College Program Parents Thread...

[tkoriath]

Great idea to save the $ ahead of time for those expenses.

My sister worries because a co-worker told her that her son never had any spending money and the money he earned went 100% to housing.

I told her maybe that is just what her son told her so he could get some money out of his parents.

I trust the DIS BOARDS.

I have done the cp twice and may have fibbed a little so my parents would send me money but I had enough to live on and do a little extra even w/o there help.

 

[babyrich]

My sister is grateful to all of the responses. If my niece is accepted, I am sure my sister will join the boards.

She has another question and I wasnt quite sure on the answer even after reading the thread...

Do we understand right that classes are offered? If yes, what type and what is the price range? Do they count as college credit?

Do you have to take classes?

We were wondering if it would be like living on a college campus (going to school, working, and living away)

Much thanks!!!!!!

 

[aznshents]

My sister is grateful to all of the responses. If my niece is accepted, I am sure my sister will join the boards.

She has another question and I wasnt quite sure on the answer even after reading the thread...

Do we understand right that classes are offered? If yes, what type and what is the price range? Do they count as college credit?

Do you have to take classes?

We were wondering if it would be like living on a college campus (going to school, working, and living away)

Much thanks!!!!!!

You don't HAVE to take classes, and I don't remember if there was a preregistration fee or not for the classes. I didn't take any on my CP but I really wanted to- some classes are REALLY fun, and it depends on your school . I went to a pretty high-tier business school who wouldn't even consider giving credit because they weren't an accredited four-year institution, but colleges vary, and people can have a talk with their advisors to try and work something out.

 

[khancock]

You don't HAVE to take classes

This is correct for Walt Disney World. However, classes are required at Disneyland.

http://cp.disneycareers.com/en/program-components/learning/

"At the Disneyland ® Resort, education participation is required."

 

[babyrich]

You don't HAVE to take classes, and I don't remember if there was a preregistration fee or not for the classes. I didn't take any on my CP but I really wanted to- some classes are REALLY fun, and it depends on your school . I went to a pretty high-tier business school who wouldn't even consider giving credit because they weren't an accredited four-year institution, but colleges vary, and people can have a talk with their advisors to try and work something out.

My niece will be happy to hear this. I think they both assumed this was going to be like going away to school.

She told me she would be happy taking off a semester..

Fingers crossed, she had her phone interview yesterday........

 

[AnnaS]

My daughter is just starting to look into this. She would like to apply for the Spring 2013 term. She wanted to apply earlier in the year for this Fall but my son is getting married tomorrow and I told her she should wait for the Spring.

What is the deadline to apply for the Spring 2013? Any tips/suggestions, etc.?

What is the process also - once application sent in?

Thank you so much in advance.

 

[Joanna71985]

My daughter is just starting to look into this. She would like to apply for the Spring 2013 term. She wanted to apply earlier in the year for this Fall but my son is getting married tomorrow and I told her she should wait for the Spring.

What is the deadline to apply for the Spring 2013? Any tips/suggestions, etc.?

What is the process also - once application sent in?

Thank you so much in advance.

Disney will probably stop recruiting for Spring 2013 late Nov/early Dec

The process is: WBI, pass that then phone interview, pass that then just wait until arrival

 

[AnnaS]

Disney will probably stop recruiting for Spring 2013 late Nov/early Dec

The process is: WBI, pass that then phone interview, pass that then just wait until arrival

Thank you. I know she has an appointment with someone at her community college - trying to figure out if she should withdraw for the semester when the time comes - write an essay for credits - she wants to see what her options are.

 

[Andtototoo]

My dd was in the CP last spring. She had three roommates. Here is how their college credits/classes break down:

--She took two online classes through her college. She thought that was the maximum she could handle working in attractions in MK, which has long hours. (She often worked 50-60 hours/week.) One problem she had was that the internet connection at the Disney apartments was terrible. She also took one Disney class which was 2-3 hours one day per week; she thought that class was great but was disappointed because the teacher for the specific area in which she was interested was very clear that she didn't want any kids "bothering" her with requests for shadowing or help getting into her department (she was an anomaly -- the other teachers were all quite helpful). She'd like to return to Disney.

--One roommate took 4 online classes through her college. She did terribly at them and really hurt her GPA. The nightmare with the internet connection made her life hell. She took no Disney classes. She'd like to return to Disney.

--Two roommates took no classes through their college and took no Disney classes. One of them had taken a semester off from college and was getting no credits for the CP from her college. They both spent all of their spare time partying. Both of those girls admitted quite freely that they came to the CP to have an extended Florida spring break experience and had no real interest in Disney (one of them had never been there before the CP). One of them ended up getting terminated right before the program ended for failure to show up to work. The other just complained endlessly about how much work interfered with her partying. Neither of them have any desire to return to Disney.

