Preparing for BlizzCon: The final roundup
by Robin Torres 
Aug 19th 2009 at 9:00AM
BlizzCon is this week and we are excited! After a couple months of preparing, it's time to make sure all our murlocs are in a row. Are you prepared? Let's find out:
- Do you have a place to stay? Of course, you should have reserved your room first thing, but if you didn't or if your plans have changed, there is still hope. People have canceled, so you may find some luck there. Also, big city is big. Even though you may not find a room next to the Anaheim Convention Center, there are still plenty of places to stay within an easy driving distance. Try your favorite online travel site for the best last minute deals.
- Are you getting there by plane, train or automobile? Here are some last minute travel tips. If you are taking a train, you can carry a ton of luggage with you -- checked or carry-on. But I still recommend traveling light. Lugging big bags around is hard on the gaming hands.
- How fat is your wallet? Of course, I'm not being literal. It's just not safe to carry around a wad of cash. But hopefully you have saved enough spending money to cover the many things that your going to want to purchase. Last minute tip: If you have access to a car, driving a bit away from Disneyland will get you cheaper prices on food and a wider variety.
- Are you in shape for the lines? If not, now is a bit too late to get started. If you haven't been working out and start a rigorous training plan just before the con, you will find yourself in pain, tired and possibly injured for BlizzCon instead of standing in line issue-free. Walking reasonable distances will still help, but don't overdo it.
- Are your shoes comfy and worn in? I am not exaggerating when I say that standing in lines on painted cement can be excruciating, particularly if you are not used to it. Last minute tip: There are inexpensive insoles available that provide the appropriate support for standing on hard surfaces. Get the right size range and cut them to fit.
- How is your immune system? Concrud is no laughing matter. Diet change, lack of sleep, exposure to international germs -- your immune system is about to get hammered. Last minute tip: Start taking a supplement like Airborne now and continue throughout the con. Those extra vitamins will help you fight off the nasties.
- Do you have your minicards? I can't recommend them enough for any kind of convention. Last minute tip: Get some business card stock from an office supply store and print your own.
- Are you wearing a costume? Not everyone who registered online will show up, so if you didn't make it before the deadline, there is still a chance you can enter the contest at the con.
- Is your suitcase packed? Remember to pack light, but leave room for your purchases. Last minute tip: This may sound silly, but packing a talisman from home to place on your hotel dresser will reduce the mental stress of traveling. Business travelers have been doing this since... well the advent of business travel. Whether it is a picture of absent family, a sock monkey (link is NSFW and obscuref), or an action figure from your desk --a small reminder of home will make you feel a little less displaced.
- Is your BlizzCon pack ready? Don't make it too heavy and leave enough room for your goody bag on the first day. International travel tip: Prepaid cellphones are available at all major stores -- some for as cheap as $15. Rather than paying roaming charges, just pick up a "disposable" phone for your stay here.
- Are you well groomed? Thank you in advance. But rest assured, there will be funk.
- How is your tolerance? Tolerance and patience -- you're going to need it for the real-life trolls. Just as on the internet, though, don't feed them.
- Are you attending virtually? There is still time to sign up and pay the appropriate fees. But if you don't want to pay for BlizzCon coverage, WoW.com will be covering everything from top to bottom with up to the second live blogging and posting throughout the day (we'll have a whopping 15 people on the ground). Other sites such as All Things Azeroth, Twisted Nether Blogcast, and WoW Radio will also be there to bring you BlizzCon goodness.
And don't forget the meetup on Thursday! See you there!
BlizzCon 2009 is coming up on August 21st and 22nd! We've got all the latest news and information. At BlizzCon, you can play the latest games, meet your guildmates, and ask the developers your questions. Plus, there are some great looking costumes.Filed under: BlizzCon, Analysis / Opinion, Tips, Events, Fan stuff
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Cihan Aug 19th 2009 9:06AM
15 people on the ground? Wow, who needs a virtual ticket when we have you guys?
Darkra Aug 19th 2009 9:36AM
DirectTV PPV on the TV, WoW.com and other news sites on the PC, a few rl friends to geek it out with, and a lot of junkfood. :P That's my idea of convention going :D
Voice of Reason Aug 19th 2009 9:51AM
as someone who lives just 10 minutes from the Anaheim Convention Center, I'll say, just relax, and be prepared to deal with a bit of Disneyland congestion (it's literally across the street) and just know that the local area is easy to navigate. Also, enjoy the Garden Walk down Katella. Beer served in the movie theater, lots of good eateries, a nice wine bar, places to shop, and other cool places. Enjoy Orange County, the weather has been fabulous lately.
Soryne Aug 19th 2009 10:12AM
Envious.
Henry Aug 19th 2009 10:41AM
Writing this in the airport now, got another 40 minutes until our flight from North Carolina to Phoenix, Arizona to connect over to Anaheim somewhere.
When my parents went to Europe for their 25th anniversary they said the airborne actually made them get sick, or something along the lines of that. O_O We didn't get any but I think I'll be okay....
See everyone else there!
Jordan Golson Aug 19th 2009 10:57AM
Seriously, have people never traveled before? Way to fulfill the stereotype of video game nerd who never gets out of the house except for a video game convention!
Rob Aug 19th 2009 11:01AM
Most impt thing about standing in lines. Keep your feet moving. Your veins have poor elaticity and pressure, and the blood tends to pool at your feet, - which is why your feet get swollen. Your feet act as pumps, so just by shifting you can help circulation. If you feel like you are about to pass out, start moving, or lay down quickly.
rika13 Aug 19th 2009 11:33AM
I wouldn't recommend Airborne; they got busted for being a bunch of fakes.
