Here is my 18 years of Comic Con Experiance.
You need to purchase badges no later than December, the beginning of January is pushing it.
You need to book hotels by February at the latest. Personally the last few years I have stayed at the outer laying hotels in National City or on Hotel Circle. Its a fairly cheap cab ride, or park your ride at one of the lots and take the free shuttle in. You save a lot becaus eyou can book a room for like $150 a night, then tack on either parking or a cab ride per day of about $20 and it adds up. Especially if you are going in a group.
Other bits of advice. Get a room with a fridge and pack your bags wih snacks and water. Its costly to eat in the hall. If you really wanna chow down take the free shuttle to the mall or one of the hotel on the path and eat downtown for lunch.
After con walk over into the Gaslamp. Plenty of dining in all price ranges and quality. Best part is that the shuttles run till midnight or so so you still can get back to wear you parked. My personal parking recomendation if you can't get into the tall lot next door that also feeds Petco Park is out by the Marina. Easy shuttle access.
You can actually spend all day doing events and not have to move your car or grab a cab until you are ready to leave.
A few other notes- Study the program guide and plan your days so you don't have to carry so much stuff around, especially if you ar elooking for signatures. Also don't wait on your key purchases until the end of the day. If you really want something, chances are someone else does too. Be early for exclusives and ticket raffle, and beaware that limited stuff that isn;t metered out over the 4 days is usally sold and the price trumped up by Thursday.
Sunday is the best day to haggle on books. Most retailers don't want to lug the stuff back so that is the best time to make an offer.
Now if you wanna meet Olivia. Be there early, have your OMFG badge, and if you are going to do the AOTS signing or AOTS panel, be several hours early to the location. I know Dave-O and a few others I was with missed out on the panel and we were there plenty early.
One last note- as SDCC 2010 draws closer, I know am going to organize an unoffical meetup other than whatever Olivia plans after the con one night. I think it would be great to share some drinks with just the dedicated fans who post on th blog.
Let me know if I can offer any more advice. 
I'd like to get somewhere within walking distance if possible and if its semi-reasonably priced. Really would appreciate advice. kthxbai
or i can always stay at olivia's place.. im sure she wont mind
