Are SDCC lines really worth it? A few thoughts.

21 JULY 2025

If there's one question that pops up again and again in SDCC communities, it's this: "how bad do you think the line will be?"

You could earn a doctorate studying all the nuances and factors that shape each line - but past being prologue, we can predict a few things with some certainty. 

~ Hall H will definitely incur "walk-in" status at times, but that isn't necessarily smooth sailing. If you want to be somewhere in the front of the room, you'll need to line up or arrive a few panels early.

~ Ballroom 20 will be doable (for the most part) but again, base your arrival time on the quality of seat you wish to claim. 

~ Yes, George Lucas and Guillermo del Toro in Hall H on Sunday will have a line. Almost everyone I've spoken to about this is sacrificing their Saturday night plans to make this happen, but some are content with any wristband.

~ Most ticketed offsites do have standby lines but there's no guarantee you'll get in or that they'll be worth it. Most of us have baked in the sun for 2+ hours just to get into an offsite that turned out to be quick, mediocre, and pointless. That said - lines sometimes dwindle early or late, and sometimes crews will let people in for an extra hour.

~ Don't count on someone official managing lines and making responsible calls on where the cut-off should be so you can move on. 

Just when is it time to move on?

I am a big believer in enjoying the Con you're at - which is hard to do when you spend hours every day in a line. So try to be realistic about when a line is worth it. While that somewhat depends on your fandom level, you'll also need to ask yourself if:

• You'll be disappointed if the offsite experience is over with in 3 minutes and doesn't offer significant swag.
• You would prefer to do 3 C-list offsites than wait hours for 1 A-list offsite.
• You would be okay seeing the panel on YouTube or in the Playback room.
• You'll feel let down if your favorite actor only speaks once, while the director dominates the panel.
• You'll be disappointed if you get stuck so far back in the room you have to watch the panel on a screen anyhow.
• You haven't gotten a chance to thoroughly explore the Exhibit Hall.
• You're hungry, thirsty, hungover, irritated, or exhausted and you really need a break. 
• There's an option B that you really want to see.

If you answer yes to most of those - I wouldn't spend significant time in that line.

The ultimate line tip is to check socials for real-time updates - not just for what you want to do, but what you've already written off. You might be pleasantly surprised; something that had an unbearable line last year might be up against another popular panel this year, which draws off some of the crowd.

Make smart choices - and good luck.

Knowing when a line is worth it

23 JULY 2024

If there's one question that has dominated our Comic-Con season, it's this: "will there by a standby line?"

With so many offsites and exclusives becoming ticketed or lotteried, people are loathe to give up hope on their SDCC dreams. I think there can be a misguided but plucky belief that persistence always pays off in the end and some kind-hearted staffer will see your line time and sneak you in. 

But this doesn't always (or often) happen. Ask veterans about the Game of Thrones experience from years ago, when people waited 12+ hours in line for naught. One True Blood panel - now I'm really reaching back - had people waiting in the hot sun for an entire day, even though it was clear from the volume that most weren't getting in. Don't count on someone official managing lines and making calls on where the cut-off should be based on room capacity. Often, you're on your own. 

I am a big believer in enjoying the Con you're at - and it's hard to do that if you spend all of it in a line. So try to be realistic about when a line is worth it. There is always something else to do. And so many attendees (including yours truly) have spent hours in line for an offsite that turned out to be 10 minutes of mediocrity.

Your decision will, of course, hinge somewhat on your fandom level. But you also need to ask yourself if:

• You'll be disappointed if the offsite experience is over with in 3 minutes and doesn't offer significant swag
• You would prefer to do 3 C-list offsites than wait hours for 1 A-list offsite
• You would be okay seeing the panel on YouTube or in the Playback room
• You'll feel let down if your favorite cast member only speaks once, while the director dominates the panel
• You'll be disappointed if you get stuck so far back in the room you have to watch the panel on a screen anyhow
• You haven't gotten a chance to thoroughly explore the Exhibit Hall
• There's anything else going on at the same time that you really want to see

If you answer yes to most of those - I wouldn't spend significant time in that line.

Always check socials for real time updates on lines - not just for what you want to do, but what you've already written off. Hall H and Ballroom 20 may become surprisingly walk-in at some point. A line might dwindle at your dream offsite or you may hear a rumor they're letting people in for an additional hour than was posted.

Make smart choices - and good luck.

Planning Your SDCC Line Strategy

13 JULY 2022

If there's one consistent pre-SDCC vibe in the air, it's fervor. People are jumping on every ticket and event they can and creating radical strategies to ensure Hall H entry. It's obvious that (Special Edition not withstanding) the 3 years since our last SDCC have created a state of deprivation. Attendees are even more zealous than they used to be and that's saying something. 

Most of this comes down to lines, with everyone trying to estimate how bad they'll be this year, the best time to line up for which room, and how to outfox their fellow attendees. If you're an SDCC veteran, you know that line times went off the rails in the last decade and that while the wristbands help, it can still be gruesome. And with so much online chatter about Hall H this year, people are proposing some really crazy times to line up. Some of which won't actually do them any good.

Remember that a Con without Hall H (or Ballroom 20 or Indigo Ballroom) can still be an incredible Con. You can attend more panels and events because you're not spending hours in line. But if you are determined to get inside one of the big rooms, here are a few considerations.

On camping - If you last went to SDCC during the Twilight years, when people set up literal campsites on the grass for days at a time, it's not like that now. If you try to line up too early, before the flag officially goes down to form a line, you've just wasted a lot of time. It used to be that it would happen after the NDL line got wristbanded at night, but I think in 2019 the official line started in the morning the day before.

On the quality of the panel experience - Imagine a scenario where you get into Hall H but are sitting at the back at the room and have to watch it on the screen. And your favorite actor or director is on stage, but they barely speak, while an actor you dislike does most of the talking. Is it still worth it? 

