• Pre-reg postcard.This is actually not essential, as you can pick up your badge without it, but it really, really helps.

   

• Cash. Bank cards quickly become useless as ATMs run out, and many vendors don't take credit cards.
• Photo ID. You will eventually want or need your ID, it's best to have it on you at all times.
• Appropriate Attire. You will need clothing, and no, duct tape won't cut it.
• Pen and paper for writing contact information of people you meet. Post-It notes work well for this, as do key chain sharpies.
• Deodorant and/or Febreze, for having to go a length of time between showers. This is an absolute must for everyone!
• Soap  for when you do get to take a shower -- the hotel's tiny bars just aren't sufficient!
• Medications
  • Prescription: Bring extra in case your transportation takes more time than expected. Check rules of your transportation provider - airline, bus, etc...
  • Over the counter medications Tylenol/Aleve or the like. Stomach medication, allergy pills, sleeping pills, etc.
• Vitamins and immune boosters. The con-crud is not something you want to come down with, and lack of sleep and alcohol will lower your resistance. Start taking these a week before con to boost your immune system.
• Water, or some way to carry it. Hydration is important in the hot weather, and hydration will help keep the resistance up.
• Ear Plugs  Essential, particularly for light sleepers.  Noise will come in from the lobby or the street or other congoers, especially in hotels with large atriums.
• Respirator mask - if you are sensitive to smoke and/or pollen, this is a vital item to make it through the throngs of smokers who congregate outside the host hotels.  Otherwise, you will have to take the long way around the block or the tunnels to get into the hotels, and that could be the difference between making a panel and missing it!
• Folding Chair  If you have back problems, leg or foot problems or energy problems, some of the long lines may be hard on you, and sitting on the floor or the concrete may mean trouble standing up.  A good, inexpensive chair that holds up to 300 lbs and can fold into a neat shoulder carry case is available at Wal-Mart.

Emergency Items

Items you really hope you won't need, but may save your ass in a crisis. If you chose to make copies of these documents, be sure to keep them in a safe place as they will contain personal information which can be used in identity theft. Use your best judgment.

• Copy of all debit/credit cards front and back 

• Copy of driver’s license

• Copy of birth certificate and child ID kit for minors.

• Copy of marriage license (I have a different last name from my husband and I've heard horror stories of hospitals not allowing a person to make decisions without proof of marriage.) 

• Print out of health and life insurance policy for phone numbers and referral.

• Emergency Info to keep in your wallet and your hotel room a paper with the following:

  • Name

  • Two emergency contacts

  • Health, allergies, and medication

• ICE In your phone program your emergency contacts under “ICE” (stands for In Case of Emergency) It’s practically a nation wide standard that emergency workers and hospitals will look there for who to call if something happens

Very Useful Items

• Sewing kit.
  • clear thread (so you don't need to worry about color matching)
  • needle
  • small magnet (to locate the inevitably dropped needle)
  • scissors
• Costume Repair Kit
  • safety pins
  • bobby pins
  • hot glue/glue stick/crazy glue
  • Topstick (fashion tape)
  • rivets
• Duct tape. Needs no explanation however, if you wear Stormtrooper armor of any kind white duct tape is your band-aid. Painter's tape is good for lighter-weight items and will not leave a sticky residue.
• Reusable bottle. For water and other beverages that might be consumed during the con. Much better than disposable plastic, for the environment and for cost.
• Dixie cups. If you need smaller cups, and don't want to share. Much better than un-washed glasses the hotels provide.
• Febreze or similar for costumes that will see more than one wearing or long-term wearing.
• Air Mattress. For those that like to pack more people into a room than humanly possible.
• Ziploc type bags will allow you to pack pills, latex gloves, and save space.
• Kleenex
• Sensible shoes and/or Dr. Scholl's inserts.
• Sun Screen
• Sunglasses
• Lanyard for your badge. Dragon*Con sells them, but does not give them to you for free.
• Extra pocket for your lanyard. Keep your room key on you at all times.
• Autograph Supplies - Acid-free paper, Sharpies, Paper with the correct spelling of your name in case it is too loud for you to be heard.
• Highlighters, pens and pencils for marking up the Pocket Program, Daily Dragon and other papers collect.
• Tote bag or Book bag on Wheels depending on how much stuff you plan to buy/ have autographed. Make sure bags close securely and have no holes.
• Sleeping Mask
• Alarm Clock because different people might want to get up at different times. A portable, battery operated one is good.
• Jacket because it will be cold and way too air conditioned inside, but hot outside.
• Rubber Bands - good for keeping items in Ziploc bags compacted. Also good for if the Ziploc bag tears below the zipper.
• Camera - Digital is best for those photos you just don't want going through a developer.

