Question about Dragon Con Banquet and Pre-Reg

[redneckotaku.livejournal.com]

I am going to my first Dragon Con next year. I have seen the epic amount of First Timer threads, so I have been reviewing them. I have been to cons like the Science Fiction Worldcon, Otakon (in my town of Baltimore) and SDCC, so I have mega sized convention experience. I have two questions that I am contemplating before sending in my pre-registration. 

1.  Most cons it is worth it to Pre-Register for the con (in time nad money).  From what I have read, it may not due to the long lines all weekend (especially if you want to see anything before Saturday afternoon).  Is it honestly worth the money saved?  Is a better strategy just to wait until Saturday at Noon to Register at the Door? 

2.  Is the Guest Banquet worth $50 of money?  Do guests like Shatner or Nimoy sit at the banquet? Would you actually sit with a guest at the banquet?  Most anime cons don't have any sort of banquet element to them and it may be nice to experience one (in nice dress clothes), if I get to meet some of the Guests.

Comments

[ironekilz.livejournal.com]

I attended the banquet twice a few years ago. When I went there were guests attending, but there wasn't a guarantee you'd be sitting with any of them. The first time I went I sat with David Prowse. The second time, just other congoers. I thought the food and service was good actually, but it was hard to talk over the music playing during dinner. Have they really changed the rules so you can't sit with the guests now?

[aagui2x2.livejournal.com]

I went two years ago and was seated at the table next to Peter David and across from Nichole Nichols. Last year was diagonal Nimoy, Mulgrew, and Shatner. I actually was sitting at a table with one of the award recipients. I just know she was the artist who designed the Dragon*Con program cover for this last year.