San Diego Comic Con 2008
07-22-08 | 07:53 AM
#151
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From: Austin, TX
Originally Posted by nodeerforamonth
Don't get your hopes up. That's not nearly enough time, IMO. On Saturday, it could take you 30 minutes just to cross the street if you're arriving at the wrong time. All four days are sold out, so expect a ton of people. A Thursday this year is like a Saturday 10 years ago (keep in mind the Convention Center has expanded and even w/ the expansion, more and more people come each year) Thank God there's no Padres home games this year during the Con.
To answer your questions:
1) no freakin' way.
2) good luck on that. Could take you an hour just to find parking around there. The Convention Center parking will be LONG filled up by then. Out of the 13+ years I've been going to the Con, I've only been able to park there once.
Your best bet? Take a cab from the airport. It's really a short ride. Worry about a rental and everything else later. If it's a favorite artist, you don't want to miss out. If you're going to the Con all 4 days, you won't need a rental car if your hotel is near the Con. If not, it still may be worth it to take cabs. No time for sightseeing around San Diego. You'll probably be too worn out by the end of the day to do anything but sit in a jacuzzi.
There's a "coat check" or whatever at the Convention Center. You can leave your bags there.
If this artist means that much to you, I'd try to pay extra and get an earlier flight. Maybe he'll be doing more than one signing? Also, check to see (ask around or use deductive reasoning; if he/she has a new comic out on Dark Horse, go to the Dark Horse booth and ask if they're doing any signings) if he'll be doing any other signings at any of the booths (always a possiblility). Check the paper postings on the boards for new autograph signings. Those things can change every hour and they are good at keeping them up to date. Also make sure to check the information booth at "autograph alley" for more updates and extra signings he/she may be doing.
Good luck! (don't get your hopes up though)
To answer your questions:
1) no freakin' way.
2) good luck on that. Could take you an hour just to find parking around there. The Convention Center parking will be LONG filled up by then. Out of the 13+ years I've been going to the Con, I've only been able to park there once.
Your best bet? Take a cab from the airport. It's really a short ride. Worry about a rental and everything else later. If it's a favorite artist, you don't want to miss out. If you're going to the Con all 4 days, you won't need a rental car if your hotel is near the Con. If not, it still may be worth it to take cabs. No time for sightseeing around San Diego. You'll probably be too worn out by the end of the day to do anything but sit in a jacuzzi.
There's a "coat check" or whatever at the Convention Center. You can leave your bags there.
If this artist means that much to you, I'd try to pay extra and get an earlier flight. Maybe he'll be doing more than one signing? Also, check to see (ask around or use deductive reasoning; if he/she has a new comic out on Dark Horse, go to the Dark Horse booth and ask if they're doing any signings) if he'll be doing any other signings at any of the booths (always a possiblility). Check the paper postings on the boards for new autograph signings. Those things can change every hour and they are good at keeping them up to date. Also make sure to check the information booth at "autograph alley" for more updates and extra signings he/she may be doing.
Good luck! (don't get your hopes up though)
doing the bag check/taxi thing is not a bad idea at all... i imagine a taxi to and from the airport would probably be close to the cost of parking anyway.
07-22-08 | 08:56 AM
#152
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From: Denver
Yeee haw. I've decided to attend the con. I'm so excited. This will be my third year, but this time around, I don't have any networking to do. I'm going just as a fan, not as some wanna be comic creator who wants to meet people.
For two years I haven't bought a single item. I know, it's crazy. This year, I'm going to rush right over to Frank Cho's booth on Thursday morning and hope against hope that he still has copies of his new sketch book and con print.
For two years I haven't bought a single item. I know, it's crazy. This year, I'm going to rush right over to Frank Cho's booth on Thursday morning and hope against hope that he still has copies of his new sketch book and con print.
07-22-08 | 11:38 AM
#153
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From: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell
So.. what time is Hooters? Since this is the last day I can checkthe boards...
07-22-08 | 06:00 PM
#154
Banned by request
So, I'm here in San Diego. Ready to get my ass kicked.
Tom, did you say you get to the Con at 5 AM!?! Are the doors even open at that point? At what time do people start lining up for panels?
Also, for preview night tomorrow, what's the recommended place for parking? How busy do you guys think it will be? And to echo devilshalo, what time is Hooters?
Tom, did you say you get to the Con at 5 AM!?! Are the doors even open at that point? At what time do people start lining up for panels?
