Advice for a newcomer.

So Im planning on going to star wars celebration Orlando with some friends next year. This will be the first celebration any of us have ever been too. I want to start planning early so everything goes smoothly and since tickets just went on sale I was hoping some more seasoned celebration veterans could give me some advice. How early do we need to get to the convention center each day to make sure we get the best seats for panels? Is it worth it to go with one of the hotels they direct guests to, or is it better to just reserve a room all on our own? How long does it last usually each day? And mostly any thing you wish you would have known your first time at celebration? Any tips or advice would be great, thanks!