To get a panel at the 2007 Otakon, we had to first submit a form well in advance detailing all the panelists, gear we would need, preferred timeslots, and describe our panel. Then, we had to pre-register all four panelists - putting in all their contact information - and though we didn't have to pay, we did have to mail this info separately to the panels dept to confirm we signed up. We then had to get to the con on Thursday evening to pick up our badges early so we could go straight to our panel Friday morning.
And for the record we got up at 5:30AM and drove from Washington, DC, arrivin