I day advice please

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blackhawkmom

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We think we are ready-celebrating DS 18th Birthday today and in a few days we will be in Annapolis telling him goodbye. all the advice we have gotten here has been a life saver. I have a new question----We will be staying aprox 15 mins from USNA on a good day. With a report time of 0800 how soon should we leave the hotel-to arrive i guess at the football stadium to shuttle in. We know we need to be on time which means no less than 15 minutes before his report time. Is our best plan to be at the field by say 7 to allow for traffic etc? also do we carry in a small cooler of some kind with a snack for DS after induction. Everyone says they are starving but to carry it around for hours sounds miserable. suggestions!
 
blackhawkmom said:
We think we are ready-celebrating DS 18th Birthday today and in a few days we will be in Annapolis telling him goodbye. all the advice we have gotten here has been a life saver. I have a new question----We will be staying aprox 15 mins from USNA on a good day. With a report time of 0800 how soon should we leave the hotel-to arrive i guess at the football stadium to shuttle in. We know we need to be on time which means no less than 15 minutes before his report time. Is our best plan to be at the field by say 7 to allow for traffic etc? also do we carry in a small cooler of some kind with a snack for DS after induction. Everyone says they are starving but to carry it around for hours sounds miserable. suggestions!
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I would recommend you show up as early as possible, but then again waking up too early sounds miserable...
 
I am planning to go into downtown Annapolis and purchase a cool drink and a sandwich before the ceremony. I don't plan to carry it around all day.
 
You can buy sandwiches and cold drinks at The Big Cheese on Randall Street (literally take a left out gate 1 and about a block down). Expect though a long line. Maybe a collapse vinyl cooler?

GoNavyMom
 
i agree, buy food downtown. All the mids will be hungry, but some are too anxious and shellshocked to eat or drink much. As to parking, we have always had luck finding spots early in the morn down at the metered spaces at city dock. just bring quarters. Of course they're only good for so long, but there's a big gap of time between 8am sendoff and the afternoon parent activities. Why don't you leave the yard for a while and come back later in the day? If you get to town early enough the day before visit the mid store then. It will be the crowded and busy all day long on I day. You'll want to buy all the class of 2014 hats and tshirts( esp. the ones with your child's name on the back) before they are sold out of your sizes.
 
There is a parking garage in downtown Annapolis that is reasonable walking distance from the Gate near Halsey/LeJeune. Not close to Alumni Hall. I would think that your mid would appreciate water or something to drink. While food is nice, trust me, he won't go hungry. In fact, he probably will be headed off to chow after meeting w/you.
 
Also, any good ideas on what to do during the I-Day down time. Our family plus my parents who have trouble walking all over the place, but insist on coming with us from Iowa to see their grandson, has decided to forgo the picnic. I think doing something closer to the Yard would be good, but have no idea what, or where to eat. Any ideas? Also, I dread the saying goodbye part!!!! I don't want my son to see my mother and I cry. We cry right now at the drop of a hat. Any other ideas to keep the two of us busy???:eek:
 
Alumni hall (where the inductees report on I day) is a long walk back and forth thru gate 1 for aging grandparents. You would probably be best to use the shuttle from the stadium that drops you off there. Have you considered wheelchairs? If they are like my parents, they'll resist the idea, but later they'll welcome a seat and they'll be able to see so much more of the yard that way. Some places will rent them. It's unfortunate, but the yard is tough on granparents. Once you get your parents parking passes(later in the summer in the mail) you'll be able to drive onto the yard and park, much easier on all in all the subsequent years. As to taking a break, enjoy a late breakfast, relax at the hotel, take an air conditioned ride around town so that you get familiar with where things are like the mall, movies, hotels, grocery stores. I day is long, and filled with emotions, and sleepless nights before and after. All ages benefit with some down time on that day.
 
Did you get all the info you wanted? We just got back from 2010 Graduation.
 
Drydock is airconditioned and the TV screens show plebes working their way through Alumni Hall. You can get something to eat or drink and sit down for a while. You can also get take out and drink there.
 
Here are a couple of other ideas about I-day:

If the Mid Store is open (it was for our I-day), you can buy drinks and snacks there. Remember, nothing messy!

