This year's Experience the Realm installation offers fans the opportunity to get scorched by a dragon, become a white walker, and channel their inner-Arya Stark with swordplay and water dancing.

We paid a visit to the Experience on opening day, Thursday, July 9, and found that although the installation didn't open to the general public until 11 a.m., plenty of fans arrived in the wee hours of the morning to camp out for a place in line.

"Every year it's the best outside experience," said frequent Comic-Con attendee and Thrones fan Michelle, who secured her place in line around 6 a.m. "The sword thing was actually kind of hard, but it's definitely worth the wait every year."