2008 Greater Toronto Regional!

[Kingsmen]

We are a team based in Northern Indiana and we were wondering if we wanted to go to the Toronto Regional, would we need passports? and Would it be hard to get Passports for the whole team?

[tseres]

passports would be reccomended. abut getting them in the US? im not sure, but Canada it's pretty easy

[Steve W]

Some good info on the following link.

http://www.chiefdelphi.com/forums/sh...ight=passports

If you contact Karen Rosenthal she can give you info about shipping your robot to make it cheaper and safer. Info for Karen is at:

http://www.firstroboticscanada.org/site/contact

Hope to see your team in Toronto 2008.

[lukevanoort]

Passports are pretty easy to get, but you MUST allow for extra time to get them, as delays are not a rare occurrence. The main problem with a team getting them is price; for my Canadian passport it was about $100CAD, the US one was a little cheaper, but not by much. Although it is a good idea to possess a passport, it would probably be more realistic to have the team go the photo ID route.

[MWTrek]

The rules about US citizens going to canada seemed to be written so that the rules could be changed quickly with little notice. I believe (don't quote me on this) that they would only give 60 days of notice if they changed the rules.

Anyway, Aces High is making sure that we don't run into any problems and all team member going to GTR must have a passport. We don't want to have any problems at the boarder.

[dtengineering]

First of all, let me vouch for the high quality of GTR... it is a great regional. Not that I've seen a bad regional yet, but GTR is outstanding, especially in "super regional" years. In fact over the past four years we've flown across the continent four times to be part of the show, and this year will likely be our fifth. If you happen to have a chance to make it to Niagara Falls, too, well then so much the better.

Second of all, thank you for the reminder about passports, as the rules for entering the USA are getting stricter all the time. While Americans are generally welcome to come up to Canada without a passport (and always have been) it is ironically getting home that is an issue.

Fortunately school groups have been deemed to be "low risk". I quote:

"Will children be required to present passports under the rule?

As announced by the departments on Feb. 22, 2007, U.S. and Canadian citizen children under age 16 and children age 18 and under traveling in designated school or youth groups could carry birth certificates. U.S. children could also present Consular Reports...."

The plan to get passports for all team members is a good idea, but judging from the above it should not be mandatory. Some other things you want to consider when competing internationally are:

1) Medical Insurance

2) Parental consent, particularly in the case of children of divorced parents... consent from both parents is typically required to cross an international border. (Although no one has checked on that the last three years for us.)

3) Non USA/Canadian citizens... may need to get VISA clearances early. We have had a situation where one student did not get his VISA cleared up in time and had to stay home, and another where he was listed on his mother's VISA... she had to travel with him. (She had a great time, by the way.)

4) You'll think I'm joking... but ask if anyone has a criminal record. I asked as joke once, and am glad I did. One of our members, unknown to anyone on the team, had done something stupid a year or two earlier and could have been very embarassed if they had checked him out at the border. Crossing a border with a criminal record... even for minor crimes committed as a youth is not something to be taken lightly.

5) Watch for the "roaming" fees on your cell phones...

Hope to see you in Toronto in the spring,

Jason

[Elgin Clock]

Originally Posted by MWTrek

Anyway, Aces High is making sure that we don't run into any problems and all team member going to GTR must have a passport. We don't want to have any problems at the boarder.

2008 will be 176's second year straight going to GTR if I remember correctly?

I'm curious what led to GTR being one of your choices for a regional with your team being from CT (as my team is), and picking an out of country regional choice as your "travel regional". Usually we do a "travel regional" but stick with one a few hours/or states away.

PM me, or post here if you're cool with sharing why you chose GTR.
Thanks.

[AcesPease]

Originally Posted by Elgin Clock

2008 will be 176's second year straight going to GTR if I remember correctly?

I'm curious what led to GTR being one of your choices for a regional with your team being from CT (as my team is), and picking an out of country regional choice as your "travel regional". Usually we do a "travel regional" but stick with one a few hours/or states away.

PM me, or post here if you're cool with sharing why you chose GTR.
Thanks.