On Playback Room - I don't do this but it's an option if you missed your favorite panel. If a recording of the panel is emotionally satisfying for you, do this.

On sacrifices - Before you spend 20 hours in a line, make a list of everything you will give up for those hours and the hours you're in Hall H. If your goal is to see a certain trailer, which is going to be on YouTube in 1 day anyhow, it might not be worth it.

On holding spaces for other people - The official rule is 1 person can hold a spot for 5 people. Anyone who's watched a line suddenly acquire hundreds of people 30 minutes before wristbands are passed out knows that many people ignore that. Which is poor form in my opinion, but it happens. My advice is to make friends with the people in front of and behind you and let them know you'll be joined by 4 friends later so no one gets testy about it.

On bullies, fake wristbands, mobbing, and other past devils - It's all still fresh in our memory, right? While I still think most attendees share a sense of honor and community, I (and others) have noticed a rising aggression and mercilessness at the most recent Cons. If that happens again, do what you can to let a staffer know but don't expect them to do much about it. I've long believed that CCI needs to enforce line order with trained and paid security (not volunteers) but I doubt that's happening anytime soon. 

On Covid - We last lined up for Marvel and GOT in a different world. Will CCI take measures to ensure we're all spaced appropriately as we wait? Again - I doubt it. 

On competition - Remember that good panels in other rooms will draw off some of the heat. Someone might decide thar the Indigo Ballroom Friday panels are too good to pass up, which means they can't do the Saturday Hall H line on Friday.

On confirmation - It's easy to get the wrong information from a volunteer or staffer. When is the NDL officially forming; where is the line going to wrap around; how will wristbanding work; you can get answers that have nothing to do with reality. Always confirm what someone tells you.

I say this every year and I'll say it again: always remember that this Comic-Con could be your last. Who would have thought back in 2019 that a global pandemic would cancel SDCC20202 and SDCC2021? You can never really guarantee you're getting a badge next year - so think carefully about how you spend your Comic-Con time. 

See you in line.

A very aggressive Comic-Con

23 JULY 2019

San Diego Comic-Con ended 2 days ago. That means you're probably still reveling in your after glow - or realizing that sleep deprivation really can have disastrous effects - and trying to preserve that feeling for as long as possible.

Which means I'm reluctant to bring this up, but feel I have to. I know everyone is still excited about this year's Con, and I'll publish my summary tomorrow. I truly hope everyone had a great time. However, there was a disturbing dynamic in play this last week. I've been going to SDCC since 2002 and I have never seen such a ruthless group of attendees.

I'm under no illusion that Comic-Con has always been a bastion of angelic behavior. Attendees tend to be generous with each other, freely offering advice and help with badge sales and hotel rooms, but that's always coexisted alongside a certain amount of fighting and swindling. Tempers flare in an exclusives line, someone challenges a staffer. There was the unfortunate time someone stabbed someone else with a pen over a Hall H seat. These things happen in any big event.

But this Comic-Con felt different. At first I thought it was just me. On Thursday a man watched me walk across a parking lot, then approached, said "Hey, honey" and slugged me hard in the arm. I don't know why. It was bizarre. But I wrote it off as a weird incident - SDCC can bring out the crazies - until other people began mentioning problems. Such as....

• An unbelievable amount of line cutting and cheating. People kept contacting me with stories of people brazenly inserting themselves in offsite and panel lines ahead of them and refusing to move - and local staffers doing nothing about it. 

• Open hostility and roughness in the Exhibit Hall. One massive man carrying big bags on each shoulder just plowed through a crowd deliberately smacking taller people in the face - painfully. One guy had to be restrained from fighting him. One of my friends was repeatedly pushed in the back by a stranger to apparently force her through the crowd.

• Vendor line shenanigans. I posted about a guy who got bounced out on Preview Night after getting belligerent in the Hasbro line (and allegedly was later seen in the Gaslamp complaining they'd taken his badge.) People wrote me about other attendees getting confrontational with vendors and staffers to a point that made them nervous.

• I got physically shoved out of the way by two rugby-player-sized men so they could get good seats at a panel. I was waiting at the end of a row for the current people to slide out; the men literally pushed me away, climbed over another woman and forced the exiting people to shrink back into their seats. They were huge and just moved attendees out of the way like furniture so they could claim the row.

• I also saw people try to save a ridiculous number of seats, including random seats that were nowhere near them. One woman screamed aggressively at anyone who sat in an empty seat that her friends were still in line and she was saving it, until a volunteer forced her to stop.

• I myself tangled with a satanic volunteer for asking a fair and polite question. I didn't even ask her but a volunteer near her and she stepped in and went on a tirade that was unhinged. Again - bizarre and purposeless.

• People reported a known Hall H line bully who terrorized people again this year. He not only cut in line but brought an estimated 40 people with him - and when people protested, he told the men "you better keep your chicks in check" (seriously) like some bad biker movie. Things got contentious; attendees recognize him apparently and so some of them filmed the whole thing and showed staffers - who did nothing. 

• Attendees also reported anywhere from 200-300 people cutting into the Hall H line at the last minute, so that they kept getting shoved back despite originally being close to the front. This happens every year but apparently this year was especially awful.

• This may not seem like a big deal, but I repeatedly encountered people making scornful virgin jokes and disdainful comments about nerds, the Con and various content - like these women at the National Geographic Nerd Nite  party who called the neuroplasticity presentation "stupid," "boring" and a "buzzkill" and talked over it. Guess what? If you think you're superior to Comic-Con, science and the nerds who love it, just leave. We won't miss your philistine ass.

• I met a staffer who was visibly upset after an encounter with attendees who were rude to her and said, "Everyone's so impatient this year. Everyone's in a bad mood."

Maybe none of that sounds earthshattering. It wasn't like we all descended into Lord of the Flies madness. But it was upsetting to see and experience - and I know of multiple attendees who left lines or the convention center in tears after being shouted at, bullied or cut out of a panel or purchase.

