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.

[mrswilli6]

My son leaves for boot camp Dec.7. We expect him to graduate in feb. any body have a graduation in the winter? Any advise on how to deal with traffic with snow? California Family. need all the help we can get.

[Cindy]

Most of your travel will be on highways that are cleared of snow and ice quite thoroughly. Also, once you approach Chicago, it is pretty slow moving traffic. If you hit a slippery patch, whatever you do, do not slam on your brakes. You will need to have coats because it's cold in February. Chicago is a really cool city during any season - lots to do and see. Best wishes to you and your son. Seeing him at PIR will likely be the most awesome thing you've ever experienced. Blessings to you and your family!
Cindy from Michigan

[mrswilli6]

Thank you Cindy. I am looking forward to the experience. My husband and i like to plan way in advance. This was very helpful.

[Sue, Nate's Mom]

Our PIR was 11/13.....best advice, GET THERE EARLY.....we left hotel at 7:10 by shuttle bus (3.00 per person) from the Residence Inn by Marriot, and until we were processed we had to find limited seats half way up the lower bleachers. Lines did move swiftly however, but most of it is standing outside, so be sure to dress warm. The drill hall was also a bit cold, as was sitting on metal bleachers. If you want to purchase Navy items in the NEX, the one at the visitors center is MOBBED after graduation. However there you can get graduation day division pics taken during graduation, you can order your DVDs, and get the Division Tshirts. For other items, and the ability to browse at your leisure, take your sailor to the NEX in Burkey Plaza on Greenbay road, not too far from the gate where you entered RTC. It is not crowded and much more relaxed and is much like a Walmart with everything you could imagine including designer stuff that can be purchased tax free if your sailor is with you. I believe the grad packet the sailors get also has a 10% off coupon.....my sailor forgot to bring it along. It is a great day....enjoy it to the fullest!!!!

[mrswilli6]

Thank you to all. I really needed to plan. Nice to know the Navy has a place for the family to get together and choose special items.

[kfalco]

We'll be going to PIR on 12/18/09 and I'm wondering if there is anything for people with medical concerns so they're not standing/waiting for a long time. My dad will be there and had knee replacement surgery (several times) and also has congestive heart failure. I don't mind waiting in lines but I'm getting a bit worried about him after reading how long the wait can be before you get in the hall for graduation.