Parents at I-Day or Parents' Weekend?

Of everything I have read on this forum, that was the most moving. Thank you for sharing your I-day with us. This really drove home the fact that no matter where DS goes to school, he is about to leave the nest and become a man.
 
Prepswimmom said:
That was beautiful. I was crying - for your experience, your thoughtful son who wrote you a beautiful letter and part for myself who so desperately hopes my sons Iday dreams come true.
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My sentiments completely echo yours!
 
aaaaaah!

Oh, I just cried the entire posting... but thank you! We've been trying to figure out our summer plans, IDay and PPW too.
 
Gee, thanks a lot! I'm now sitting around the corner from my customer's office, waiting for my red eyes to clear up before I have to walk in! It's a plywood mill, so tearful men don't exist! :)


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RNrecruiter, thank you for sharing such a personal reflection about your IDay experience. It brought my own anxious nerves and emotions to the surface. I find a little bit of comfort in each post that I read from someone sharing their wisdom and experience. thanks again.
 
I-Day and PPW are each unique experiences. On I-Day my DD had an early report time but not too early. We thought we had plenty of time with her if we got there early. Wrong! As soon as they get there they will be ushered in for processing. Never met with her until the fifteen minutes at Stribling Walk after oath of office. My choice if money is the question is PPW. We rented a house (cheaper than a hotel for larger groups) and had some of her high school roommates and our family come down for the weekend. At either one you will tear up, I did at both. As at graduation when I put the butter bars on her uniform it was allergies I think.
 
I am sure my allergies will be kicking in at I day and PPW as well !!:shake:
 
tri_mom said:
Which is more important to attend as a parent/family - I-Day or Parents' Weekend? Flights alone will cost over $3000/trip for parents and baby sister. We had planned on sending DS to I-Day alone until we started watching the online videos of the day/plebe summer and it seems like everyone has entire families there.
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My DS is a plebe and I remember reading and absorbing all the words of advice on this forum. This was and continues to be a go-to site to seek information. RNRecuiter comments brought me to tears as I vividly remember both I-Day and Parent Weekend. We too are from the West Coast and travel is costly; however, I would've never traded the experience of being at both events for anything, it was a priceless experience.

I-day is the beginning of an incredible journey that will be part of your heart and memory forever. Once you say goodbye in front of alumni hall, you will walk around in a daze talking with other parents, watching, exploring, being amazed at the surroundings and of course hoping to get a glimpse of your DD or DS. As you gather around Bancroft Hall waiting for the swearing in ceremony, again hoping to get that glimpse, you've got the snack ready for your plebe (that everyone suggests) and as the plebes file out of Bancroft and take their seats, you see the Detailers coming in as they flank the new class, the oath is given (your heart swells with pride), the class is dismissed to spend a very few precious moments with their family until the call is made and they gather with their companies for the final march of I-day into Bancroft; you will never forget the sound of those doors closing. There are cheers, tears, and then quietness as everyone reflects on the amazing journey your child has taken to be one of the select few to walk through those doors and begin the experience of a lifetime.

As others have posted, Parent Weekend is a more interactive and joyous time, as you celebrate their success of plebe summer and the validation of their accomplishments. My DS couldn't wait to get off the yard and relax with us in the hotel, but more than that he wanted to go out, drive around go to a restaurant. Remember they have not left the yard for six weeks (with the exception of the local football game) and they just want to see life on the other side of the yard. However, saying goodbye was just as hard as I-Day, didn't think it would be and thought I had prepared myself...nope, lots of tears,,not sad, just proud and hopeful.

Congrats to your DS or DD's appointment :smile: Now hang on tight for the ride,,,it's definitely an "e ticket".
 
tri_mom said:
Thanks for the info! I mentioned to my husband that maybe he'd want to fly out to I-Day to do the personal swearing in (he's a retired Naval Officer) but I didn't get much of a response. If we both go then we gotta bring the 6 year old with us.

