Entrance on I Day

By all means if you can, walk onto the yard with your Plebe to Be. Take Pictures, Take pictures as he enters Alumni Hall!

We stayed at the Marriott and walked over with our son. Got lots of pictures on the way and on the Yard. In 2006, the Plebes to be and their families queued up out side of Alumni Hall and they slowly let groups in. We waited, as did most other parents, with him until he got in front of Alumni Hall. At that point the Plebes were met by the Chaplains. Since that time, they now walk right into Alumni Hall and the Plebes wait in line inside. That being said, last year there were many parents/families who walked onto the Yard with their Plebes and posed for pictures in front of Alumni Hall.

There is no "right" or "wrong" way to approach I Day. The most important thing is to do what your Plebe wants. No disagreements, no pulling the mom and dad card. Let your Plebe decide how he/she wants to arrive at Alumni Hall.

Just remember that when you drop your Plebe off AND most importantly, when they say goodbye before entering Bancroft in the evening MOM GETS THE LAST HUG! (especially remember this if the GF/BF is in tow)
 
As already stated, the Permit to Report will get you onto the Yard. But it is not a permit to park. Although, the chances of getting "caught" parking on the Yard is slim unless you park in the Superintendent's reserved parking spot. I don't recommend testing the system, however.

If you're a grad dad/mom, get yourself a permit to park at the Alumni House. That's what I did and it was great. That way, you don't have to haul all the crap you buy at the Midstore around the Yard. Heck, I parked my car in the Midstore parking lot. It was great!

When you drive by Alumni Hall and drop your mid off with the intent of finding a parking spot and coming back and talking to him - that will probably not happen. They will see him, recognize the dazed look on his face as that of a new plebe, and will suck him into Alumni Hall, no matter what his official report time is.

There is always a long line for the shuttle in front of Alumni Hall after the swearing in ceremony for those who parked their car at the stadium. If it's a nice day, it's really not that far of a walk. The entire Brigade marches to the stadium for every home football game. If they can do it - so can you. Gate 8 is the way to come and go.

If you have a GPS the coordinates of Gate 8 are N 38.9888 W 076.4958 or you can input it as the intersection of Baltimore Blvd and Bowyer Rd in Annapolis.

There are really only two gates which have vehicle access to the Yard, Gate 1 and 8. Gate 3 is no longer used for access as it was in the past.

People always ask, "What about gates 2, 4, 5, 6, & 7?"

I'm not sure they have ever been used. I think they are permanently closed.

Gate 8 is, by far, the preferred entrance gate. It is a straight shot to Alumni Hall. You can't miss it. As soon as you enter, you'll see the baseball fields off to your right, you'll cross over the bridge, Worden Field where all the parades are conducted will be on your right and Alumni Hall will be directly to your left. You can't miss it. That's where all the crowds will be. Also, the Alumni Association picnic will probably have a huge tent set up on Worden Field, directly across from Alumni Hall.

Once your plebe disappears within the bowels of Alumni Hall, prior to the swearing-in ceremony, you can see him one more time in one of two places.

1. At the back end of Alumni Hall. That's where they quickly learn to salute and stand at attention before getting on the bus that transports them to Bancroft Hall. (the dormitory)

2. The Midstore parking lot is where they get off the bus with all their gear. I think this is the preferred spot to see your mid. He'll get there about 2-3hrs after entering Alumni Hall. If your plebe has a very early report time, it will be closer to 2 hrs. If he has a later report time, it may be closer to 3hrs.

After they get off the bus in the Midstore parking lot, they form up in ranks, get talked to rather tersely by the awaiting upperclassmen, and then they haul their stuff up the steps. (Remember to hit each and every step. This will be their first introduction to "attention to detail.")

You'll look at the glazed look on their face and you'll feel awful.

And then you'll meet them again after the swearing-in ceremony and then you'll feel much better.

And then he'll have to depart your company and then you'll feel awful again.

And then you'll get the first letter, and then you'll feel good again.

And then you won't get another letter for a very long time, and you'll feel bad.

And then ...

Well, you get the idea. It's an emotional roller coaster.

It's great!!!!
 
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The only concrete thing about making plans is changing them...

Car decided to blow a axle boot this AM - so we're renting (other cars are for local use only :eek: ) so won't have DoD sitcker. Looks like we'll be walking from Loews. Anyone know how far it really is???
 
I believe it is just over a mile, although it certainly feels shorter. As an added bonus, the walk TO the Naval Academy is downhill!

I suspect MANY Plebes and Plebe Parents will be making the same walk; I will be :thumb:
 
osdad said:
The only concrete thing about making plans is changing them...

Car decided to blow a axle boot this AM - so we're renting (other cars are for local use only :eek: ) so won't have DoD sitcker. Looks like we'll be walking from Loews. Anyone know how far it really is???
Click to expand...


I think Loew's is one of the hotels that does NOT offer a local shuttle downtown. There is a parking garage just off Main St., Hillman Garage, which will shorten the walk, but it will fill up very early that day.
http://www.annapolisparkshop.com/garages.html

The Stadium shuttle is an easy way to go, as commented on by other experienced posters. No doubt you will see other families (the ones with slightly tense-looking young men and women) at Loew's and you can join forces.

