The
2009 Ultimate Comic-Con Survival Guide
By Jim Quon and Christina Glen
Updated July 16, 2009
Welcome to the most popular and Comic-Con survival guide on the internet. Through years of experience, we have compiled this useful guide of tips and tricks to make your Comic-Con trip more enjoyable, while helping you aviod common pitfalls one may encounter. This site is regularly updated so check back for the latest news on our favorite convention of the year!
Latest Updates:
The programming schedule is up!
NEW! Bear McCreary - HOB San Diego July 23-25
Comic-Con Confirmed and Covered
Comic-Con Book Pre-Orders
Special guest list can be found here
Hotel rooms are still available.
Autograph Tips:
I know a lot of people go to Comic-Con to get autographs. If your a collector, you need to regularly stop by booths as there are surprise autograph sessions announced regularly. Many of these sessions will only take a limited number of people. You really need to be on top of things if you don't want to miss out on getting the autograph of your favorite actor/actress/author etc. Also, lining up for autographs can be a very painful experience. It may be in your best interest to ask around to see where the line is going to start. For popular autographs it's going to get extremely crowded to the point where you can't even move. so you need to plan appropriately.
Preview Night Tips:
When you arrive at preview night there is going to be a huge line. If you don't get there really early you're going to be very far back in the line. This is probably not a big concern. The lines move really fast. Once the line starts moving, everyone will go upstairs, register, get a schedule, then wait in another line where you sit around for a while till the doors open. If you're just there to look around and don't need to be the first one in to get limited edition collectibles, then it's not a big deal if you're not anywhere near the front of the line. Everyone is going to get in. If there is something in particular that you have to have, make sure you know where the booth is going to be, get there early then head straight to the booth once you get in! Personally, I like to get there early because they give away a lot of freebies which is fun! My personal favorite booths are the Sci-Fi booth and the Warner Brothers booth.
If You Don't Have A Pass Yet (important note):
Comic-Con this year is sold out! I've seen other sites recommend that if you don't have a pass yet, you can check classified ads for them. I would strongly recommend that you do not do this. First of all, the passes are non-transferrable, second there is a reasonable chance that you'll get ripped off. People can sell you fake passes, or if you are caught trying to enter a transaction to purchase a pass, then the pass can be revoked or worse. The chances of this happening are probably greater than you think.
This is my google map I created of the area. Should be up to date more or less...
San Diego's Comic-Con International is a joyous and wonderful time for many people, and it is never too early to get prepared for the next one. Comic-Con can be very intimidating to the uninitiated. It's easy to be overwhelmed if you don't know what you're doing. If you have never been to Comic-Con before, it is probably unlike any convention you've ever experienced. For those of you who've never heard of Comic-Con here's some history about this great event.
Here is a checklist of things not to forget when preparing for the convention. Some of these may seem like overkill at first, but they will pay off once you get to the convention. Plus, it’s fun preparing for an exciting event like this. All information is subject to change so check with the official site as well. The official Comic-Con site is here.
Comic-Con Checklist |
|
| Airline Tickets | Online sites like Travelocity, Expedia, Kayak.com, and Orbitz are great places to find affordable hotels in the area. Comic-Con is negotiation lower airfares for con-goers. From my personal experience with going to different conventions of all types, sometimes it's cheapter to look for your own rates. |
Hotel reservations |
Reservations are filled months in advance. Hotels close to the convention or trolly station is a big plus. Comic-con's selected hotels may have shuttle service to the convention. Check for availability. |
Trolly Schedule |
If you are not staying close to the convention, I strongly recommend taking the trolly to the convention unless you plan to arrive hours early to try and find parking and pay for it. The trolly is extremely fast, cheap, and drops you off right in front of the convention center. The schedules and routes may be expanded for the convention so check for updates. |
Badge Lanyard |
If you lose your badge it is a complete pain to replace it, and you'll deserve it for losing it in the first place! Get a very secure lanyard. They sell these at the con, but you can bring your own. |
Comic-Con schedules |
You should have at least couple of schedules with you. There is one that Comic-Con provides that lists everything, and you should make one with a list of what you want to see. This may seem like overkill, but it's not, trust me. |
Autograph and vendor schedules |
You may need to find individual vendor events on their own sites. Many autograph and vendor events may conflict with panels, so be prepared and prioritize. |
Cell Phone |
Of course you always have your cell phone with you, or should. You will be separated from friends during the con, and having a cell phone to call or text is a necessity. Have everyone’s phone number handy! Don't let your phone battery die at the con or else you'll feel like your stranded on an island even though you're surrounded by thousands of people. |
Camera, battery, film. |
There is so much to see at Comic-Con that you will want to take a lot of pictures. It really sucks for your battery to die or for you to run out of film during the day. Bring extra. |
Water, snacks |
You will be doing a lot of walking. Stay hydrated. Food is expensive and not very good, so you may want to bring your own. UPDATE: I didn't mind the gyros too much! |
