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I spoke too soon. I was able to score 2 complete sets of daily passes.

See everyone there!

Great! I assume you jumped on the wait list right at 9am....how long were you waiting?

GABE! wrote:I spoke too soon. I was able to score 2 complete sets of daily passes.

See everyone there!

It took about an hour. It was messy since the link they provided didn't work if you clicked on it from the e-mail. I had to copy and paste the link into my browser for it to work which caused me to be almost 40,000th in line. Either way, I will be there so let's start planing the meet up and comic swap

GABE! wrote:

GABE! wrote:I spoke too soon. I was able to score 2 complete sets of daily passes.

See everyone there!

It took about an hour. It was messy since the link they provided didn't work if you clicked on it from the e-mail. I had to copy and paste the link into my browser for it to work which caused me to be almost 40,000th in line. Either way, I will be there so let's start planing the meet up and comic swap

Awesome news Gabe!

You would think they could have fixed the link problem by now. They've had a problem with clicking the link for the last 3 years I think.

GABE! wrote: It took about an hour.

That's not bad at all. It took me something like 3.5 hours last year buying a ticket that they ended up refunding me on later anyway since I couldn't transfer it to Stephen when I got my Press badge.

I use to stay at the Ramada in Mission Valley for years. I had options too with a trolley station just up the street or a quick drive on the 163. But even that place has gone up significantly over the years so I'm farther up the 163 towards Miramar. It really wasn't that bad last year with lots of food options before jumping on the highway and getting to the madness downtown. The key is getting that pre-paid parking.

One day, when I hit the lotto (yeah, right!), Coronado Island would be something fun to try. Or better yet, a house boat in the marina.

But if we are talking about money being no object and making an entrance, I say rent a submarine and have it sit on the bottom of the marina and have it resurface next to the con for effect and convenience. (just kidding but there IS a Russian sub down the street at the Maritime Museum).

I'm bringing my girlfriend on this trip so, even with the abbreviated three days of the the con, I think I want to sneak away to Coronado Island and Point Lobos during that time. It will be an interesting feeling with only being "partially" at the con rather than in the thick of it for 5 days and photographing everything.

I'm set with my pass, and got my hotel registration in 2 minutes 35 seconds after it went live, so everything should be set for this year.

Got my Press pass today & I have my Hotel (up by the airport).

Now I just need to keep an eye out for parking at the convention center.

BobBretall wrote:Got my Press pass today & I have my Hotel (up by the airport).

Now I just need to keep an eye out for parking at the convention center.

I'm all set, too. I think I'm going to try to get a parking pass also. My hotel is south of the convention center a way, but it's near the trolley, so if anything I'll take the trolley back and forth.

I got my registration in super early as well in the Hotel lottery...just waiting to hear what (if any) I scored. Looks like I'll be heading back to the convention this year.

Got my "Thanks for Playing" notice from the hotel lottery people...looks like I'll be hanging in the outskirts and either driving or commuting in. Ah well...at least I'll be there...

torchsong wrote:Got my "Thanks for Playing" notice from the hotel lottery people...looks like I'll be hanging in the outskirts and either driving or commuting in. Ah well...at least I'll be there...

So you didn't get any room & have to find something in the hinterlands on your own?

GABE! wrote: I'm all set, too. I think I'm going to try to get a parking pass also. My hotel is south of the convention center a way, but it's near the trolley, so if anything I'll take the trolley back and forth.

South of the convention center...... Are you all the way down in National City? There's not much south of the con center other than the Bayfront Hilton for many miles.

I used to stay at a hotel in National City in years gone by.

This all sounds like a ton of hassle. Is San Diego, oops, sorry, International Comic Con really worth all this? Does it really provide that much more entertainment and/or information than a smaller con where you don't have to sign up for lotteries to get a hotel?

Or is it not as bad as it sounds. I know when I book for Toronto I have to book a hotel, figure out parking (which in TO can be a royal PITA), and -- well, that's about it. And parking on the weekends actually isn't that bad. It just always costs money to park anywhere near the financial district. Which is where the cons are. But, if you were to listen to me every step of the way you'd think it was this huge mess while I compare rates, look at maps to determine how far I'm willing to drive, etc.

BobBretall wrote:

torchsong wrote:Got my "Thanks for Playing" notice from the hotel lottery people...looks like I'll be hanging in the outskirts and either driving or commuting in. Ah well...at least I'll be there...

So you didn't get any room & have to find something in the hinterlands on your own?

I went the Mission Valley route. Near a trolley and decidedly cheaper. They (comicon) offered a service for the outlying hotels where you get a nicely discounted rate provided you pay for it in advance with no cancellations allowed. So while the downside is I won't be "in the heart of it" (which has its own ups and downs), the upside is my hotel will be paid for before the con ever starts so I can spend a bit more freely and not have the "Well, I probably shouldn't because I'm going to have the hotel to pay for" monkey on my back.

Hopefully they'll keep this system in place from now on. It's a nice consolation prize if you don't win the downtown hotel lottery - you still have time to snag a decent place for considerably less dough.