If you are syncing your contacts/calanders with Google then all that info will be saved and you can just resync your new phone with Google to get all your info. back If you do not use Google then make sure you back it up using verizon's back-up assistant and resync through Verizon with your new phone. If you are rooted, I would make sure you back up all your apps with Titanium from the market. When you get your new phone, root it again then just reinstall from Titanium. If you are not rooted then make sure you have app brain. This will keep a list of all apps you have and you can download them one by one into your new phone minus any data you have.
Be sure to do a factory reset before returning your old phone. This will clear all your info on the phone.
As far as your sd card, just take it out of your old phone and put it in your new phone and you are good to go.