It appears that the San Diego Comic-Con Pre-Paid Parking system is almost ready to go live from recent reports that some have been able to purchase reservations through the official Comic-Con website. However, the system, apparently run through a company called The Permit Store, was abruptly tucked away soon after becoming available. But with some creative website URL manipulation, one is able to find the search page. Unfortunately, clicking through doesn’t mean that any purchases would be valid. For example, even though the page shows the official San Diego Comic-Con logo and local parking map, it doesn’t provide the ability to purchase parking underneath the convention center, which is the prime spot for so many attendees. Plus, the header of the page is titled “Long Beach Event Parking”, which is a bit confusing. Sure, Long Beach has many fine events, but WOW, one that requires you to park 2 hours away in San Diego must be something HUGE! Rebecca Black Huge! (end sarcasm)
That said, the prices seem pretty nice at this point ($9/day for a spot at 5th and J), but all convention adjacent lots show as “ONLINE SALES CLOSED” at the moment. I’d link to it here, but I imagine there’s a reason why they took it down so quickly and I don’t want to anger the geek gods. It was likely just a test run and not meant for anyone to actually use. But ever vigilant as so many of us Comic-Con geeks are, some got through.
So keep an eye out on the official San Diego Comic-Con website for news on the availability of pre-paid parking as it will sell out again fairly quickly (what doesn’t at Comic-Con these days?). Of course, those of you who have my book know that I use a special lot that has been seemingly untouched by price-gouging or conventional parking rules (overnight parking permitted!) and it’s so close to the convention center that you can almost smell the nerds from your spot. As many of you know, I considered making this information available beyond the book, but decided against it as:
- It’s not exactly a super-secret location as it fills up every day since it’s super-close to the convention center. Anyone can use it.
- It’s really convenient for those people who don’t want to pay overpriced hotel parking and need a consistent drop point for their stuff, especially if their hotel is many blocks away.
- While anyone can use it, I recommend that people who needs to leave whatever lot they use each night to use a lot that doesn’t allow overnight parking, leaving room for those who need to keep their cars overnight at this location.
- I wanted to set aside something for those people who truly needed a place to park and keep their car in a safe place continuously throughout the week without having to leave and re-park each day.
- They could change their policy at any time and it could become not be as cheap or as flexible with their time as they have been over the years I’ve been using it.
So if you need a convention center-adjacent place to park your car for the whole week of Comic-Con at a low price, my book has what you need to acquire that wee bit of intel. Again, they could change their parking prices and policies at any time, but I’ve used this lot for the last 7 years without fail, regardless of where I was staying, and paid one third the price of other lots and hotel parking. If you need something like that, it’s seriously worth the price of my book to get it. Just sayin’…
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