Ah yes, clear as mud, that is a good question. Surely they know plans can change so there should be an avenue to change the name on a badge closer to the event... but I guess we'll see. That part at least I don't need to worry about - I wouldn't make the drive without him and he wouldn't be going at all if I wasn't eager to go.
How did SW Celebration work..?
I believe they had a lottery system. They did it this year and last time, I think. You would put in your panel preferences for the big panels and then be randomly selected. It seemed to work better this year, or maybe people were just used to it. I think they also had standby for every panel. I know that some people lost out on all panels they picked in the previous Celebration; I don't know if they had standby that year though. Last D23, they kept saying that they wouldn't have standby for the big panels or that you might wait but there may not be any extra room for standbys. They didn't even let people wait in line at first for some panels. They eventually conceded, and usually some people from standby, if not a lot, got in.
Just be prepared for it to be a poop show and pack your patience. Whatever they say the rules are, they will change on the fly at the event. They don't always manage the lines well. Sometimes people with reservations for a panel didn't get in due to confusion about where they should line up, especially for the smaller/midsize panels, not Hall D23 panels. Guests will also not follow the rules, as well as the workers. It's not all bad. I actually had a great time my first time, even though we didn't reservations for any of the big panels and ended up waiting. We waited in the basement after 30 minutes of sleep one night for the parks panel. We tried to sleep on the concrete, but it was pretty hard with the bright lights and loud TVs. It was really about the time spent hanging with my friends and other people. If you think you will be waiting in lines like that, bring a seat cushion, one of the flat, thick high density foam ones, like Blue Bayou gives for the Fantasmic dining package. I have a zip tie through the hole at the top so that I can attach it to things with a carabiner. I had one and they never confiscated it. It's great to sit on, use as a pillow, or put underneath boney points to sleep. Hoodies are a necessity; it gets cold and hot, sometimes simultaneously
, in the convention hall. Plus, a hoodie can be used as a pillow and to help block light and sound. I also had an eye mask and ear plugs; I use them to sleep on early flights anyway. I was also able to bring in one of those compact blankets; it compacts into like a small pillow. You can use it as a pillow, blanket, ground cover, or lumbar support on a long flight. Bring snacks, because sometimes there isn't food in the basement lines or the lines can be long. That way you don't crash before you can get real food. I didn't have any problems bringing in trail mix and almond butter packets. I had heard of meals, like pizza, etc, being confiscated though. And know that YMMV. For everyone that gets to bring in something that's supposedly now allowed, someone else gets theirs confiscated. No rhyme or reason.