<p>If you had a relative who had to use a walker and was coming for I-Day, would you stick with that or do you think a wheel chair is a better option? I know that it will be hard to get around under regular circumstances. Also, detering her from coming is not an option. She wants to see her only grandson. Any advice?</p>
<p>Get a lightweight, portable wheelchair [available for less than $100 at big box stores] and use it. Do not let the relative argue about this.
You will walk several times from Alumni Hall to Bancroft and back again. A person who is using a walker will not be able to do it.
It is a LONG, HOT, HUMID, emotionally draining day.
A wheelchair will get around just fine.</p>
<p>You could probably rent one as well. I vote for the wheelchair.</p>
<p>Wheelchair or a walker for that matter on the Yard is not a good idea at all. </p>
<p>I’ve been to the Yard a number of times and have seen parents pushing their parents around. The only one smiling is grandma.</p>
<p>I realize how hard it is for grandma to stay home but you will not enjoy one of the biggest days of your son’s Annapolis experience. Our friend (Plebe Mom - young too) last year broke her leg. Husband got a wheelchair which she abandoned about an hour into I-Day. Husband was exhausted trying to maneuver through crowds, up and down walkways…she literally hopped around on crutches the rest of the day. A walker…don’t even think about it.</p>
<p>Good luck.</p>
<p>Wheelchair. If you have a tag/sticker for handicapped parking, bring it and use it. Haul the walker along with in the trunk of the car. Let grammie use it for the first “walk” to Alumni Hall, if she’d like. After that she’ll probably be thankful you thought of the wheelchair. There are benches/sitting areas around, but it is a <em>very</em> long day, even for someone able-bodied and youthful. If I were in any way incapacitated, I’d go for the wheelchair in a heartbeat. The entire Yard is ADA capable…but, that being said, those entrances/elevators may not be in the easiest spots. There is a <em>ton</em> of walking on I-Day. I, too, have been on the Yard a number of times, and haven’t seen wheelchairs as being an issue. Probably just have to be willing to go a little more slowly. Do you have a person you can bring along that might be the chair pusher…that is physically capable of doing that job, but is not so intimately involved with your son’s entry into USNA? Having them join you might be a real plus. (Like an elder-care person). Perhaps you could find someone already in Annapolis that could do this service for you, as well… Then all can be focused on I-Day events, and not on wheeling gram around.</p>
<p>You might also contact:
[Scooter</a> & wheelchair rentals for cruise, airline & convention travel](<a href=“http://www.scootaround.com%5DScooter”>http://www.scootaround.com)
They deliver and pick up free at your hotel. They have some take down ones that can fit in a trunk.</p>
<p>Wheelchair …gently disagreeing w/ Goingtosea …the Yard is about as flat as a campus can be this side of western Kansas. yea, you’ll sweat a bunch that day, but you’ll have tons of company, wheels or otherwise. :eek:</p>
<p>Furthermore, beyond arriving on time and the 6 p.m. inductioin …there are zero deadlines for parents, gparents, and pals. Cruise on your own time schedule. ;)</p>
<p>Don’t miss this. It’s one of those life-time moments when up and down the family tree …the big and older oaks receive godly communique confirming …YOU DONE PRETTY GOOD! :D</p>
<p>Congrats, dress for hot and humid, and make sure you’ve lots of kleenex and handkerchiefs readily available. And take some BIG umbrellas and broad-brimmed bonnets …for rain AND sun.
</p>
<p>P.S. One final thought …I THINK they will allow you to drive on and park w/ a handicapped sticker …but if not, and don’t tell a soul I told you this secret…</p>
<p>If you have to park at the stadium, send your “driver” over after lunch to retrieve the car to the Yard. You’ll be sooooooo thankful you did when everyone’s outta gas after re-connecting w/ your dixie-cupped Plebe that night …and the line is about a mile or so long to get on the bus. After noon, there are many parking spots available across from Alumni Hall and beyond. ;)</p>
<p>WP: Do you remember, I don’t, if they permit handicapped to park–actually park–on the yard on that day? On commissioning day, handicapped could drive on and drop the appointed person but, otherwise, had to go back to stadium to park. [Guards kept your driver’s license as security.] All other times, Handicapped are permitted to park on the yard but on particular days [these two mostly] they are not.</p>
<p>Take the old person. You never know how much time they have left.</p>
<p>We never had a problem with rolling chair [I still prefer that to a heavy wheel chair and you can buy one for what you will pay to rent a wheel chair; plus, airline compatible, etc.] getting around but you may have to take alternative routes; route you had not thought of before. Most people ar e considerate of a wheel chair.</p>
<p>Now . . . BATHROOMS, that’s another whole strategic issue. Alumni Hall bathrooms . . .are they available that day? I don’t think so.