Also, for preview night tomorrow, what's the recommended place for parking? How busy do you guys think it will be? And to echo devilshalo, what time is Hooters?
07-22-08 | 07:05 PM
#155
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From: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell
Originally Posted by Suprmallet
So, I'm here in San Diego. Ready to get my ass kicked.
Tom, did you say you get to the Con at 5 AM!?! Are the doors even open at that point? At what time do people start lining up for panels?
Also, for preview night tomorrow, what's the recommended place for parking? How busy do you guys think it will be? And to echo devilshalo, what time is Hooters?
Tom, did you say you get to the Con at 5 AM!?! Are the doors even open at that point? At what time do people start lining up for panels?
Also, for preview night tomorrow, what's the recommended place for parking? How busy do you guys think it will be? And to echo devilshalo, what time is Hooters?
07-22-08 | 07:10 PM
#156
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Until reading these comments, I didn't realize how big this thing is. I'm thinking of leaving Pasadena (where I'm staying) by 6:30AM, hopefully get parked and at the Convention Center entrance by 9-9:30AM. It'll be Sat morning so I doubt they'll be much traffic.
Also, I'm mostly interested in browsing the showroom, given that I really don't want to wait in line for hours for a panel. I'm not looking for stuff that's too hard to find, but will I find deals there, or will it be mostly overpriced?
Anyway, thanks again everyone for all the info, and have a fun and safe time there. The post mortem discussion on this should be fun.
Also, I'm mostly interested in browsing the showroom, given that I really don't want to wait in line for hours for a panel. I'm not looking for stuff that's too hard to find, but will I find deals there, or will it be mostly overpriced?
Anyway, thanks again everyone for all the info, and have a fun and safe time there. The post mortem discussion on this should be fun.
07-22-08 | 07:19 PM
#157
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From: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell
Originally Posted by hiroic
Until reading these comments, I didn't realize how big this thing is. I'm thinking of leaving Pasadena (where I'm staying) by 6:30AM, hopefully get parked and at the Convention Center entrance by 9-9:30AM. It'll be Sat morning so I doubt they'll be much traffic.
07-22-08 | 07:25 PM
#158
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From: Somewhere between Heaven and Hell
Are you ready, people? It's here! It's time!
07-22-08 | 07:33 PM
#159
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Originally Posted by devilshalo
Are you ready, people? It's here! It's time!
And 26 minutes.
edit: 22 hours and 38 minutes.
Last edited by nodeerforamonth; 07-22-08 at 09:22 PM.
07-22-08 | 07:36 PM
#160
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally Posted by hiroic
Also, I'm mostly interested in browsing the showroom, given that I really don't want to wait in line for hours for a panel. I'm not looking for stuff that's too hard to find, but will I find deals there, or will it be mostly overpriced?
07-22-08 | 07:53 PM
#161
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by devilshalo
So.. what time is Hooters? Since this is the last day I can checkthe boards...
Originally Posted by Suprmallet
So, I'm here in San Diego. Ready to get my ass kicked.
Tom, did you say you get to the Con at 5 AM!?! Are the doors even open at that point? At what time do people start lining up for panels?
Also, for preview night tomorrow, what's the recommended place for parking? How busy do you guys think it will be? And to echo devilshalo, what time is Hooters?
Tom, did you say you get to the Con at 5 AM!?! Are the doors even open at that point? At what time do people start lining up for panels?
Also, for preview night tomorrow, what's the recommended place for parking? How busy do you guys think it will be? And to echo devilshalo, what time is Hooters?
I have no idea about parking. I'm curious as well. Usually I'm off from work for Preview Night but, due to business needs, I have to work tomorrow until 3:00.
As for how busy.... it's hard to tell. Last year it was crazy busy but they also sold 3-day passes which let them into Preview Night. No 3-day passes this year but the might've sold extra 4-day passes. I'm HOPING it'll be less crowded than last year.
07-22-08 | 08:51 PM
#162
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From: Austin, TX
Originally Posted by devilshalo
Friday & Saturday, I expect people in line for Hall H by 4am. I'll probably get there by 6am. The Hall doesn't open until 9:30am. Yeah, we're that fucking retarded, but that's what you do if you want a damn_good seat in the front.
07-22-08 | 09:00 PM
#163
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Originally Posted by j123vt_99
So if I don't care about the panels and the releases I want are scheduled throughout the day, is there really any reason to get there early (outside of getting a closer parking spot)?
