Information about R-Day

I get where DiLa is coming from -- thinking about all these details takes away from really thinking about how soon our kids are leaving...the sun is finally shining and it's looking like spring...it's coming too fast --

so is the report time the time you get through the gate or the time you get to Ike Hall? With a 6:30 report time coming from a hotel in Peekskill, I'm thinking we'll be on the road at 5:30 -- way too early for me...but hopefully I'll be so groggy and tired I won't realize my 90 seconds are up until noon....
 
Realistically, everyone cannot be processed at the same time...you want to be early, not late. Don't give them anything extra to yell at your kid about!!!! Expect a line at the gate; if you don't get one, be happy. If you have an early time, you will have more free time than parents w/ late times....you will get to take some tours that we just didn't have time for. You will leave the goodbye room and enter the "gift shop"--much like a Disney ride!! You will be so emotional, you will buy stuff that will have you saying when you get home "why did I buy this???"
 
mom3boys said:
Realistically, everyone cannot be processed at the same time...you want to be early, not late. Don't give them anything extra to yell at your kid about!!!! Expect a line at the gate; if you don't get one, be happy. If you have an early time, you will have more free time than parents w/ late times....you will get to take some tours that we just didn't have time for. You will leave the goodbye room and enter the "gift shop"--much like a Disney ride!! You will be so emotional, you will buy stuff that will have you saying when you get home "why did I buy this???"
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chuckle...you said "why", not I! (for others: I'm "Dad3boys" :wink:)
 
There is good/bad to a 6:30 report time, as mom3boys said.
We stayed in Newburgh with a 7:30 report time and checked out at 6 am and went to the continental breakfast which opened at 6 and hit the road about 6:15.
I would consider staying a little closer with an early report time, if possible.
My completely unsolicited advice is to pack some breakfast and make sure he eats.
Don't rely on the hotel's continental breakfast if they have one.

Many are too nervous to eat - but make them eat anyway! :wink:
 
Mom1655 said:
Hmm...I find myself wondering if we're going to be getting up at 3 a.m. that day...we're planning to stay in Fishkill. Any thoughts on when we'll need to leave the hotel for a 6:30 reporting time?
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We stayed in Fishkill for PPW. Allow at least 30 minutes drive time from Fishkill to Stony Lonesome gate.
 
I want to echo JAM's breakfast advice. My oldest son just stared at his plate and couldn't find the appetite to eat... and deeply regretted it during day. He said he was so hungry that his stomach ached. They burn an enormous amount of calories that day. My second one learned from his brother and ate despite professing queasiness -- much happier for the decision!! Doesn't jhave to be a big production, but some protein and a complex carb can go a long way!! :thumb:
 
Just_A_Mom said:
In the lobby of the FM HIE is a rack with tourist info - there is a terrific map of West Point and all the surrounding roads.
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JAM-I will be sure to check out the map, I'm a sucker for maps... lists, ect... have to map out everything (i'm the person at the amusement parks, that the park map doesn't leave her hand until she's in the car going home). drives everyone nuts, and sometimes myself. Brain cannot function if it's not organized. sometimes a good thing, and sometimes a very bad thing. Anyway, I DO appreciate all the advice, the more info. the better off I am. Don't think my son will have a problem eating. He's actually looking forward to beast, he loved basic training down in FLW, Missouri last summer, did not want to come home. It's after beast is over, and school starts that I think it will really hit him. So I will get my map in hand Sunday night from the motel, try to learn it, so I can be the navigator to my husband like usual. :wink:
 
You will get there at 6:30 with several hundred other New Cadet and their parents and stand in line. From the line they take about 30 at a time into the Auditorium in Ike hall for a short brief and then the "infamous" 90 sec good-bye.

Honestly, it's going to depend on how long the line is. Our report time was 7:30, we got to the line about 7:15 and waited and waited. It was well over an hour, maybe two.
 
My son had a 6:30 report time. We got through the gate at 5:30 (with very little wait) and had a long line ahead of us at Ike Hall. Once things started moving though we got in the auditorium by about 6:45/7:00am. The time in the auditorium was short, the goodbye was short (if memory serves we were out and on our own, by 7:30), the rest of the day was long. It was common to see families from the early report time sacked out on any available chair/couch/floor space.
 