| Cash | Many vendors take cash only. There are atms at the convention but the lines get long and they charge ridiculous fees. |
Large bag, backpack |
Vendors will be offering many freebies, and you may want to buy stuff too. I ended up with many bags full of loot from Comic-Con, yet only paid for a couple of things. Also, during the day your bag may get full and heavy. It's always a luxury to have somewhere like your hotel room to dump off your stuff off. |
Poster tube |
I didn’t plan on buying any posters but they give so many away, it would be smart to buy a large poster tube. Making a strap for it or buying one with a strap is handy too. Remember, your hands will be full with all the things people will be giving you. |
| Binder, inserts | If you plan on getting a lot of autographed photos, you may want to put them in a safe place where they will be protected. A binder is also a great place to hold your personal schedule. |
Costume |
Interested in going to the masquerade? Don't forget your costume! Actually, you don't really need an excuse |
These are other bits of advice that may prove useful. Many of these tips are common sense, but are presented here regardless for completeness.
Things To Think About |
|
Be prepared |
Have your schedule, and backup plan. Plan ahead with friends if you want to meet up somewhere. |
Buy your ticket early |
Comic-Con sold out for the first time last year. Get your ticket as early as you can. There will be no on-site registration this year. If you're too cheap to buy a ticket, you can become a volunteer, work a few hours, then get in to the rest of the day for free. |
| Go to preview night | Preview night is a great night and you should go! Not only will you be able to register early and not have to wait in very long lines on the first day, but this is a day where the dealers give you A LOT of free stuff. Also, you will have the first chance to purchase limited collectible items as well. Expect large crowds on preview night; last year it was as busy as the regular con |
Prioritize |
Know that you're not going to be able to see everything. Pick what you really want to go to and make sure that you get there! Consider having friends save you spots (if that's allowed) if you are stuck in another panel and can't get a good spot in line. Otherwise give yourself time to arrive early to make sure you get into a panel you really want to see. |
| Communicate | If you have friends, let them know if something cool is going on. Remember, the convention center is huge, and you can't know what's going everywhere all the time. Having a network of friends communicating with each other at the con makes things more enjoyable for everyone. |
Don't get lost |
Always make sure you're in the right place and the right line. At registration the different lines may confusing so save yourself the headache and make sure you're not int he wrong line. By the way, for some of the more popular events, the lines can wrap around the building so make sure you arrive early! |
Wear appropriate con clothing |
You may walk several miles a day, plus Comic-Con is held during the summer in San Diego so it’s hot. The convention is air-conditioned but there may be times when you are outside as well. Consider this when deciding what to wear and when designing any costumes. Wear good walking shoes. |
Be polite |
Cons are a great opportunity to meet the stars you see on the silver screen or the small screen. Don't be an ass and ruin their day by being rude. A lot of them are more than happy to give you an autograph or a picture if you ask nicely, but don't always expect it. Also, be polite to other convention-goers you meet as well! |
Shower, be clean |
The convention is probably bigger than any other that you have attended. You will be around and bumping into people. Do everyone a favor and be clean. It's also a plus to have a hotel near the convention center to shower. |
| Be one with the crowd | You will be maneuvering through a lot of crowded areas. Don't block paths. Keep moving and try not annoy everyone by bumping into them. |
| Shop around | Many of the dealers will be selling the same items as one another. It'll pay off to shop around, and it's fun. It's ok to haggle. |
| Surprise Events | There are plenty of special events that occur during the con. Last year, I got a free poster and autographs from many cast members of Blade Runner, free autograph with Nicholas Cage and his son, and other cool stuff. Many but not all of these happen on the the dealer floor. Ask around and communicate with friends to keep each other up to date on these things. |
| Gaming | Yes, there is gaming at Comic-Con. I don't know why you'd play a game when there is so much else to do, but there you go. |
| Child care | If you're the kind of parent that likes to hit the convention panels but don't want to be bothered by your young toddler, Comi-Con has you covered. There is a fee for this service. |
Ebay |
At Comic-Con many people were buying limited edition items and selling them the same night on ebay and making a profit. I don’t bother, but some may find this a good way to cover some of their con expenses. I guess you'd have to do a little research to find out what that valuable collectible item is worth. |
Baggage restrictions |
There are limits to the amounts of liquid you can bring on board. Check with your airline for other baggage restrictions. Take all your important items in your carry-on bags just in case your luggage gets lost. |
There is a business center located on site. If you end up with too much loot from the con, you can always ship it home via Fed-ex. There is also a Kinkos here. |
|
Sleep |
You may not get any. Plan appropriately. By the way, if you're an insomnic, Comic-Con offers a lot of late night movies for your entertainment. |
Don’t panic and have fun |
Comic-Con is such an amazing experience, so if you miss out on something or have problems with the group your with, keep in mind that you're there to have a fun and enjoy just being there. |
Just to give everyone some perspective on the size of Comic-Con with respect to other conventions, here is a list of attendance numbers for some popular conventions.
