Anyone going or been? What has your experience been like?
It’ll be my first, and it sucks they don’t have an official forum or anything for people to share stories and tips.
I’m mostly concerned about getting into the epic fantasy panel and the Game of Thrones Q&A. Looks like I’d have to wake up pre-dawn and sit in the room all day to have a chance at seeing the panels.
I’ve gone for the past 6 years or so and it’s increasingly insane every year. I’ve kind of given up on going to panels - you really do just have to sit in the same room all day. For Game of Thrones, you might want to go try to get a seat now. What would you like to know? I have tips and stories both :).
Both please! Are you going this year?
Is it really true they cut off registration at 126000 people?
Yes it is. 4 day passes sold out last year. So we are missing all the insanity this year. But a buddy of mine scored passes for Sunday, so we are giving him the cash to get our passes for next year before he leaves.
If you want to see popular panels, plan on getting there before the doors open in the morning and camping out in the room all day. Hall H fills up in seconds.
The main floor is totally mad the entire time. Be prepared to find your zen spot to avoid punching out oblivious fanboys. The wife and I love the main floor, because the second we set foot in the place, we are the skinniest and handsomest people there. Every geek and gamer stereotype you’ve ever heard of will be in evidence.
Yes, I’m going. I usually do a steampunk-type costume. Nothing beats the 1st time or so that you go, it’s just mind-boggling. The costumes alone are worth the price of admission, plus the charming incongruity of seeing, say, Batman with his cape flapping in the breeze as he catches a lift in a pedicab. Some of the bars really look like a Star Wars canteen.
I can’t emphasize enough the importance of wearing comfortable shoes. Things are quite spread out and you’ll do a ton of walking. Bring sunscreen. Sometimes lines wind outside and you’re in them for a while. Bring a messenger bag (or something) with snacks (concessions are fairly bad and expensive), water, and, if you’re planning on camping out for panels, a book, Kindle or fully loaded iPod to listen to podcasts or something. The waiting can be boring. I, myself, bring a parasol and haven’t regretted it, but that may be a bit much for you ;). Be patient and as polite as you can be. Everyone else is, in my experience. People are nice about pictures if you ask. You will want to take some. Bring a little cash - you never know when you’re going to want a 3/$1.50 button or something. Food-wise, I like to patronize some of the fine establishments outside the Con. Taking some time out to have a stiff drink and something decent to eat is very refreshing in the midst of a long day. The Harbor area outside the convention center is touristy but really beautiful, and can be a nice break from the craziness inside the convention hall.
Last year I was involved in a photo shoot Morgan Spurlock was doing for a book on the Con. Some of my friends ended up in it. If you can score an invite to some of the evening parties, they can be amazing. I went to a preview party for Mirror Mask (Gaiman) a few years ago and it was very impressive.
You cannot possibly do or see everything, so take a look at your program (don’t toss it! You need the maps, believe me!) they hand you when you come in. It has all the schedules and all the vendors so you can target what you really want to shoot for. I’m not sure I can advise you more than that, not knowing what you’re into, but if you have any questions, fire away!
Patton Oswalt tends to end up at the bar in the Hyatt later on in the evening. He’s a riot to drink with. Seaport Village is a nice break from the Con. Stay hydrated. Take more money than you think you’ll need. Any bag you carry needs to be on your shoulder, not in your hands. I like a backpack better than a messenger bag for stashing all the stuff I accumulate. DO NOT eat in the Convention Center, The food is outrageously priced and really crappy to boot. Keep your ears open to conversations around you, They may give you clues about things you missed.
I so wish we could go to this. Mr. Tao has been a few times, I never; he’s determined that it’s become just too big and chaotic to bring the boys right now. They’re 11 and 13, and I think he DID bring them maybe 5 years ago, and they loved it, but…yeah. Madhouse is a good term, from the sounds of it 
Maybe in a few more years, when they’re old enough to not freak out if they get totally separated for some reason.
In the meantime, I’m camping this thread for stories and tips for when I finally do make it. 
If you’re on the vendor floor swing by the Abrams booth and tell them Tnetennba says hi. They’ll ask who the hell is that, at which point you should giggle and run away.
An acquaintance on another board had this to advice:
And I thought Phoenix Comicon was packed. :eek: The convention center itself was incredibly busy on Saturday, but I never had trouble getting into panels on a whim, even the Stan Lee one. The only one that filled up ridiculously fast sold tickets ahead of time, so I was guaranteed a seat anyway.
It’s not the Enterprise. It’s the Midway.
Thanks for all the tips, appreciate them. More stories =D
I’m going with two friends who have never been to Comic Con either, so it’ll be one of those great nasty bellic shared experiences that bond survivors for life. I’ll just try to take it all in and see what it’s like to swarm around with 100K people. It’s crazy.
They’ve released the programming grid, and I don’t even know where to begin.
My chances of getting into the Game of Thrones panel just got slimmer. The epic fantasy panel I’m practically going to the con for ends just two hours before Game of Thrones on the same day.
Do they record the panels for later viewing?
A hundred thousand people? For real? :eek: 
That would be a low estimate. You have no idea what the area looks like on Saturday. Trying to navigate the main floor is like trying to get on a Tokyo subway when everybody else is getting off. Add in the fact that these are Comic Book People, which means all of the stereotypes are true for at least 2/3 of the attendees. Wave a bar of Lifebuoy in front of you to part the crowds.
I think 125,000 was the number of 4 days passes they sold this year.
One of the thing I wished I had known my first time was parking tips. You’ll have to pay for parking… you just will. I think the lots near the metro station clocktower are worth the extra cost just for the ease of getting to and from the convention center… but also… if your hotel is near a train stop definitely take the train if you can.
Or stay at one of the dozen hotels within walking distance of the Convention Center. That way you just valet your car and forget about it until you leave San Diego.
Otherwise, you are correct. The lots down across from the USS Midway are right on the tram route, and offer easy access back onto the freeways.