I don't know the solution; staffers told me they were short-handed this year and feeling it. I really hope this isn't Comic-Con's future. Because honestly, SDCC is stressful enough. The crowds, the lines, the glaring sun, the realization that you're not getting into the panel you waited for all year. Usually other attendees grasp that and try to make our little community a friendly one. And that was still in play for most of us, but it did seem that a significant number brought their worst selves.

Hopefully next year is more organized, less frustrating and, well, just more civil. Because no one wants to go to a Con this cutthroat.

I'll post my 2019 summary tomorrow.

How's your Comic-Con going?

19 JULY 2019

It's Friday, which many consider the best day of this year's Comic-Con. Whether you agree or not, you can't deny there is a lot to do.

Hall H offers your final Game of Thrones panel, the Walking Dead, The Witcher, Dark Crystal and more. Ballroom 20 has Veronica Mars, Amazon's The Boys and Carnival Row, and Indigo Ballroom is an animation feast. Spending your entire day in one of these rooms is an excellent plan.

But there's a lot going on otherwise. Plenty of cosplay panels at the Marriott, a smattering of comic panels. In the late afternoon, things get very interesting:

• Parks and Rec take over the Horton, followed by Nathan Fillion
• Creepshow freaks out horror fans
• A trio of LGB panels bring in the evening
• NASA's hunt for alien life, monsters and Ray Harryhausen fill up 26AB from 4:30 to 7:30

And then tonight Hush makes its debut in Ballroom 20 with 2 showings at 7:15 and 9:30.

Now. Let's assess the Con we've already had. The biggest issue: line failures. I'm not talking about the recurring messy issues that happen every year, but some serious chaos that has taken place within the Exhibit Hall, outside the convention center, on shuttles and everywhere else. Volunteers and staff losing control of their lines, attendees left to bake in the sun without anyone notifying them of changes, and worse. Are there new strategies in place this year that sounded good in theory but are horrible in reality? Were staff not trained well? Many experienced attendees who know the difference between a typical line complaint and a more serious one are asking.

Quote from one current press pro and former attendee: "This is my 9th Comic-Con and it is by far the most disorganized. Entry, lines, buses and more. Makes me think that new people took over. Seems nobody has thought much through."

And yesterday I was with 2 people who've come since 1996 (!) and someone else who's been around about as long as I have (2002) - in short, we're hardened attendees who've seen some serious SDCC scandals and horrorshows in our time. And we were taken aback by some of yesterday's bewildering line fails.

I also want to bring up first-timers. I had the impression that this wasn't a big year for them but I was wrong; I keep running into them at least. Their collective impression - or my impression of their impression, rather:

• They feel they can't get into anything because of the lines. So let me say here - most lines are natural and manageable. It doesn't mean a panel is impossible to access, it just means you have to wait a bit. Make a list of your priorities and check on the line. You may need to wait 2 hours or 30 minutes or not at all. Please don't give up on your desired panels because there's a line for it.
• They're not checking the programming. Instead many seem to be just walking around, dazzled by the sights, but ultimately not sure what they're supposed to be doing. Two girls I met didn't even read their SDCC guide or check online for panels or events. They were aware of Hall H and offsites and that's it.
• Some of them are too cautious for their own good. The 2 girls I met were so afraid of "getting in trouble" that they were freaked out by staff ushering them away from celebrities at booths and didn't understand which exits, escalators, etc. they could take or what they were "allowed" to do. Here's the thing: you need to advocate for your own interests at Comic-Con. You can't be timid or passive. My advice is to go for what you want and if someone official says "no," then you can turn back, but don't be paralyzed by confusion and fear. As Danton said, Boldness, boldness again and always boldness. 
• Other first-timers I met seem to have come here with zero clue about SDCC reality. The crowds, the lines, the walking. I feel like even cursory research about SDCC would yield these mentions, but apparently you don't know what you don't know so they didn't think they needed to do research. Now they know.

(Remember, if you're a first-timer - I want your story.)

As far as programming and panels and events: seems to be a typical year. Some attendees are thrilled, others feel it's a more humdrum Con. I ran into some very old comic nerd friends who shared my sentiment that this is not a year for comic fans. The Exhibit Hall doesn't seem to be igniting anyone's consumer passions. Offsites: I still don't know anyone personally who went through Amazon but did hear a good report from Pennyworth's club offsite. The Fandom party was supposedly good. I think by tomorrow morning we'll have a stronger sense of how things are shaking out.

Today's going to be a long one for me but I'll report what I can. Enjoy your day and make the most of the splendor around you.

When should you get in line?

16 JULY 2019

If there's one question SDCC newcomers ask, it's about lines - specifically, when they need to get in them and what the "tricks" are for outfoxing their fellow line-waiters.

To answer both of those:
There is no definitive time (and people don't like to post times because then everyone shows up before them, and it becomes a hellish cycle)
There are no tricks for getting to the front of a line other than getting there early.

Make no mistake, lines are the biggest grievance at San Diego Comic-Con. Some people cope by simply eliminating the big rooms (Hall H, Indigo Ballroom and Ballroom 20) from their lives or turning away if they see a line for something else. You can live this way and have a stupendous Comic-Con. But if your heart is set on something line-worthy - and for most of us, it will be at some point - here are some ideas to mull over.

When is a line worth it?

I'm a big believer in enjoying the Con you're at - and it's hard to do that if you spend all of it in a line. Some people work in groups with complicated systems involving assigned shifts, but the vast majority of attendees just have their friends to rely on. So here are a few considerations before you get in line:

• Would you be okay seeing the panel on YouTube or in the Playback room?
• Will you be disappointed if your favorite cast member only speaks once, while the director and some other cast member dominate the panel?
• Will you be annoyed if you get stuck so far back in the room you have to watch the panel on a screen anyhow? Or if the offsite experience is over with in 3 minutes and doesn't offer significant swag?
• Is there anything else at the same time you want to see?