SO, go to the old building directly across from Alumni [across the plaza, opposite the fountain; can’t remember the name]. There is a bathroom, wheelchair accessible, on the first floor that is perfect for the bladder-challenged. It is cool, quiet, and all the other plebe parents will be too scaired to enter the building.</p>
<p>TAKE HEED of all that you ar ebeing told: A walker would be a nightmare. Wheelchair is manageable as long as somebody is willing to push it. Be prepared for heat and humidity like you have never experience before, EVEN if you are from Atlanta, Houston, maybe even New Orleans.</p>
<p>Bill …I do not remember. But in any case, and blame me, this is one of those rules meant to be broken, if it in fact is …lol.</p>
<p>btw, Bill …kudos to you and 84 both …the voices of knowledge, reason and sanity. Thanks for your always great info and service to others!</p>
<p>Thank you for all of the advice. You have no idea how helpful it has been. My mom is not used to being held back by physical limiations as she is only 77 and goes, goes, goes in the best of circumstances. Let me weigh in with one more question…would a scooter be too difficult to haul, manuver, etc. vs. the wheelchair? I didn’t think about crutches…oh my. I am getting so stressed out…</p>
<p>A scooter sh/ get around find; if you have the ability to carry it on your vehicle. There are a few sidwalks/roadways that are cobblestoned, but you sh/ be able to get around on those.
The one path I never could figure out was coming from Tecumseh down to the back of hte mid-store. I think there is an exterior lift, but it never seemed to be working.
Alternative was to get into Chauvenet, take the elevator down to mid-store level and come out “this side” of the track.
Otherwise, Alumni and Bancroft are on the same level.</p>
<p>The handicapped restroom to which I was referring is in the back of Mahan [acutally, I think it is called Sampson Hall] in the wing closest to the main road there.</p>
<p>Remember, it’s America! We go overboard to accompodate wheelchairs, etc. USNA is a federal facility, you will find handicapped spaces where you would not believe. We invite my father to go w/ us all the time because his handicapped tag is GOLD!!!
Plus, he enjoyed going. Even graduation was manageable.</p>
<p>Just talked to my parents today and they will be getting a handicap sticker for their car. Will they be able to park close to the Yard? Does anyone know?</p>
<p>[US</a> Naval Academy | Plebe Summer | Induction Day Information](<a href=“http://www.usna.edu/PlebeSummer/iday.htm]US”>http://www.usna.edu/PlebeSummer/iday.htm)</p>
<p>REPORTING FOR INDUCTION DAY
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
10. Are parents allowed to drive on to the Naval Academy yard on Induction Day?</p>
<p>All parents will be allowed to drive onto to the Naval Academy yard with their son or daughter’s permit to report letter in order to drop off their midshipmen candidate. However, no vehicles without Department of Defense (DOD) tags will be permitted to park on the yard. All family and friends are encouraged to park at Navy and Marine Corps Stadium and take the free shuttle buses to Alumni Hall. There will be no shuttle bus for family and friends from the stadium prior to 30 June; however families can utilize City of Annapolis transportation. When dropping off midshipmen candidates, it is recommended that parents utilize the parking lot located directly across from Alumni Hall.</p>
<p>Parking near the yard, on city streets in the Historic district is limited to 2 hours and they patrol frequently. We found during Commissioning week that the marked handicap spots outside gate 1 and 3 were for specific resident’s vehicles.</p>
<p>Taking the bus from the stadium is one option. My mother did it with a wheel chair for commissioning. Drive on the yard to drop off your mid, possibly even the grandmother if you have another person to stay with her. Drive to the stadium and take the bus back to the yard. The biggest problem will be taking the bus back to the stadium after evening formation (march into Bancroft Hall). The lines are extremely long. Traffic a nightmare. Idid see people walk to the stadium to retrieve car and then pick up family outside gate 1 at the visitor center. Again remember traffic will be heavy. </p>
