I-Day accommodations

[KB7801]

We are looking at accommodations for I-Day. Looking at a house in the historic district or in Eastport. We will have grandparents with us. Is there an ideal location for those that have been? Are they both walking distance to USNA? Thanks for your feedback!

 

[USNAhopeful2025]

We stayed in DTA for I day last summer. We liked being close so we could go back and forth. Our I day was unique in we dropped off our daughter on Tuesday and then attended the oath on Wednesday. It was spread out bc of Covid. Not sure what this summer will bring. If you stay outside of downtown there are parking garages to park at. Not sure how mobile the grandparents are. We had grandparents too who are very active and mobile and I can tell you the heat was brutal on them and we are from a hot location. Just different up there!! We had planned to do the walking tour of campus while we were there but they were not interested bc of the heat. I will say make sure to book wherever you stay for many days. Our date for dropping off our Dsughter changed two times. I had booked from Sunday - Saturday of Induction week. We went monday - Thursday. It was the most amazing and incredible time!!!!

 

[KB7801]

We have Tuesday - Friday booked right night 6/28-7/1.

 

[USNAhopeful2025]

We have Tuesday - Friday booked right night 6/28-7/1.

sounds good - just make sure to be flexible! you may need to adjust your days depending on how I day goes this year - in years past I think drop off and the oath were all on the same day except for NAPS kids who came a day early - but last summer it was spread out over 2 or 3 days. the oath could be on the last day of drop off if its like last year. congratulations to your kiddo!!!

 

[whataluckymom]

sounds good - just make sure to be flexible! you may need to adjust your days depending on how I day goes this year - in years past I think drop off and the oath were all on the same day except for NAPS kids who came a day early - but last summer it was spread out over 2 or 3 days. the oath could be on the last day of drop off if its like last year. congratulations to your kiddo!!!

For Class of '24, we had a drive through drop-off (or walk them to the gate in DTA). Drop-offs were staggered over several days, and then they entered a ROM (restriction of movement) period. Their induction ceremony wasn't until July 18th, and it was virtual for spectators - but still impactful! Hopefully Class of 26 takes one further step back to normal! CONGRATS and welcome to the family!

 

[usna1985]

Keep in mind that, even without COVID, I-Day is a one-day event. Also, consider whether this is the event to which you want to bring grandparents if they have issues with mobility and heat.

On a NORMAL I-Day, you drop off your plebe very early in the morning and he / she is immediately is swallowed up into the Brigade Activities Center. IF you hang around, you MIGHT catch a glimpse of them later carrying their stuff to Bancroft Hall. But it's a LOT of standing around in the (usually) hot and humid conditions for a brief glance. There is swearing in around 6 pm. The best part is the 30 minutes or so you get with your plebe after the ceremony. Then they march into Bancroft Hall and it's over.

There are activities for parents during the day. Usually this consists of a picnic on Hospital Point, visit to the MidStore (which will be packed), and maybe a couple of briefings for parents and friends.

USNA is a walking campus. IF you have a handicapped sticker, you probably will be allowed to park on the Yard. Even so, the parking is a decent walk from most things, such as the swearing in ceremony. And it can be REALLY HOT AND HUMID in Annapolis in early July.

I'm not trying to discourage anyone from coming. But if the grandparents are on the "fragile" side, this may not be the best event for them. There will be many more over the course of four years. If the grandparents are "go-getters" and ready for anything, then go for it.

Rent a house for an extended time only if you want to enjoy Annapolis before or after I-Day (though you'll have plenty of time to do that over the next four years). Don't hang around expecting to see your plebe.

 

[justdoit19]

IMO, after doing this twice: IDAY…a shorter and laid back, casual time with only the mid (we even left siblings at home). Keep it simple. Arrive a day or two before, and leave day of drop off. It’s an emotionally charged time. You *probably* won’t want to hang around after Iday. But rather go home and….cry? Jump for joy? Clean a room?? Idk. But I was team cry. From emotion.

Parents weekend? Bring the whole family. It’s a celebratory, exciting adventurous time. Your plebe will be excited, instead of nervous.

Iday, we stayed within walking distance each time. POW? Rented a small house AWAY from the Yard.

And we would do it this way again.

Congrats!

 

[cluelesscandidateparents]

Keep in mind that, even without COVID, I-Day is a one-day event. Also, consider whether this is the event to which you want to bring grandparents if they have issues with mobility and heat.

On a NORMAL I-Day, you drop off your plebe very early in the morning and he / she is immediately is swallowed up into the Brigade Activities Center. IF you hang around, you MIGHT catch a glimpse of them later carrying their stuff to Bancroft Hall. But it's a LOT of standing around in the (usually) hot and humid conditions for a brief glance. There is swearing in around 6 pm. The best part is the 30 minutes or so you get with your plebe after the ceremony. Then they march into Bancroft Hall and it's over.

