Plebe parent weekend

howacupcake

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Hello there. My parents are trying to plan and schedule for Plebe Parents Weekend. I know the date is Aug 9-12 for Parents, and officially Aug 10-12 for plebes. What goes on the Thursday (Aug 9) for parents? Also, what are some nice places to visit during PPW. My parents would like to take me to NY but given the time restraints I don't think that is possible. What did you do on PPW? Thanks!
 
My parents are trying to plan and schedule for Plebe Parents Weekend.

Please see the following schedule, though unofficial for Class of 2016, this will give you a good idea of what is planned: http://www.usna.edu/SpecialEvents/PW2015Sked.pdf

My parents would like to take me to NY but given the time restraints I don't think that is possible.

Definitely not happening! Unless there is a complete change in policy (very unlikely), then you will be limited to the tri-city area (in other words, you will not be permitted further than Washington D.C. or Baltimore).


Odds are that you will be very tired and fatigured from Plebe Summer, therefore, I would recommend "going with the flow" when you are on liberty.

I am sure other parents and current plebes would be happy to chime in on their recent experiences.
 
Agree with Jadler, don't plan anything!

Here's our Saturday day from my recollection: pickup plebe, return to hotel, plebe changes into sweats, watches TV for 1/2 hour, falls asleep, 2 hours later plebe wakes up and gets back in uniform, grab meal, see what's playing at the movies, watch movie, plebe sleeps through second half, return to motel, talk for a while, grab meal, return to Yard 1 1/2 hours before report time, sit on sea-wall a talk, watch plebe disappear into Bancroft.

Sunday we went to Baltimore to meet HS friend who's attending Johns Hopkins, got tour of JH campus, grabbed brunch, back to Annapolis, shop for sundries, back to Yard, watch plebe disappear into Bancroft.

Somewhere in there we saw her room and met some company officers.
 
If you get the chance to bring your family up to your room for a few minutes, do it. My class didn't get to, and it was kind of a bummer. DON'T do the King Hall lunch though. You have limited meals off the Yard; don't waste one in KH.

Aside from that, all you'll really want to do is get off the Yard and go eat something not from King Hall. Maybe sleep and watch TV. There's a lot of great restaurants in Annapolis and Eastport, but I'd recommend your parents getting reservations at any of the nicer/more popular places in advance because they'll fill up. If getting a fancy dinner isn't your thing, there's a lot of quality casual places within walking distance in DTA.
 
If you get the chance to bring your family up to your room for a few minutes, do it. My class didn't get to, and it was kind of a bummer. DON'T do the King Hall lunch though. You have limited meals off the Yard; don't waste one in KH.

Aside from that, all you'll really want to do is get off the Yard and go eat something not from King Hall. Maybe sleep and watch TV. There's a lot of great restaurants in Annapolis and Eastport, but I'd recommend your parents getting reservations at any of the nicer/more popular places in advance because they'll fill up. If getting a fancy dinner isn't your thing, there's a lot of quality casual places within walking distance in DTA.

Agree with the above posters. All my former mid wanted to do was get off the yard, eat real food, and sleep. Tell your parents to cool their jets and start learning the phrase "Semper Gumby". Your parents no longer run the show, the Naval Academy does. For the next 4 years they effectivly own your butt and will be telling you exactly what and when you will be doing any and all things in your daily life.

Comming out of Plebe Summer you will be tired, phyisically beat up, and likely not have a favorable opinion of the Naval Academy. You will likely not be allowed an over night and will be confined to a 30-50 miles radius of travel from the Academy. The last thing you will want is some elaborate plan that you have to take part in. Play the entire weekend by ear by how you feel and what you want to do and it will work the best.
 
We'll see how it works out, but parents of a 2/C from my son's HS told us to book a room early (already have) and plan absolutely nothing other than maybe to have another plebe or two crash on the floor or join us for dinner. Crab will be involved is about all I know at this point.

I thought I read that on PPW they are restricted to a 22-mile radius from the Yard, which definitely does not include Baltimore or DC? We'll get that out of his system the week before I-day.
 
Can I defend the Kings Hall lunch???? Everyone running it and working there was so nice and it was a great experience for the family to get to see where DS eats. Also was nice to be with other families just as happy to be with their kid as we were with ours after a long, stressful summer. I will remember it as being a very nice time to relax over a great lunch and listen to our boy.
 
