I won't give you a list of advice, I did a general post on the board recently, so that may help. My actual experieces cover the last three conventions.

I agree about arriving early. The convention begins on Wed, but if you wait till then to arrive, you will already have missed a bunch of the fun. There is a traditional get together for the chipboard (it has been on Tuesday before at the palms both times I attended). I have played in both the Poker and Blackjack tournaments every convention, great fun and Sheldon is easy, Christine is a SHARK (I see he already responded). The seminars are great, if this is your first you need to try and attend the seminar for newbies. The trade sessions are wonderful, the banquest is fun, the assortment and the amount of stuff available on the floor is amazing, the auction is really interesting.

Volunteering has become my favorite part, it makes you feel so much more a part of the convention. I also advise you to at least once go to the BOD meeting, I did to see how the club was run, and was very pleased (there is a nice, but irrelevant to your query, story there, but I will save it).

I am totally unfamiliar with this splashbar these people speak of, must be near the pool .

If I can help with anything else, please feel free to ask.