<p>Last year for IDay you could not get your vehicle on the yard in the afternoon without a DOD sticker. In the morning the permit to report worked as long as you entered BEFORE the permit time. Had a friend who tried coming back after 11am and was turned away. </p>
<p>During Commissioning week they did allow handicap permits to park on the yard. We had to register the vehicle everyday at gate 1 and they gave us an additional USNA permit. The handicap person had to be present in the vehicle and have on their possession the appropriate paperwork from the Dr. and issuing authority stating to whom the permit was granted. It appears for IDay they are not making that exception. I believe it is the difference between commissioning/graduation week which is treated as a huge family function and IDay which is thought to be more of an immediate family affair.</p>
<p>As much as you indicate that deterring is not an option - offer other suggestions that might be more appealing to Grandma in the long run. It certainly worked for us. We had each set of the grandparents visit on a non-football weekend in the fall. Weather was great, got to see the Plebe from about 1pm Sat until 10pm Sat night. Went to church with him Sunday morning and then took him to Brunch at the O Club Sunday noon. He was dressed in summer whites for one grandparent visit in September and service dress blues for the other set’s visit in October. </p>
<p>Grandma’s love all of the pictures with, also only, grandson all dressed up in uniform. Pictures with grandma and plebe in white works, looking rather tried and possibly in issued glasses, would just not be the same!</p>
<p>Agree w/ Mom2; I-day is a hot, long, humid day w/ not really that many opportunities to see “YOUR” mid. Once you drop them off in morning, you will not see them until evening, and then only for 30minutes or so.
We, as in mother and father, alone went on I-day.</p>
<p>PPW is much better suited for additional visitors. [Although the person who took 20+ people to I-day–and we know of whom we speak–might disagree. Congratulations to her 2010 grad.] We took grandfather to PPW and he enjoyed it.</p>
<p>^^^^ LOL!!!
Only it was 26!!!
With one wheelchair, and one stroller [that was for the pooch… which is no longer allowed on I Day!!!] It was the pooch that was most comfortable as her stroller was AIR CONDITIONED!!! LOL!!!</p>
<p>[happy to say, minus 1 gf, all made it back for commissioning day as well, and then some!!! We maxed out at 42 “sleeping” at the house, not counting the MIDS!!! ALL GOOD!!!] </p>
<p>My advice: GO FOR IT!!!</p>
<p>[actually, we brought down just the immediate family- plus a few extras- for PPW- and I was happy it worked out that way. Our then-plebe wanted 3 things: food, the sports channel, and sleep!!! The LAST place he wanted to be on PPW was the yard [thus, no time to take the tour for newbie’s!] … and we FINALLY got him to put on his uniform on SUNDAY and that was so we could take him out to an early dinner and back to the yard immediately after!!! No way could I have handled 26 family members that weekend who would be content to just hole-up with him watching ESPN-2!!!]</p>
<p>Anyway- back to I-Day- our group of 26 arrived a day early, enjoyed the yard [as civilians,] had a great last-supper along the south river cracking crabs- lots of laughs- … early to bed… even earlier to rise… wow, the 4 years are over in a FLASH!!! </p>
<p>
</p>
<p>This is a bit off the beaten path, however:</p>
<p>From t-court, take the ramp up into Bancroft
Immediately to the RIGHT of the main rotunda [before you get into the corridor of Main Office] is an elevator
Take elevator down 2 levels
convoluted, but head towards the rear of the building- you can pick up the ho-chi-min trail from there- head to your left, and from there you can enter the midstore from the rear [by the swords and diploma frame displays]…it is the “flat” way to go.<br>
If you ask anyone you see along the way, they should be able to direct you.
