13 JULY 2025
It's that time of year when questions about San Diego Comic-Con reach fever pitch. It's hard to anticipate what might confuse you when you arrive, so here are a few answers to some common questions.
Can I cancel my badge or hotel?
Not entirely. If you have a really good excuse (say, medical) you can contact CCI and plead for mercy. But the refund deadline passed a while ago.
If you booked your hotel on your own, it's a matter of whether it's refundable or not. If you went through the CCI hotel sale, you've already paid 2 nights and that deposit isn't coming back. However - right now at this moment - you can probably still cancel the other 2 nights.
When do I get in line?
The ultimate Comic-Con question. Here's my unsatisfying answer: it depends. Don't just assume you can play it safe by lining up days in advance - people have tried this and been forced to disperse, or staff have started an official line elsewhere and those people have had to join the end of that line.
If you're trying to get in Hall H, pay attention to the wristband rules and ask yourself how important it is to you to sit up front. Hall H is huge. Your best bet is to work with a group and pay attention to the Hall H line twitter account.
While Hall H has a fearsome reputation, it is walk-in at times - and this year that will probably hold true. Sunday's George Lucas /Guillermo Del Toro panel will probably be the line monster of the year so build your Saturday plans with that in mind.
For the Exhibit Hall, it depends on how desperate you are to buy certain items. I haven't lined up for this in years so I can't speak precisely to this, but hardcore collectors line up early. If you are dying to be in the first few hundred who get into Preview Night or the Exhibit Hall, you'll need to join these people and sacrifice a fair bit of time.
Can I bring tents/sleeping bags/coolers?
CCI does not want anyone erecting a full-scale shanty town - but sleeping bags, umbrellas (to block the sun), blankets, and chairs are fine. Remember that whatever you bring will need to go into the panels with you unless you have a very good friend who will come unburden you at the right moment.
You can use the Lobby G restrooms overnight.
Will offsites have standby lines?
Some will. Your best bets are early in the morning or end of day. But before you decide to fully commit, ask around online and see how long people have been waiting. Also look online for commentary on these offsites. You'll often hear people saying they're not worth it.
Can I barter in the Exhibit Hall?
It depends. When the Con first gets started, prices are usually as marked. You can ask for volume discounts (or the seller proposes one) but if you go in and try to haggle aggressively, you probably won't be successful. The exception is Sunday, when vendors want to unload as much product as possible. You'll see lots of markdowns, but go ahead and ask about getting a deal if you don't see anything advertised. Just be respectful about it.
Will booths have standby lines for people who didn't get picked in the lottery?
Most will. Some won't. I don't want to promise anything, so I'll just say that you should approach the desired booth, ask nicely, and be as charming as possible. Treat a "No" like a "Not right now" and say, "So maybe we could try again at end of day?" unless the volunteer/staffer seems angry at you. Then swing back when someone new is working.
I accessed my favorite small, high-demand booth last year only by being stoic, friendly, patient, and desperate all at the same time, eventually leading to the staffer (who kept banning me from even being in the area) allowing me to join a capped line. Bring all your soft skills to the Exhibit Hall because you will need them.
Can I buy exclusives anywhere else?
Quite often you can. Mattel and Funko are notorious for selling through multiple retailers, though some items will truly be Con-only.
Should I bring cash or card?
Both. Cash used to be king in the Exhibit Hall but most people take cards now and some don't take cash. Have both on hand.
Can I take pictures of cosplayers?
Sure. The general etiquette is to ask first. However, if someone is already posing for 6 cameras, there's no harm in jumping into the mix.
Sure. The general etiquette is to ask first. However, if someone is already posing for 6 cameras, there's no harm in jumping into the mix.
In terms of taking pictures with cosplayers, things get more nuanced. Remember that you're often going to be in a humid, crowded environment; cosplayers may not want dozens of sweaty strangers pressing up against them. (Would you?) So if you do take a photo with them, don't try to squeeze in. Be respectful; I shouldn't have to say this, but don't be one of those gross attendees making crude comments, groping, or even licking male and female cosplayers.
Where can I charge my devices?
Where can I put my stuff?
Bag check. It's in the lobby near A and E and lets you roam around free and unencumbered. But I believe you can't leave your items overnight.
If you've accrued a lot of books/art/plushies/swag and you aren't local - ship it home and keep your hotel room tidy. There's a FedEx in the convention center and at the Marriott next door, with some other options in the Gaslamp.
How do I meet people?
This used to be the #1 question, before lines became our prevailing obsession. I don't think it's just about romance (though that does seem to be on many attendee minds) but also making friends and building community. If you go to enough Cons, you eventually come to treasure seeing Con friends as much as the panels and parties.
