Houston or EPCOT?

[WernerNYK]

This doesnt necessarily mean that it will be at Epcot. Disney was at Houston this year, believe it or not. At Dean's reception after this year's kickoff he thanked all the people who make FIRST possible, and he did indeed thank the CEO of Disney who was there. He mentioned that even though nationals would not be in Epcot, that Disney is still heavily involved.

So, maybe it is indeed a 5-yr contract for Epcot. But it could also just mean that Disney is committed to help support FIRST. Who knows... we'll just have to wait and see.

[Breanne M]

please!.. please!.. pleeeaaase!!! be at Disney next year!!

[Gabe Salas Jr.]

Overall, I enjoyed Epcot more than Houston mainly because of the atmosphere provided (thanks to Disney) and the attitude's of the people from FIRST Robotics teams. At Epcot, it was a huge party for the three days at competition. There were things to do between matches, it was easier to make friends, and enjoy everyone's company. But at Houston, there were limitations and restrictions to what students could, and could not do at the stadium (this is probably due to the new security protocols to help provide a safe environment for the competitions from 9-11). I guess the main point is that there was not a lot of excitement than what was provided at Epcot from last year.

[Cory]

ummmm yeah whoever said that EPCOTS bathrooms were cool i think not... they were very hot. Also, they did stink everything stank that sat out in the sun festering for hours at a time. Does anyone have a picture of these ramps? I was not there and I am having trouble visualizing them.


Cory

[Kit Gerhart]

Originally posted by Cory
Does anyone have a picture of these ramps? I was not there and I am having trouble visualizing them.

Cory

I don't have pictures of the ramps, but they were concrete with a series of "switchbacks" to get between ground level and the below-ground-level floor of the Astrodome. The ramps were steep enough to make moving some teams' robot carts fairly serious work. If FIRST goes back to Houston, I suspect a number of teams will be using lighter weight carts and wagons for moving their robots than they had this year.

[Jake177]

Dark, dingy, and gray was the name of the game here.

I agree! In the tents at EPCOT there were colorful signs all over the place. How many vets remember the huge, colorful pit signs?
Definitely no comparison to this year's signs.

[Jeff Waegelin]

Originally posted by Jake177
Dark, dingy, and gray was the name of the game here.

I agree! In the tents at EPCOT there were colorful signs all over the place. How many vets remember the huge, colorful pit signs?
Definitely no comparison to this year's signs.

I remember the colorful pit signs... I remember taking one, too... Sanjay Newton, our captain from 2001 has a "Newton" sign in his dorm room from then.

[Matt_Kaplan1902]

I didnt go to houston this year but, security at the central Fl regional was just as bad as houston sounds. At ucf, we were bringing food to our grive team and got stopped at the entrance. So we walked around the back of the building and right into the pits. Also, we had left giant tubs of gum and candy at the security desk and at the end of the day, only a half a tub was left. For next year, i think that security definitaly needs to be addressed. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE go back to EPCOT FIRST. There is tons of room for them to move everthing at little so it isn;t as cramped.

[team222badbrad]

Either go back to EPCOT or we should get free Segways and good food to survive Houston...

Simple EH?

[Jake177]

I remember the colorful pit signs... I remember taking one, too

Yeah, two years ago when we won our division some guys from our team took one of our division signs. Then last year my friend and I took some signs as souvenirs. It's a tradition!

[Pin Man]

I agreee with brad

[Aaron Knight]

Before I start, here's a disclaimer: a)this is my first year having gone to nationals, b)I am a native of Texas, and c) our team was NOT on the FIRST plan for stuff....

Here's my 2 cents:

a) Come on, guys, a bit of exercise can't be that bad. I made the walk back and forth up from the astrodome pits up to the stands where I was taping oh, about a hundred or so give or take another hundred times and IT AIN'T THAT BAD!

b) About the venue: the stadium is simply like every other monster sports arena in the world- the concessions are and always will be incredibly overpriced. It's a big place and they have to pay for it somehow, and since ya can't bring in outside food and drink (-officially-), they can charge whatever they want. There'r water fountains......

c) There was plenty of stuff within walking distance (within 0.5 mi) of the stadium where those complaining about b could go to get all the fast food they could possibly want, or groceries and other stuff...

d) About being so split up... what did you expect for an event that was thrown together in 4 months, with an economic downturn (our team could not have afforded the FIRST package deal, so we settled for the Motel 6 about four blocks from the stadium - we were the only team there). There's only so much you can do in that amount of time, and many companies etc make their reservations WAY in advance.

e) True, Six Flags Astroworld sucks. Maybe they should hold it in Dallas/Fort Worth, where Six Flags Over Texas is (way cooler). Never been to Great Adventure or whatever that supposed great one is.... But I've been to disney, and it ain't all that great......

f) Houston was a cool and fun venue, all ya needed was to look around. Saw more smiles there than not, so someone was having fun.........

g) The bathrooms at the basement level of the astrodome aren't exactly designed for public high volume use....the public usually doesn't get to go down to the floor level. They were pretty dingy, but so are most public bathrooms in fifty year old stadiums.....

