<p>Hi all -
Thought I’d start this thread so you’all who move in first can let the rest know how it goes, how much help there is, carts, getting in early, any issues etc.
Selfishly, I’m just trying to live vicariously though you since I’m not there!
Please post anything that might be helpful to the rest. :)</p>
<p>AL34, just for you, we’ve got partly cloudy skies, temp will be soaring into the 90’s, Paty Package Delivery Center will be open until 4pm today, and there are more uniformed girls in Nike Tempo shorts and t-shirts than you can shake a stick at. Wish you were here. It’s fabulous. Know that your son chose wisely.</p>
<p>Has anyone else NOT received their parking pass yet for move-in next Friday? I was just looking at the e-mail verifying our check-in time and it said passes would be mailed the end of July. We don’t have one yet and are leaving on Wednesday.</p>
<p>We did get ours, but if yours may not make it in time you can call or email Hailey at movein.ua.edu, she can put you on a list for them to have when you get there.</p>
<p>Sabres, I move in on Friday too and we have not received the parking pass either.</p>
<p>DS just called - he had a 4pm move-in time today but drove on up and they let them move in just now (noon!)
Said there were tons of carts and volunteers, they got the stuff into the room in no time flat and he is setting up… easy as pie! He had a lot of stuff but it was very well organized.
Kind of leads me to believe that not having your parking pass won’t be a big thing, still I’d call just to be sure - found the number…
Hailey
(205) 348-1767</p>
<p>Whitesox - I’ll let him know you’re coming in in Friday - did you see you’all got a new roommate? :)</p>
<p>correction, there was no line at Ridgecrest West. Apparently the line of cars for Ridgecrest South was 75+, no clue why.</p>
<p>I haven’t gotten my parking pass either. As to there being a long line at Ridgecrest South, it’s a bigger building than Ridgecrest East and West and even with the walkway being used as a road, there isn’t tons of room for people to stop their cars and get everything out of them.</p>
<p>Our parking pass come in the mail on Monday this past week. So, those moving in next weekend will probably get yours this Monday.</p>
<p>Just wanted to let everyone know that move in went very smooth yesterday. D’s time was 10am; we arrived at 9:50 and they directed us to pull up. There were a number of UA people (staff & students I’m assuming) who were helping out with carts. D went inside to sign in & get her key. We waited for a few minutes, then DH saw someone just put a cart outside of the entrance to the dorm. He went and grabbed it and we loaded it up; DH & both girls went up with the cart while I waited with the car. One of the UA folks came over with a 2nd cart & we loaded that up & he helped DH take that up for a second trip. The car was completely unloaded by 10:15. Not too shabby!</p>
<p>I parked the car. D is in Ridgecrest West & I parked in the Ten Hoor lot; that walk was wicked in the heat but all was well. Everything was in D’s room by the time I got up there. </p>
<p>It took us longer to unpack/arrange than I anticipated. At 1pm my younger D was hungry so we stopped & went to Full Moon BBQ then stopped at Publix. We went back, put the food away, did a few more things in the room then ran over to the bookstore to pick up her books & then drove past Riverside so she could check in for Alabama Action. We didn’t leave her room till 5:15. We thought we’d be done between 3-4. We were busy that whole time.</p>
<p>Advil is my friend today ;)</p>
<p>RobD: Yes, that walk from Ten Hoor was lousy – thought that we would be able to park in the Ferg’s lot, which was nearly empty Friday and Saturday. My son’s suite mates got their keys early Friday afternoon, so my son was able to get his, too, because he did the move in for students over the weekend. We did the food shopping Saturday night and returned to the dorm around 9 p.m. Then, my youngest and I went back to our hotel for a good night’s sleep before heading north. My youngest son, after seeing all the stuff his brother has, informed me that he needs just two suitcases when he goes to school.</p>
<p>BTW, we did not have a parking pass and got hassled a few times about it. But then again, some of my son’s friends also did not get passes … and they live within two or three hours of UA.</p>
<p>momreads: I wonder if we passed in the hallways ;)</p>
<p>That’s so funny about your S2; my D2 informed us that when she goes to college, she’ll be organizing her own stuff, thank you very much (she’s a smidge OCD.) </p>
<p>We ended up parking in the Ferg lot later in the day with no problem. The only time we got any push back(and we had a parking pass) was when we went to drive back down the entrance street to Ridgecrest West to pick up people/drop off groceries. It was well past our drop off time, but they let us through after a 10 second conversation.</p>
<p>I would absolutely stress the importance of consolidating everything into as few packages as possible. We did a pretty good job, even reusing some of those sturdy plastic, zippered packages that comforters and sheets come in. we fit all kinds of odds and ends in those and it worked out great since they have a built in handle. Still, the loose items slowed us down and tended to bounce around in the carts. I saw one poor guy lose several plates when the box they were in fell off his cart, so be sure to buffer any breakables as much as possible.</p>
