The San Diego Comic-Con came to an end over a week ago, and I think I'm just now recovering from all the craziness.  Due to the insane crowds, my packed schedule, the limited food options, the hour-long trips from the convention center to my hotel, and my delayed flight home, it was an absolutely exhausting trip.  All I wanted to do when I returned was seclude myself away from crowds, sleep for about a day and eat everything in sight.  Now that I've regained my strength and my sanity, it's time to look ahead to the 2009 Comic-Con.  It may be a year away, but it's best to be prepared in advance for such a huge event.  Below are my top five tips to remember for next year's celebrity-packed extravaganza.

1)  Book A Hotel...NOW!

Booking a hotel room a year in advance may seem ridiculous, but it's a necessity if you're going to Comic-Con.  With over 125,000 people swarming upon downtown San Diego, the rooms close to the convention center get snapped up faster than Han shooting Greedo in the Mos Eisley Cantina.  I made the mistake of booking my room just a month or two in advance and ended up many miles away from my destination.  San Diego has a trolley system that makes it easy to get to far away hotels, but trust me, after an exhausting day of walking the convention floor the last thing you'll want to do is spend an hour getting to your room.

2)  Beware the Crowds

The crowds at Comic-Con are as annoying and abundant as CGI in the Star Wars prequels.  Unfortunately it's impossible to go back to 1977, when the crowds were smaller and George Lucas remembered what practical effects were.  There's nothing you can do about the masses of people that pack into the convention center for four days every July, and anyone who attends Comic-Con is part of the problem.

You can't fight the crowds, but you can mentally prepare for them.  Start by gathering all your friends together and having them follow you around for a couple days.  Make sure they block your path and walk slowly in front of you every time you try to go somewhere.  Have them form a line in front of you anytime you want to get food or use the bathroom.  Dress a couple of them up like Boba Fett, stormtroopers, or maybe Mario and Luigi.  It'll be extremely annoying, but at least it'll give you a taste of the frustration you'll feel during the convention.

Want to see some of the insanity for yourself?  Check out this video my colleague Oscar Dahl shot in San Diego:



3)  Prepare to Be Disappointed

Only Jamie Madrox could go to Comic-Con and see everything there is to see.  Panels are often scheduled in different rooms at the same time, meaning that you'll have to choose between the things you love.  Sure, I could have attended the Watchmen panel, but I probably would have missed seeing Joss Whedon afterwards.  I wish I could have gone to the Dollhouse presentation, but I would have missed seeing the creators of Lost.  Comic-Con makes you wish you could be in 18 places at once.

In addition, make sure to get in line extremely early for the things you really want to see.  The rooms do fill up to capacity, and you'll be turned away at the door if you don't time things right.

4)  Bring Your Own Food or Prepare to Starve

After attending Comic-Con, I truly wish that I had packed an extra suitcase with nothing but sandwich supplies.  I would have killed to have access to my own food while wandering the halls of the convention center.  You'd think that a venue that packs in over 100,000 people would have plenty of food options.  There should at least be something similar to a mall food court, right?  Wrong.  There are a few stands scattered around that sell soft pretzels, cardboard pizza, $8 sandwiches and salads, and Mrs. Fields cookies.  That's it.  There's also one fully functioning Starbucks, but you'll be waiting in line at least an hour if you dare to go near it.

If you don't want to pack a suitcase full of meat and cheese and also don't want to blow money on expensive restaurants around San Diego, my best advice is to stop by a convenience store each morning before the convention.  It's not the best food ever, but you can stock up for an entire day and save a lot of money.

5)  Prepare to See Things Like This:



Don't say I didn't warn you.


- Don Williams, BuddyTV Staff Writer
(Images courtesy of RuetheDayBlog.com)