From the videos I was led to believe that they don't really get any summertime off. I guess that's not true? Thanksgiving is a no-go for DS as it's 1 day to fly home and almost 2 days to fly to MD - time is more of a factor than the $1k plane ticket.
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I tried to PM you but I don't have enough posts to be able to PM.
 
tri_mom said:
RNrecruiter - amazing post! Thank you. After listening to what everyone had to say we are working on taking our "last" family vacation the 2 weeks before I-Day so the cost and time will be absorbed into that. We will even get our oldest there for those weeks so it'll be special. That is if we can decide on the trip - so far we can only agree on one of the two weeks. Thanks to everyone for the great info! DS will definitely sign up for a sponsor family. I heard that they could be lasting bonds too. DS should do a sport or two so that should help him. Mrs. M - I haven't added to the Class of 2018 because his BFE hasn't arrived. The Senator called Tuesday, but the mail is taking longer!
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We are planning the same thing. I'm just wondering is it worth paying a hundred dollars more to fly into DC or saving the hundred and driving in from New York. Just to fly into BWI is two hundred more so that's a no go for us.
 
If uou are flying into NYC and driving to Annapolis you should check flying into Richmond VA or harrisburg PA. Much shorter drive in a lot less traffic than from NYC. Not to mention no toll roads. Not sure if prices are comparable or not but worth checking.
 
808DAD said:
We are planning the same thing. I'm just wondering is it worth paying a hundred dollars more to fly into DC or saving the hundred and driving in from New York. Just to fly into BWI is two hundred more so that's a no go for us.
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There doesn't seem to be much traffic around BWI so that's my top choice for flights generally regardless of price, but I did just notice that there's a direct flight from IAD leaving at 8:50am arriving at 1:15pm in HNL. The direct to IAD leaves at 3:45pm. I'd look into that as layovers are the worst. And on the longer flights you get free movies, but I just checked and still no free food even though it's 9.5 hours out and 10.5 hours back! Might have to book the PPW now - it's $969 for that flight. Although for $100 more you can fly to BWI with 1 layover and it takes 11.5/13.5 hours each way. Did you also check the prices of rental cars at each location? Sometimes flight savings are negated by rental car rates.

Do most people who fly in stay in Annapolis that last night and get up like at 4am to get their early morning flight or do you go to a hotel by the airport? I'm not sure how bad the morning traffic really is at these times/places.
 
Just as an FYI, Southwest Airlines has not yet opened up their flights past Aug. 8, so once they do, the prices into BWI for Parents Weekend should go down. Coming from Hawaii, you can book one ticket to the West Coast and then another ticket on Southwest to BWI. Sometimes there are non-stops to BWI from SFO or LAX or even SEA. For early morning flights out of BWI, it is best and cheaper to stay at the airport, and you can drop your rental car off the night before and take a shuttle. There is a lot of traffic around BWI every weekday and the hotels by the airport avoid all of it.

We just booked the Marriott Waterfront and they only have rooms with king sized beds guaranteed, but they will allow two roll away beds at $20 each.

We actually live north of Baltimore and welcome any plebes who can't get home anytime! Can't wait to start meeting everyone on these forums.
 
Agree with MarckK,,Southwest has great fares, and you can change flights without a fee and if prices dropped before the filight you can re-book at lower fare without plently. Some hotel recommendations....They have some great hotels in downtown Annapolis that are within walking distance to the yard. The Westin and Loews are very nice, and Loews has an Annapolis Parents Club that have special deals and waive the parking fee for big events. Loews is about a 15 min walk to gate 3, which is a very short walk across the yard to Alumni Hall where I-Day processing begins. The Westin is a very short walk to the Stadium where buses will take you to Alumni Hall through Gate 8.. ..if you're going to stay in downtown Annapolis start making reservation once you receive that official appointment, rooms fill up fast.
 
Plebe Year

If you have to pick between I-Day and PPW take PPW. I thought I-Day was very powerful in terms of the swearing in and the intensity. Not sure I enjoyed it but was glad to experience it. I also think my son would have been fine on his own. PPW is their reward for Plebe summer. This was something our Plebe told us he was looking forward to when times got tough. Do what you can to make it to PPW. You also get to see the inside of Bancroft and your Plebes room. I am not sure there is another time they allow parents inside Bancroft.

On anther note. We have been very pleased with the Doubletree Hotel. The have a USNA parents club you can join. Free breakfast as a USNA parent. Reasonable rates. Free Shuttle.
 
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