This used to be the #1 question, before lines became our prevailing obsession. I don't think it's just about romance (though that does seem to be on many attendee minds) but also making friends and building community. If you go to enough Cons, you eventually come to treasure seeing Con friends as much as the panels and parties.
The answer here is really simple, it's.... talk to people. Wherever you find yourself, there will be something to talk about. There's always a rumor about a celebrity cancelation or a fight breaking out at a booth or a scandalous cosplayer costume or some other salacious detail of Comic-Con life. Attendees tend to be pretty friendly and laidback, so just turn around and get it started. Ask about a surprise offsite or live art show. SDCC is one nonstop information exchange.
If you are looking to hook up (and I admire your having that energy after a long day of Comic-Conning), your best bet is to go to events and bars and hit the apps just like you would normally. I'm currently dating someone who's convinced SDCC is a hedonistic Spring Break nerd orgy; this seems to be a common perception but it's an untrue one, in my experience. The unglamorous reality for many of us is that we limp back to our hotels on sore feet at the end of the night, too tired for anything else.
If you are looking to hook up (and I admire your having that energy after a long day of Comic-Conning), your best bet is to go to events and bars and hit the apps just like you would normally. I'm currently dating someone who's convinced SDCC is a hedonistic Spring Break nerd orgy; this seems to be a common perception but it's an untrue one, in my experience. The unglamorous reality for many of us is that we limp back to our hotels on sore feet at the end of the night, too tired for anything else.
How do I meet famous people?
Here's the law of Comic-Con: you run into all the celebrities your mom or coworkers or roommate care about, while someone else runs into the celebrities you care about.
A few exceptions include my running into Zach Woods in the lobby of the Omni at the crack of dawn; my ex-partner ran into Angelina Jolie and her guards behind the convention center by accident; my friend and I encountered James McAvoy at 4 am in a hallway in the Hard Rock. You can't plan that kind of thing. But I know people have their bag of tricks for this, like waiting in certain areas to see celebrities and their handlers emerge or lingering by certain booths after signings are over. Gaslamp bars will produce at least a few drunk actors, which leads to some amusing photos.
This should go without saying - but always be polite and respect whatever signals they're throwing up. I've seen abominable treatment of celebrities at the Con. Early in my SDCC days, I was swept into a Jack Black Exhibit Hall vortex that was terrifying. People pressed me against him (I apologized and he was very nice about it) and I saw the fear in his eyes as dozens of fanboys surrounded him.
This should go without saying - but always be polite and respect whatever signals they're throwing up. I've seen abominable treatment of celebrities at the Con. Early in my SDCC days, I was swept into a Jack Black Exhibit Hall vortex that was terrifying. People pressed me against him (I apologized and he was very nice about it) and I saw the fear in his eyes as dozens of fanboys surrounded him.
I feel like I'm going to miss out on everything. How do I know what's happening?
Check social, check YouTube reports, check the blogs and forums, and check mainstream nerd media. It might seem odd to read articles and watch videos about the Con when you're already there, but it's your best bet for finding out about things you'd otherwise miss. I am constantly hearing about booths/items on the floor that I somehow didn't notice or learning about screenings and events that were announced last minute. It's worth devoting time to this, because it feels horrible to come home and read about it all when it's too late.
I didn't get a badge. How can I get one?
You can pay $1900 to join the Comic-Con Museum or you can register yourself on comic-con.org and wait for Open Registration this fall. Next summer might seem far away but it does go quickly. In the meantime, join all the online communities, ask questions, make friends, and be ready for summer 2026.
Check social, check YouTube reports, check the blogs and forums, and check mainstream nerd media. It might seem odd to read articles and watch videos about the Con when you're already there, but it's your best bet for finding out about things you'd otherwise miss. I am constantly hearing about booths/items on the floor that I somehow didn't notice or learning about screenings and events that were announced last minute. It's worth devoting time to this, because it feels horrible to come home and read about it all when it's too late.I didn't get a badge. How can I get one?
You can pay $1900 to join the Comic-Con Museum or you can register yourself on comic-con.org and wait for Open Registration this fall. Next summer might seem far away but it does go quickly. In the meantime, join all the online communities, ask questions, make friends, and be ready for summer 2026.
What you shouldn't do: fall victim to some huckster who promises to sell you their badge. The odds are painfully high that you'll be taken for a ride.
Listen. Comic-Con is a bewildering, glittering monster that is way large to completely explore or master. But if you do a modicum of research and show up with your badge and a comfortable pair of shoes, you're guaranteed to have a good time. Stay tuned!
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