<p>Be aware that you are setting up house from scratch. There is NO toilet paper in the bathroom, no paper towels for cleanup. If you don’t bring them with you you’ll need to make a run to the store sooner rather than later.</p>
<p>We made an afternoon trip to Super Target for food, spare light bulbs, and a small fan - the bedroom was a little stuffy. I now wish we had bought one of the “blackout” curtains. D’s room was VERY bright at 8 a.m.</p>
<p>Drink lots of water! It WILL make a difference.</p>
<p>Timeflew: See if you can get to Wal-Mart and send your daughter one of those blackout panels. My son had me put his on the tension rod. He put it up without steaming the wrinkles out (he said he’ll get to that this week), and what a difference it made with his room.</p>
<p>RobD: Sorry we missed you at Ridgecrest West. … S2 says that I just need to pack everything in this 30-inch suitcase we have. He’s the warm-blooded son who thinks a sweatshirt is fine for cold weather (including lots of snow). As long as he has some cooking supplies and cereal, he will be fine.</p>
<p>AL34,
We dropped off our D yesterday am. Staff was very friendly and helpful! They unloaded both cars and took boxes to her room like clockwork. The bed was already lofted so we lucked out…I thought she had way too much stuff but surprisingly everything fit with room to spare. We were asked to move the cars but not to worry b/c they wouldn’t be ticketing on Sunday 
</p>
<p>Definitely get the blockout curtains if you haven’t already. Hope your move-in goes equally smoothly.</p>
<p>Had a 10:00 moved in yesterday. Drove up early 9:15, but with the steady flow of cars weren’t able to pull up, no problem stopped at Paty got his package (piece of cake) and went to Publix deli counter for some sandwiches for later (yummy - Boars Head meats). When we got back no problem pulling up before hour time. Unloading was quick and easy, helping hands. Left DH and DS, I was able to run to Target for the large stuff (TP, PT, ironing board, cleaners and some foods). Was back in no time and was able to pull up again and unload. DS is a minimalist so setting up was done easily (I will be sending some small stuff). Picked up his books, saw him check-in for AA and a goodbye, dad and I were off to catch our flight back to CA. Whirlwind weekend. Text to his sisters “now I feel like I’m at college”.</p>
<p>Hi, AL34. You’ve got the general from the crowd. We had an 8am move in at Lakeside…not many there and it was quick. Of course, my son is really minimal compared to what we saw others doing. </p>
<p>I dropped him off and went to park. Then I walked to Lakeside and only lost it when his RA (who has the same first name as you) greeted me with the bubbly personality you would hope for in an RA. Promptly wrote down her home phone, cell phone, email and emergency codes (just joking about these last!) and encouraged me to call at any hour. She said she had made a midnight run for Oreos in the past at a Mom’s request. Realistically, no way am I going to ask some cute young thing to make an Oreo run at midnight but her spirit was Crimson through and through.</p>
<p>All I did was make the bed. We had picked up the linens from Paty on Sat and washed everything to get the new-sheet/towel sizing out. I did help him lower the spring on the bed and then took him shopping. He had spent time at Target the night and day before.</p>
<p>He wanted to do his unpacking and setting up so we grabbed a cup of coffee and I headed out. It was a tough drive to Bham…not because of the traffic. Who would have thought it would be so hard? I’m usually pretty goal oriented and pragmatic. Oh,well. I haven’t gone upstairs to his room since I’ve been home, either…silly me. </p>
<p>I still have yet to meet anyone that I would hesitate to talk to or ask a question of at UA. I suspect our kids feel the same. I know mine is going to have to find his way and he seems eager to do so. What more can a parent ask?</p>
<p>We had a GREAT move-in experience. My husband went early to park DS’s car in the garage and walked over to Lakeside West. He helped them get water in coolers and such. (He’s always so helpful) Anyway, our move in time was 9am and they told my husband to tell us to come on (this was around 8am) that DS could go ahead and move in. We came on over from the hotel and sure enough got everything up to room in 3 trips. Like RobD, it did take awhile to put everything up. We went for groceries around 2:30pm, came back thru and asked if we could park out front and take them up. The staff was super nice. Asked if we needed help with the groceries!!!??? Everyone was super! Thank you Bama move-in staff!
ps. They also said if we had come by around 4pm the day before that they would have let us move in then. SO, if you’re in town early this week, it would be worth driving over and asking…</p>
<p>That’s a good point bamafana. And the only time they looked at the ‘parking’ pass was when driving up to move in…so if they have a list of names, that should work!</p>
<p>Great to hear the first batch are all settled in and we parents are moving onto the next stage. Word is good from OA, (Malani’s DS sounds every bit as entertaining as his dad!) All is good. Hope the move-ins continue as well for everyone else.</p>