Information about R-Day

sterlingmom

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Could some of you experienced parents give me some info about going up for R-Day. When we went up for the closing of SLS we flew into Newark, rented car and stayed at the Thayer. I have checked and the Thayer has 3 night min. and the rooms are more than we would prefer to pay. Are there any other recommendations and also how long do parents typically stay? Thanks.
 
We went up the afternoon before R-Day and stayed in Newburgh. It was fine and much cheaper than Highland falls. It was about a 25 minute ride but an easy ride.
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.

We actually got to Highland Falls in the mid afternoon. We shopped in the A-Store in the visitor center - got the t-shirt and tote bag! There was also a little reception at a church in town. Recruited athletes get treated to a picnic with their team and coach.
It was a nice relaxing afternoon - went out to dinner in Newburgh - every restaurant was packed with nervous new cadets and their parents!
R-Day starts early - my daughter's report time was 7:30 am (I think) so we left the hotel around 6:15 or 6:30 ish.
 
Does anyone know the date for R-Day this year? The calendar has been down for a while...
 
"R" Day = June 29th and "A" Day = August 15th :smile:
 
Could some of you experienced parents give me some info about going up for R-Day. When we went up for the closing of SLS we flew into Newark, rented car and stayed at the Thayer. I have checked and the Thayer has 3 night min. and the rooms are more than we would prefer to pay. Are there any other recommendations and also how long do parents typically stay? Thanks.

West Point is very accessible from New Jersey also. The northern tip of New Jersey (Montvale) is about 1/2 hour away. You might find some nice hotels there for about $80 - $100 a day. The hotels near West Point will probably charge more because they know that they can.

Be prepared to walk a lot. There is a lot going on during the day and the parade will be held at around 5:30. Have your new cadet prepare himself as well. There are 2 good books that I recommend: Absolutely American and Duty First. It will give you a great idea of the life of a cadet.

'R' day is on a Monday and you may want to consider coming in on Friday evening or even Saturday. There is a lot to do in NJ; especially with the Jersey Shore.

'A' day is a must for you to visit your cadet also. I hope you can make that.

Good Luck to you and your new cadet.
 
Would it be advisable to come into town the previous Friday to take care of any "business" such as banking setup? Is there anything that is better done on-site right before the big day?
 
As far as the Academy goes everything - including banking - will be done before hand.
Some families from out west come in early to acclimate to the time change or to spend a day in NYC or even Philly or DC. It's is not necessary however.
 
Once you decide which bank to use, you will likely set up on line. Many cadets use USAA. Although there is a branch outside the post, it's all done online.
 
West Point is very accessible from New Jersey also. The northern tip of New Jersey (Montvale) is about 1/2 hour away. You might find some nice hotels there for about $80 - $100 a day. The hotels near West Point will probably charge more because they know that they can.

Be prepared to walk a lot. There is a lot going on during the day and the parade will be held at around 5:30. Have your new cadet prepare himself as well. There are 2 good books that I recommend: Absolutely American and Duty First. It will give you a great idea of the life of a cadet.

'R' day is on a Monday and you may want to consider coming in on Friday evening or even Saturday. There is a lot to do in NJ; especially with the Jersey Shore.

'A' day is a must for you to visit your cadet also. I hope you can make that.

Good Luck to you and your new cadet.

Thanks for the information. I think we are going to go up on Saturday for "R" day and we are planning to attend "A" day also.

I've already read the 2 books and would recommend them to others as well.
 
I would caution anyone from staying more than 20-30 mins away. Your report time could be as early as 6:30 am.
The report times are staggered - this is the time to be in line at Ike Hall. You will have to go through security at the gate, park and ride the shuttle. You really need to be at the gate about an hour before your report time - hence you could end up leaving your hotel really really early.
We stayed in Newburgh, had a report time of 7:30 and left the hotel at 6:10 am - right after a quick continental breakfast in the hotel.

It is a very stressful morning for all.
 
^^^ that's exactly the kind of advice I was looking for -- trying to figure out the best plan -- I remember being completely confused as to how to get to the correct gate coming down from Rte 84 for DS's visit to WP and I'm sure I'll be equally confused (or more) on R-Day. I wondered how much time we would need to get in, park, etc. and be on time....it will be an early morning for sure.
 
