Hi! We are trying to plan to attend Gen Con 2025 and I wanted to know what the ticket buying situation is like? Is it like a fight to get them like San Diego ComicCon or is it more relaxed?Additionally, about when are the tickets available to buy?One last question, is it a kid friendly convention?Thank you for any insight! geometry dash lite
You make a wish list of events and the day the event “go live” you submit the list at 12pm and get randomly assigned a slot. Once the system gets to your slot it processes your list vs what is still available. They you’re presented with the the list of events from your list that were available and you purchase the ones you want.
Most people tend to have backups to their first choices as it’s not uncommon to miss out on more than a few.
As to kid friendly - yes very much so.
I regularly attend both SDCC and Gen Con. At SDCC, it's badges and hotels that are the big fight. Then, when you get there, you have to work out line schedules so that you can line up for everything you want to do. It's a ton of work, and you need a group of friends to help you out.
In comparison, Gen Con is easier, and you don't necessarily need a group. For buying tickets/badges, just be on time. Buy your tickets when they are announced (usually in January). The hotel lottery is usually in February. Unlike SDCC, which is a convoluted, murky mess, at Gen Con it's very transparent. Everyone is randomly assigned a time to access the housing group, and you can choose yourself from whatever is available when you get in. You may not get the downtown room you want, but at least you know what's going on and can make your own choice, rather than waiting days to be assigned something you never requested at all. If you do not get a downtown hotel, it's much easier to rent a car and drive downtown and get parking than at SDCC.
The most difficult thing about Gen Con is event registration. Unlike SDCC, at Gen Con you need to register for your events in advance. Most have a small cost, some have a big cost. In May, the schedule will be released, and you have 2 weeks to fill out your wish list of events you would like to attend. On event registration day, everyone clicks a button at the same time to register, and wish lists are processed in order. You may not get everything you want, but there are always events in all categories still open after event registration, so you will find plenty to do.
The nice thing about the event registration system is that once you arrive at the con, your entire schedule is laid out, and you never have to line up for anything (maybe you wait 15 minutes if you want to be let into a large entertainment event, but by SDCC standards this is nothing).
I'm happy to answer other questions regarding the difference between SDCC and Gen Con. while they are both incredibly worthwhile, they are entirely different animals.
I've been attending Gen Con for years, and let me be clear, buying tickets here is not as stressful as hunting for San Diego Comic-Con tickets. Gen Con tickets don't usually sell out in minutes—it's much more laid back. Tickets usually go on sale around January, so keep an eye out for that. While there's no rush, I recommend buying early to save yourself the stress. Snow Rider 3D
As for bringing kids, definitely! Gen Con is kid-friendly. They have a 'Family Fun' program with activities and games specifically for younger kids. It's a great environment to introduce them to the world of tabletop gaming. However, be sure to check the event details as some activities may have age restrictions.