Always compare what you're getting with what you're giving up. 

When should you get in line?

The perennial question. The basic answer is: early enough to get a good seat but not so early that you miss out on the Con. There's no Magic 8 ball here. You can check Twitter for real time updates on line length or swing by to monitor it. Smaller panels really aren't that competitive, unless you want to stake your claim to get the very best seat. Often people will sit through the panel(s) ahead to ensure that, but this is a subject of some contention.

Will the lines be about the same as last year?

Not necessarily. The number of attractive offsites can disperse a crowd across many lines or concentrate it in a few unbearable ones. The big room lines depend on what the day's line-up is. Something that's penetrable one year can be a madhouse the next. And if the hottest panel of the day is early, then often the room will clear out to let another swarm of attendees in.

When's the best time to do offsites?

Depends. In general, offsites are best done early on in the Con because the lines grow throughout the weekend. Or you can try popping in at the very end of each day or Sunday. Typically, a few activations will get the best buzz and have ungodly lines by Saturday. Do be aware that registering for something doesn't mean skipping the line in most cases. Often those online registrations are just about getting your data. There's a reason they're hosting the offsite.

Should I give up on Hall H entirely?

No! Some panels will be walk-in or have manageable lines. You can also find people to partner with in line. Obviously titans like Marvel, GOT, Riverdale, Supernatural and Westworld are going to be highly competitive. But you've got a good shot if you dedicate yourself to the cause.

Also consider the context of other lines. Let's say Hall H is having a highly popular day Saturday and a not so in-demand day Thursday. Saturday will draw more people out of your Indigo Ballroom line - but on Thursday, your line could be more crowded and competitive.

How many line spots can I hold?

Hall H has the 5:1 rule, but in general, most people are fine if a friend or two join you in line. What they're not fine with - and it's been a major problem - is when 10 friends jump in at the last second. You can start out being #133 in line and wind up being #640, despite putting in the hours that other people ahead of you didn't. When a room capacity cuts off just a few people in front of you, it's galling. So be considerate about how many people join you.

Can I sleep in line?
People do. SDCC is not a crime fest, and though there are urban legends about wristbands being stolen off sleeping attendees, I think you're pretty safe. Just chat up the people around you - it's not like getting stuck talking to your seatmate on a plane, you can easily withdraw - and they'll look out for you. And yes, some people go out, get wasted, then stagger into line and sleep it off.


What are common line mistakes?

There are usually multiple lines at any given moment - which makes it very possible to join the wrong line. Verbally confirm which line you're in or you might spend 90 minutes in a line for something you don't care about.

Volunteers and staffers are lovely people, but they're not omniscient. Use common sense. If they're tell you "Oh, they're still letting people in" 10 minutes after a panel has started, move on. Take control of your destiny at SDCC; there's a lot of confusion flowing around and sometimes you need to recognize rubbish when you hear it.

Time your food and restroom breaks carefully. It was years ago, but a Twilight fan was killed by a car when running to rejoin a Hall H line that had finally started to move. You can always ask for a pass when you're in the room (most rooms.)

Always remember that this Comic-Con could be your last. Badge and hotel sales are too unpredictable to count on being here next summer. So live this Comic-Con as intensely as you can - and don't spend all of it in a line.

How to know when a line is worth it

21 JULY 2017

By now, you've heard the stories about Conan and the Game of Thrones experience: people waiting 12+ hours in line and sometimes not getting in. Then there's the Westworld offsite, which only admits 120 people a day - so people are determined to line up earlier and earlier to sign up each morning.

I am a big believer in enjoying the Con you're at - and it's hard to do that if you spend all of it in a line. I know some people work in groups with complicated systems involving assigned shifts, but the vast majority of attendees just have their friends to rely on.

Obviously the Conan situation was new - a few people who actually had tickets were turned away because they overbooked, and the standby line for both A and B shows were sent away. In previous years, some standbys did get in. The Westworld offsite limitations weren't communicated well either. But the Game of Thrones offsite line wasn't a surprise and there are lines in every direction for other events.

You can read my Q&A on lines here but I'm going to repost this: knowing when a line is worth it. Last night I talked to several people who didn't even set foot in the Con because they spent all day in line without seeing their intended destination. Not a great way to kick of Comic-Con.

Deciding when the wait is worth it partly depends on your fandom level. But you also need to ask yourself if:

• You would be okay seeing the panel on YouTube or in the Playback room
• You'll feel let down if your favorite cast member only speaks once, while the director and star dominate the panel
• You'll be disappointed if you get stuck so far back in the room you have to watch the panel on a screen anyhow
• You'll be disappointed if the offsite experience is over with in 3 minutes and doesn't offer significant swag.
• You haven't gotten a chance to thoroughly explore the Exhibit Hall
• There's anything else going on at the same time that you really want to see.

If you answer yes to most of those - I wouldn't spend more than a few hours in line.

I'd also advise checking Twitter for real time updates on lines - not just for what you want to do, but what you've already written off. My first-timers assumed that Hall H and Ballroom 20 would be impossible but both were walk-in at various points of yesterday.

Also, look around at other offsites. It's probably better to do 3 B-level offsites than wait 8 hours for an A-level offsite you never even get into it. Hit up Netflix at Hilton Gaslamp or do the Tech Pavilion at the Omni. (I'll review this later - it's worth visiting.) The Blade Runner experience is getting popular but it's worth a try; same for the Kingsman offsite; there's also the Tick and so on. I realize coming home from Comic-Con with those cool GOT videos of yourself is a major get - but make sure you're okay with sacrificing an entire day for them.

Finally, as Conan taught us, don't count on this year being the same as every other year. Crowd preferences change, new management teams institute new policies, and attendees get more skilled at accessing certain activities. Something that's penetrable one year can be a madhouse the next.

I'll post an update on the various Con announcements and developments later today. Till then, have a happy Con and make smart choices.

