<p>I understand completely! Funny.. we were practically afraid to say the words USNA after nominations came in as we waited for the appointment. BEST OF LUCK to YOU and your Family!</p>
<p>Where in northern Cal are you?</p>
<p>We're in southern Cal.</p>
<p>We even took it a step farther...He put the USNA sticker on his car, but I was not allowd the license plate holder or sticker on mine until after IDay. Until he took that Oath of Office he wasn't having anything jinx him!</p>
<p>Over Parents Weekend he went hog wild at the mid store with all of the USNA stuff for the rents and grandrents. We all have license plate holders, stickers and don't forget the GO Navy banner for all of those football weekends!</p>
<p>NAPSters come together and process-in earlier than everyone else so if they have to report 2 days early, assume that you won't see them until after the Oath of Officer is adminstered, but I'd check with former NAPS parents on the board. I do know that if plebes come in early, there are arrangements for them to stay in Bancroft, but they don't process until I-Day. That's what my son's plebe summer roommate from Colorado did.</p>
<p>Profmom2-</p>
<p>Is this certain that there is a mid-store card for parents?</p>
<p>Absolutely, they'll have your plebe's name on file (with yours I believe) so all you have to do is pick it up at the Mid Store when you get there</p>
<p>Not to be gluttonish, or anything, but what's the limit? $$ :D</p>
<p>On what day may one pick it up and use it? $$ :D :p</p>
<p>:cool:</p>
<p>It's not a card with $$$ on it, it is a card that allows you to enter and purchase things in the Mid Store. The Mid Store is not open to the public and charges no sales tax. With the card you can also shop the online Mid Store.</p>
<p>You will be able to pick it at IDay, I think we got ours on Tuesday.</p>
<p>So, what you're saying is that this Mid Store card is basically an ID card and I can purchase things with my own checking account/debit/charge?</p>
<p>I know when we were there this past summer, we couldn't even buy water in there. We have military ID's and I can understand them not wanting us to buy things in there, but they wouldn't even let us buy water and we were parched.</p>
<p>Yes, it's an ID card and it's yours for the four years that your Mid is at school. I saw a family at I-Day last year spend $1000!!!!!!!! They lived very, very far away and figured they wouldn't have too many chances over the course of the year to get in and shop.</p>
<p>Yep..just an ID card kind of like your card to get into Cosco!</p>
<p>Midshipmen Store is open to Midshipmen, Faculty, USNA employees and Parents. Parents of Midshipmen receive this card on IDay and it carries an expiration date of May in our case 2010. It also has your Mids alpha code on it. The policy states that you can only bring immediate family members as guests into the Store. Don't think that is enforced.</p>
<p>atrmom was faster!</p>
<p>Okay, having stayed in Annapolis about ten times in the last two years, here is some info.</p>
<p>The Loewes is a great hotel, worth the money for I-day and, maybe, for PPW.
We did get a "suite" for PPW; it turned out to be on the conceirge floor but, in reality, was just two rooms joined together. It was fine but nothing special. I think they do have a couple of other suites that are true suites and price daccordingly. IF you can justify the cost, this hotel is worth it.</p>
<p>Just across the Severn, significantly cheaper, is a Comfort Inn. If you are loooking for a budget hotel that is closer and cheaper than just about any other hotel in the area, this is it. I use it when I am going by myself. I forget the name of the town, but it is the closest Comfort Inn to Annapolis.</p>
<p>In Bowie are several "suite" hotels. We stayed at the Marriott version during Herndon. It was great! Room was spacious and lots of restaurants nearby. About a 15 - 20 minute drive. By this time, we knew th elay of th e land and the fact that Mid didn't care where we stayed.</p>
<p>Just down the block from the Lowes are two local hotels. I forget the name but it would not take much to look them up. Lowes and these two hotels are in walking distance, but it is a healthy walk. During the inevitable evening rain or early in morning, it might be a bit much.</p>
<p>Chain hotels on th ehighway are available, e.g. residence inn, etc.
The real issue is parking. Lowes has parking for its guests--about $10 - 15 daily. Parking will always be an issue and you don't get a vehicle pass to the yard until after I-day [or at least that's way it was two years ago].
Parking in town is, basically, non-existent. Although you could get luck early in th emorning. The other problem is that I think much of it is limited to two hours.
Your only pracitcal alternative is the stadium and most people seemed fine with it.</p>
<p>Like anywher else, the closer and nicer you want the more expensive it is.</p>
<p>We stayed to Monday on PPW and could have just as easily left on Sunday night. They have to be back by 6p [I think] and, in reality, they want to be back by about 4p. Early enough for you to catch the last flights out to most of the country.</p>
<p>Drive to the airport on other than weekday mornings is easy about 30m. Turning in a car and everything can be done in less than an hour.</p>
<p>What else? I guess a thread sh/ be started for I-day advice.</p>
<p>Nope, I just spend too much time and money at the Mid Store ( we only live an hour away...dangerous) My husband's an alumni, so I have a card based on that. The only benefit is that I'll be able to keep shopping there after my son graduates. Now we're going to have to start spending equal $'s at my daughter's soon-to-be college...believe me, the prices in the Mid Store are much, much better!</p>
<p>Come to the Alumni Association on I-Day, free food and lots of good information. There'll be parents of upperclass Mids who can answer lots of your questions too!</p>
<p>I am very, very pleased to hear about the Mid Card for Moms (not that it is actually referred to as that, but I call it that). I will make sure I use it. :p
:D</p>
<p>I shall be there! :p</p>