PIR Tips & Hints

[Sailor's Sweetheart]

I am starting this discussion so that we can try to gather and share some helpful tips & hints that we read/discover along the way about PIR.  Anything you find that you think will be helpful info for that weekend please post it on here. That way, we can all have a fun and relaxing weekend with our New Sailor's in Great Lakes (without the normal stressors of traveling to a new place). 

[Debbie46]

My family is driving out to PIR. It is a 12 hour trip, but we have stopped at Pittsburgh on the way back through from PIR to drop off our oldest son in Pittsburgh to finish out senior year. I did price airfare, and for my family it was like $900.00 roundtrip for all of us. When on the budget that did not work, so we are driving.

[Sailor's Sweetheart]

I think they are allowed to travel 50miles during PIR weekend. I will be arriving on Thursday, hopefully by 4:00pm at the O'Hare Airport.

[Amber-Brad's mom]

Where all driving to Chicago (about 8 1/2 hours) Hoping to check in at hotel around 4-4:30. There's a bunch of us going, just hoping with the small # of divisions graduating, that everyone will get in. We have a big surprise for my son. His best friend (sister) is coming, he doesn't know it though, he thinks she'll already be in college, Shh, don't say anything.

[Sailor's Sweetheart]

Oh, that is so awesome that his sister will be there. That is going to put a huge smile on his face since they are so close, awwww! I wish I could drive. I love road trips but I think driving from So. Cal is a liiiiitle to far of a drive, ha! Although, I did drive to TX one time and back home to CA, that was fun! How many of you will there be?

[Sailor's Sweetheart]

I found this info on the PIR 7/30 group and thought it was pretty helpful so I am sharing:

After graduation you can go down on the floor and find them but then they have to go back to their ship and be officially "released" - with Dean's group they said the process could take up to a couple of hours. So we were like, "what the heck do we do for 2 hours? And where do we meet Dean when he's released (which we forgot to do) and him with no cell phone!?" So the process actually took about 20 min and somehow through sheer luck we found each other by the Commissary amongst the 5 bajillion people looking for each other. Point being- arrange a meeting spot beforehand! Also, tell him not to move when people swarm the floor, that you will find him: each group has a banner w/ their ship/division on it so you know where to aim. Remind him not to lock his knees too- I think there were at least 4 people who fainted during the ceremony.

One of their members responded with the following:

Well, the graduation hall IS huge, but when you consider there are 500 (maybe more?) identically dressed graduates, each with 4 or more family members all swarming the floor at one time; well, it is chaos! During the ceremony, mark where your son's ship/division is and head straight there. This at least gives you the general direction of where he will be, which is why it's so important to tell them to stay where they are! After 20 minutes or so they'll have to leave you to go check out of the ships. The Commissary (The Navy store) is a good landmark to meet after they are released from their ships (of course they know where it is and anyone will be able to direct you). Just specify inside or outside, right or left of the entrance, etc. because it's where most families and sailors choose to meet back up. Hope this helps!

[AlabamaNavyMom(ET2)]

I am driving up also - about 10 hours. Not sure when we will get in so I RSVP'd as not attending the meet and greet. Our second car load will be arriving even later than us. My nephew is a Navy Chief he said he just had to come up also so that makes 6 attending for sure. My friend from when I was in the Navy (many, many years ago) may come down also - she lives near Milwaukee.

[SusanA(ship07/divsion284)]

Is anyone planning to go to a baseball game? I want to know if anyone has figured out the public transportation thing to Wrigley Field? Anyone?

[AlabamaNavyMom(ET2)]

We are going to the Sunday game. I briefly looked at it - they have some directions on the CUB's site. I plan on letting my other son firgure it out. I know you take the train down and catch a bus to Wrigley. You have to walk a little to the bus stop.

[SusanA(ship07/divsion284)]

That was the game we were going to to also. I think I might call the hotel today and inquire about the train/bus

[Beth (mom of Michael)]

Calling the hotel is a great idea. We are planning (attempting) to go to the Friday game, if we can ge there in time. It's a 1:30 game. Unfortunately, my son is a grad and go, so it's our only choice for a game. I'm assuming Wrigley Field is within the 50 mile radius, but I was going to check on that and parking as well. I had better luck at at getting better seats at stubhub.com than the cubs website if that helps you.

[SusanA(ship07/divsion284)]

Yep, I checked out that site also. I mapquested from our hotel to wrigley field and it is only 26 miles I think it said. We are staying at Homewood suites in Lincolnshire. I still don't want to drive it though. I have yet to call the hotel Will do later today and post what I find out