Having a wheelchair/stroller for those elder & younger family members is a great idea.

If you want to relax, but you don't want to leave the Yard, there are places to sit (in AC!) in the Drydock restaurant in Dahlgren Hall. There are also a few places to sit in the Visitors Center lobby, near Gate 1. You may find it pleasant to sit in the USNA chapel, if services are not going on. Outdoors, there are a few benches in shaded areas in the Ceremonial area along Stribling walk. While picnic blankets and folding chairs are NOT usually allowed in that area, on I-day it's unlikely to be a problem. There are also a few benches along the seawall near the Triton Light, but those are only shaded during certain times of day.

For families with smaller children who don't want to leave the Yard, Farragut field may be just the place to relax. There are large shade trees along one side of the field, and kids can safely run around to their hearts' content (so long as no teams are using the fields for practice on that day)

Here's link to a nice map of the Yard: (Note that it's a bit out of date - it doesn't show the new Wesley Brown field house). Triton light is at the seawall corner where the Severn River meets Spa creek.
http://71usna3.com/images/usnamap.jpg
 
I rented a wheelchair for myself (broken kneecap really limits mobility) at Annapolis Health: phone 410-295-7300. $30 for two days.

Also, if your grandparent has a handicapped tag, you can park on the Yard. Not sure where, but that's the story.
 
jbowman55 said:
I rented a wheelchair for myself (broken kneecap really limits mobility) at Annapolis Health: phone 410-295-7300. $30 for two days.

Also, if your grandparent has a handicapped tag, you can park on the Yard. Not sure where, but that's the story.
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Broken kneecap??? You poor thing! :frown:
But now when we see the lady in the wheelchair with the red, white & blue ribbon, we're all going to yell "Hey, Janet!" :shake:
 
You might also want to bring a picnic table cloth (try the dollar store) for your PLEBE to sit on under the trees away from Stribling Walk at 1800. They will not want to get grass stains on their white works. As stated above, they will appreciate a cool drink and something to eat.
 
Just a note ... many, many plebes weather I-Day just fine, a few, despite all the preparation ... find the shock more than expected. Sometimes it is just being tired from not sleeping the night before. Some find the reality of being yelled at all day more stressful than expected. There's no real way to tell, so if your mid comes out ok ... that's great. Some have a very tough time and need that precious 45 minutes after the swearing in ceremony to regroup. Just go with what they need.

On our I-Day, we took a campus tour, went to the parent briefing, visited the crypt ... all terrific experiences. I would not miss the Parents briefing with the Superintendant and Commandant ... both were informative, reassuring and helpful ...

Food is also available on the yard at the cafe in Dalgrhen hall ...
 
PositiveThinking said:
Broken kneecap??? You poor thing! :frown:
But now when we see the lady in the wheelchair with the red, white & blue ribbon, we're all going to yell "Hey, Janet!" :shake:
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Don't yell to loudly...it may be Mrs. osdad. :biggrin: Not sure if she'll use the wheelchair but her bum knee might demand it.

BTW: Didn't use it on CVW and it would have been tough to do so - the buildings are not readily accessible. The yard and grounds might be better.
 
osdad said:
it would have been tough to do so - the buildings are not readily accessible. The yard and grounds might be better.
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You are right about the buildings. I used one when we toured the campus and it is a struggle in the buildings. My plan is to walk when I need to (like the Mid Store, Drydock, etc.) and ride for the distances between places.

Wheelchairs are also guaranteed seats! And most people are very helpful to my darling husband.

I'm still thinking about the BBQ. In the first place, we're from Texas and pulled pork is NOT barbecue! :biggrin: I'm assuming the event is open and just the meal costs $20. Is that correct?
 
My husband and I had thought that the picnic would be hotdogs and some side dishes. We are thinking we would go to cafe at there, or either leave the yard and go someplace to eat. 20 dollars a piece was the deciding factor for us with all the other expenses we will have. We thought we could use the money for all of those mid t-shirts! :thumb:
 
For sure the food isn't the draw at the picnic. It's the chance to commiserate and the businesses with booths were informational as well.
 
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