Silly me!
R Day and A Day hotels?
- Thread starter WinterMoon
- Start date
In my humble opinion there is no real value in staying in Thayer for both R-Day and A Day based on how much it cost. If things are closer to normal, You will drop you kid at a set time and not see them again. Other places that are significantly cheaper are less than a 30 minute drive. For A-Day, your cadet will want to get away from West Point. Graduation week would be the only event where there would be an advantage in staying at Thayer.
UHBlackhawk
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All very good information.
R-Day your new Cadet probably won’t sleep much. Please, DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY MEDICATION TO HELP THEM SLEEP.
Some like a close hotel. I probably wouldn’t get anything farther than 30 minutes. If you plan on staying get a hotel room for the following day as well. They have a great deal of activities for the parents and it’s a long, warm day.
If you’re going to stay at the Thayer once R-Day isn’t a bad day to do so. You can walk into the bustling metropolis of Highland Falls and have some fine cuisine at Dong Fongs.
Actually, the museum just down the street from the Thayer is pretty good.
Many coming in from out of state will make it a weekend, fly into NY, see the sites in NYC, then drive up to West Point the day prior.
As pointed out, A-Day your Cadet will probably want to get away. Maybe an Airbnb where they can relax outside, maybe by a pool. Cold Spring is a nice town.
Good luck.
R-Day your new Cadet probably won’t sleep much. Please, DO NOT GIVE THEM ANY MEDICATION TO HELP THEM SLEEP.
Some like a close hotel. I probably wouldn’t get anything farther than 30 minutes. If you plan on staying get a hotel room for the following day as well. They have a great deal of activities for the parents and it’s a long, warm day.
If you’re going to stay at the Thayer once R-Day isn’t a bad day to do so. You can walk into the bustling metropolis of Highland Falls and have some fine cuisine at Dong Fongs.
Actually, the museum just down the street from the Thayer is pretty good.Many coming in from out of state will make it a weekend, fly into NY, see the sites in NYC, then drive up to West Point the day prior.
As pointed out, A-Day your Cadet will probably want to get away. Maybe an Airbnb where they can relax outside, maybe by a pool. Cold Spring is a nice town.
Good luck.
WinterMoon
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I bit the bullet and reserved Thayer during class of '25 pre-sale. It is a ton of money, but the failsafe is that it is completely refundable if anything should not go to plan. The Thayer hotel is already 1/3 sold out for graduation 2025 and we are not even out of January before plebe year even begins! That is astounding, but for me the convenience is worth the commitment of money upfront.
Kittinfeld1966
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My DS received his offer of appointment today. We live in Nevada, and DH and I are considering skipping R day, and coming out for A day, assuming things get back to some semblance of normalcy. My question is, where could my 18 yo DS stay prior to R day, if he flies out himself? In my experience many hotels won't rent to those under 21.
WinterMoon
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There will be much more information forthcoming about this, but what I believe they have them do is fly into Newark, stay at designated hotels and bus them to West Point. You will be able to make these arrangements through West Point, or at least with guidance, so not to worry! Also, my understanding is many come by themselves on R Day. He won't be alone.
Kittinfeld1966
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That's a relief! Thanks for the info.
I would add Ring Weekend as well for a Thayer stay. Lots of events and quick wardrobe changes made it really convenient.
UHBlackhawk
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This is part of Beast. New Cadets are dropped off at Newark, Laguardia, and JFK and expected to E&E (Escape and Evade) to West Point. If they make it by R-Day they are part of the class. 
You will get more information from USMA as the time draws near. New Cadets travelling alone will be met at the airport and transported by bus to West Point.
If overnight accommodations are required, it will be arranged at a nearby hotel - hotel age requirements are waived for military personnel. One of the benefits of military service is that things such as hotels and rental cars are available to 18 year old's, even when not travelling under military orders.