Inside the midstore is another story… afraid there are stairs in there, but if you ask, there are ramps here and there that CAN get you to every part of the store, although you will have to navigate that a bit with some pointers!</p>
<p>Definitely take the grandma, and the wheelchair [or travel chair as suggested], or even better, the scooter if you can transport it.</p>
<p>Parking with handicap sticker- you will be able to at least drive on the yard to drop off; you may even find parking way-back behind 8th wing of Bancroft [the opposite end of the yard from Alumni]… it is a hike but might avoid the bus lines at the end of the day.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Unfortunately, a handicapped sticker alone will not get them on the yard. They will need to have someone in their vehicle that has a FONA pass, otherwise they will not get on, even for a drop-off. </p>
<p>As for parking close to the yard- would not count on that- parking downtown is tight, and parking tickets are the most common souvineer of a visit to Annapolis. You would be better off going to the stadium and taking the shuttle bus [they will accommodate the wheelchair] - and they drop you off right in front of alumni- it really is the best way to go.</p>
<p>If you do opt to park downtown, watch the painted curbs and the parking signs. Red curbs- no parking; yellow- 15 minutes, green- 2 hour restriction for non-residents. Park ONLY where the curbs are clean, and even there, check the signs for restricions- I believe the max along King George street, for example, is 8 hours. [how do they know you might ask… well, they use chaulk to mark your tires…]</p>
<p>If you do opt for the shuttle - the lines getting back to the stadium are long at the end of the day- just take your time and stroll around the yard a bit, and use THAT time to visit memorial hall, etc… </p>
<p>as for grandma, suggest bringing a large golf umbrella that can be CLIPPED to the wheelchair [so she- and the wheelchair driver- doesn’t have to hold it all day]… it will keep the SUN and the [dare I say] rain off and will help to keep her comfortable, even with the sun beating down on T-court. Don’t forget the sunscreen for everyone! </p>
<p>[Wheelchair</a> Umbrella](<a href=“http://www.rehabmart.com/product/wheelchair-umbrella1-10634.html]Wheelchair”>Wheelchair Accessories | Oxygen Tank Holder | Wheelchair Gloves | Wheelchair Cup Holder)</p>
<p>Non-football weekend is also another good suggestion…</p>
<p>Fast forward:
We opted not to bring one of the grandmothers back for commissioning week- it was a heart-wrenching decision, but it had to be. But as failing as her memories are these days, she still talks about seeing her grandson on I-Day… a proud day for this Navy-grandmother whose husband served for 25+ years!!! I know she would have loved to have been there for commissioning; however the past 4 years have aged her to the point where it really was not possible. As Bill stated, take them while you can, and do what you think will work out best for YOUR family. As you can see, there are lots of options- all good- but you are the only one that knows your group.</p>
<p>No matter the decision, enjoy the day- remember to charge up the camera- and bring an extra GB of memory if you can!!!</p>
<p>I sh/ have been more specific: PPW is a good time for a FEW more visitors. 2010, as is typical, is correct with her elucidation. They are anxious to get off the yard and spend some “down” time eating hometown foods [we brought some frozen chili from Houston] and just hanging out in the quiet, coolness of a hotel room.</p>
<p>PARKING AND RESTROOMS [Restrooms covered above] will be your number one challenge each time you visit. </p>
<p>I did not know about the Bancroft trail; I know exactly of where you speak now. [Now that it is too late; unless, that is, daughter is appointed in a couple of years.]</p>
<p>^^^ keep the faith!</p>
<p>Keep grandma at home for I-Day. Wait for Parents Weekend if she MUST go. The Naval Academy (and Annapolis) is for WALKING, not driving. There are lots of steps and cobblestones on the Yard and, although a wheelchair would be preferred over a walker, NEITHER is particularly easy to push around. Getting from Stribling Walk to the Midstore parking lot is a pain in the butt with a wheelchair.</p>
<p>At the end of the day, nobody on this site will have been the one pushing the wheelchair. Do what is right for you and your family.</p>
<p>Bill speaks the truth (yes, you can quote me on that later).</p>
<p>If you wish to bring Grandma, and she needs a walker, LEAVE THE WALKER AT HOME AND GET A WHEELCHAIR! As for pushing, maybe it will be better to get one of those scooters that move themselves. As already mentioned, however, some places will be difficult to get into or around (Chauvanet Hall down to the Mid Store parking lot, for instance). Others may be impossible (the Rotunda, unless you can find one of the elevators to sneak her in through).</p>
<p>If worst comes to worst, call USNA and see what they recommend. You will not have been the first one to do so.</p>