Q&A on San Diego Comic-Con lines

14 JULY 2017

It's our last weekend before Comic-Con. By now you know the top exclusives on your list, who you want a signing from and which days will be your busiest. But you've also probably realized that many of your choices swing on whether you even can get into a certain panel or room.

Lines are - after getting badges and hotel rooms - the biggest grievances at San Diego Comic-Con. You'll hear people say that it's not even worth going anymore or that it's impossible to get into Hall H. The first is a matter of opinion, the second is flatly untrue. You can triumph over most line situations - it's just a matter of what you're willing to give up. You might want to sacrifice smaller game for one big kill, or opt to keep your time free.

Here are some of the questions I get on lines.


What kind of thing will I have to stand in line for?

Many things. It's not just Hall H; there could be a line to pick up pre-sale exclusives, to get an autograph, to enter a gaming tournament, to go to a screening at the Horton.

Why are the lines so long?

Because we're all barking mad. We've gotten to the final round of the journey that is trying to attend San Diego Comic-Con and nothing will stop us from obtaining our panel, toy or film of choice.

And there's the fact that SDCC doesn't clear rooms - so instead of waiting in a line to see the first panel of the room, you'll be waiting with people there to see a panel four hours from now.

Can someone hold my place?

To an extent. Definitely work with partners, but don't install one person to hold places for 10 people who show up at the last second. When this happens over and over, you can wind up with an extra 200-300 people ahead of you who didn't wait like you did. This has been a huge source of contention in recent years. Huge as in, causing bitter and longstanding feuds.

Does standing in line mean I'll definitely get access?

Not always, not in a guaranteed way, no. There have been situations when thousands of people spent the night in line for a panel they would never get into. It is very difficult to assess how many people in a line snaking around the back of the convention center will fit into a room. Most often you just have to guess.

And some lines - for drawings, say - are a crapshoot. If only 1 out of 3 people in that line will get the exclusive or autograph, you need to weigh the odds against what else you'll miss out on.


Hall H is a slightly different story. The wristbands provide some guarantee and have mitigated - though not eliminated - the unpredictability and disappointments of the Hall H line. The 4-day campouts, people cooking on tiny grills, that woman getting hit by a car and dying because she was so afraid of losing her spot, the fight where one attendee stabbed another in the eye with a pen  - it was anarchy for a few years. Things are more orderly now, but you'll still need to dedicate effort and time to getting a good wristband.




What time will I need to get in line?

Early. It's unusual to make back-to-back panels in different rooms unless they're fairly small. Accept the need to spend time in line and plan your day accordingly.

Some panels are walk-in. Yes, even Hall H. Do a drive-by if you can a few hours ahead of time; check Twitter and ask; play it safe if the panel is important. It's really easy to overestimate the line time (like when I spent 12 hours in line for an X-Files panel and sat next to someone who'd waited about 90 minutes) and underestimate it - the first NASA panel at SDCC had people lined up 3 hours in advance but a ton of attendees showed up within 30 minutes and were shocked to find they couldn't get in.

Also consider the context of other lines. Let's say Hall H is having a highly popular day Saturday and a not so in-demand day Thursday. Saturday will draw more people out of your Indigo Ballroom line - but on Thursday, your line could be more crowded and competitive.

If you're deciding when to get in line for some kind collector/exclusive invent involving Hasbro, Mattel or some other behemoth - do your research on the specific company you're targeting. As I said in my most recent exclusives post, almost every "regular" collector I know has come away from SDCC in the last 4-5 years angry and empty-handed because it's so difficult to triumph over what can feel like a rigged system. You'll do best to seek guidance from attendees experienced in that particular domain.


Offsites are best done early on in the Con because the lines grow throughout the weekend. But I did hear about some people getting lucky on Sunday, so apparently it just depends. As with many things at Con, early morning or early evening can be prime time for minor drawings and events.



Why do people get so frustrated with lines?

It's not just a matter of waiting. A lot of people actually like sleeping outside and waiting in long lines. It's a chance to rest and catch up with friends or make new ones. It also makes people feel hardcore and gives them bragging rights.

However, it doesn't always go smoothly. See the aforementioned dynamic where dozens or even hundreds of people join their friends in front of you at the last second, shoving you way back in line.

Exhibit Hall lines can get really ugly. Remember - rules and guidelines can change on a dime, the staff isn't always prepared for demand, and the whole melee is supervised by different types of staff and guards. So attendees can get conflicting directions for where to line up, be told they can't line up, told to line up but not given the right ticket to actually purchase something, be forced to disperse while a difference staff member lets new people in, etc. There's also the horror show of when a line is moved, and a bunch of attendees take advantage of the confusion by jumping in at the front.

There's no surefire trick here. Be polite with staff, even if they're belligerent, and plant seeds of doubt by telling them that a different staffer gave you permission to line up/buy/enter the drawing. Form solidarity with the people around you in line. But when all is said and done, there will possibly be times you get screwed and you can't do anything about it.


When is a line worth it?

This is highly individual. But you need to ask yourself if:

• You would be okay seeing the panel on YouTube or in the Playback room
• You'll feel let down if your favorite cast member only speaks once, while the director and star dominate the panel
• You'll be disappointed if you get stuck so far back in the room you have to watch the panel on a screen anyhow
• You haven't gotten a chance to thoroughly explore the Exhibit Hall
• There's anything else going on at the same time that you really want to see.

If you answer yes to most of those - I wouldn't spend more than a few hours in line.

What are common mistakes with lines?

Randomly joining a line is always a mistake. Check which line you're in. It's easy to be told the wrong thing and spend 90 minutes in a line for something you don't care about.

If you can't find a line, don't accept "I don't know" from a staffer. This happens with autographs, smaller events, Horton panels and other events. Keep asking, keep waiting, ask online. (See my Horton panel advice.)

