How to Maximize Your First Comic-Con Trip

As a follow up to last week’s post, where I provided a detailed overview of Our First San Diego Comic-Con Experience, I’m sharing with you my 10 Tips for SDCC First-Timers. While these tips were written specifically with first-timers in mind, many of them can apply to returning SDCC attendees as well.

10 Tips for SDCC First-Timers

1. Make a Comic-Con Member ID as soon as possible! If you want any chance of being able to attend San Diego Comic-Con (without spending more than market value in the last minute, never guaranteed, SDCC official eBay auctions) then you’re going to need a Member ID. This unique ID is what’s used during the Open Registration process in order to purchase badges. While our Open Registration for SDCC 2017 took place in April of that year, usually Open Registration takes place in the Fall prior to the Con (around late October or early November).

2. Go in with little to no expectations. Accept the fact that you will likely not be able to get to everything you would like to do or see. Pick one or two panels that you absolutely can’t miss each day, make sure you plan for them, and let the rest of your day just fall into place. This helps to lower stress and allows you to fully enjoy everything around you, versus always trying to get to “the next thing.”

3. Keep an open mind about different panels. This is very important, especially if you’re attending with someone else. You may not be interested in the same exact things and that’s okay! While you could split up and each/all go to different panels, I encourage you to try attending what your friends or family members select. I have been surprised that some of the panels I have most enjoyed were not the ones that I picked. Similarly, sometimes you just happen upon a really neat panel taking place when you’re walking around or trying to ensure you’re in the correct room before a “must-see” panel.

Click on photo to enlarge and see descriptions.

1. Wear comfortable shoes! Your exploration of the Exhibit Hall, alone, will have you walking thousands of steps. Add to that any walking necessary to get to the convention center each day, plus moving from one room to the other for various panels, and your feet will be aching in no time. Comic-Con is not the time to try out a new pair of shoes that have not been broken in. If you have a specific non-comfortable pair in mind for your cosplay, bring a spare pair. Your future self, and your feet, will thank you!

2. Wait until a bit later in the day to pick up your books, bags, and lanyards. While the line does tend to move pretty quickly, it is tremendously long during the first part of the day, especially on Thursday. By delaying your pick up of these items you will be able to go ahead and get in a panel (or two) or explore the Exhibit Hall a bit when you would, otherwise, have been waiting in line. Also, be sure to hold onto the book that contains the panel schedules for each day. I have found this to be much more useful than the online versions where you can’t visually see everything all at once.

1. Bring your own backpack. While the SDCC provided bags are cool and helpful in a pinch, they really aren’t that durable. In fact, my bag had a strap break after I stuffed it too full. Having your own bag will be more comfortable and secure, allowing you to more fully enjoy the experience. Plus, you’ll know that you have plenty of room, and durability, for all of those souvenirs and freebies you’ll undoubtedly accumulate. If you bring your own backpack, you can simply fold up your SDCC provided bag to fit inside and keep as a souvenir. Then, once you return to your hotel at the end of the day, you can take it out and leave it there, freeing up even more space for any remaining days.

2. Set aside at least a couple of hours to explore the Exhibit Hall. The Exhibit Hall is massive and it’s always bustling with people. It will likely take you longer than you expect to get from one end to the other, even if you’re not stopping at booths along the way. This is especially true if you’re trying to navigate through with other people. From t-shirts and stickers to comic books and props, there is no shortage of things to buy or to just enjoy looking at as you explore.

1. Don’t be afraid to ask for pictures with your favorite cosplayers (you might just make their day). Most cosplayers love to pose for pictures. It’s a big part of the culture and much of the reason they spend months planning and creating their costumes. On the flip side, keep this in mind if you’re planning to cosplay. Have a pose or two planned for your character of choice and enjoy feeling like a celebrity if/when you get asked for a picture. Also, be aware that if you have a super busy day planned where being stopped for pictures doesn’t fit into your schedule, you may want to skip the cosplay on that particular day.

1. Bring at least one portable charger. When your phone inevitably gets a low battery due to all the pictures you’ll be taking, you’ll be so thankful that you have the ability to recharge without having to find an available wall plug. You won’t be tethered to one location while you wait for your phone to charge and you won’t have to pass on that unique photo-op when you see an inflatable T-Rex dressed as Batman in the Exhibit Hall.

1. Plan ahead for your meals and snacks so you don’t get hangry. The convention center has quite a few different food options, including hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos, sandwiches, salads, and pretzels. While they aren’t cheap, we have never found them to be ridiculously expensive and we often choose to pick one or more of these options. However, if you want to save some money, there is a Ralph’s grocery store a couple blocks away where you could pick up snacks or sandwiches ahead of time to take with you. If your hotel serves breakfast, it’s also a good idea to grab a couple extra bananas, apples, muffins, or bagels to take with you for later. Don’t forget to bring a water bottle! There are refill stations around the convention center.

WARNING! Potentially Controversial Bonus Tip:

Avoid Hall H! Admittedly, Hall H is the reason why San Diego Comic-Con first came on my radar screen back in about 2013 or 2014. The huge Marvel panels, the big-name stars, and the exclusive trailers are enough to make any nerd eager to grab a seat. Hall H has its own set of rules and guidelines, which usually change a bit each year. Regardless, it is the most popular and, therefore, the most difficult room to get into.

Unless Hall H is an absolute “must-do” item, there is so much more to fill your day with than standing in that line for hours on end (the day before you actually want into the Hall H panels). Not to mention worrying about finding and securing a spot in a line group ahead of time. This is true for everyone, but even more so for first time attendees! Enjoy the Con for all that it is versus “putting all your eggs in one basket,” so to speak (especially if you only have badges for 1 or 2 days).

I have been to 4 SDCCs now without ever attempting to enter Hall H and I wouldn’t trade my experience at any of them. Are there times when I get a little FOMO when there are super neat experiences and freebies in Hall H or when Marvel announces a whole slew of new projects for the first time? Absolutely! But, to me, it’s not worth the stress, planning, time-management, and sacrifice when there are so many other cool panels (and an entire Exhibit Hall) to experience. Plus, most of what happens in Hall H will be announced shortly thereafter anyway. (Just my two cents.)

With 4 years of experience attending San Diego Comic-Con, I definitely wouldn’t call myself an expert. There is still so much that I haven’t experienced, but I have learned a lot along the way. I’ve enjoyed the event itself, the journeys I’ve taken to get there each year, and the opportunity to share it with my favorite people (my family). The past few years have been challenging for SDCC due to two years of Covid shutdowns and the recent strikes that, unfortunately, negatively impacted the Con this year and resulted in us changing our plans. I am still a huge fan and am confident that next year’s SDCC will be back in its full glory and I can’t wait to be a part of it!

If you’ve ever attended SDCC, or any comic con, do you have any tips to add? I’d love to hear what you’ve learned. If you’ve never attended but it’s on your bucket list, I hope these tips will give you the nudge you’ve been needing to jump in and start a new tradition of your own!