I'm starting to get a lot of phoned and e-mailed questions about how one goes to this year's Comic-Con International in San Diego (July 9-12) and before that, to WonderCon in Anaheim (April 3-5). The first thing you need to know is that though I am a Special-Type Guest at both and will be hosting my usual array of panels at each, I am not involved in the running of either convention, nor am I at all versed in how one procures hotel rooms or badges or anything of the sort. I'm actually one of the worst people you could ask about that stuff.
I can tell you that Comic-Con will sell out and there will be lots and lots of folks who simply cannot gain admission. It will also become beastly difficult to procure a hotel room at any price and even harder to get one at a bargain rate. I can further tell you that if WonderCon does sell out, it won't sell out until fairly close to the date and that it shouldn't be too hard to procure lodging in the vicinity if you need it. Beyond that, you're seeking info from the wrong guy.
There are fine websites for WonderCon and Comic-Con and if they don't have all the information you need, wait a bit. They will.
You might also want to peek at the San Diego Comic-Con Unofficial Blog, which is run by enthusiastic folks with no affiliation with either convention. Apart from the fact that they seem unaware that either con has something to do with comic books, they know a lot about the festivities and they report from an attendee perspective.
And I'll say to you all two things about the conventions that I say to folks who ask me about them…
- Please stop complaining to me that they're crowded and/or expensive and/or difficult to get into. A lot of great things in this world are and you might as well just moan that you can't pick up a $10.00 ticket for the Super Bowl the day before it takes place and walk in without waiting in line. If you feel that way about any event, especially these conventions, just don't go. If you do go, please accept that some of that is the trade-off for the parts of the experience you're likely to enjoy.
- If you do decide to go, you have to plan ahead. You have to keep your eye on when badges become available. If you'll need a hotel room, you have to expend some effort to get one and not at the last minute. You will need to study the programming schedule when it goes online ahead of the convention and maybe study the map and have some idea where you're going and when you're going there. It also doesn't hurt to have some idea where to park and where to eat.
If you follow these advice points, you could have a very good time at either convention. I always do and in most of the same ways you can. The halls are full of fascinating and creative people, many of them rich in history. There are great things to see and buy, great program items to attend, great conversations to be had in the aisles. And the hassle and cost of getting there can be minimized — and I'll put this in bold because it's so vital — if you plan ahead. Thank you.