Originally Posted by AnnaS
My daughter is just starting to look into this. She would like to apply for the Spring 2013 term. She wanted to apply earlier in the year for this Fall but my son is getting married tomorrow and I told her she should wait for the Spring.

What is the deadline to apply for the Spring 2013? Any tips/suggestions, etc.?

What is the process also - once application sent in?

Last fall was really no fun for us because my dd was interviewed the second week of September and told she'd hear within 2 weeks. A family friend also interviewed a day later and was told the same thing. Then they were told it would be in 3 days. Then a week. Then two more weeks. Then they both got emails asking if they were still interested and if she didn't reply, then she'd be dropped. Then another 16 days. Then someone at Disney told her that, "Honestly, the timelines are all a fabrication. You'll hear when you hear." Dd finally heard December 16. That was a VERY long three months for all of us. Very stressful. So my suggestion would be to tell your daughter not to believe them when they say she'll hear in a timely fashion. That way, if she does hear quickly -- wonderful! If she doesn't, then she's been prepared for the delay.

 

[szymcl]

My Daughter just started her fall program Sept 5 as a life guard, if anyone has any questions.

 

[MI mom of 3]

My son just got his email yesterday saying he got into the CP. He is so excited. He had his phone interview last Tuesday. They told him he would hear within 2 weeks. And it was just over one week. He was so nervous, he was certain he was going to be rejected.

He is in custodial which he is happy with. There are auditions for characters next month in Detroit that he might go to. He figures he has nothing to lose by trying.

I've read some of this thread and know that this is going to be an invaluable tool. THANK YOU

He has paid his fees and picked his arrival date. What is the next step? When does he find out which apartment complex he's in?

Thanks again.

 

[Itinkso]

My son just got his email yesterday saying he got into the CP. He is so excited. He had his phone interview last Tuesday. They told him he would hear within 2 weeks. And it was just over one week. He was so nervous, he was certain he was going to be rejected.

He is in custodial which he is happy with. There are auditions for characters next month in Detroit that he might go to. He figures he has nothing to lose by trying.

I've read some of this thread and know that this is going to be an invaluable tool. THANK YOU

He has paid his fees and picked his arrival date. What is the next step? When does he find out which apartment complex he's in?

Thanks again.

He will be assigned to his apartment complex on the day of his arrival. If he meets others online or at auditions who have the same arrival date, they can check-in together and be assigned as roommates. DIsney will assign him with others in his age range as in if he is under 21 all of his roommates will also be under 21. If he is 21 or older, he will be grouped accordingly and the age span could be greater than a few years in age. My daughter was assigned to Vista Way but as some of the roommates left the program the remaining ones were reassigned. My daughter finished her CP at Patterson or Chatham, I can't remember!, with all new roommates.
Good luck to your son! It's an exciting time! My daughter loved the CP and now she is a full-time Disney employee and continues to live her dream!

Sent from my cool iPad 2 using DISBoards

 

[famouschinesec]

My DD20 has just been accepted for the spring 2013 semester. Can anyone give me a run down on the different "personalities" of the varying apartments. She is 20 entering the program, so all we know is she will be "wellness" whatever that means. She does not have to cover all her expenses herself, so if it's a case of we have to pay $40 more a month to be in a newer, nicer place, then that is what I would prefer to do.

 

[Itinkso]

My DD20 has just been accepted for the spring 2013 semester. Can anyone give me a run down on the different "personalities" of the varying apartments. She is 20 entering the program, so all we know is she will be "wellness" whatever that means. She does not have to cover all her expenses herself, so if it's a case of we have to pay $40 more a month to be in a newer, nicer place, then that is what I would prefer to do.

Wellness means her roommates will also be under 21 and absolutely no alcohol in the apartment or consumed by them elsewhere. Vista is closer to fast food restaurants and groceries. Chatham and Patterson are adjacent to each other and the shuttle buses only pick up from one of those two complexes. Vista has shuttles picking up right at the entrance gates. I think for ease, Vista is preferred. The apartments and arrangements are basically the same. Chatham and Patterson are newer complexes but my daughter did like Vista.

Sent from my cool iPad 2 using DISBoards

 

[Joanna71985]

My son just got his email yesterday saying he got into the CP. He is so excited. He had his phone interview last Tuesday. They told him he would hear within 2 weeks. And it was just over one week. He was so nervous, he was certain he was going to be rejected.

He is in custodial which he is happy with. There are auditions for characters next month in Detroit that he might go to. He figures he has nothing to lose by trying.

I've read some of this thread and know that this is going to be an invaluable tool. THANK YOU

He has paid his fees and picked his arrival date. What is the next step? When does he find out which apartment complex he's in?

Thanks again.