Also keep some clean clothes. I'd got one change for each day plus a spare set for accidents. (homeless bums spewing from too much booze, spilt mt. dew because you were too dumb to put the cap back on, etc.)
Dress for summer. Cali is hot and indoors is too, so wear loose fitting clothing for summer such as short sleeve shirts and shorts.
Leave the cologne at home. You're probably going to stink anyway because of the heat and crowding; it's one less thing to deal with.
Same for stick deodorants, get some spray-on ANTIPERSPIRANT (deodorants just cover up the BO, antiperspirants keep you from sweating in that area)
Drink lots of water or SUGARED sports drinks. (the sugar helps your body absorb the water) Make sure they are cold or you'll be sick and probably spew.
If you start to feel high, weak, or just strange, drink something. Heat exhaustion will make you high (I've learned this one from personal experience).
Expect outrageous prices. LA has a very high cost of living.
Plan on getting mugged and don't try to go into the actual community if you can avoid it. Don't expect them to be nice and stuff a gun in your face, they will simply jump you, beat the crap outta you, and cut your pockets open for your money.
Don't expect the police to help you. LA is famous for riots because the cops suck. You are just another tourist that got mugged and your mugger was just another XXX wearing XXX.
Don't carry cash. If you have to carry cash, don't let people see it. Don't withdraw from
an ATM is possible, many places offer "cash back", buy a candy bar or Gatorade and get a $20 back. If possible, withdraw as much money from your bank account and LEAVE IT AT HOME, one tactic is to force someone to clean out their account at the ATM.
Chadwick Aug 19th 2009 11:45AM
@Rika13
Most of your "advice" is incorrect, exaggerated, and for a completely different city. Have you ever even been to the Disneyland area?
sprout_daddy Aug 19th 2009 11:55AM
Plan on getting mugged? Way to over-dramatize.
I'm still not sure which I find more amazing/amuzing - the comments to these "Preparing for Blizzcon" posts, or the posts themselves. I joked last time that the next story would be about how to breathe - looks like I wasn't that far off.
Wrenzo Aug 19th 2009 12:28PM
I don't know what to say, that was really one of the stupidest posts I've read here. Just use common sense and you'll be fine. If you go into a "bad" neighborhood waving $100 bills around there might be trouble. That could happen in LA, in Orange County (which is not LA), in Memphis, in Flint, well...anywhere.
Stealthfire Aug 19th 2009 12:34PM
Um, the Anaheim Convention Center is hardly Compton. In fact, check Wikipedia for Anaheim:
"Anaheim ranks as one of the safest cities of its size in the nation. In 2003, Anaheim reported nine murders, 35% of the national average. Robbery (410 reported incidents) and aggravated assault (824 incidents) rank among the highest violent crimes in the city, but even at that, robbery rates are still only half of the national average, and aggravated assaults are at 68% of the average."
Do your research before you make wild claims like that.
To all going: enjoy your trip!
Robin Torres Aug 19th 2009 12:35PM
I live in a not so great area of Los Angeles and I have to say this is alarmist to the extreme. But BlizzCon is not in L.A. proper. It's in Anaheim, which is kept clean and bright by Disney. Crime is everywhere, of course, but the chances of getting mugged in Anaheim is less than most places in the world. Blizzard chose a very safe place to hold their convention.
Endless Aug 19th 2009 1:09PM
Or even better, have a second, "disposable" account for the daily use, and put a recurring money order to "refill" it from your main account on a weekly basis. And of course, don't take the card for your main account with you. Even if they clean your disposable account, they will never know you got another one.
There's some saying about putting too many eggs in one wallet, I believe...
Gessilea Aug 19th 2009 11:10AM
I'm watching from home, but haven't gotten my activation code from directv and am getting antsy. Wish I were going, you all have fun!
Koleckai Aug 19th 2009 12:22PM
Glad I am getting there by remote. Sure it isn't the same thing as being on the floor but I can still work while it is streaming.
rika13 Aug 19th 2009 1:16PM
i live in a supposedly "safe" town, yet ive seen my brother get his ass kicked for no reason three times, a neighbor who is a pizza driver finally got the decency of a proper gun in face mugging after 2 times of "beatdown and take his money", one of my own drivers hit over the head with a concrete block and another forced to clean his ATM at gunpoint
the reason why i said expect to get mugged is because people think "it wont happen to me" then they get careless and it does happen to them
Teni Aug 19th 2009 5:08PM
rika -- common crimes can happen anywhere. It's fine to remind people to use common sense, but I think people responding to your original post were reacting to what they perceived as paranoia and bad advice.
By the way, I would NOT recommend sugar! It's highly processed and provides an initial boost of energy ("sugar high"), but it also causes your energy to drop like a bucket afterwards. Most veteran travelers and travel experts will warn you against overloading on sugar (and caffeine) when you travel.
Teni Aug 19th 2009 5:04PM
Holy canolies, using common sense is one thing but the poster who warns about crime-ridden neighborhoods is completely off the mark! Technically Blizzcon isn't even IN Los Angeles; it's in neighboring Orange County, in Anaheim. Hello!
One point he makes however, is completely valid. Airborne is HIGHLY controversial and these days, not particularly recommended (go read about it on Wikipedia if you don't believe me). Avoid too much caffeine and too much sugar (in our crowd that might be a little bit of a challenge), but stay well-hydrated and take your multi-vitamins and you should be OK. And try to at least get SOME sleep over the weekend.