Totally agree that the less that is planned for PPW, the better off you'll be......we arrived two days early and visited DC and nearby civil war battle site prior to Friday. DS wanted to sleep, watch some TV, eat, take a real shower, sleep some more, visit,....and did I mention sleep? :biggrin: It doesn't hurt to gather all the info about places you might want to see, just in case your plebe feels up to doing more.
 
The 22 mile radius is an old rule - I believe it was expanded to a 30 mile radius and is most often mentioned as a more undefined "Annapolis/Baltimore/DC" area rule. Last summer we booked a room at the Annapolis Marriott which sits on the waterfront looking out at the academy - not cheap but a great location close to the academy and plenty of downtown restaurants. We made several restaurant reservations for our Mid and several classmates but that was the extent of the planning. Aside from eating he mostly just wanted to sleep and hang out.
 
Same Page

The 22 mile radius is an old rule - I believe it was expanded to a 30 mile radius and is most often mentioned as a more undefined "Annapolis/Baltimore/DC" area rule. Last summer we booked a room at the Annapolis Marriott which sits on the waterfront looking out at the academy - not cheap but a great location close to the academy and plenty of downtown restaurants. We made several restaurant reservations for our Mid and several classmates but that was the extent of the planning. Aside from eating he mostly just wanted to sleep and hang out.

It looks like everybody is on the same page here. We've reserved a B&B with extra rooms just in case we come across any "orphans" looking for some refuge. The only plans we have are to pick up our son and ask him what he wants to do. My bet is eat, sleep and hang out in civies will be his main choices.
Cheers...
 
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Great advice everyone. I appreciate it. Any recommendations for where to eat and which hotels are the best? We went to the O Callaghan last time I visited. :thumb:
 
It looks like everybody is on the same page here. We've reserved a B&B with extra rooms just in case we come across any "orphans" looking for some refuge. The only plans we have are to pick up our son and ask him what he wants to do. My bet is eat, sleep and hang out in civies will be his main choices.
Cheers...

USNR1315 - Congrats on your DS. There are always some orphans around - we told our DS to grab anyone that didn't have family in town and bring them along. We're fortunate to live close enough to Annapolis where we can bring some home on the few overnights they get. We've "adopted" several including one from CA who we had over for the Thanksgiving break.

Howacupcake - I prefer the Marriott as it is the only downtown Annapolis hotel on the water and closest to the Academy but is it pricey. I like the O'Callaghan and the Westin is very nice. Also some good historic hotels like the Maryland Inn right in town. As for resturants the boys tend to like Ruth Chris and the Chart House - anywhere they can get a good steak!
 
Can I defend the Kings Hall lunch???? Everyone running it and working there was so nice and it was a great experience for the family to get to see where DS eats. Also was nice to be with other families just as happy to be with their kid as we were with ours after a long, stressful summer. I will remember it as being a very nice time to relax over a great lunch and listen to our boy.

There are a few other opportunities to eat inside King Hall during the MIDN's career. Let your DS/DD decide whether they are interested in doing this.
 
do you have to sign up for the lunch in King Hall beforehand or is it just come if you like?
 
There are a few other opportunities to eat inside King Hall during the MIDN's career. Let your DS/DD decide whether they are interested in doing this.

Agree. My parents always wanted to do it and, quite honestly, I NEVER wanted to. I think I finally relented at some point during my 4 yrs, but am not sure.:rolleyes:

You can have a nice quiet discussion over room service in your motel.:biggrin:
 
We did not do the King Hall lunch Plebe Parent Weekend as our plebe really wanted to get off the Yard and have a lunch in DTA. However, we did eat there earlier this year for 2nd Class Parents Weekend and we really enjoyed the experience. Many of you are going to find that your plebe is going to want to go somewhere they can let their guard down, and while on the Yard and in King Hall there are still "firsties" around. I only bring this up to let you know you will have another opportunity to experience King Hall if you attend 2nd Class Weekend. Enjoy the weekend that first time you see them in their "Whites" is pretty impressive. Congrats to all.
 
Also, MIDN can bring guests to King Hall at any time during their time at the Academy provided they get a chit and a meal pass (picked up for like $5).
 
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