We are moving in our DD on Sunday 8/26 to Wilkins Hall. She has 2pm as her time. Is there any pull up and unload area there? Will there be anyone directing or a check-in process? Any tips for move in would be appreciated! TIA
Good luck! We will be there the same time at Frontier, so curious to hear from those who have moved in early in the past.
We’ll be there too. Same time at Territorial.
Are you guys all moving in a day early? It says on the Move-in Guide that Move-in is the 27th and 28th. Not sure if early move-in will have (the same number of) volunteers to assist but at least you won’t have the large crowds and can probably find a cart somewhere. Bring a hand-cart of your own, just in case and follow the guidelines they set out for unload and parking (see below). Might help if one parent can take care of parking and the other help with check-in/keeping an eye on the stuff, esp. if the number of volunteers is small or you need to wait for a cart.
Maps of the Twin Cities campus will show you parking ramps nearby your respective dorms - just figure out which ramp you want to go to beforehand and familiarize yourselves with that. Hopefully someone will be on hand to provide directions to parking.
General info from the Move-In Guide, probably good to follow for early move-in as well:
“Moving to Campus
You may move in to your assigned space beginning any time after your assigned move-in date and time. When you arrive, go to your building’s lobby to check in. Volunteers will provide help during move-in on August 27 and 28. Moving carts are available on a first come, first served basis. Feel free to bring a handcart of your own. When packing for move-in, load your vehicle so items can be easily unloaded curbside or into a moving cart.”
“Parking on Campus
On August 27 and 28, there will be unloading zones near the entrance to your building. These spaces can only be used to unload. After unloading, staff and volunteers will direct you to a designated long-term parking facility. Please follow all parking signs and inquire with staff and volunteers for additional assistance. Do not bring a trailer or oversized vehicle because it will not fit in our parking lots, and you will be directed to park off-campus.”
https://housing.umn.edu/sites/housing.umn.edu/files/2018_move-in_guide.pdf
@JBStillFlying our orientation is on the 27th and 28th. So they let us move in a day earlier. Does anyone knows if the dorms would provide shuttle services to students for shopping once a week or so. We are putting together a list of things that our son would need but I don’t think we can cover everything he would need once he moves in.
@ak200008 he would be 24 min. away from a WalMart via the green line. There’s also a Super Target but it’s a bit farther. I’ve been to both - the Target is nicer but the Wal-Mart is fine - in fact, I couldn’t find what I was looking for at that Target which is why I ended up at the Wal-Mart! LOL. (and yes, they had what I needed).
He’s 4 min. walking distance from a CVS.
These are just the stores off the top of my head. There are no doubt other establishments along University that are even closer.
The advantage of UMN is that it’s in the heart of the Twin Cities. Lots of ability to get around, shuttle or no. Not saying a shuttle doesn’t exist for shopping trips or that he can’t use the shuttle for a part of his journey to purchase supplies - he just doesn’t need to rely only on the shuttle schedule as public transit is more than readily available.
@JBStillFlying you are the best! My D is in Wilkins, and she believes Target is only a 5 minute walk from her dorm. Is that accurate?? We got our move-in instructions today, but they were mostly for those coming on 8/27-28, and not early. So excited for these kids! I wish I could go back to college!
A Target Express is right in Dinkytown. It was the first mini-Target in the country.
https://corporate.target.com/article/2014/07/video-targetexpress-store-tour
@mwmomtwins Cheddar is correct and per Google maps it’s a 7 min walk from Wilkins 
My daughter heard that many returning in-state kids had move-in assigned on the 26th, but it’s not clear if the guides will be helping then.
Ahh, @illinoisx3 , that will be interesting. Is your daughter at UMN this year? I am not sure if it is just freshman or a mix at Wilkins. It wasn’t even on her list of dorm requests, so I think it was originally for sophomores, etc. My biggest concern is somehow fitting all the gear in the car for the drive up!!
@mwmomtwins - Yes, she is in a Biology LLC suite in Frontier which I think is all or mostly freshman. Just glad she didn’t get overflow temporary housing, or a double converted to a triple/quad. Not sure if this is an issue at UMN-TC with Pioneer Hall closed and increasing enrollments, but I know some schools like Purdue have a big problem with that. One of her friends was put into Yudof that is normally reserved for upperclassmen. We toured Yudof when my son visited and it is actually pretty nice and close to the main quad and union, but it’s more apartment style than the traditional dorm experience. Maybe that is what is happening with Wilkins also? I believe I heard they bought or leased some private apartment buildings for the returning students who would have normally been in Yudof/Wilkins, at least until Pioneer remodeling is finished next year.
There is now a Fresh Thyme grocery store. Take the green line towards St Paul. It is one stop pass the Stadium Village stop. When you get off the green line you can see the entrance for cars. Walk the 50+feet towards University Ave. and look away from campus. One can see the Fresh Thyme sign on University Ave. I saw folks carrying food back onto the Green Line last week.
It is also the same stop as the Hampton Hotel.
I would try to avoid the Target near the new soccer stadium off of I94. When we visited it had no fresh food. We had to go over to the Cub foods in the same area to get any fresh stuff.
We eventually started going to the one off of I35. Northeast of campus about 4 miles away.
@MerryLee I won’t shop at any Targets for fresh food in our Twin Cities 'burb either. Cub is the way to go - Byerly’s too. Target has dropped the ball on fresh groceries.
Move-in was a breeze even without helpers. We just pulled up to the lot at the front door, it wasn’t busy at 1:30pm when we arrived. Unloaded into 2 carts and parked in the garage. Frontier double room “suite” was larger than expected. Condition of the room was much better than I expected from the age of the building. Guessing it had newer carpet, furniture, paint, etc. We hit a Target and Costco about 10 mins away for last minute stuff. Tuition bill is posted today, was pretty much as expected, except for the $330 charge for the College of Biological Sciences orientation weekend. Guess I missed the notice on that.
We stayed one night at the La Quinta in Woodbury. Was pretty nice and relatively inexpensive with free parking and breakfast. Only 15-20 mins away. The second night we stayed at the University Inn in Dinky Town. Older building that looks like a converted dorm or apartment. Good location and free parking and not too pricey. Nicely renovated kitchenette, but our lower level room was very musty smelling. Window A/C was pretty loud. Cancelled my reservation there for Parent Weekend. Prefer the Graduate on campus or the La Quinta to save money.
We also stayed at La Quinta Woodbury Very nice place.
Just so when future people look at this for fall 2019, I’d like to comment that there are a lot more hotels that are closer if you go downtown. All of the chains have hotels there and there are also some right on campus, no need to stay as far out as Woodbury.
Woodbury and Roseville are about 15+ mins away. They offer highly rated hotels with free breakfast/parking and are usually much cheaper than the campus and downtown hotels, especially if you want a 1 bedroom with a sofa bed for another person separated from the bedroom. Plus, they don’t book up on event weekends if you don’t get an early reservation. We’re staying at the Graduate for parent’s weekend in a few weeks, but it’s pricey even with the university event promo codes and parking is extra. I’ve stayed there a few times; very nice hotel and the best location. Doubletree is pretty close if you can get a deal, too. I was not a fan of the University Inn, though it is a good value.
Not sure how helpful this is but there are also several hotels in Brooklyn Center near the I-94/694 interchange. At least one of them - Country Inn and Suites - will have the sofa bed with separate master suite, etc. These might be a few miles farther than Roseville/Woodbury and on the “Minneapolis” side of the Twin Cities rather than St. Paul. But they might serve as a backup. there is also an Embassy Suites in that area.