Alternately, you could check with USNA Security and see if you could obtain a visitor pass for your rental car, based on your DOD ID card, on Wednesday that would cover Thursday. Here's their FAQ page.
http://www.usna.edu/SecuInfoPers/FAQS.htm

And, you could drive on with PTR and drop everyone, then go dump the car back at Loew's, Hillman Garage or stadium. If you opt for the stadium,then driver takes the shuttle back over to USNA and everyone takes the shuttle back to the car parked at stadium at day's end.

Or, the walk will be sunny and warm. No fun if you're laden with Mid Store bags on the way back, though.
 
osdad said:
The only concrete thing about making plans is changing them...

Car decided to blow a axle boot this AM
Click to expand...

Good Lord, what a PITA. :eek:

I still thank God that, as a NAPSter, I showed up a day early. :cool:
 
Loews to Gate 3 - 15 minute walk - West around Church Circle, around State House to Maryland to Gate Three
Loews to Gate 1 - 20 minute walk West to Church Circle down Main Street to City Dock to Gate 1.

Loews most definitely offers a shuttle to USNA or DTA or any restaurant in the Historic area. Took shuttle to the yard often during Commissioning Week as all our relatives were staying at the Loews. They even ran the shuttle to the Stadium Commissioning morning.

Loews is our preferred Hotel so that we do not need to drive a car to DTA and deal with parking. My walk times are based on walking with 70+ parents along. We have stayed there for PPW, Second Class Weekend and had 4 rooms for family for Commissioning Week. All times when parents could not park on the yard. Was extremely convenient. Typically stay there for football weekends too.
 
loews

Last year Loews did offer a shuttle, although we decided to walk anyway. Sounds like the weather is going to be decent if you are fit the walk is a great way to walk off some of the jitters that come with the morning. I timed the walk the night before I Day and it took us exactly 16 minutes and that was walking fairly slow. Enter gate 3 take some pictures in the yard, take pictures in line at Alumni say your goodbyes. By the way I know I have read different comments here about possibly getting ushered into Alumni but my son tried to report about twenty minutes early, as he commented lets get this started and was told to wait in line until his report time.

To all of you good luck:thumb:

One other comment: Do not miss the briefing offered by the Supe and Dant and the AD later in the day at Alumni. Looking back at it as a parent Captain Klunder and the other speakers did an amazing job during that presentation and I think a lot of people walked out of there relieved, impressed and excited about the year ahead for their midshipmen.
 
Thanks for the Loew's facts. In my previous post, I was going by what they have in the USNA Alumni Association corporate sponsor page, and they do not list a local shuttle under their services, while other hotels do. Wouldn't hurt to call them to confirm, how early it runs, and the drop-off point.
 
USNA13DAD said:
Last year Loews did offer a shuttle, although we decided to walk anyway. Sounds like the weather is going to be decent if you are fit the walk is a great way to walk off some of the jitters that come with the morning. I timed the walk the night before I Day and it took us exactly 16 minutes and that was walking fairly slow. Enter gate 3 take some pictures in the yard, take pictures in line at Alumni say your goodbyes. By the way I know I have read different comments here about possibly getting ushered into Alumni but my son tried to report about twenty minutes early, as he commented lets get this started and was told to wait in line until his report time.

To all of you good luck:thumb:

One other comment: Do not miss the briefing offered by the Supe and Dant and the AD later in the day at Alumni. Looking back at it as a parent Captain Klunder and the other speakers did an amazing job during that presentation and I think a lot of people walked out of there relieved, impressed and excited about the year ahead for their midshipmen.
Click to expand...

You are correct.

I made a video of Captain Klunder's I-Day speech to the parents of the Class of 2013.

For your viewing enjoyment:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ho6wZH920Ng

I didn't video the Supe's, academic dean's, or the AD's speech. Klunder stole their thunder.

BTW, Captain Klunder (Now, Rear Admiral Klunder) has a son in the Class of 2014.

Matt was in my company (5th) when I was a midshipman. In fact, I was his 1st set Plebe Summer squad leader. I went up to him last I-Day (when my sons were being inducted), and he forgave me. To me, he was just "Mister Klunder!!!!", that scared, red-faced, little kid from Alexandria, VA. I would have been a lot nicer to him if I knew that, 31 yrs later, he was going to be the Commandant of Midshipman when my own sons were admitted.

WARNING TO THE CLASS OF 2011: You never know if that Plebe you are training will someday be your kid's Commandant.
 
Thanks for posting the video, Memphis.

When my son walked up maybe 15 minutes early, like at 6:15 am, there was a local TV crew camera man walking backwards in front of Zane as he approached Alumni Hall. They were asking him dumb questions ("Are you scared?) .....the detailers said to him "Hurry up and get in here, Hollywood!"

No waiting around for him! He is back at the yard after a cruise between San Diego and Hawaii, with a few days on each end to look around for sailing for Block 2. And he is most happy that he is now a youngster! Watching I-Day from the other side this time around!
 
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