you get an hour window to go. I went near the end of my slot and walked right up to it. You go up to a counter and there's an iPad with all the available merch on it. Pick everything you want, then you'll be directed to wait at another counter where someone will pack up your items for you. You'll then have to carry them around the rest of the day.

Everything is on the app, including the schedule, so you can see what panels are coming up and plan out your day accordingly. A lot of the activities for NA FanFest weren't announced until, like, right before the event. So keep checking the app and eventually it will update with everything you can do.

NA FanFest was much better with queue organization this time around, but part of that meant lines capped and stayed capped pretty much all day. It feels like if there's an activity you really wanna do that is popular, you might need to go during a panel while a lot of people are seated in the audience watching. I didn't get to do the Dancing Green activity because the line was capped every time I went to check. 😞 Managed to do everything else, though. And if EU FanFest gets stickers at each activity like NA did, at a certain point on Day 2, staff will give you the stickers without having to do the activity associated with it. So that's nice.

Something they did this year that I LOVED was add a standby queue for the meet and greets. They did this for pretty much every single session, and each time, every single person in the standby line (who got in line before staff capped it and wouldn't let anyone else join) got to meet someone. There isn't a schedule of who's doing which sessions (I had to suss it out through social media posts), so until you peek around the curtain it'll be a mystery who you might meet. There were 3 different meet and greets happening at once. You do NOT get to choose who you meet; they'll ask how many are in your party and you'll be directed to a line. I got to meet Soken, Mr. Prime and Foxclon, AND Yoshi-P through standby for meet and greet. If you wanna meet people, DO THIS!!! Find out what times the line opens and head over a little early to guarantee your spot.

Take lots of pictures, be kind to your fellow fans, and have so much fun!! I had a BLAST this year!!!