(no subject)

[rusty_halo]

Comic Con looks really cool. Anyone going?

I'm considering.

Anyone who's been there before, do you have hotel recommendations?

Comments

[snippy-kitty.livejournal.com]

That is very tempting but my bank balance is giving me evil glares.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

The cool thing about this is that the con itself is pretty cheap: $50 for a 4 day membership. Compare that to Buffy cons which are now $200+ for the bare minimum, and much more if you want extras or better seats....

But yeah, the airfare and hotels and such are still a pain. I need to figure out what I'm doing this year, though, and this one does look really cool. I like the diversity of it; lots of of different things to experience.

[chenanceou.livejournal.com]

I'm considering, but have to go through the consulate to renew my VISA and you never know these days.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

I hope it works out. I would LOVE to see you there. :)

[jerrymcl89.livejournal.com]

I've thought about going, pending my work schedule. Never been to San Diego, though, so I have no clue about the hotels.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

It would be really cool if you could make it. :)

I'm going to research hotels. They have a big list on their website but I think it's always better to hear from someone who's actually done it.

[harmonyfb.livejournal.com]

telaryn has gone and worked it several times - she says none of the hype is overstated. :)

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

Hee. Cool. It does sound really neat.

[spikewriter]

It's a pretty amazing con and it is huge -- their estimate of 87,000 is not exagerated. It's been a decade since I last made the trip, but it's an amazing event.

If you are considering it, I would recommend making the hotel reservations now and go for something either across the street or in the gas lamp district which is only a couple of blocks away. I can't remember the name of the hotel we stayed in, though it's an older one that's a great favorite among long-time attendees. The giant blinking neon sign of the joint across the street that proclaimed "HYPNO-SEXISM" was a bit distracting though since it stayed on all night and our room faced the street. I understand they've cleaned up that area somewhat since then. The good rooms fill up fast, though, and this is not something where you want to be far away. For one thing, there's the ability to drop crap off in your room to consider -- it's amazing how many promotional goodies are offered.

If you go, don't miss the masquerade -- people often work a year on some of these costumes and presentations.

It's pretty amazing, but it really is like nothing you've ever seen. For one thing, the dealer's room is more the size of a boat show than what you get at Vulkon or Creation.

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

I have been going to DragonCon--I plan to go again this year--and they are pretty big, like 20,000 - 30,000 people. Certainly bigger than a Buffy con! But yeah, Comic Con sounds even more amazing. Like, because they are so big, they are more likely to have "something for everyone," you know. I like the idea that you won't get bored because there's always different things happening.

I definitely want to be close... will have to figure out the hotel thing soon, then. Let me know if you remember the name of the one you were in.

[rockgoddes.livejournal.com]

I do very much want to go but this year it's the same weekend as Toronto Trek, so no go for me!

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

Oh, that's too bad! :(

I can't remember--are you going to DragonCon?

[redeem147.livejournal.com]

I'm going with senexmacdonald. Want to be roomies? (That's my friend Cindy. I think you met her in Tampa). Anywhere along the shuttle route works, not just walking distance. They are reliable and frequent.

The con totally rocks. Or am I too old to say that?

[rusty_halo.livejournal.com]

Ooh, cool! I'm really glad you're going.

Thanks so much for the roomie offer! I still have to figure out who I'm going with, though--10zlaine and lonners are both possibilities.

Thanks for the advice about the shuttles. That's reassuring. :)

Which hotel are you staying in?

You are never too old to say that something rocks. ;)

[chenanceou.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking of going - where are you staying?

[redeem147.livejournal.com]

Still working on it. If there are four, we can go for a bigger hotel. If just the two of us, the European style one or a bed and breakfast.

Hell Yeah!

[taradi.livejournal.com]

Comic-Con is like my annual nerd-mecca! Course I never recommend Sat. as it's NUTS and the reek of 25,000 geeks in one space is like nothing you can imagine :)

[thedeadlyhook.livejournal.com]

Any of the downtown hotels are pretty posh - go for the Marriott on the water or one of the other close-in hotels if you want to cut your transit time. But there's a free shuttle, so even if you go Holiday Inn by the Bay, you won't be in too much hardship for getting to and fro. But it's nice to be close to the convention center and the gaslamp district. On hotels: book early. The whole city sells out, and you'll want the con rate. Seriously.

SDCC is a BIG con. Like MacWorld for comics. The only one bigger I've not been to but wouldn't mind seeing someday is E3, the games convention.

[queenofattolia.livejournal.com]

As someone who's been to 9 Comic-Cons, I say, get a hotel closest to the convention center that is NOT in Gaslamp Quarter (the nexus of all noisy crowds/carousing tourist drunks in SD). I've stayed at the Hyatt and the Embassy Suites which are both within walking distance of the convention, but both are pricey (the ES includes a full breakfast and evening wine/beer/appetizers, though). I've stayed at the Marriott at Symphony Hall, the Radisson and the Wyndham in Horton Square, all of which are on the shuttle line to the convention -- the only one that was really lousy was the Marriott (horrible service). I've stayed at the Best Western Old Town, which is on the red car trolley line that will eventually take you to the convention (it takes a while) and a suites hotel (the name escapes me) in Hillcrest/Uptown that was barely adequate but cheap. The Best Western and the ES are the only two to which I've returned more than once.

Caveat: the Comic-Con is the hugest (in physical size, attendance AND events) con in the US. I last attended in 2003, when the sheer overwhelming hugeness of everything finally did me in, and I swore off attending again in the forseeable future. That said, the CC has the best guests, the best panels, the best freebies and the best exhibits by film, television, animation, toy and comics companies. Its dealers floor is unsurpassed. If you are young and have tons of stamina and endurance, you should attend at least once in your life. The rewards are often tremendous -- for example, I was able to take a picture of Dominic Monaghan with my little nephew at the WETA exhibit -- he was just walking around with his minders, taking everything in, and was completely accessible and really sweet to us. I've met some comic book writers I greatly admire. On the other hand, I now do not love Neil Gaiman the way I used to after sitting practically at his feet during a small, very smug and self-congratulatory Q&A he conducted. It cuts both ways, unfortunately.

Still and all, I'm glad I went all those years, and I doubt you'll regret it if you go, as long as you pace yourself, decide which Q&As, panels and exhibits you absolutely must see (while jettisoning all others), and stay somewhere that is comfortable and close.

Oh, and I can direct you to the best vegan and vegan-friendly restaurants in town, too -- just say the word. :)