There are activities for parents during the day. Usually this consists of a picnic on Hospital Point, visit to the MidStore (which will be packed), and maybe a couple of briefings for parents and friends.

USNA is a walking campus. IF you have a handicapped sticker, you probably will be allowed to park on the Yard. Even so, the parking is a decent walk from most things, such as the swearing in ceremony. And it can be REALLY HOT AND HUMID in Annapolis in early July.

I'm not trying to discourage anyone from coming. But if the grandparents are on the "fragile" side, this may not be the best event for them. There will be many more over the course of four years. If the grandparents are "go-getters" and ready for anything, then go for it.

Rent a house for an extended time only if you want to enjoy Annapolis before or after I-Day (though you'll have plenty of time to do that over the next four years). Don't hang around expecting to see your plebe.

Wheelchair user here, hopefully We can park fairly close by

 

[LST271]

We have Tuesday - Friday booked right night 6/28-7/1.

Yep. We can't wait!

 

[MidCakePa]

Agree with @usna1985. I-Day gets all the press, but Plebe Parents Weekend is the better time for “extra visitors” like grandparents. I-Day is a lot of sizzle and not much steak. Part of the sizzle is the heat and humidity. The lack of steak is driven by the fact that it’s several hours of downtime between when you drop them off and when you see them again after the oath. Great for parents and maybe siblings, but can be tough for others. There’s plenty of emotion tied into it, and usually that’s best shared by a very small and tight group.

I have to say, I’m very perplexed by the parents who choose to hang out by doorways and walkways hoping to get a glimpse of Junior coming by. Some yell encouragement and others cheer. It just feels so…so…helicopterish and high-schoolish. I know that if we’d done that and DD had spotted us, she would’ve been mortified. They don’t need an audience or cheering section after drop-off. Let them focus on getting indoctrinated. There’s a lot coming at them and I just don’t see how mom and dad hovering nearby helps. Go into DTA, grab a cool drink, maybe a nap back at the place, then come back with a drink and a sandwich for Junior to enjoy after the oath.

 

[Heatherg21]

I’m with team 2024 parents. I haven’t experienced IDay or a parent weekend.
And I’m okay, mostly because I don’t know what I missed (except from prior year videos, photos, posts, you tube etc).

My dream of experiencing those things was dashed and I was temporarily derailed. But we are fine. Honestly. And what I do know from a trip out to the Yard is that the remarks about letting your MIDN lead the charge and call the shots is real. They know what they need to do to recharge and they know the stressors on them.

Lower the expectations you have for what you envision and be open to a more organic visit. I personally like the quieter less people around visits. That being said, I wouldn’t trade my first Navy football game for anything. This year, even though we lost, the Air Force game on the anniversary of 9-11 was a once in a lifetime event. Priceless. I had chills, tears, smiles for days and saw my MIDN on the Jumbotron during the March on.

It is a large campus with lots of uneven footing and walkways. If you have those who need more time to get from point A to B this may be a challenge. The humidity in the summer is debilitating to those who aren’t used to it.

Do what works for your family, your group and your MIDN. It’s the best journey.

 

[Goal2004]

Agree with @usna1985. I-Day gets all the press, but Plebe Parents Weekend is the better time for “extra visitors” like grandparents. I-Day is a lot of sizzle and not much steak. Part of the sizzle is the heat and humidity. The lack of steak is driven by the fact that it’s several hours of downtime between when you drop them off and when you see them again after the oath. Great for parents and maybe siblings, but can be tough for others. There’s plenty of emotion tied into it, and usually that’s best shared by a very small and tight group.

I have to say, I’m very perplexed by the parents who choose to hang out by doorways and walkways hoping to get a glimpse of Junior coming by. Some yell encouragement and others cheer. It just feels so…so…helicopterish and high-schoolish. I know that if we’d done that and DD had spotted us, she would’ve been mortified. They don’t need an audience or cheering section after drop-off. Let them focus on getting indoctrinated. There’s a lot coming at them and I just don’t see how mom and dad hovering nearby helps. Go into DTA, grab a cool drink, maybe a nap back at the place, then come back with a drink and a sandwich for Junior to enjoy after the oath.

100% with you! If she spots me waiting to get a glimpse of her after I dropped off she’ll be mortified and I will be adding stress to an already challenging day, let them be!
Thank you very much for the advise of sandwich/ drink for after the ceremony I didn’t think about it. So note it!!

 

[brewmeist]

If you get a house right near the bridge, it is a close walk from Eastport. However, it can also be a fairly far walk from Eastport. Remember, the bridge is the only way to walk to USNA, so you may be walking well over twice as long as a crow can fly it.

The only time we rented in DTA was for I-Day. We rented a home a block away from Gate 3. It took away a lot of stress for my son, and it was worth every penny.

