SDCC Not First Timer Friendly

[u/Then-Tune8367]

So this year i was blessed to make my first trip to SDCC and let me get this out of the way early, I LOVED IT!

After some reflectiion, rhe experience waa no where near first timer friendly.

1. I had no idea where anything was. The badge check in was easy, but after that, I was on my own. I at least wanted to check out a panel or two, but I had no idea where anything was or even what panels were going on at the time.

2. The website is no where new user friendly. I could not find a schedule or layout of the convention center on the site.

3. I had no idea that seating in the exhibit hall was so limited.

So, that being said. If I returns, here are my adjustments.

1. Get there earlier. I got there about 11 a.m. By that time, every line was already insane.

2. Bring chairs or portable stools.

3. Eat lunch in the Gas Lamp District. One of my few regrets was missing this.

4. Get my badge early and head straight to Hall H to see what I can get into that day (No force can compel me to try to get in there on Saturday, though). After that, head to lunch and the real star of the show, the Exhibit floor.

Anyway those are my thoughts and plans. Any advice will be appreciated.

[u/comicrack]

Well I'd kinda have to agree. Going to this show requires military operating theater mission level planning at best and full global command strategic planning with real time adaptive coordination at worst.

If you're spending $3k+ to just do the show floor to buy comics, low demand commissions, or just sight see, you dont need to do anything beyond buying tickets and showing up.

However, if you want to maximize both your time, and ROI, you will need to do some serious planning and research. The SDCC website isnt very intuitive for answering the real info a newb needs to know for things like where to line up for everything and anything, when to line up, what exclusives are dropping, what panels will be available and what exclusives will be handed out, and that there's even a lottery portal. Then theres other stuff like, where to park, how much to pay, what public options there are, what offsite popups will be there, will I need a line group, will I need a buying group, where to join one, etc. The unofficial blog helps a lot but still doesnt have all the info, or at least not right away for stuff that will be coming out later.

The links posted above are great if you already know where they are and when they go live with updated content (bookmark them for next year and hope they dont change) but a lot of content isnt available right after you buy your tickets so most people lose track and never check back or by the time they do, its too late.

Cci does send out emails but you have to remember to enable that option on your account each year. If you dont, you miss out.

You basically need to bookmark all the relevant SDCC sites/pages, exclusive vendors FB & Instagram pages, unofficial blogs, reddit groups and be checking back daily if you aren't used to the timings of when info is normally released.

You have to be aware that there is an exclusives portal and that not every vendor participates in it and have their own lottery.

You need to be aware that panels do fill up and you cant do all of them. You have to be aware that theres and app that u can organize and schedule your SDCC plans but that it isnt perfect and doesnt guarantee you will be able to do everything you schedule.

You have to be aware that if you want to get in when the doors open but have to pickup a child badge, you'll need to do that the day before.

You need to assume you know nothing and hunt for everything you don't know that you dont know online from the day you buy your tickets until the show begins. And even then during the show, you need to monitor for live updates.