Walking vs driving on I day

M

MommaJ

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I've been reading about shuttles and driving onto the yard...well, are we free to walk from our hotel onto the yard (proper paperwork and ID in hand) on I day? make our way to Alumni Hall?
 
Unless it’s explicitly barred this year, walking is a great option. We did it from Eastport, about a 25-minute brisk stroll to Alumni Hall. Controlled our own fate, relied on our own legs, and it helped DD burn off some energy and stress. It was early morning, so weather wasn’t an issue. Midday — with heat and humidity, and depending on distance — might be a bit less easy. But I’d recommend it!
 
We also walked from DTA with our oldest. @MidCakePa is SPOT ON with the heat/humidity making it uncomfortable (oppressive, miserable),
other than early morning. Had to make one trip back to hotel to grab a change of clothes, it was so sweaty hot (watch what colors you wear….seriously…if you are a ‘sweater’).

If you are NOT allowed to use those gates (1,3), you probably won’t want to walk to gate 8. It’s quite a ways from DTA/Eastport side. Look at a map and you will see why. The shuttle to/from the stadium is a really great option.
 
In 2019, we did not walk. We did the shuttle bus from the stadium. However, that particular year, they were either short on shuttles or something broke down. My wife and I had to say goodbye in the stadium parking lot while 2 fairly large Marines had all of the candidates step out of line and proceed to board the next bus without their families. Good thing too....my p2b was losing his mind thinking that he was going to be late for his report time. Mom was definitely not happy.

So, we did not get to see the alumni hall vortex :-(
 
ProudDad2022 said:
In 2019, we did not walk. We did the shuttle bus from the stadium. However, that particular year, they were either short on shuttles or something broke down. My wife and I had to say goodbye in the stadium parking lot while 2 fairly large Marines had all of the candidates step out of line and proceed to board the next bus without their families. Good thing too....my p2b was losing his mind thinking that he was going to be late for his report time. Mom was definitely not happy.

So, we did not get to see the alumni hall vortex :-(
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The vortex came to you in the form of Marines.
 
In 2019, The Sup, Dant, AD, Coach Ken, and Dean of Academics were all in the lobby or in front of Alumni Hall to greet and shake hands with plebes-to-be as they approached their fate. That's a gravitational vortex difficult to resist.
 
DMV1962 said:
We parked in a public lot in DTA for the day for $20 and walked through gate 1.
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Which is great, if entrance is allowed through that gate. ‘25 should follow instructions for ‘25. USNA has their reasons for doing things the way they are requesting, and you (especially your plebe) don’t want to draw unnecessary attention to yourself (or your plebe).

I can just picture a family at gate one. Mom and Dad are there so the guards are pretty ‘ok’. But Mom and Dad aren’t allowed through the gate. Jimmy/Julie now doesn’t have enough time to get back to the parking garage, LOA’s up and drive with a frantic mom and dad around to gate 8. So Jimmy/Julie decides to walk to Alumni Hall from gate 1. Alone. Prime pickings for detailers/Marines to ‘question’ why they aren’t following the drop off rules.

See what I mean 😳?? It could happen. Just do what your instructions say….don’t be plebe meat. Y’all know better than anyone else what instructions are.
 
LS1988 said:
Will gate 8 be the only available to walk through?
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I don't know what things are like there post covid, but gate 8 as the only walk-through would surprise me. I used Gate 8 to drive onto campus a number of time while DD was there. Its by far the best gate for vehicle access, but Its not (or wasn't) set up to walk thru: no bag check equipment no place to line up out of the rain or the sun or the heat or the cold. Add to this, the location of gate8 at the far end of campus and this one just doesn't make sense to me.

Note: I haven't been on campus since early 2020. Maybe things have changed to tighten security or conform to a covid Opps plan, but I'll give you 95% odds on my answer until one of the better references on this board chimes in.

Re car for IDay. We stayed at the large hotel down town (changed hands since 2016). The walk (10-15 mins to Gate 1) was very do-able in June--THAT YEAR.......................... PPW CL2020 I wouldn't have left the hotel if I hadn't had a car with AC
 
Just Dad said:
I don't know what things are like there post covid, but gate 8 as the only walk-through would surprise me. I used Gate 8 to drive onto campus a number of time while DD was there. Its by far the best gate for vehicle access, but Its not (or wasn't) set up to walk thru: no bag check equipment no place to line up out of the rain or the sun or the heat or the cold. Add to this, the location of gate8 at the far end of campus and this one just doesn't make sense to me.

Note: I haven't been on campus since early 2020. Maybe things have changed to tighten security or conform to a covid Opps plan, but I'll give you 95% odds on my answer until one of the better references on this board chimes in.

Re car for IDay. We stayed at the large hotel down town (changed hands since 2016). The walk (10-15 mins to Gate 1) was very do-able in June--THAT YEAR.......................... PPW CL2020 I wouldn't have left the hotel if I hadn't had a car with AC
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Yes, PPW Class 2020 was like living in a sauna nonstop. Three steps outside and sweat pouring down. But the crab cakes at Cantler's were delicious, and their AC was working.
 
As others have suggested, I would first read the PTR paperwork for whatever instructions they provide about entering the Yard this year. What they do this year could be different from prior years. One year there was a lot of ongoing construction, so access to the Yard by car was very limited. There is also limited parking on the Yard and with the number of cars that will be there during I-Day, there isn't space for everyone. Some years you could drive on the Yard to drop off people, but couldn't park there. Some families were surprised when they returned from parking that their son/daughter had already disappeared inside to start the process. You can actually walk from the stadium to the Yard, if you don't mind the distance, I know we did that in the past when attending a home football game.

Part of the reason they vary report times is so that everyone isn't arriving at the same time. Many older threads on that topic.
 
A big THANK YOU to everyone responding to my query...we arrive on the 28th and he enters vortex early on 30th. So, a day to get assimilated to the east coast heat and humidity. I'll probably also get in line for the ID driving card-just n case-I guess you never know when you might need it since probably not going Kim Jong Un style...:cool:
 
If report is 1200, is it possible/allowed for plebe and parent to park at the stadium at 1100 and take the shuttle over so that parent will make it in time for the parent briefing scheduled at 1245(alumni brief at 1230). If I get dropped off right on time my parent would be cutting it close driving back to the stadium and waiting for a shuttle rather if we just showed up to the stadium at 1100 and took the shuttle over.
 
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