Other times people wait in line long after they lose any hope of getting in. Follow logic over what a volunteer tells you. I've told this story before about a Neil Gaiman panel where the room filled, the door closed, the panel started, but the volunteer kept telling us we were getting in. People dutifully waited long after it was clear we were not getting in. Take control of your destiny at SDCC; there's a lot of confusion flowing around and you'll need to dig for the truth sometimes.

While it's hard to tell precisely when a line will be admitted to a room, you should play it safe in terms of going to the bathroom or out for coffee. If you think there's any chance your line will start getting ushered into the room - and this can happen well before your panel or screening starts - do not leave the line. If you come back from the restroom and your friends are already in the room, you can't jump to the front of the line unless those people are willing to take you at your word that you were just in line.



Is it possible to do SDCC without lines?

Yes. Remember that the big room panels usually have their panels shown in the Playback Room. If you only want to see 1 panel and don't want to wait 4 hours to get into the room and then sit through another 3 panels, this is a good option. I know everyone wants to be within the physical presence of their favorite casts, but when there's 4,000 people between you in the room, it's not going to feel that physical anyhow.

Or you can just opt for multiple smaller panels instead of blowing your energy and time on that one Game of Thrones or Stranger Things Hall H panel. This is how I roll and for me it's a happier strategy. If one panel is dull, no big deal - I didn't invest an entire day in it. It also frees me up to eat or go back to my room or meet up with someone on the fly.

But I am going to do a long line campout. How can I make it more bearable?

Obviously you want to share line duty with a partner. If you don't know anyone, ask around - you'll find someone else intent on the same panel/line.

Bring whatever you need for the long haul - snacks, water, blankets, air hammock, chair, phone battery, ipod. Also do research into local 24-hour coffee shops, stores and restaurants (limited) so you can go on a run whenever you need to. Yes, some actors will come by and hand out donuts or pizza but it's nothing to bank on.

Talk to the people around you. This isn't like getting stuck on a plane listening to someone's stories about their knee surgery. You're with people who share your interests, it's a relief to exchange hotel or badge sale war stories, and you'll hear all kinds of great Con news and gossip. Your new pals will also save your spot while you hit the loo or go get breakfast. This really is one of everyone's favorite parts of the Con. Last year I chatted up two people in a Syfy line and this year I'm driving down to the Con with one of them.

If you lived through the 2017 badge and hotel tumult, then you know in your heart that this Comic-Con could be your last. The demand is just too dire these days to feel certain of being there next summer. Consider that when you're deciding how to spend your days and hours. You want to live your Comic-Con at maximum enjoyment - so think hard before you spend all of it in a line.

13 tips for masterminding your line strategy

15 JULY 2016

At this point, you probably have a good idea of your Comic-Con priorities. You at least know which panels you want to see, which exclusives you want to get, and which events you'd like to attend. And now you need to calculate the lines involved for all of them, collaborate with partners on who can stand in what line, and then discard the smaller game you'll sacrifice to get the bigger kill.

Take the Star Trek premiere Wednesday night. You will line up for a drawing earlier that day. We don't know exactly how many tickets are available, but we do know that many of us will draw losing tickets. People without Preview Night badges may not be in town early enough to participate - and people with Conan tickets for that day need to get in that line that morning. Factor all of that into your decision on when and if to line up for this drawing.

Same with waiting in line for drawings on autographs and exclusives. Weigh what else you're missing at the Con against this possibility of winning or losing.

Hall H is a different story. The wristbands give you some guarantee you'll get in and while many people make fun of them (including me, in the past), I do think they've reduced the chaos and conflict of the Hall H line. The 3-days campouts, people cooking on tiny grills, fights over cutting in line, that woman getting hit by a car because she was so afraid of losing her spot - it was pretty much anarchy for a few years. It's definitely calmer now. But you'll still need to dedicate effort and time to getting a good wristband.

Here are a few general practices that can help you make wise decisions on lines:



#1. Pack provisions. Batteries for your devices, water, snacks, blankets if you're outside in the San Diego night; you don't want to put 2 hours into a line and then throw it all away because you're starving or cold.

#2. Talk to the people around you. This happens naturally at Comic-Con, even for introverts who loathe small talk. One, it's not small talk; we all have interests in common. Two, SDCC fosters an atmosphere that is friendly yet chill, with everyone feeling pretty comfortable. So get to know your line friends. They'll hold your place while you run for coffee, they'll tell you about events or signings you didn't know about, and they may have valuable information about the fandom you share. Plus it's just a fun way to pass the time.

#3. Always check which line you're in. It's too easy to be told the wrong thing and spend 90 minutes in a line for something you don't care about.

#4. Be very proactive about finding out where lines are. Volunteers and guards don't always know, or will feed you some weak excuse just to get you to go away. For instance, last year a girl at my NASA panel missed the Spirited Away screening because multiple volunteers couldn't tell her where to line up for Horton tickets. Later I ran into the same problem (the Horton line is usually opposite Ballroom 20 doors, right by the Sails Pavilion, FYI.) Another year I was in line for a Neil Gaiman panel that went on forever. The volunteers kept telling us they were letting people in. The panel started, 10 minutes passed, 15 minutes, he assured us we'd get in. Finally we sent a scout to the front of the line who reported that the doors were closed, no one else was getting in. You do have to take control of your destiny at SDCC because there's too much misinformation flowing around.

#5. On that note, go ahead and ask people in uniforms for help - but it's your fellow attendees who usually know the answer. That's not to trivialize volunteers in any way, but volunteers only have the information they're given.

#6. When it comes to the Exhibit Hall, lines can get contentious. And it's not uncommon to get conflicting directions from different types of staff and guards. Every year attendees get furious because they're told the line is closed for a certain booth - then someone lets new people wait, who buy up the exclusives, and it all gets rather ugly. There's no surefire trick here. Just keep asking different people and if someone challenges you, say, "That person told me I could stand here/wait/buy that." Usually this buys you time as they conference and you get closer to your goal.

