New York Comic Con 2023 Guide
Con season is in full swing, and I haven’t been able to get to many this year. New York Comic Con starts tomorrow, and I am excited to be back!
Look at the face on that photo!! A baby! I have definitely come a long way from that first year at Javits (all those years ago that I wont say how many there are).
Here is a quick guide for how to get through the days and have the most fun. I have been going almost every year since inception, minus the years I was away in college. That makes over a decade! So I have had my fair share of successes and failures, especially in cosplay.
First things first, activate your badge as soon as possible before getting to the con to avoid any confusion. Also if you are going with a group of friends and plan on trading badges at any point then label your badges at the back! That way if you need to trade badges to any panels or lines you can return all the badges to the respectful owner when you are done!
HOW TO GET THERE
As an NYC native I have had to find multiple route to get there before the 7 train was extended to Hudson Yards
If you are planning on taking public transit then the best way you get there would be to take the 7 train. If you are coming from Queens you can catch the 7 train that goes through Flushing or if you are coming from anywhere else in the metro area you can transfer to the 7 train along 42nd st from these stations, Grand Central–42 St (4,5,6), 42 St Bryant Pk(B,D,F,M), or Times Sq–42 St (A,C,E,1,2,3,N,Q,R,W) . Just be prepared for crowds.
If you aren’t planning on taking the 7 train, you can get off at 34th and transfer to the M34-SBS across town. Not to be confused with the M34A-SBS which will take up to Port Authority which you don't want. The other option would be to walk to the west side from any of the 34th st stations.
Definitely check new.mta.info for any delays and make sure to create alternate routes because the MTA has a way of just randomly breaking down at the most inconvenient times.
If you are one of the lucky ones that plan on driving in, I recommend picking your parking spot prior to arriving using an app like Spot Hero or any of the parking garages in the area.
Train map
Bus map M34-SBS
WHAT TO BRING
Among all these important things I am going to list, the number one will be comfy shoes! It doesn't matter if you are someone that gets there before rope drop, or you're like me and just stroll in around high noon. Comfortable shoes are an absolute must.
As someone that goes in both cosplay and as a regular-degular human here are the shoes I find most comfortable to wear for all those hours. Also if you need arch support, you should invest in a good insoles. Dr Scholls is great for everyday wear, and so are superfeet.
Comfy flats (these i keep buying every time i wear them out)
Boots that can double as everyday and for cosplay. (this is what i use for cosplay because i can wear them all day)
You're most comfortable sneakers (this is what i wear)
Next is the list of items you will need to bring to get through the day;
Backpack
Water Bottle (there are fountains to refill throughout)
Portable battery and cord to recharge your phone and equipment
Snacks ( bring dates, kind bars, apple sauces, and my favorite candy, )
Sewing kit for any cosplay or other emergencies
Airbrush machine (only for days I am doing body paint)
Foldable tote bags (usually they hand out huge bags at the entry way when you first get in, but those go quickly. So if you can't grab one of the big ones at the door then get a few extra from home)
Face Masks and extras. (I do not like getting sick or experiencing con-crud. I will do anything to avoid it, i used these at SWCC22 and they were comfy and didn’t get tangled in my hair)
Make a schedule
I created a schedule for myself and my husband because we both have different panels we want to attend. I even created a template for you to use Click here. Be sure to save a copy of it to your dive or desktop so you can make your own edits
Look at the list of panels to select which ones you want to attend. A lot of them are overlapping or in different sections of the Javits so pick the most important ones and which are grouped in the same area to maximize the amount of panels you can get to.
You can use the template I linked above to plan out how many panels and experiences you want to attend while at NYCC.
Lines get long, so plan to be early for any panels you want to attend. Thg big stage panels, you should arrive an hour early. Those lines get ling. Since I am mostly here this year for books I will not really buy those bigger panels. If you plan on attending any photoshoots, plan extra time to get there.
Here is a map of the Javits to help make any decision.
WHAT TO EAT
Make sure to schedule time to get lunch. I like to look at my schedule and find breaks, those are the best times to get lunch. For the longest time I was vegetarian and the food options were so slim. They have improved a lot over the years and I no longer have to haul every meal I wanted to have that day. I am no longer vegetarian, but still appreciate having other options to eat
Again the lines are also long for getting food, so i definitely recommend bringing snacks to hold you over. I don’t remember all the food options that are there, but there is usually a diverse amount of options. From what I remember the food trucks which are located outside on Level 2 near the south entrance out had El Toro Rojo, Stuf’d, Nuchas Empanadas, Mac Truck, and Big Gay Ice Cream. There are others but they sometimes change each year. Also inside dining options at the food hall consist of Korilla BBQ, Nuchas Empanadas and various grab and go food/drink items.
And lastly, don't be a jerk to anyone, we are all looking to have a good time, meet some of our faves, and cosplay as our favorite characters.
I hope you enjoy your time at NYCC this year! Plan to have fun, and if you see me there say hi! Come back next week and I will have an update on my days in NYCC2023
That's a wrap for this year's quick survival guide. If you have any questions or are unsure about anything else, you should refer to NYCC FAQS for more information.
peace & love,
Arkeida