2007 Convention Attendance |
|
CES Electronics Convention (Las Vegas) |
143,695 |
Comic-Con (San Diego) |
127,000 |
Comic-Con (New York) |
50,000 |
Dragon*Con (Atlanta) |
30,000 |
GenCon (Indianapolis) |
27,000 |
Creation Star Trek Convention (Las Vegas) |
17,000 |
Here are some other useful links to get you a better feel on what to expect and to help you prepare for the convention. Official announcements will be made here.
Useful Links |
|
The official site |
|
| Free Shuttle | New free shuttle around downtown! |
| MTS Trolly Schedule | There were special additional routes created specifically for the convention. |
| Google Map for Comic-Con | My custom map of the convention center and surrounding area with points of interest. |
| Parking Map | If you insist on driving to Comic-Con here are parking locations in the area. It also lists hotels with shuttle service. |
| Downtown SD hotels | This is a map of local hotels that may be useful... |
This is where you register |
|
Most of the panels take place in the upper meeting rooms. The larger panels take place in ballroom 20 on this level. The ground level exhibit hall is where all the vendors are. Hall H is also located on this level and is where the largest panels are also held (6,500 person capacity, and it does get filled). There is a legend that shows distance but you can also get some perspective of the sheer size of the convention center because on the bottom of the level, you can see the street view and the place is 4 stop lights long! Now imagine this place filled wall to wall with people... |
|
A great free program that is useful for creating schedules for Comic-Con. You can share your calendar with your friends. |
|
Here are other sites to see in San Diego if you are so inclined.
Things to do in San Diego |
|
| signonsandiego | General information on San Diego by the San Diego Union Tribune. |
The world famous San Diego Zoo. |
|
| Sea World | Dolphins, whales and such. |
| Balboa Park | There are many museums, events, restaurants, and more that can be found in the park. |
| Haunted San Diego | San Diego is home to some of the most haunted places in the country. Spooky! |
The convention is located next to the gaslamp district. There are many clubs, restaurants and stores/malls for shopping located here. Check out the Horton Plaza, the architecture is amazing. |
|
Since this is one of the most important topics, here's a special section on lodging. It's very prefereable to stay at the main hotels. They are a bit pricey but can be reasonable if you're splitting the room with friends. Finding a place to stay should be a high priority, as everything gets sold out well before the con. If you can reserve a room now without having to pay up front, go for it.
More on lodging |
|
| General information | Last year, convention rates were made available at the beginning of February. They are currently negotiating with the hotels in the area. The Marriott, Hyatt, Hilton, and Omni are the closest hotels to the convention center and all excellent (although expensive) hotels. Staying at one of these hotels gives you the added convenience of having a convenient place to drop your stuff off and take a break from the chaos when you need to. |
| Marriott | Most convenient. It is literally right next door to the convention center. Great location |
| Hyatt | Next to the Marriott, still within walking distance. A bit less expensive than the Marriott and also a popular party spot for convention goers. By the way, they have bicycle taxis that will tow you around from here to the convention center. I'd rather walk. |
| Hilton | Conveniently located across the street from the convention center. Nice place to hang out as well. |
| Omni | Next to the Hilton, across the street from the convention center. It is upscale like the other hotels |
| Condos | This is an alternative to hotels. They tend to be very expensive but many have more than one bedroom, kitchen, etc, so you can cut costs by sharing the rate among several people. |
| Apartments | Some places downtown rent by the week or month. Worth checking out if you have no other recourse. |
| Other hotels | If I can't stay at the main ones, I'd find one in the Gaslamp or one by a trolley station that has a direct route to the convention. My google map shows many of the hotels in the area. |