But you can catch the ferry, BART and still be taken directly to the show. There are also many public and private lots around the area. The area at the bottom of the escalators on the North end is great for your rendezvous, you can rest your feet sitting on the stairs or leaning back against the walls. There is a rotating information kiosk that you can meet your lost partners at a set time. Food and drink is available at the back of the South hall, the atrium of the South hall and in the concourse between the halls.
Apple moves around each year but has most recently been in the SW corner of the North hall.
There are specialty areas for gaming, education, and programming. The gaming arena is an experience not to be missed, if only to watch the intensity required to survive in these cyber-domains. The Yerba Buena rooftop areas of Moscone are now complete with diversions for your non-MacWorld attending family and friends. There is a large activity area for kids, the art gallery and more. Programs are given away as promos, sold at introductory prices, discounted as older versions.