Last year we were looking for a second regional that wasn't consecutive with the CT regional and was reasonably close. The closest were full (and are again this year). Toronto was brought up because we had heard about it at the BAE one year and had kept the idea on the back burner. Two reasons we would like to go back are that we would like to check out the City and Niagara and we had a great time at a really well run event. Our pit guys were already making plans to return before alliances were picked last year. The bus ride was very smooth and not tiring like we feared. If you can, check it out

[Graham Donaldson]

Hey, a question from me to all teams out there who have attended Toronto previously. When I visited Mississauga over winter break to check out the layout of the city for when we come up as a team (I was up visiting family & friends), I stopped by the Playdium as well. The representative at the hotel said he knew that a lot of teams went there, and when we talked to a manager at the Playdium, he said that the place was mobbed on Friday night, and that they had special pricing available for FIRST teams.

So, after that background, here are my questions:

1. Does your team go to the Playdium?
2. Is it well received by team members (do they enjoy it)?
3. How long do you recommend staying there?
4. For your time recommendation, how much can you expect to spend per person?

Thanks for your help, guys.

[Karthik]

Originally Posted by robotcanuck1676

1. Does your team go to the Playdium?
2. Is it well received by team members (do they enjoy it)?
3. How long do you recommend staying there?
4. For your time recommendation, how much can you expect to spend per person?

1. We've gone in the past, but not ever year.
2. Most enjoy it, although some are tired after a day of competition and practice and would prefer to go rest at the hotel.
3. 2-3 hours.
4. I think we've typically gotten the $20 all inclusive play card, but purchased at a group rate.

[Travis Hoffman]

Originally Posted by robotcanuck1676

So, after that background, here are my questions:

1. Does your team go to the Playdium?
2. Is it well received by team members (do they enjoy it)?
3. How long do you recommend staying there?
4. For your time recommendation, how much can you expect to spend per person?

Thanks for your help, guys.

1. When attending the Canadian/Greater Toronto Regional, 48 traditionally went to the Playdium Thursday evening from 2002-2007. Not only did this avoid the big crowds on Friday (I don't believe the regional arranged for team group rates in the early years - we just picked Thursday on our own and stuck with it), the fact it's the evening of a practice day helps keep it from interfering with the "chi" of the actual competition days and the scouting/strategy activities which typically occur on Friday nights at the hotel.
2. Most team members did enjoy it, although some of the video games, most notably the linked Grand Prix racing system (each person has his/her own car and display, competes against the rest of the field), have not been upgraded since we've been going there and are therefore old hat to returning team members. The first time is the most fun time, however. I have many great memories (and pictures) of the Playdium from back in the day. You guys should enjoy it.
3. I believe we stayed for around 2 hours. That coincided with the time limit of the all-inclusive cards, I think.
4. Like 1114, we also purchased the all inclusive card at a group rate. Play as many games as you want for a fixed amount of time. The clock starts as soon as you swipe your card in the first game machine. As long as you don't spend too much idle time in between games, you will feel like you got your money's worth.
5. FYI, we always had time to stop in Niagara Falls, ON, for about 3-4 hours on the Wednesday before the competition. I highly recommend investigating such a side trip if you can fit it into your schedule. Makes for a great team picture photo op, and there are a lot of things for kids/mentors to do, see, and eat while you're there. If you need any further details, feel free to PM or email me.

[T3_1565]

so I'm going to dig up this old thread and ask who all is coming to toronto and anyone got big plans at toronto for that weekend?? Has your team come up with anything special for the toronto regional this year??

[1337Nerd]

Team 1006 will be there. If you wanna come say "hi" I'm our team's videographer so I'll have the camera with me everywhere...and I'll also be the only person on our team with a fedora.

[Vince lau]

Originally Posted by AcesPease

Last year we were looking for a second regional that wasn't consecutive with the CT regional and was reasonably close. The closest were full (and are again this year). Toronto was brought up because we had heard about it at the BAE one year and had kept the idea on the back burner. Two reasons we would like to go back are that we would like to check out the City and Niagara and we had a great time at a really well run event. Our pit guys were already making plans to return before alliances were picked last year. The bus ride was very smooth and not tiring like we feared. If you can, check it out

glad you guys had fun last year, and look forward to seeing you back at GTR. what day are you guys heading up?

[AcesPease]

Originally Posted by Vince lau

glad you guys had fun last year, and look forward to seeing you back at GTR. what day are you guys heading up?

Heading up Wednesday and leaving Sunday morning. Just now finalizing evening plans. See you then!