Custodial is fun. You have a lot of freedom

 

[Brenda P]

My dd wanted Patterson because she had heard it was nicer. However there were no rooms available at check in. She did not want Vista Way. She is at Chatham and seems to like it just fine. I suggest riding around to all 3 before checkin day. Check out the surroundings and see which you think you will like and then have a back up plan. That's what we did!

 

[Andtototoo]

My DD20 has just been accepted for the spring 2013 semester. Can anyone give me a run down on the different "personalities" of the varying apartments. She is 20 entering the program, so all we know is she will be "wellness" whatever that means. She does not have to cover all her expenses herself, so if it's a case of we have to pay $40 more a month to be in a newer, nicer place, then that is what I would prefer to do.

You don't have the option of upgrading your dd's CP apartment by offering Disney more money. She can make a request for a specific apartment complex, but in the end, she will get what she gets -- by which I mean, she may have a choice and she may not. It all depends upon what's available when she checks in. Obviously, the earlier you check in that morning, the better chances you have for having a variety of options.

When my dd got to check in, she was the third person in line. Even still the options were: an apartment for 4 at Vista or an apartment for 2 at Chatham. There was nothing available at Patterson. She chose the Vista 4 bed because she thought the odds were greater that she'd find a compatible roommate/friend if she had 3 others to pick from instead of just one. All of her roommates had the same offer and all chose the Vista 4 bed for the same reason. They all met in line that morning because at the time, there was no roommate matching available to them.

Vista is the older apartment complex, but when we were moving her in with her roommate's parents, all of the parents were commenting on how much nicer the Vista apartment is compared to the dorm rooms they were leaving behind. None of the girls really complained about living in Vista during their time there and in the end, they thought all the angst about where they were going to live was much ado about nothing.

I'll also note that my dd spent so much time away from the apartment, that the quality of the apartment was inconsequential to her. The only thing she really complained about was the unreliability of the internet connection.

Vista is known as the party apartment, but my dd didn't really experience that. She had two roommates who went OUT and partied every night, but they didn't party at the apartment. On the other hand, she had friends in both Patterson and Chatham who had roommates terminated for underage drinking in their apartments.

She also knew people who got terminated while on the "party bus" -- there is a bus that goes to the Disney apartments and picks the kids up and brings them to nightspots. They would then get on the bus and come back to the apartments. Occasionally, however, the party bus people would be met by Disney security and be terminated on the spot. One night, an entire bus of kids was terminated while on the bus -- the kids were so rowdy, the bus driver pulled over, called Disney and the CP director came out and fired them all. (It's amazingly easy to get into bars and drink in Orlando, btw. Those two roommates of dd's that went out partying every night were 19 years old and got into bars every night and drank.)

 

[szymcl]

My daughter was assigned to Vista on Sept 5. We had driven around the other complexes and they are newer and in a better area for jogging maybe, and closer to the Mary Queen of the Universe Shrine, is any of you need a Catholic Church! She did have a choice, but she had met some girls in line that she wanted to room with and the only choice for those 6 girls to be together was Vista.
She likes it just fine. Her apartment is located steps away from the bus stop, and to get to the jobs, it picks up Vista last so she gets to work fast. Coming home it drops off at the the other complex area first. (She does have a car, but is usually taking the bus). It is a bit worn, one of her dresser drawers doesn't open and close well, and she happens to be in one of the apartments with 6 girls and 2 bathrooms. With a drawing of straws, she is sharing a bathroom with 4 girls, because one of the bedrooms has a bathroom inside. That is just how they are handling it. She shares a nice big walk in closet with her roommate.
This works well for her, she is a college grad, hoping to stay on after the program, so she appreciates the lower cost per week! And she loves her roommates! She is a lifeguard, one of the other girls is as well, 1 is in merchandise at Epcot, 1 is quick service and 2 are in culinary. The culinary girls will only be there through the end of the Food and Wine Festival.
Naturally the girls have very different hours and are not all home at the same time!

 

[chobie]

My daughter was accepted yesterday for Spring advantage. She wants to wait to hear if her friend was accepted before she accepts. How long does she have to accept and pay?

I'm going to be furious if she turns it down because of her friend, this was my daughters dream for years...

 

[vellamint]

My daughter was accepted yesterday for Spring advantage. She wants to wait to hear if her friend was accepted before she accepts. How long does she have to accept and pay?

I'm going to be furious if she turns it down because of her friend, this was my daughters dream for years...

I feel for you....she has 10 days to accept....can you talk her into it anyway....sheesh I would be furious also.


Disney Parents....does anyone have a good packing list....I may have seen one on this thread but I read it before my girls were accepted and dont want to read the whole thing again....

If we are arriving at Saratoga Springs the day before can I ship a box there? Can I ship them a box each AFTER we get home from bringing them. I am a "nester" and cant imagine them being able to survive until August with only what we can bring in one suitcase and one carry on lol.

So excited for them