Just_A_Mom said:
R-day officially ends with the parade around 5:30-6 pm so you might want to fly out that evening or stay another night.
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Do you think there will be time for H and I to catch a flight out of Laguardia or jfk for the return trip west after the swearing in on Monday night or should we plan to stay until Tuesday morning?
 
Just_A_Mom said:
There is good/bad to a 6:30 report time, as mom3boys said.
We stayed in Newburgh with a 7:30 report time and checked out at 6 am and went to the continental breakfast which opened at 6 and hit the road about 6:15.
I would consider staying a little closer with an early report time, if possible.
My completely unsolicited advice is to pack some breakfast and make sure he eats.
Don't rely on the hotel's continental breakfast if they have one.

Many are too nervous to eat - but make them eat anyway! :wink:
Click to expand...

Does anyone have recommendations for a place to eat breakfast? We are staying at the Thayer and the dining room opens too late for my son's 7:30 time. I'm determined that he gets a good breakfast! Thanks
 
Flight in FYI

Its a little late but there is also Stewart Airport in Newburgh just for future reference you may get lucky and find a commercial flight there much closer then Newark. Maybe for A Day
 
If I am going to be traveling on my own and most likely staying in one of the Army five star hotels on post (my dad is a retired air force major, so no worries about the military id) what time should I be looking at getting checked out and what would be the best method for getting to Ike hall? I know that a person I spoke with said that there are buses that travel around picking up cadets, but is this accurate information?
 
We were in that area two years ago and stayed at a comfort Inn, Qualitiy Inn, or some such. My recollection was that it was very reasonable and a 30 minute drive to the Academy. We found it by checking with Orbitz online. Recently I have used the priceline bidding option and find it great and CHEAP CHEAP CHEAP. you may wish to try it. Stayed at 2 4 star hotels in SOCAL for under 100. I will bet that you can get into a motel near the academy for a bid of 40 per night. Good luck
 
EDHVoice, there are two chances of $40 night on Rday weekend: slim and none. There are very few hotels in Highland Falls, and they typically raise the rates on major weekends (Rday, Aday, football weekends, and PPW). For those new to Highland Falls and WP, the 5 Star is the name of the military lodging and you book out 60 days in advance. Most non-military parents take their cadet by on Aday weekend and leave a copy of mil ID for future booking. If you are willing to travel from Newburgh to WP, you have many more options.
 
Icelander, if you are traveling by yourself, are you taking advantage of the transportation (air fare) arranged by USMA through the Carlson Wagonlit Travel? If so, and you submitted the proper paperwork, they will arrange the lodging and bus transportation from the hotel to WP for you, probably dropping you off either at Ike Hall itself, or taking you to the shuttle buses in the parking lots that will in turn shuttle you to Ike.

If you did not indicate that you would be using this service, the lodging and travel could be a bit more complicated. We drove up as a family, so we did not use this service either. We stayed in a local motel in Highland Falls, but we booked early after the appointment was accepted in Feb. (We did not have mil ID, so the Five Star was not an option for us). Once we were on post via private vehicle and parked in the appropriate parking lot, there were plenty of shuttle buses to Ike Hall.

I am not sure exactly where the two Five Star hotels are on post in relation to the parking lots and shuttle buses, but I would contact them directly to find out if the buses typically make pick-up stops there or if you would be expecting to walk. Where you stay will influence your individual check out time and shuttle bus needs.

Good Luck and Keep Us Posted!
 
anonagron thanks for the advice.

I'm actually arranging all the travel stuff myself. My parents said that since they wouldn't have to help with college financing the least they could do is let me travel out to the academy however I wanted. Can't wait for the train ride out from Oregon. It will be absolutely awesome!!!

Anyway I'm pretty sure that they do have a shuttle from either of the hotels. One is located right outside of Thayer gate by the Visitor center and Museum, and the other is by the cemetery/fire station.
 
Icelander27, the train ride cross-country should be very beautiful. I am admitting you are a much braver soul than me! :wink:

We will be cheering you on through R-Day and the remaining days of Beast --- silently, but we will be here -- :thumb:
 
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