You will enter through Stony Lonesome gate which is much quicker than Thayer gate but they may still be inspecting trunks of vehicles which takes time.
You will park in one of the lots in Miche Stadium and walk to the shuttle. The later you arrive the further out you will park and the walk took us about 10 mins last year.
Then you will wait for a shuttle with your NC and be shuttled to Ike Hall.
After you arrive in Ike Hall you will wait in line for your quick briefing in the auditorium - they take in a limited number (about 45) of NC's and their parents at a time.
It is a lot of hurry up and wait but the later your report time the longer everything takes as it gets backed up.
 
The online acceptance indicates that DS can plan to stay at WP's expense with another candidate the night before R-day. In this way he can be sure he gets to the right place at the right time and also gets into the groove and meets others the night before.

BUT...if he does it this way, he probably will be entering with other candidates in WP-provided transport (I'm guessing?) We as parents would need to coordinate with meeting him - would this be at Ike Hall? Or at the gate? Or maybe at the hotel in the first place? Anyone done it this way?
 
The online acceptance indicates that DS can plan to stay at WP's expense with another candidate the night before R-day. In this way he can be sure he gets to the right place at the right time and also gets into the groove and meets others the night before.

BUT...if he does it this way, he probably will be entering with other candidates in WP-provided transport (I'm guessing?) We as parents would need to coordinate with meeting him - would this be at Ike Hall? Or at the gate? Or maybe at the hotel in the first place? Anyone done it this way?

Yes, West Point provides the transport for those candidate appointees that choose this option. My son was flown to Newark airport where he was taken on a bus to a hotel. Not sure how many other candidates he shared a room with. The next morning at O-dark-thirty after a small breakfast he joined several busloads of candidates for the ride to West Point. The cost of the one way plane ticket was credited back to his cadet account. I never saw the $125 once it left my wallet. :wink:

We had our 45 sec (actually 10 sec) goodbye in our driveway and I followed R-Day from my home computer. The Public Affairs Office was very good about posting pictures and the live videocast of the Oath ceremony.

If you wanted to be there for R-Day you could coordinate by cell phone a meeting at Ike Hall. Cell phones are not put away until Beast begins - after the good bye.
 
Ok, it's late, and I'm tired... there probably is somewhere on this forum about time arrival on "R"Day, but I cannot seem to find exactly the answer I want... My son's ss# ends in 9, so his reporting time is 8:30am. From what I did read, by that time, everything is backed up, faraway parking, long wait lines... ect, ect... so here is my question. We are staying the night before @ the Holiday Inn there in Ft. Mont./West Point. 10 min ride correct? I did read to arrive at Stony Lonesome gate instead of Thayer... but @ what time should we actually leave the motel... to give us enough time to get thru the gate, park, walk, shuttle.......???:confused:
 
My son had an 8:30 report last year. We left the hotel about 7:15...there was no backup at Stony. We parked in the waaaaaaaaaay back of the lot by the stadium, as directed. We walked and walked and walked to the front where we waited until all the 7:30 reports left on the bus to Ike. Probably around 8 or 8:15 we boarded. Upon arrival at Ike, we joined a line longer than any Disney ride we had ever waited in. Shortly after 10, my son was ushered in for the briefing and goodbye.
So, given that, you can really arrive whenever you'd like...you're going to be waiting somewhere or everywhere. For us, there was just too much nervous energy in the room to sit around and wait to leave, so we left for WP earlier than necessary. You just never know.
If you are going, there's no need to send your son on the "meet in NY bus." Make it a family time...we are glad we did.
 
Thank You m3b. Knowing my son, he probably will want to leave no later then 7:30. When we went there back in October, we entered thru Thayer gate, and it is basically a straight shot from the motel. I think that we are going to have to take a little drive around Sunday night to get familiar and find Stony gate, not sure where that one is and how to get to it?
 
Have no fear - it will be fine. Stony Lonesome gate is not far from Ft Montgomery at all, about 10 minutes. It gets less traffice than Thayer Gate is thus is quicker to get though. Also, parking is at the Michie Stadium lots which are closer to Stony Lonesome gate. 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.
R-Day is all about "hurry up and wait"!
 
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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