Okay, that's enough. I think it's pretty obvious what my vote is....

Aaron Knight
Webmaster and Videographer
Team 891: Neverending Chaos....
http://first891.topcities.com
CHAMPIONSHIP PIX POSTED!!!!!!!!

Amen brother!


listen to this guy, he is exactly right.

[KenWittlief]

Ive been to FIRST championships at EPCOT twice - there is an aspect to EPCOT that is not obvious, and it really has nothing to do with the competition itself.

For the robotics competition, you get the most FIRST impact at your 1st regional - that is where you find out what your bot can do - that is where you meet the other teams for the FIRST time and see what they have done - the regionals are ALL about FIRST.

The Championship at EPCOT is more like an award for the students and adults on the team - it is an EXTRAVAGENT gesture on behalf of your sponsors to send you to WDW.

you cant overlook the impact this has on students - esp kids who have never been to WDW before - most students work very hard to be on the team - EPCOT is a huge reward for their efforts.

Not to mention teams that come from other countries to the Championship - WDW is a huge incentive to be on the team for them.

I have to say some of the best times Ive had with students and other adults on FIRST teams was at WDW- and it was not at the competitions itself. Hanging out in the parks, catching a meal somewhere when you can unwind for a bit

Sitting by the pool at the Sports Complex on Saturday night with a fellow engineer, talking about the need for more teams in our home town, what it would take to form new teams, could the 2 of us start a new team on our own?

and then going back home and working on those things.

There is something about being at WDW that you cant put your finger on, and you cant put a price tag on - but once you have experienced it you really miss it when its gone.

I hope its not gone for good.

[Joe Matt]

Originally posted by Aaron Knight
a) Come on, guys, a bit of exercise can't be that bad. I made the walk back and forth up from the astrodome pits up to the stands where I was taping oh, about a hundred or so give or take another hundred times and IT AIN'T THAT BAD!

When you have to coordinate scouting for teams and you have to have your scouters in the pits and in the stands, it's a nightmare. What should have taken me 5 mins to set up scouting for people, took me the whole day. The walk to the pits and back along with the scouters having to come back was hell on them. The drivers were lucky. They did it only 4 times a day. I did it on average of 4 times per 2 hours.

b) About the venue: the stadium is simply like every other monster sports arena in the world- the concessions are and always will be incredibly overpriced. It's a big place and they have to pay for it somehow, and since ya can't bring in outside food and drink (-officially-), they can charge whatever they want. There'r water fountains......

c) There was plenty of stuff within walking distance (within 0.5 mi) of the stadium where those complaining about b could go to get all the fast food they could possibly want, or groceries and other stuff...

d) About being so split up... what did you expect for an event that was thrown together in 4 months, with an economic downturn (our team could not have afforded the FIRST package deal, so we settled for the Motel 6 about four blocks from the stadium - we were the only team there). There's only so much you can do in that amount of time, and many companies etc make their reservations WAY in advance.

I agree. In Houston you can't have teams together and have fun. That's why it's not as good as Disney.

e) True, Six Flags Astroworld sucks. Maybe they should hold it in Dallas/Fort Worth, where Six Flags Over Texas is (way cooler). Never been to Great Adventure or whatever that supposed great one is.... But I've been to disney, and it ain't all that great......

You mean that the people weren't nice, they had dirty facilities, bad rides, and bad food at WDW? No? Yeah, that's what I though....

f) Houston was a cool and fun venue, all ya needed was to look around. Saw more smiles there than not, so someone was having fun.........

There's a difference between having fun and having an overall great experience, one that I didn't have at Houston.

g) The bathrooms at the basement level of the astrodome aren't exactly designed for public high volume use....the public usually doesn't get to go down to the floor level. They were pretty dingy, but so are most public bathrooms in fifty year old stadiums.....

The guest bathrooms were the same!

I'm holding it against Houston that the Champs were one of the worst. Why? BECAUSE IT WAS THEIR FACILITIES THAT CAUSED THE PROBLEMS. They couldn't handle us as well as Disney. Period. And they charged us more than Disney ever did. I payed for less at Disney and more at Houston. I have the right to complain about the walk if it hinders my ability to do my work. I have the right to complain about the prices since I had to buy the sub-par food. FIRST has gotten my teams hard earned money and Houston didn't turn out anything but excellent. If I pay for over $5000 in registration for an event, I want the best I can get.

What I don't understand is why some people are willing to spend more at worse facilities while the rest of us don't want to. I'm not frugal, but when I am given the cold shoulder at Six Flags and pay outrageous sums of money for food at Reliant, I have the right to want to change venues.

If there is one positive thing about Houston it is this: It makes all of those who wanted to leave Disney want to go back.