Health Care and Toiletries

• First aid kit. Blisters will happen, band-aids will be necessary. Latex gloves are handy for makeup and/or icky spills.
• Ace Bandages or athletic tape in case sprains or strains happen.
• Razor
• Neosporin also goes well with the first aid kit
• Antibacterial wipes go well with the first aid kit above.
• Baby wipes are good for a quick face wash or refreshing if you're feeling a bit overheated. And in a pinch, a very useful substitute for toilet paper.  Also wonderfully handy for cleaning off food court tables before you eat.
• Clear nail polish. If you're wearing hose and you get a run, you're going to want this.
• Nail clippers and/or nail file
• Moleskin and scissors
• Hand sanitizer. Can't replace regular hand-washing, but it's better than nothing and will help stave off the post-con cold.
• Toilet paper. If you have more than 3-4 people staying in your room, you might need this before the maids can replenish it.
• Epsom salts are good for soaking the sore body parts in, and good for the digestion if needed.
• Women's supplies the hustle and bustle and stress of con can bring on the cycle earlier than planned.
• Safe Sex Supplies - Birth Control, condoms, whatever your usual is.
• Soap - in the summer, a soap with lemon, lime, or orange will help prevent the growth of bacteria that cause rash and odor.  Don't count on what the hotel has. It'll get you clean but it may not help you stay clean.
• Make Up - Especially for costumers, a little goes a long way to improve photos.
• Make Up Remover - Particularly if you're wearing stage-grade make up for a costume.

Food/Drink

• Energy bars. If you accidentally skip a meal, at least you can keep your metabolism going.
• Slim Jims for a quick snack.
• Trail mix: better high protein and keeps blood sugar even and less expensive than junk food and will cut down on the need to pay for hotel food or subsist on junk food.
• Maps and lists of restaurants around the Con. Do you really want to pay $12 for a hotel cheeseburger?
• Your favorite booze. You don't want to pay the price of the area liquor stores.
• Your favorite coffee and/or tea. Many hotel rooms have coffee makers and you can drink that rather than paying $3/cup someplace.
• Peanut butter and a loaf of bread.
• Mini microwave oven The better to heat up food you packed from home.  Prepackaged stuff tends to be higher in sodium, but that's an option too.
• Mini fridge  They usually start selling these about a month and a half out from Dragon*Con for "back to school" and you can buy a little cube or a double cube for not too much money. 
• Cooler  if you prefer a less expensive option for keeping things cold, a picnic cooler will work just fine. And you can pack it with those blue freeze packs. Add ice from the hotel every morning before you leave, and anytime you come back to the room. Don't forget salt. 

Electronics

• Surge Protector for chargers, medical devices, etc. Don't forget the extension cord.
• Batteries for your devices. Rechargeable if you can. Buying more at con, you will pay through the nose.]
• Extra cell phone batteries. Similar to the above. Some places (basement of the Hyatt) are known for draining batteries as they constantly look for a signal.
• Cell phone headset - Bluetooth ear piece and/or corded headset. Dragon*Con is LOUD. If you want to communicate with non-texters, you'll want this.
• Battery Charger for all sizes of your re-chargeable batteries.
• Memory sticks. See batteries, above.
• Your laptop and the accompanying cords. What, a con full of fans and/or geeks, and you don't want to check your email?
• CDs/DVDs for copying pictures to before your memory card gets full.
• Tripod for your camera/ camcorder.
• Night lights for your bathroom and sleeping area. Useful for avoiding blindness by overhead lights while stumbling to the facilities in the middle of the night.
• Mini-Flashlight on necklace or key chain. Useful if people turn the night lights off.

Uncommon Items

• Dish soap. Useful if making use of reusable beverage containers or other non-disposable utensils, just fill a standard travel-sized bottle.
• Umbrella/Rain Gear: This is Atlanta during hurricane season. The weather will be unpredictable.
• Swim Suit: Don't let that hotel pool go to waste.
• Bug Spray. If you are attractive to insects.
• Ben Gay will stop the itching of bug bites if you forget the bug spray.
• A Towel. Don't leave home without it.
• Dishes and utensils - you can wash them and they're less wasteful than paper or Styrofoam plates/cups
• Steamer Trunk or other trunk that clasps and locks. That way you can lock things safely away when you leave the room and maid service can still come in.