Warped Tour 2012!:)

So this year will be the first time i'm going to warped tour! omg i am so excited:D I'm going with some friends( it will be there first time attanding too!). Since I havent been to Warped Tour, I dont know how it will be. Meaning, I dont know like if you have to have a ticket or pay right when you get there? How to know when the bands I like are playing. and just many other things.
So if anyones been to Warped Tour, could you like give me an insight of what to expect, and maybe some tips or things I would need to bring:P haha thank you!:)