After what feels like forever, Comic-Con, San Diego Comic-Con is Back!!! Whether you got a Badge and are headed to the inside, or if you are pursuing all the mostly free Offsites, here are my top Comic-Con tips you’ll want to keep in mind.
Things You Need-
- Good Shoes – I know cosplayers will suffer, but I’m not about that. These days are long and filled with many steps. Do yourself a favor and be in comfortable shoes, or make sure to bring a backup pair.
- Sturdy Backpack – The right backpack will make all the difference! even if you get a free swag bag the amount of things you end up with is ridiculous! Not to mention what you are bringing with you. Drinks, snacks, sunscreen??? Trust me, you’ll want a good backpack.
- Your Favorite Waterbottle/Camel Bag – Trust me, you will want water handy.
- Snacks! – Yes, you are allowed to bring snacks with you, so really you should.
- Portable Battery Charger & Cords for your Phone – The area is a wi-fi and energy suck. Plus, you will be taking a ton of pictures! Coordinating with friends, you will need your phone. Your phone will be so important, so make sure you have a charger.
- Cosplay or Nerdy Wear – Either works. Do you, but remember it’s hot, humid, and there is a lot of people. Make sure you are used to or comfortable in what you chose to wear.
- Money – You may get lucky with all the freebies and offsites, but trust me you will still be tempted to buy extra things. Or like us, might splurge on a restaurant break, even with all the snack-freebies. It’s nice to get out of the crowd for a few and have a proper restroom.
- Deodorant!!!! – Cosplay or street clothes, do us all a favor and bring extra deodorant. There’s a reason for stereotypes and jokes about Con-Stink, enough said.
- *2022 Edition – Mask & Vaccination card or Covid Test. If you are going inside, make sure to have your “Clear” (Clear Health Pass) app ready to go also.
- Patience – There will be lines for everything, everywhere, people dashing about, think of a nerdy compact Disneyland. Just be kind.
What is an “Offsite”???–
I realized that since there have been a few years missing the normal convention routine not everyone will know this one, so let’s talk “offsites.” Offsites are just that, all a part of the big Comic-Con experience, but not inside the main Convention center. But the best thing about them, is most don’t require an SDCC badge, and typically aren’t even a ticketed event. Free! Just find them and get in line. *Though, I should add to that statement, thanks to COVID most offsites we’re accepting reservation time slots, so not sure how that will be impacting wait times for those without.
Even without RSVPs feel free to take a day or two just walking around the Gaslamp, Petco Park’s Parking lot, along the water behind the Convention, or even Downtown all the way to the Maritime Museum. There is a lot to see and do, always! And most restaurants and shops really get into the theme too, even Donut Bar.
But, if you want to keep up on all the offsite fun I HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend checking out or even following SDCC Unofficial Blog. Year after year they have been the best at getting the word out first on potentials.
Transportation-
Just in case you didn’t know, Downtown San Diego/Gaslamp Quarter will be jam-packed! So if you aren’t a seasoned SDCC veteran with a parking spot already held, just don’t drive Downtown. Do yourself the biggest of favors and ride the trolley. Make it a part of the adventure. Honestly, this used to be one of our favorite parts of Comic-Con time. We would get on as far away as possible and use it as our prep time. (Tip – The further away, the easier it is to get a spot both for your car and seating-wise.) Really, it’s scary trying to drive through Downtown during Comic-Con week, so please don’t if you don’t have to.
Panels (for those of you with Badges) –
Last but not least I have to mention the panels. If you are entering the Convention, take this week before as a time to scan the Panel Schedule. The SDCC app is now up and running so you can even add those panels you hope to attend there, or just add them to your Google/Apple Calendar.
Just know Hall H takes real planning and getting in line early enough for a wristband. I tend to avoid those panels, to be honest. I don’t have time for that even with ADA assistance.
But a couple of panels I do recommend (yes, this might be a little selfish plug, but seriously it’s a lot of fun), Friday Night Double-Header of Star Wars in Room 7AB! Starting at 8 pm with the long-time running Star Wars Trivia Panel hosted by San Diego Star Wars Society. (Psst, psst, for those of you with younger padawans, every kid wins a prize there.) This panel gets followed by “Star Wars Samurai Universe” you’ll see some familiar faces there as well, like the awesome, Mister Dude Vader. So make sure to stick around for that.
No matter how you do Comic-Con this year (even if catching live streams from home) have a blast! Support those small artists as everyone is still bouncing back from years of no conventions, and be your nerdy self!
