Any Atlanta First Time Traveler Tips you want to Share?

[Chris_Elston]

Well this year we are going to Atlanta for the first time, and I am going to try and get our team there in a safe manor.

(PS: I didn't really find any other post on CD about this) Has there been any?

Anyway, while packing the crate at Boiler Maker Regional, Andy Baker stopped by with the Baker Girls, and gave a few tips in some chit-chat. These tips are what I was looking for.

Here was some of his tips, I'd love to hear more if some of you that have been to Atlanta could post some more.

Andy Baker Tips:

1. This is your first time to Atlanta? Alot of teams won't know you, find a way to market yourself. (I can understand that, we only know the teams from the surrounding Indiana area.)

2. Scouting is very hard, be prepared and plan ahead.

3. Walking to the PITs is a long walk. (How long is the walk? Does someone have a playing field layout PDF from last year or something?)

4. Find something fun to do with your team on Friday night, like we took our team to a game. (Is there any planned events at Atlanta? The Team Social link is not active at usfirst website)

We are taking a bus, when and where will I get information about bus unloading and logistics? I guess I am kind of spoiled with Boiler Maker having a GREAT website and Amy Przybylinski from 45 sending out AWESOME e-maills weeks before BMR letting us all know exactly where we can park and not park, how to unload our teams, equipment and bus parking etc... Where is all the information like that? Does it come active here:

http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc...ts.aspx?id=430
or here:
http://www.usfirst.org/community/frc...432&menu_id=80

when the time gets closer?

[whytheheckme]

I am interested in the response to this post. We are rookies, going to Atlanta, but by plane... We have many similar questions..

Jacob

[triggerhappy336]

Rookie team going by train. Some other surronding teams are coming by next saturday and giving us some pointers. Ill post them if they aren't already by then.

[IndySam]

I am very disappointed at the lack of info provided by FIRST about Atlanta. We didn’t even know until yesterday when we went to ship our crate that shipping to and from the championship is covered by FedEx for winning teams.

I got some good answers here..

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ad.php?t=55713

Don’t know what we would do without the Chief Delphi community.

[Bongle]

There was a thread last week about this, though I can understand not finding it.
http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...a+first+tim e

[Chris_Elston]

Wow...I just saw the "walk video" from the PITs to the Field...agh!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSjKVDgnWwY

I have a question about the robot uncrate. At this time, there is no way we can make it on Wednesday night to uncrate out robot. Can we uncrate our robot on Thursday? Morning and setup our pits?

[Koko Ed]

Originally Posted by Chris_Elston

Wow...I just saw the "walk video" from the PITs to the Field...agh!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSjKVDgnWwY

I have a question about the robot uncrate. At this time, there is no way we can make it on Wednesday night to uncrate out robot. Can we uncrate our robot on Thursday? Morning and setup our pits?

You think that was bad? You should've seen Houston....

[Alex Cormier]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

You think that was bad? You should've seen Houston....

oh that was horrible because of our cart. it had the crappy plastic wheel slike on office chairs, and was very low. ahh, those good ol days.

[Ryan Albright]

If you are not in walking distance to the dome and you have to take the Marta, make sure to leave early. I rememeber when we took it in the morning it was rush hour and you were literally fighting for seats, and some of the Atlanta people werent very nice. Especially to a bunch of teenagers dressed in "wierd" clothing. Also be careful riding it after dark, bad experience.

[pstrapp]

Originally Posted by Koko Ed

You think that was bad? You should've seen Houston....

I remember teams modifying their carts with the extra drive train parts, just to get up that spiral ramp.

[Jeff Pahl]

Originally Posted by Chris_Elston

I have a question about the robot uncrate. At this time, there is no way we can make it on Wednesday night to uncrate out robot. Can we uncrate our robot on Thursday? Morning and setup our pits?

We uncrated and set up on Thursday morning last year with no problem. However, be aware that the unloading zone is pretty crazy on Thursday morning. Plan on sending in a couple of people to uncrate who don't have to carry anything through the mass of people.

[DUCKIE]

If you live over 6-8 hours away and can afford flying, I'd go for flying. To me it just seems easier despite the price, to catch a flight and be where you need to in a few hours.

We hired a tour bus to take us to Atlanta one year and have not done it since. One of the big “+’s” to taking a bus is that you can drive though the night and get their in the morning. But remember, buses are sometimes hard to sleep on (read as "ALWAYS HARD TO SLEEP ON" for me) especially when crammed full of people. Even with the mandatory quiet hours on the way down, I ended up not being comfortable enough to be able to sleep, so I listened to music and watched my DVD player the whole way down. On the way back my feet were killing me from queuing and I was exhausted. I managed some sleep here and there, but really only succeeded in being cranky and tired.

Originally Posted by Chris_Elston

Wow...I just saw the "walk video" from the PITs to the Field...agh!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSjKVDgnWwY

Just one more reason why a it is a good idea to have a robust and sturdy cart.

Things Not To Forget

• Sturdy Shoes
• Daypack/Tote Bag (Even if you don't take anything to the event with you in the morning except a camera, chances are you will come back with something)
• Camera (w/good batteries)
• Something unique to trade (I'm planning to make my own little something to trade this year, seperate from the team.)
• Tokens for MARTA (Or Exact Change to purchase fare)
• Sharpie (For those times you meet someone whom you would like an autograph from. Like Dean or Woody.)
• Safe place to carry your money and keys. (Aside from your shoe or sock please!)

Ask Bob about what happened to his Van key when we were at EPCOT.
And I've seen too many loose the money they put in their shoes; and hey, Change is great! but not so much fun when you are walking on it. Along with the fact that having imprints of dead presidents in your feet and giving someone warm sweaty foot money is kind of nasty.

[Jeff Pahl]

Originally Posted by DUCKY

Things Not To Forget

• Tokens for MARTA (Or Exact Change to purchase fare)

MARTA no longer takes tokens. The vending machines now take plastic, and sell cards with RFID tags in them.

Also, the machines now sell multi-day passes. If you are going to ride more that 1 or 2 times a day, that's the way to go. For details on the new Breeze card fare system, check out http://www.breezecard.com/

[Wayne Doenges]

Doesn't MARTA stand for Making A Reasonable Trip Agonizing

I miss Disney. No homeless, no muggings and close to arena

[Brandon Holley]

Originally Posted by DUCKY

If you live over 6-8 hours away and can afford flying, I'd go for flying.

My Junior year of high school ('04 - FIRST Frenzy)..my former team planned on attending 3 regionals and that would be it for the year. We went to our classic NJ regional, and then for our 2nd went down to Chesepeake (4-5 hour drive). To keep costs down and attendance up we decided to drive to our 3rd regional, Palmetto (~15 hour drive). Our team did amazingly in Palmetto and managed to win the inaugural event. Our board of education, impressed by our efforts, sponsored us to attend nationals.......to keep the tradition alive we drove from NJ all the way to Atlanta (~18 hours). Let me tell you...those bus trips will do amazing things to people. There was a lot of bonding done on that 80+ hours on the bus that year, but the moral of the story is....FLY FLY FLY (if you can afford it)