07-22-08 | 09:03 PM
#164
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Originally Posted by TomOpus
No 3-day passes this year but the might've sold extra 4-day passes. I'm HOPING it'll be less crowded than last year.
07-22-08 | 09:09 PM
#165
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally Posted by j123vt_99
Thanks for the advice guys and the honesty.. the artist may have a signing on saturday.. my hotel is kind of far from the convention center (i think it is a 10-15 min drive), but i got a good deal using my mariott points.
Be grateful you even got a room! All the hotels within a 20 mile radius (and there are a TON of them) are usually booked solid.
doing the bag check/taxi thing is not a bad idea at all... i imagine a taxi to and from the airport would probably be close to the cost of parking anyway.
One thing I've learned at the Con, if you can save yourself walking 2 blocks, do it. You're going to be exhausted from standing & walking all over the place. Bring a bathing suit so you can go in the jacuzzi to recouperate.
http://www.sdmts.com/Trolley/Comiccon.asp
edit: oh, there may be a shuttle that will take you from your hotel directly to the Con.
http://www.comic-con.org/cci/forms/cci08_shuttle.pdf
Last edited by nodeerforamonth; 07-22-08 at 09:28 PM.
07-22-08 | 09:20 PM
#166
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Originally Posted by j123vt_99
So if I don't care about the panels and the releases I want are scheduled throughout the day, is there really any reason to get there early (outside of getting a closer parking spot)?
Trust me, this thing is so huge that you will see things on Sunday that were there the whole time that you missed the first 10 times walking the floor.
Not all the exhibitors are there Wed-Fri. Some of the smaller ones with cool goodies just show up on Saturday/Sun.
Best overall advice: Keep your eyes open. You never know who you'll see just walking around or sitting by themselves at an empty booth waiting for someone to come up to talk to them. Some random people I've seen/met over the years (that weren't advertised) just walking around: Danzig (who has his own art/comic booth), RVD, Tara from Buffy The Vampire Slayer, George Romero, Dee Snider, a William Shatner lookalike, Gene Simmons, Bill Moisley (sp?... Chop Top from Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2), Bill Amend, Robert Englund, the babe who did all the girl voices from South Park (who killed herself a year later), & more...
Last edited by nodeerforamonth; 07-22-08 at 09:26 PM.
07-22-08 | 10:31 PM
#167
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by nodeerforamonth
Me too! That was my first preview night and man, it was just as crowded as a normal Thursday/Friday! Unbelievable.
07-23-08 | 06:24 AM
#168
DVD Talk Hero
My final post before Preview Night (can't access DVDTalk at work). For those meeting at Hooters, I'll be wearing a black t-shirt with a silver/gray Spider-Man on the front. Looks like I should be there around 4:30-4:45ish.
COMIC-CON!!
COMIC-CON!!
Last edited by TomOpus; 07-23-08 at 06:47 AM.
07-23-08 | 01:58 PM
#170
Banned by request
How late do the Trolleys run? I'm thinking about taking a trolley over instead of dealing with parking. It seems like everything I need to do offsite is within walking distance. But there will be times that I am there past midnight. Do the trolleys run for 24 hours or will I have to take my car?
Thanks guys.
Thanks guys.
07-23-08 | 06:21 PM
#174
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So this is the first time I will be using tickets.I normally have my badges a week before ( perks of knowing peeps ) and walk right in.
So since I didn't know if I wanted to go this year I was given tickets instead just in case I don't go.
With that said, do I have to wait in that long ass line to get in? Do you turn in the tickets for badges? How long does it normally take in that line?
So since I didn't know if I wanted to go this year I was given tickets instead just in case I don't go.
With that said, do I have to wait in that long ass line to get in? Do you turn in the tickets for badges? How long does it normally take in that line?
07-24-08 | 12:00 AM
#175
DVD Talk Hero
Just got back from Preview Night. Wow, another packed convention center. We had a nice meet up at Hooters. Here's the gang:
Me, DeputyDave, devilshalo, Suprmallet
I guess Dave didn't get the memo about a black t-shirt.
But it was great he was able to show up since he wasn't attending to the fun.
Me, DeputyDave, devilshalo, Suprmallet
I guess Dave didn't get the memo about a black t-shirt.
But it was great he was able to show up since he wasn't attending to the fun.