Marion Military Parent's Weekend: A hint

[peppypea]

Hey folks, if you have a child that will be attending MMI next year and you will be able to make it to Parent's Weekend (October 18-20), I HIGHLY suggest booking your hotel in Marion as soon as you know that you will be there. There are two options in town and you really only want the one that has a national name brand. (I won't drop names, but let's just say one is lovely and the other makes the Bates Motel look comfy, safe and welcoming.) If you don't book soon, you run the risk of having to drive over from Selma which is a bit of a haul. TRUST ME HERE- I say this out of love for you my fellow MMI Tiger Parents!

I will be back this year for my daughter and I am so excited to see Marion again!

Please feel free to message me if you would like more information.
best,
Peppy

 

[18Hopeful]

We visited MMI over spring break and you are correct about motels. The national name motel is fine but the other is scary.

 

[peppypea]

We visited MMI over spring break and you are correct about motels. The national name motel is fine but the other is scary.

Yeah, that's truly the nicest thing on can say. *gulp

Isn't MMI great?! I am just tickled pink to go visit my daughter this fall!

(PS: if you all decide to attend next year, that little Mexican place downtown is ah-may-zing! I ate more shrimp cocktail there than I care to admit...)

 

[18Hopeful]

We had dinner at the Mexican restaurant because it was the only place in town open when we arrived. LOL. The campus is great. Our tour was cut short due to thunderstorms. Can you PM me?

 

[bw122]

Hey folks, if you have a child that will be attending MMI next year and you will be able to make it to Parent's Weekend (October 18-20), I HIGHLY suggest booking your hotel in Marion as soon as you know that you will be there. There are two options in town and you really only want the one that has a national name brand. (I won't drop names, but let's just say one is lovely and the other makes the Bates Motel look comfy, safe and welcoming.) If you don't book soon, you run the risk of having to drive over from Selma which is a bit of a haul. TRUST ME HERE- I say this out of love for you my fellow MMI Tiger Parents!

I will be back this year for my daughter and I am so excited to see Marion again!

Please feel free to message me if you would like more information.
best,
Peppy

Thanks for sharing that advice. Are there anymore big events/weekends family will be able to visit?

 

[Pattonstavern]

Book now the Sleep Inn in marion for the night before drop off day. Also book now for parents weekend. Hotel fill up fast and it’s the only one in town. There is no other big event until the end of year SAP graduation and dorm move out the last day of school. You are welcome to visit any weekend to see your SAP cadet.

 

[dneve328]

Book now the Sleep Inn in marion for the night before drop off day. Also book now for parents weekend. Hotel fill up fast and it’s the only one in town. There is no other big event until the end of year SAP graduation and dorm move out the last day of school. You are welcome to visit any weekend to see your SAP cadet.

When my son is dropped off in August do they report immediately or do they have some time to spend with family? Trying to figure how many days to book.

 

[Physicsguru]

Check in day is a one day affair. Recruits check in during the morning, get uniform issue and haircuts, and get to move in. In the afternoon there's some initial training (left foot right foot) while the families attend welcome meetings with the executive staff. There is a reception in the early evening and at the end of that the recruits are marched off to start the year.

If you are flying in, I'd recommend the day before and the day after as travel days. Also, there are hotels in Selma (30 min drive) and Tuscaloosa (1 hr) if you aren't able to reserve the Sleep Inn.

 

[Pattonstavern]

When my son is dropped off in August do they report immediately or do they have some time to spend with family? Trying to figure how many days to book.

It is an all day affair. Usually about 0800 report time. Cadet will get uniforms and shoes. It goes much faster if Parents can get cadets books at that time. Cadet can set up dorm room with parents help moving things in. We ate lunch with our cadet in mess hall. Parents hang out in the QM ( student center) and can grab a coffee or snack and visit with other parents. Parents brief late afternoon followed by a lovely dinner BBQ on campus. Depending on how far your drive is, you could leave that same day to go home. You will see your cadet on and off throughout drop off day.

 

[madremom]

When my son is dropped off in August do they report immediately or do they have some time to spend with family? Trying to figure how many days to book.

It is an all day affair. Usually about 0800 report time. Cadet will get uniforms and shoes. It goes much faster if Parents can get cadets books at that time. Cadet can set up dorm room with parents help moving things in. We ate lunch with our cadet in mess hall. Parents hang out in the QM ( student center) and can grab a coffee or snack and visit with other parents. Parents brief late afternoon followed by a lovely dinner BBQ on campus. Depending on how far your drive is, you could leave that same day to go home. You will see your cadet on and off throughout drop off day.

Thanks for the information. Our DD is attending MMI and we are looking forward to meeting other families when we drop her off in August. She is USNA Foundation sponsored.

 

[HopeSpringsEternal]

If flying, which airport would you recommend?

 

[HopeSpringsEternal]

THANK YOU physicsguru and pattonstavern for the rundown on drop off day. Can you possibly provide a similar rundown of parents weekend?

 

[Pattonstavern]

THANK YOU physicsguru and pattonstavern for the rundown on drop off day. Can you possibly provide a similar rundown of parents weekend?

Parents weekend.
Book the hotel now. There is only one hotel in town. Sleep Inn hotel in marion.
There are several activities to watch, parade, sports events, military hall of fame museum tour. We went on a lovely historic bus tour of Marion city. It was wonderful! We took our cadet to Selma for dinner one night and ate at Tally Ho. Great place! Some Had steaks and some had shrimp or chicken. We ate at the shack in Marion the other night and had a great burger. Fun pool hall dive bar type place. You will have a great time. Our cadet stayed with us at the hotel both nights.

 

[HopeSpringsEternal]

When is start time on the 18th and when do the activities end on the 20th? Trying to figure out if I need to book night of th 17th and 20th.

 

[Physicsguru]

Arrive on Thursday. You can shadow your cadet to classes in the morning, then participate in the tours in the afternoon. Saturday activities finish around 4 pm, so if you want to spend Saturday afternoon/evening with your cadet you'll likely want to make Sunday your travel day. If you sign your cadet out on leave they don't have to be back on campus until 6 pm Sunday evening.

 

[HopeSpringsEternal]

Just tried booking, Sleep Inn is full - Ugh! I see there is nothing else to speak of in Marion, any recommendations for other hotels? I guess next closest is Selma?

 

[SurferGirl]

Question on MMI Creating Ceremony and Parade. Was wondering if parents attend? Heard the Cadets will have the weekend off with Labor Day. Are they able to leave campus?

 

[Physicsguru]

Yes, yes, and yes! Cresting is usually well attended, since most of our students are from the southeast. When all the events are completed, all students may sign out for leave. This is the first time opportunity for weekend leave for the new cadets.

 

[Pattonstavern]

Just tried booking, Sleep Inn is full - Ugh! I see there is nothing else to speak of in Marion, any recommendations for other hotels? I guess next closest is Selma?

Try Selma

 

[peppypea]

Just tried booking, Sleep Inn is full - Ugh! I see there is nothing else to speak of in Marion, any recommendations for other hotels? I guess next closest is Selma?

Yeah, Selma is the closest- but maybe (just maybe) there will be an AirBNB? Try that.

Also, keep trying the Sleep Inn- after my horrible experience at the other place, they were able to wheedle me in- they made a client for life in me with the way they helped me. Good luck!