PIR for Dummies

[Skipatroll]

My daughter graduated RTC on October 16. This is my version of PIR and hopefully it will act to help guide those of you that are coming to their first PIR. Sorry for spelling errors

Transportation:

Airfare

....book early. Airfare from Calif to Chicago cost me $216 round trip by booking 6 weeks in advance. If she had delayed graduation I would have been assessed a $125 change penalty but that was well worth it. The same airfare two days before her graduation was $706 r/t. Use Expedia or some similiar source to help you find airfare bargains.

Having grown up in NYC, I originally intened to take public transportation to Great Lakes from O Hare. I though Metra would be a fun way to travel. I booked a red eye at 1:30am leaving Ca and got in Chcago at 1030am. I figured I would have the whole day to travel. What I found out is the Metra system, while cheap, is a long haul and with transfers would have gotten me into Great Lakes about 400pm that day. Also cab would have run $75-100 each trip from the RTC to O Hare. Since she was Grad and Go, I did not find out until the day of graduation what airport she was flying out of. A shuttle from RTC to Ohare would run about $50 one way. You can split this but the bottom line is a car rental from Enterprise ran me $28 a day for three days. A bargain considering the mobility. Get a car by all means.

When traveling on the toll roads most of the lanes are for I-Pass, a local electronic toll system. If you get in an I-pass lane by accident, you will get a violation in a couple of weeks by mail. Stay in your far right hand lanes when approaching toll plazas. Carry lots of quarters and nickels with you (some toll are $.80)

Drive by the RTC gates and see the area so you know the roads a little. If you are Grad and Go, like my daughter was., they will leave around 100pm on PIR day to go the the airport they have been told about the day before. You will get to spend about 1 to 1.5 hours before they have to go back and get ready. Once you know the airport you can get there and get a visitors gate pass from the airline the sailors check in at. (This was true for Midway..not sure about O Hare) I got to spend 5 hours with her at the airport so it was worth the trip to Great Lakes. Anyhow back to parking. Two statements. Unless you are Grad and GO...do not drive to the RTC. You will wait on line for a long time to get in and get out. If you leave your car at the Hotel and take a shuttle from the hotel ($3 for PIR), you will be on base in 15 minutes. Getting back is just as fast and easy, your shuttle driver will tell you when and where to meet. Take your sailor back to the hotel and then get your car.

If you are Grad and Go, take your car to the RTC the night before PIR, call hotel shuttle company and ask them to pick you up at the Metra Station by the RTC in a half hour. Drive to the RTC, the gate will be on your right for the RTC. Go about 150 feet further, the road will go downhill slightly, make a right hand turn at the light (Ohio ) and this will take you into the Metra station parking lot. For $2.00 you can park overnight in the designated overnight spaces. Put the money (use quarters) in the box at the beginning of the lot. Wait for your cab and go back to the hotel. If you want go back down the road and make a right under the tunnel and then turn right up the path to the Metra ticket office. There are usaully cabs waiting here but if you don't want to chance it, just precall a cab like I suggested. A cab ride from RTC Metra to the Residence Inn was about $10 and well worth it. Next day your car is close by and you can walk out the RTC gate and your car is about 300 feet away and you missed all the base traffic. Kill about an hour on base at the NEX and the traffic really dies down. Graduation ends at 1030 and I left base about 1200..

Hotels

Lots of good hotels but the Residence Inn by Marriot in Waukegan was the best for me. The least expensive close hotel is the Navy Lodge at $65 a night.The Resdience Inn has a real home atmosphere with a sofa , desk and kitchen and is perfect to sit with your sailor and spend some quality relaxed time. You can get cheap food across at Super Walmart on Waukegan Road to stock up you fridge for your family. $89 a night on top of great accomodations.They have the best Graduation Info Packet for PIR I have seen of any hotel in the area.

PIR

If you get the on the 630 shuttle, you will spend a lot of time sitting so be prepared. On the other hand you will have your chaoice of seats. Balcony seating is tough for pictures because you can stand up and the railing may block your camera view. The floor seating is good but your division will stand about one division to the right of where you are seated. There are no bad seats but light in the hall is bad for cameras so plan on buying pictures and enjoy the show.The NEX will have a Division photo taken that morning of PIR for $8 for an 8 x 10 It is a life changing experince you will never forget.

No pictures outside the the PIR hall. You could lose your camera to security. Take all your sailor pics back at the hotel or inside the PIR hall.

