Reporting time on I-Day at USNA

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Hello, new to the forum. I saw that check in for I-Day typically begins at 0600. Do you receive a specific time or can you arrive anytime during the check in window. We live about 90 min away and I was debating needing to get a hotel room for I-Day or if we could leave home relatively early and report to I-Day closer to 7 or 8? Sorry if this is a repeat question, I wasn't able to find the answer searching. Thank you for any insight.
 
You will receive a specific check in time... You don't want to be late !
That said, just my opinion, but I wouldn't worry about getting a room in Annapolis.....
I'm guessing few Plebes checking into I Day get a good nights sleep anyway !
 
I would say whether you get a room depends on your report time and traffic. If your report time is 0600, that means you're probably up around 0300 to allow for unforeseen circumstances and I-Day is a LONG day. If you have a late report time (like 0900), it's probably doable. We lived 50 minutes away and got a room for peace of mind. If cost is an issue, you can find lots of hotels a short driving distance that are pretty cheap.

You can probably report earlier than your report time, if you want to.
 
If you stand too close to the Alumni Hall doors, even if it’s not your time yet, the black hole can smell you and suck you into its maw. If waiting for parents to park car or deliver that final hug, stand well away, such as over near the gazebo on the parade field. There’s many a parent over the years who has returned to find DS or DD vanished into the vortex.
 
I stayed pretty close to USNA the night before I-Day. My Mom, Dad, and I got dinner at Mission BBQ and took a nice walk around USNA the night before. I enjoy getting to talk to my future classmates as I walked around the yard before I was in "Plebe Summer Mode." In addition, I appreciate experiencing the dichotomy between how calm and peaceful the yard was the day before I-Day, compared to how crazy it was on I-Day.

As far as your lodging situation goes, it totally depends on your report time. But, better safe than sorry. I have found Maryland roads to be very unpredictable.
 
Thank you for all the replies, booked a hotel with good cancellation just in case. Will wait till we have the assigned report time to make a decision. Appreciate the advice.
 
My DS had an 0700 report time on I-Day. We stayed at a hotel out on Riva Road, and got up at 0500. We worked out, took showers, had breakfast, and were there in line, by 0645.

We parked at the stadium and took a bus over. The bus drops you right outside Alumni Hall, and they seemed like they had a bus there every 5 minutes or so. It was a well-oiled machine, let me tell you.
 
THParent said:
My DS had an 0700 report time on I-Day. We stayed at a hotel out on Riva Road, and got up at 0500. We worked out, took showers, had breakfast, and were there in line, by 0645.

We parked at the stadium and took a bus over. The bus drops you right outside Alumni Hall, and they seemed like they had a bus there every 5 minutes or so. It was a well-oiled machine, let me tell you.
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I am impressed!! Worked out on I day!!. We live 2 hours away but with a 0600 report time we stayed at Gibson's Lodging right at gate one, "slept in" until 0500, got coffee and walked our DS to Alumni Hall for his reporting time.
 
Well, it was a 30-minute "workout" in the hotel "gym". Mostly to work off the nerves. My wife is especially grumpy if she doesn't work out in the morning. I could miss the workout and be fine, as long as I have coffee. The added bonus with the "workout", was that we didn't have to coerce our Plebe-to-be to eat something for breakfast.

That part is huge. Plebes-to-be are bundles of nerves on the morning of I-Day. They have to eat something, because they are taught how to eat in King Hall that afternoon, and they don't end up ingesting much. It is a long, hot day. They need fuel in the tank.
 
For those with a later report time, BEWARE! The early morning, well-oiled machine had some serious mechanical issues by the time we needed it. Last summer DS had a report time of 0930, and we arrived at the stadium before 0830 to board the buses to Alumni Hall. By that time, the summer sports camps had started for the younger kids and a number of buses were being used for them. Parents and Plebes all waited in line until about 0915 when the USNA Staff decided they didn't have nearly enough transport for everyone. At that point the Plebes were told to get on the two buses that had finally returned. Parents and families were told to say their goodbyes. A quick hug in the parking lot and he was gone! A perfect introduction to the spirit of SEMPER GUMBY!
 
Last year at I Day (class of 2023) the wait time for the bus was very long so I dropped off DD and her mom at gate 1 then parked at the stadium and walked to the yard. Many Plebes missed their reporting time last year. It seemed like they did not have enough buses early on.
 
That sort of makes sense. There are budget cutbacks all the time. My personal experience is now a couple of years old.
 
While I understand the desire to have a "long goodbye" before your child disappears into Alumni Hall on I-Day morning, keep in mind that it's for you, not your child. You have "free time" for the next 10-12 hours. Your new plebe will be busy/busy/busy. Guarantee that he/she won't remember whether you had a quick kiss/hug/handshake or 10 minutes of talk. The quick goodbye is probably easier on your DS/DD.

Also, this is NOT the last time you will see your mid that day. You'll have roughly 30 minutes at the end of the day.

Finally, some parents aren't able to attend I-Day at all. Other kind folks (e.g., sponsor families, Link in the Chain ('74) class members) will look out for them. No one is left behind.
 
if you stay close by and have a very early report, like 6-630 there likely won't be anything available for breakfast at around 5

we stopped at Subway the night before and got a sub - DS was up early and eating at around 4. it's a long time till they eat again and they burn a lot of calories on IDay
 
From my experience, the reporting time was not a hard time. They give out different reporting times just so they can manage having to process over 1,000 new mids. I had something like a 0730 reporting time and delays at the NMC stadium with buses lead me to not get there until 0800 and it was not a problem.
 
usna1985 said:
While I understand the desire to have a "long goodbye" before your child disappears into Alumni Hall on I-Day morning, keep in mind that it's for you, not your child. You have "free time" for the next 10-12 hours. Your new plebe will be busy/busy/busy. Guarantee that he/she won't remember whether you had a quick kiss/hug/handshake or 10 minutes of talk. The quick goodbye is probably easier on your DS/DD.

Also, this is NOT the last time you will see your mid that day. You'll have roughly 30 minutes at the end of the day.

Finally, some parents aren't able to attend I-Day at all. Other kind folks (e.g., sponsor families, Link in the Chain ('74) class members) will look out for them. No one is left behind.
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Yeah. My goodbye was “Dad, you aren’t allowed past this point” at like 6 am. They were selling breakfast sandwiches near the line to enter.

The picnic is awesome. Good food.

The ceremony is great.
 
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Agree with all. Each situation is different and each is the same. The morning reporting is usually not a hard time....(would suggest a good night's sleep a decent breakfast). Everyone is pretty pumped anyway and if you're lucky enough to get a nice day and get to spend a little time in the walk up to Alumni Hall, so much the better and you get the chance for little small talk and laughter.

After that...it's short and sweet "It'll be what you make it....do your best...have fun....love you" Adios.

It's a though it was last week, I kid you not.
 
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