#7. Remember that the big room panels (Hall H, Ballroom 20) usually have their panels played back that night. If you only want to see 1 panel and don't want to wait 4 hours to get into the room and then sit through another 3 panels, this is a good option. I know everyone wants to be within the physical presence of their favorite casts, but when there's 4,000 people between you in the room, it's not going to feel that physical anyhow. Going to the playback sessions at night (check the programming for times and rooms) can free up your days to do other stuff.

#8. That said, don't assume every big room panel is inaccessible. It's been quite uneven in recent years, with some walk-in Ballroom 20 and Hall H panels, and others requiring an all-night vigil. Overall, the big room lines have gotten much more reasonable; I think people are just over it.

#9. Standing in line with friends definitely helps free you to fetch takeout or stretch your legs. Everyone expects to see that kind of shift work. But don't be the person who waits alone in the 6BCF line and then is joined by 13 other people moments before the panel starts. That's going to piss off the people behind you who put in the time, just like it would annoy you. When this happens over and over, you can wind up with an extra 200-300 people ahead of you who didn't wait like you did.

#10. If you're unsure of how people take care of business in these long waits/room vigils, some panel will give out tickets so you can slip out for a bio break. Hall H has restrooms in the space. You can also use the lobby restrooms overnight. Some restaurants deliver to outside lines. And yes, the rumors about certain celebrities handing out donuts or pizza or coffee to the Hall H line have been true in the past but it's nothing to bank on.

#11. Offsites are best done early on in the Con because the lines grow throughout the weekend. Remember, a whole new crowd floods in on Saturday. If you're really attached to visiting the Fear the Walking Dead yacht, don't put it off. Get it done early on if you can.

#12. Try to calculate how much of the crowd will clear out for your panel. Let's say you want to see Archer on Friday at 5 pm. Indigo is a popular all-day activity for animation fans on Friday, but it's a safe bet that some attendees who got in line while it was dark out for those first panels will pack it in by afternoon and go get a meal and a shower. Not that I'd advise showing up at 4 pm, but I wouldn't say you need to be there at 5 am either.

#13. If you're interested in a panel and can't guesstimate how bad the line will be, try to swing by the general area and monitor the situation. Ask people which panel that line is for. When NASA first came to the Con, people were still getting in line just minutes before the first panel - apparently they assumed it wouldn't be that in demand. (They didn't get in.) It's easy to both underestimate and overestimate how many people will try to get into a panel. Check Twitter for panel line estimates and post your own - attendees appreciate it.

I've mostly talked about panel lines here. Mattel, Hasbro and that whole carnival involves a different strategy, and I would advise searching out tactics on the specific company you're targeting. Not to be a gloompuss, but almost every "regular" collector I know has come away from SDCC in the last 4-5 years angry and empty-handed because it's so difficult to triumph over what can feel like a rigged system. I don't want to steer you awry, so please ask for specific tricks and tips from attendees experienced in that particular domain.

In general, my feeling on lines is this: it's always best to enjoy the Comic-Con you're at because it could be your last. Your enjoyment could be catching up with friends in a line camp-out (because really, how often do any of us just sit down and talk for hours these days?) or it could be a day mixed with offsites, the Exhibit Hall, and one panel. Only you know what's most urgent in your Comic-Con heart. And you could easily fail in both badge sales for 2017 - so before you spend all of this Con in one line after another, think about what will make you happiest.

Note on "limited signings & seatings"

10 JULY 2015




If you want to attend a panel at the Horton Theatre or go to another "limited seating" event - or get a certain kind of "limited signing" autograph - there's some confusion about where to line up. A girl in my Martian panel yesterday went to the convention center at 6:30 a.m. and couldn't find where to line up to get a ticket for the Spirited Away screening last night; not one volunteer or staffer could tell her. Considering that this particular line is usually just for raffle tickets for drawings to get an event/autograph ticket - this equals a colossal waste of time.

So here it is. Opposite the Ballroom 20 doors  - the ones you enter through - is a small blue maze of dividers tucked in the corner. This is where you line up. Apparently yesterday the Doctor Who autographs made this line a nightmare; today it was so minimal they just passed out tickets to us. But quite a few people had a hard time finding it and hardly any staffers/volunteers knew what to tell us. In fact, at one point an "Ask Me" person asked us why we were there.

So now you know. Hopefully this can save some of you some time.

What we learned about lines this weekend

26 JULY 2014



So we had some epic lines last night. And it turned out that the waiting was a waste of time for many people - either because they could have gotten in without waiting or because they wouldn't have gotten in no matter what.

Some people reported spending 20 hours in line (which I hope was an exaggeration) and some reported spending 30 minutes in line for the same Ballroom 20 panel. I don't know if that's true because I wasn't there. But even allowing for a slight stretching of the truth, it still points to the reality that these spine-breaking, overnight camping trips just aren't always necessary.

I know some of you will say "well, I got in the front row so it was necessary" - and good for you. But for those of you who just want a reasonably good seat and a good night's sleep, it looks like you could have had both, for Ballroom 20 at least. People are going to be able to see True Blood with only a few hours' wait. That is a huge improvement over previous years.

Hall H was a different story. I spoke to someone who slept outside, then baked in the sun part of the day before giving up. In general, people seem grumpier about this line than Ballroom 20, perhaps because the wristbands and guards made it a more regimented experience. So maybe the lesson here is, know when you've been beat.

Probably this isn't much help. No one can foresee how bad a line will be, so people play it safe and early, and then it evolves into this. But we have got to come up with something better.

Estimating line times

15 JULY 2014

A lot of people are asking what time they need to get in line for panels. Here's my most honest answer: I don't know. It's very hard to predict these things.

For instance, for years Hall H had a line days before the Con. But once Twilight went away, so did that trend; last year, the line for Thursday was quite minimal until Thursday dawn.