We've stayed in Eastport and Arnold for every visit since.

 

[St.Katherine]

We are looking at accommodations for I-Day. Looking at a house in the historic district or in Eastport. We will have grandparents with us. Is there an ideal location for those that have been? Are they both walking distance to USNA? Thanks for your feedback!

From AIRBNB search just a minute ago for “entire place with free parking” outside USNA (see attached) —-> dates 29Jun-1Jul,
There are 16 homes (66 without free parking). Hope this helps.

 

[HopefulDad2026]

If you get a house right near the bridge, it is a close walk from Eastport. However, it can also be a fairly far walk from Eastport. Remember, the bridge is the only way to walk to USNA, so you may be walking well over twice as long as a crow can fly it.

The only time we rented in DTA was for I-Day. We rented a home a block away from Gate 3. It took away a lot of stress for my son, and it was worth every penny.

We've stayed in Eastport and Arnold for every visit since.

Can’t you go in through gate 1, pedestrian gate? I know it’s on the far side of campus but it is open right? For those that chose to stay downtown?

 

[Dadof2]

IMO, after doing this twice: IDAY…a shorter and laid back, casual time with only the mid (we even left siblings at home). Keep it simple. Arrive a day or two before, and leave day of drop off. It’s an emotionally charged time. You *probably* won’t want to hang around after Iday.

Parents weekend? Bring the whole family. It’s a celebratory, exciting adventurous time. Your plebe will be excited, instead of nervous.

We did exactly this for ours. One Iday at USNA and one matriculation at a SMC. Just Mom and Dad on Iday/Matriculation and the whole crew on parents weekend for both. Lots of nerves for parents and the mid/cadet at Iday/Matriculation so, for us, it was just better keeping it small. There weren't any tears for me; it think there must have been some dust in the air or allergies is all...

By parents weekend they have gone through a lot and endured and they know basic lay of the land to show you around. Lots of pride and excitement on parents weekend and they were ready to see lots of family by then.

YMMV.

 

[Small Team Bacsi]

Iday was nice for me because walking the campus, walking downtown, grabbing a bite, doing some shopping in the mid store, is something I’d enjoy doing at any time.

As far as my pleb, I saw them for less than 30 seconds as they walked by and briefly yelled at me——see you right after we are sworn in.

And that was the last I saw of him since immediately after being sworn in he was being yelled at and running for their life in fear

 

[USNAhopeful2025]

Can’t you go in through gate 1, pedestrian gate? I know it’s on the far side of campus but it is open right? For those that chose to stay downtown?

Yes!!! That is how we entered.

 

[LT360]

Lots of advice given so far. I agree given experience last summer that I-Day is not the best time for family and friends. Drop off was spread over two days June 29th and 30th with the swearing in ceremony on the 30th. DS drop off was on 30th at 1130a.

We arrived in Annapolis on Monday night as DS wanted one day in DTA to get acclimated. We walked over to the Yard on Tuesday but DS did not want to step foot anywhere near a gate. We convinced him to take one picture outside Gate 1 and then he quickly moved us away.

On Wednesday, we dropped him off at Alumni hall about 15 minutes before his report time. We then went and got lunch and then returned to Yard around 1. We parked at Noah Hilman Garage and walk back to Yard to go Gate 1 security. While they did not limit family members everyone had to have the Plebe to Be PTR letter. There were a few activities for the parents on the Yard (Yard boat tour, Mid Store, Supe talk, etc) but was VERY hot and humid. We choose to have the box dinner from Dahlgren and ordered an extra for DS. Swearing in was at 7pm and we were way in the back standing with not much to see. After ceremony we got to see DS for a few minutes and all he wanted was cold drinks (which unfortunately we did not have nearly enough) and a little food.

Note that the only place to buy snack food on the Yard was the mid store which closed I believe around 4. There is also a water bottle vending machine in Dahlgren. You can always leave and return but everytime you have to go through security.

Note PTR was received Mid May but you need to book hotel much earlier.

Plebe Parent weekend is much better as you dictate your time. The only restrictions are that they have curfew every night and have to be in uniform the whole weekend.

An even better time to go is during Fall Football. If you time it right your Plebe can request one overnight liberty (subject to change). Go to a Friday parade (much cooler than PPW parade) and you might be able to give them hug back at Bancroft. Go to football and enjoy the tailgating and then take Plebe to hotel for the night. If it happens to be a three day weekend they may even Sunday night leave!

 

[brewmeist]

Can’t you go in through gate 1, pedestrian gate? I know it’s on the far side of campus but it is open right? For those that chose to stay downtown?

Yes, but Gate 8 is the one across campus.

Gate 3 is a pedestrian gate only, near the coffee shop and close to the chapel. It's right where the IRA tried to take out Harrison Ford in the "Patriot Games."