KSC regional
 

I would like to know more information from teams that were there last year or that can answer these questions.

Pit area small large?
Food?
night life at Cocoa Beach for kids and adults?
how long will it take from Cocoa Beach to KSC drive time?

How about the Team Party at KSC...what's it like and do the students enjoy it????

For KSC... the pit area is moderatly sized. The food is a bit on the expensive side, but they have many options.
The night life... there is really nothing to do in the city. However most of the hotels are on the beach. So if your leader allows you too you can just chill with the whole team on the beach. It is still tons of fun. I personally like KSC more than Nationals. Nationals seems a bit more stressfull.
From Cocoa Beach to KSC is not too long. it is about 20 to 30 minutes. I suggest using map quest and finding the best route from your hotel to KCS.
The party... it is ok.

pit area - just enough that the teams can fit
food - expensive
night life - not a whole lot
drive time - 20-30 min
team party - hope you like hot dogs and hamburgers

KSC Party
 

Party is not too bad for first timers...

Not many places you can have hotdogs and hamburgers under a Saturn V rocket... INDOORS! Typical DJ stuff.

Tent built in the parking lot this year. Pits in a tent similar to Disney.

Warning!! Bleachers are outside. Bring a big cooler full of drinks and lots of sunscreen.

Definitely..
I think it was two years ago when a spectator was taken away with heatstroke. Not cool.

But everything else at KSC is really cool. After four years of the exact same party, I can say that it's pretty cool, far better if you're a first-timer.

Re: KSC Party
 

Waaiiit.. this is our first time at KSC (see: location). Is the entire competition being held outdoors, as in everyone in the bleachers is exposed to rain on Thursday and Friday? Or am I reading this wrong...

Another question: Is there some sort of place there for people to plug laptop-esque devices into a power strip? Or is this all/mostly outside, ala Nationals?

Again, this is our first time at KSC, so don't mind our inquiries. (And if there is a way to get it set up, any interested parties are invited to come over on Thursday and play a few rounds of Dance Dance Revolution. :))

Mini Nationals
 

Went by the field today....

The set up is at the KSC visitors center parking lot, unlike previous years when it was inside the visitors center. For those who haven't been to the Visitors Centor... it is a private attraction on NASA property. There are tours, IMAX movies, displays, etc. I expect you will have to pay this year to enter the attraction ($26 for adults), but I don't know this for sure. The FIRST event is free. See link below for info on the visitors center (including map)

http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/visit/tourksc.htm

The Pit area is an enclosed tent like Nationals. It will be air conditioned. The field is on a stage covered by a tent with three walls. Same set up as an outdoor Disney field but smaller. In fact, they use the same tent rental company. Bleachers are not protected from the weather. Alligators are in the ditches so stay clear of the water there (not kidding).

This is the first time it has been in the parking lot. I hope they let folks into the visitor's center for free. Otherwise it could make for a hot time and crowded pits.

Scott

Re: Mini Nationals
 

While the whole mini-nationals setup is cool.. :( to getting rained on. (Though playing frisbee in a downpour is fun.) Thanks, and good luck to everyone there over the weekend.