You can read my tips on lines from last year. Most importantly, if you're new, realize you'll have to wait in line to get your badge, which eliminates the possibility of getting in line early for the big rooms that day. (This is a bitter reality for people with one single day badge, which is why I wish CCI would let everyone pick up their badges in advance at satellite locations.) Also, always ask what line you're standing in unless it's supremely obvious. It's easier than you think to spend an hour in the wrong line.

Also - decide in advance if it's really worth it to spend hours and hours in line, then more hours sitting through panels that bore you stiff, to see a 50 minute panel of your favorite show. (Often from the back of the room, where you watch it on a screen.) A lot of times the panel goes like this - the moderator warms up the crowd for a bit, the stars emerge, they give a few semi-canned responses and banter with each other, then there's some footage, then Q&A in which the stars answer 1 or 2 questions each. And then it's over. Inevitably a shaky recording of the panel shows up on YouTube (or you can see it in the replay room) and then the footage is released to the public. In the meantime, you've missed out on a ton of other panels, and you're often too tired and hungry to do anything but eat a meal and collapse.

Only you know how zealous you are about seeing your dream panel and only you can calculate if it's worth it. I'm a cynical attendee who's been going since 2001 and I'm mostly over it. But I know some of you live for your big room experiences and will put up with any wait imaginable.


Hall H, Ballroom 20 and Indigo Ballroom

I know most of you are focused on Hall H and Ballroom 20. My estimation is that Thursday's Hall H line won't be that brutal (of course, my "not that brutal" could be your "horrible") and there will be a decent flow in and out of the room. Even though I abandoned all Hall H doings years ago, I may even try to get into Penny Dreadful Thursday. For Friday and Saturday, I think Hall H will have overnight lines and that a sizeable number of attendees will stay in the rooms all day. Sunday I think will have a line post-midnight but not as bad as Friday/Saturday. Hopefully the new color-coded sections will help discourage people from wasting fruitless hours in line.

Ballroom 20 is harder to predict. Often there will be a rush of people in the dead of the night who camp for it, then the first batch gets it and afterward it becomes hit or miss, where even a 90 minute wait can get you in. The most major exception to this is True Blood. The line for this is just appalling. A few years ago, there was a line where over 12,000 people waited, many overnight, and only 5K got into the room. Since then I think it's slightly better in that a lot of people have just given up on the idea and still others are just sick of the show. But will there still be a horrific line for it? Yes.

Indigo Ballroom is getting right up there in terms of attractiveness, so don't underestimate your line time here. Animation Friday is popular, John Barrowman, Felicia Day and the Nerdist panel will also pack them in. Just because it's technically offsite doesn't do much to reduce the line factor.

Other panels: my best advice is to keep an eye on the situation, if you're meandering around the convention center. Check in the morning, check 2 hours later, etc. I think most of us know when we're interested in a minor panel and when we're drawn to something extremely popular.

And on that note, don't hesitate to help out your fellow attendees. One thing that's helpful is posting line statuses on Twitter. If you see a line is getting really long, say so. It alerts people and helps them prioritize where they need to be. The reverse is also true; it's a bit galling when you get in line very early and then realize the people who slept in and showed up 4 hours later also got into the panel and claimed a good seat. So if a line doesn't seem too terrible, post that also. Experienced attendees will give markers when reporting where a line reaches to, rather than just saying something vague like "epic line" so do that if you can.

I know I'll still get emails asking for specific times to join a line. I wish I could be more helpful. But my best advice is to think in advance about how much time you're willing to devote, then monitor the situation the day of. Good luck.

Advice on Lines

8 JULY 2013

If you've never been to Comic Con before, or haven't attended these last few years, it's impossible to convey how bad the lines are. By bad, I don’t mean a 2-3 hour wait. That was considered a bad line a few years ago – it seems like just yesterday that I got into a LOST panel in Hall H after only waiting 2 hours- but these days the big-name panels have overnight lines. Some have even had multi-day lines. 

I would say that the lines are easily the #1 source of Comic Con bitterness and complaints, and the primary reason people don't return. In theory, the Con offers a cornucopia of panels and events and options; in practice, the waiting time involved reduces your choices quite drastically.  

So, a few pointers.

• As I've noted elsewhere, there are often multiple lines in the same vicinity - so when you join yours, ask the person ahead of you what line it is. I've seen people waste over an hour in the wrong line.

• There is a line to pick up your badge. So if you have a single day badge for Friday, Saturday or Sunday, realize this: while standing in line to pick it up, you will have to forfeit standing in any long lines for popular panels you wanted to see that day - unless you have a pre-badged friend who'll hold your spot.

• People with Thursday badges and four-day badges without Preview Night; it’s for the reason above that it behooves you to go to the Town and Country on Wednesday and get your badge then. You won’t have to waste time in the wee hours of Thursday in the badge line and can get a jump on your Thursday panel lines.

• While you will see plenty of volunteers and staff afoot, they don't always know where to cut off a line once a room has reached capacity. Which means that literally thousands of people will sometimes wait overnight and STILL not get into the panel. 

• And sometimes it goes the other way; you wait 3 hours in line and get into the panel only to see empty seats behind you.

• The most common way people guarantee themselves a seat in their desired panels is to sit through the preceding panel in that room. Once that panel clears out, you can move to a seat in the front of the room. When it comes to Hall H and Ballroom 20, people will camp out there all day – however, Hall H has restrooms inside and Ballroom 20 does not.

• Wear sunscreen.

• Do NOT try to cut in line. Once a line gets moving, there's always someone who thinks they can subtly blend right in. People will notice and they will bounce your ass out.  

• Think hard before you commit an entire day or night to a line. Some of the rooms are huge, and you can wind up sitting so far in the back you can barely see the stage; instead you watch the panelists on a screen. When you consider that the panels always wind up on YouTube anyhow, you have to be absolutely positive that attending in person is worth sacrificing all of the other activities going on.

There needs to be a cottage industry of San Diego locals who rent themselves out to hold your place in line. Maybe there already is?