If it is on the USNA homepage calender, then you can probably go ahead and make reservations. I would recommend being there Thursday evening (unless you are close enough to go in Fri morning early). Don't fly out Sunday afternoon unless you have to. The plebes will not be due at the yard until 6 pm. If you can travel on Monday later in the day, get up early, very early, and arrive at the yard for your morning walk about 6 am. You will be treated to seeing the plebes running and pt'ing in companies. Just find a spot, get out of the way, and watch. I had told son I was going to do so and got a big smile as he ran by. It is a small window on plebe summer you can take a peek through before you head home.
Now, I wouldn't recommend calling out to your plebe or shouting "There he goes, my baby boy!!" etc........But do go watch. Throughout the summer, you will hear of some parents close enough to visit and watch. Maybe they even will take photos and post on the web. Most of you are too far away to do that, so you will go through zillions of photos every evening on the web through the Thornton Studios web page, looking for your Waldo. The chance to catch a glimpse of what they are doing in the morning before you go back to your world is priceless. I "accidentally" had my travel planned this way, without anyone telling me. It was very cool. The 'Dant was out running with them. And you will see a number of chaplains working out right along side our plebes. You come away feeling they are working their buns off, but are in good hands.