Logistics for I-Day (For Parents)?

USNA 19 DAD

USNA 19 DAD

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Mar 10, 2015
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Not sure if this has been covered in detail anywhere, but I would love to hear from the veterans.......

Okay, from what I understand, there will be no place to leave your car for the day on the Yard? Should DS/DD be dropped of at a pedestrian gate while a parent parks? I know there are shuttles from the football stadium, but are they for the DS/DD and parents? Our hotel offers a shuttle too, but don't think it wise to be at their mercy. What works the best? I remember how busy the gates were for CVW, I can't imagine I-Day. Like everyone else we don't want DS to be late because of us. Thanks in advance.
 
Look back at this same time frame for threads - years of advice on this topic. Will add depth to whatever pops up in this one.
 
^^ Agree that you can find extensive discussions regarding the pros/cons by searching posts over the past couple of years. The shuttle from the stadium is for everyone and you can also walk if you are so inclined. I-Day assigned processing times are designed so that everyone doesn't show up at once. However, if you drop off son/daughter early, they may already start being processed before you ever park the car and return to the Yard.

There is no one formula that works for every family, do what is best for what you and your son/daughter prefers.
 
A well-known vacuum exists at the entrance to Alumni Hall. Any appointee loitering in that area is liable to be sucked into the vortex, with set reporting time not mattering a bit. Might even be a wormhole. The PTR is like a homing device.
 
I had heard about that vacuum too and didn't let my mid out of sight for fear he'd be sucked into it early. Haha.
Not sure when the OP's time to report is but my son was 7:30 and we took the hotel shuttle, arriving stress-free, with time to spare. We have been pleased with the efficiency of the hotel shuttle on IDay as well as subsequent visits. It's the one that stops along the West Street hotels.
 
And sometimes Plebes are sucked into Alumni Hall even before their pleading families have finished the photo op to capture the big day. We arrived early, walked straight to Alumni Hall, and DS walked in 30 minutes early. I think he had a 630AM appt and he walked in at 600AM or something like that... I got him to turn around for one last pic, and from DS' look, I knew it was the last one:).
 
We had called a taxi just for Iday. Dropped us off at gate 3. We walked right in. DS also had a 6:30 time, but was sucked in at 6!
 
I don't know where you are staying, but if it isn't downtown I suggest you drive into town and park at the city parking structure on Gorman Street off Main Street. Check this out on MapQuest or some similar site. I have always found available parking at this structure. I would enter the Yard at Gate 3 off King George Street. It is usually less crowded than Gate 1. From there it is a short walk to Alumni Hall.

If you have time, I would check out the Yard the day before I-Day to familiarize yourself with your soon-to-be mid's new surroundings. It will be easier to get around on I-Day if you get your bearings the day before.
 
I agree with the suggestions to check out the yard before I-day to help with navigating events on I-day. We dropped our Mid Off at the Stadium at 5:37 a.m to board the shuttle bus because he had an early report time. He wanted to do this on his own, so we went back to the hotel and napped while he checked in. We later parked at the stadium ($5.00) and took the shuttle over to the yard for the picnic. We went to briefings and the MIDSTORE until it was time for the Oath of Office. Trying to get through any gate can be a nightnare.
 
Any where you can find a spot. Alumni hall has a parking lot up front. But it fills up quickly. There is parking all over. Spots will be labeled with faculty markers or 1/C for upperclass Mids. A lot of Mid cars are gone over the summer. There is parking all over the yard. You find a spot, take it and don't move all day. Some spots folks aren't familiar with are right by gate 8 at Hubbard Hall, baseball stadium, hospital point. Also lots of parking by seawall which are usually 1/C spots but a lot will be empty.
 
We took the shuttle from stadium to the yard with both our plebes. Both had early check-ins. Once we got there, we did not go too close to Alumni so we could get pictures and hangout a little with no pressure and no risk of the vacuum. Close to report time, we headed toward in-processing line forming at Alumni. Once they were in the doors, we took shuttle back to stadium and went back to hotel for a while for breakfast. We then enjoyed a nice lunch at the mall. We are military, so we then drove back to the yard, found a spot to park, and then went to mid store for the class t-shirts--don't miss them, they have the names of every mid in their class on the back of shirt-- then headed to Stribling to claim a spot with our neat sheet during induction.
 
Does anyone know the time of Swearing In Ceremony, and parade in to Bancroft Hall. I can't find last year's schedule to gauge what would happen this year. Thanks for any response to this very novice question!
 
Swearing in at 6...then about 20-30 minutes of "free" time before they form back up and march into Bancroft.
 
My DS requested for me to conduct a personal swearing-in in my uniform. Should be a pretty cool photo OP =)
 
Parking at the stadium was easy and convenient. DD (mid), DS, Mom, Dad, Grandpa, Uncle and Aunt all got on bus. We did not get sucked into Alumni, but the queue was likely filled by the time we got there around 830.
 
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