THINGS TO DO

Go to the Navy Pier and ShorelineSighting Cruises Architectural Tour of Chicago. Cool boat tour
http://www.shorelinesightseeing.com/

Also go to Millennium Park in Chicago. Unreal architecture and sights
www.millenniumpark.org

Go to the Gurnee Mall. Lots of outlet stores

Sorry...did not eat out so cannot help you thert although the Residence Inn has a massive list of nearby places to eat in the PIR handout.


Just one persons experience but I hope it helps.

[Heather]

For me I had my dependent ID. However when my cousin graduated a few months ago all my aunt needed was her drivers license, she told them her son had graduation and they took down his name and rank (E-1, E-2, or E-3) and that was it.

[mbville]

They can invite 4. I went with my 2 sons and my ex went with his wife. Us 5 had no problem getting in.

[Vicki]

Just to share my thoughts, we stayed at the Residence Inn we had a two room suite with seven people. I was great because we were close to resturants and walmart. And we used the packet the hotel gave us quite a bit. Our group split up and some of us drove to PIR and some of us used the hotel shuttle. We had people ready sooner then others. Over all great experience.

[Judi]

Our sailor had PIR 12/24/08. Whew what a whirlwind two days. The thing we did that our sailor appreciated was waving pink hankerchiefs. He's a guy but no one else had pink and he saw us during PIR. After the ceremony he found us immediately. You have to tell them what color you will wave and they will see you right away. You have to pick an odd color cause everyone has signals for their sailor. Our sailor was the first one to find his family. Enjoy, it's not like anything you have seen or felt. When we were there The air port shut down for snow. Be prepared for bad weather, boots coats, & gloves. If your walking(not recommanded) you'll need them. Remember there's lots of traffic,and highways to navigate. Lots of luck and enjoy.

[conni.bama]

This will be an experience you will never forget so enjoy. My son graduated in May it was the proudest day in my life. Chicago is a wonderful city and they treat our sons and daughters with lots of respect and pride. It truly was one of my best memories.

[caramelatte]

Hey everybody, I have to admit that I am totally clueless when it comes to traveling around Chicago. I already purchased my flight ticket, and plan to stay at the Navy Lodge. However, I do not know what is the best way to get from the airport to the hotel, and from the hotel to the Navy Base.

I will not be able to rent a car because I am under age (20 years old), I believe you have to be 25. I am looking to use public transportation, shuttle buses, or something that will not cost too much (I am a college student). However, taxis will be my last resort as they are the most expensive. I found a lot of good information here but I am still unsure about what is the best form of public transportation I can use. Any help will be greatly appreciated!

[Skipatroll]

Use the Metra train...it will take a while so check Metra schedules on line. Here are the Metra directions I found detailed directions by calling Metra. ....Take people mover at O Hare to LOT E. Walk to LOT F. Go in the train station up to platform to the train to Union Station. Transfer to Union Station . At Union Go to North Concourse (tracks 5,7,9,11) Go out lobby to Madison. Walk to stairs to Madison Ave. Look for big blue glass building (Ogilivie Station) Up to UP-N up escalator. Go to Union Pacific North. Take train to Great Lakes station. It wii be about $3 for the first 30 minute leg and $5 for the one hour second leg.

[Skimom]

My son also gradutated on Oct 16 and we also stayed at Residence Inn in Waukegan. It was a great place to stay and they cater to Navy families. We found out the day of graduation that our son was able to stay with us at the hotel that weekend. There were a number of grads at the hotel with families.

The BEST advice I received through this forum was to park at the train station right next to base! No need to park the night before and take the shuttle. We sailed right past the 1 mile long line of cars getting in to the base. Stay in the left lane, go past the entrance to the base and turn right to the station; it is a short walk to the base. We found we did not have to leave as early as the shuttles from the hotel.

Science museum in South Chicago is great.

It is good to have a car but be prepared for traffic jams all day in Chicago! Allow plenty of time to get anywhere by car. We found that Lake Shore Drive was a good way to get to downtown Chicago.

[kendra1850]

Has anyone else been able to have their sailor stay with them at the hotel? I didn't think they were allowed to do this, that would be great!

[mbville]

My daughter stayed with us at the hotel - Quality Inn Waukegan. The sailors hav eto be back on base usually by 8pm so "staying with us" was just being in the room with us. She took a long hot bath and relaxed. She asked me to bring my laptop and she went online for a while. It was just comforting for us all to be together. The hotel allowed the sailors to eat breakfast with us too. That was really nice.

[Smoke]

One thing about toll roads. Pay attention to what toll you miss by going through the I-pass and you can pay it online or at an oasis. They let you do this about four times per year.

[Ronda Bell]

Thank you very much for your post. My son is leaving for boot camp February 4th and I am scared to death. Do you have any other suggestions? Any thoughts of what I can do to prepare him as well as myself for his departure?