One of you go with him. It meant a great deal to me to have my parents “drop me off at college”. I was so nervous and they did all the details so I could just mentally prepare. My parents were very glad to have gone. We spent the day before just driving around to see the area. If money allows, take your cadet.
Kittinfeld1966
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You make a good point. This will be our second college drop off. The first with DS #1 was bittersweet, but an important milestone nonetheless.
SY96
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For A-Day in 2019 our DS was not allowed to stay with us all night. He had to report back at 1am, if memory serves. It could be different every year, but consider how far you want to drive at that time of night to return your cadet to post and then get yourself back to bed.
greentrees
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I suggest you ask your DS what they want you to do. Ours wanted the goodbyes to be at the airport and to head off to his journey on his own. It was hard on me (mom) more than DH but we respected his wishes.
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I recall I day at USNA 2019. My wife and I did the usual thing, we dropped DS off in the line and talked until he went inside. USNA had many things set up for Parents to do throughout the day. We got a briefing by the Supt, Dean and DANT, attended a lunch sponsored by USAA, there were many booths to see-and lots of officers & upper class MIDN to talk to. The new MIDN Candidates are marched out early evening and are released to see their parents. So here's our DS, walking up to us in his new White Works and hair cut. Eye contact-he was smiling from ear to ear. That made all the difference for us. 40 minutes later they form up and march into Bancroft to start Plebe Summer. It was a good day for us and DS. Navy did a good job on this. This was the year before the pandemic started-thats a bit of a game changer.
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Precise101
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Very new to this .... what is A-Day? I know it's the end of basic training but do the cadets get to leave campus? for how long?Tip for R-Day: Error on the side of convenience. It will be stressful and hectic (for the Cadet too)
Tip for A-Day: Don't make a lot of plans without consulting Cadet. Your Cadet will want to eat and sleep and not much else. Plan for doing laundry. A hotel with a laundry room saves much time and hassle.
A-Day is the day New Cadets become Cadets and report to their academic year companies. It culminates with a parade signifying acceptance into the Corps of Cadets.
Traditionally, shortly after the parade the Plebes are allowed free time off post with parents/friends until Taps that evening and again the following day. Parents normally attend if they can.
During the pandemic things may be very different, with greater restrictions on free time and movement. Parents may not be allowed to attend or it might not make sense to attend, depending on restrictions.
There will be information on those who chose to come unaccompanied on R day. They usually fly into newark and stay at the doubletree then get bussed in the next day. Things could be different this year but that it what was done in the past.
If you are coming for Rday and can afford to stay at the Thayer do it. It takes so much of the stress out, we had friends stay down the road at Bear Mountain Inn and they were late for their appt time. No one cared, so it was fine but it caused the new cadet much unneeded stress. Mine slept in and got a good breakfast then we walked over and got the bus up to Ike where we said our goodbyes. We walked around Ike and shopped then did some of the things on the list for parents, went a took a nap and then walked back for the parade. We did not see our cadet in the parade as they all look alike and you get mixed up by the diagram you are given.
Aday, stay anywhere...if you get a house with a pool that would be ideal as long as not to far a drive. You will get to pick them up at set times in the morning and they will have to be back by certain times at night. If you have a kitchen plan on going by the grocery and picking up stuff to make their favorite meals. Mine slept a lot, ate a lot and slept some more. Never will you be so excited to watch your kid sleep.
PPW, Parents Weekends, Football games, Ring weekend and Graduation, stay at Thayer if you can, the convenience is worth the price!
Aday, stay anywhere...if you get a house with a pool that would be ideal as long as not to far a drive. You will get to pick them up at set times in the morning and they will have to be back by certain times at night. If you have a kitchen plan on going by the grocery and picking up stuff to make their favorite meals. Mine slept a lot, ate a lot and slept some more. Never will you be so excited to watch your kid sleep.
PPW, Parents Weekends, Football games, Ring weekend and Graduation, stay at Thayer if you can, the convenience is worth the price!