College Program Parents Thread...

What we were told was, they have to be there to let you in. They could leave the park but if you would leave the park, to get back in, you would need them with you again. This is what one of the managers told us where our daughter worked.

reesecup said:

What we were told was, they have to be there to let you in. They could leave the park but if you would leave the park, to get back in, you would need them with you again. This is what one of the managers told us where our daughter worked.

Click to expand...

That makes sense, I was just hoping it wasn't the case. Now I guess I have to decide how badly we want to see fantasmic...

We were there in December .......our DD had to be with us at each entry. They checked every time!

So excited! Our oldest DD was just accepted into Fall Advantage and begins May 17th. We were going to renew our APs when they expire in April, but have decided to simply buy new ones when we're able to visit in late August so we'll get another August trip out the passes before they expire. She thinks the discount on AP vouchers is 10% - can anyone confirm?

I don't think it is that high. And she will have to buy them at Company D. She will need to pay for them herself meaning she can't use a credit card with your name....card will either need to be in her name or the good old option of cash.

stitchlovestink said:

I don't think it is that high. And she will have to buy them at Company D. She will need to pay for them herself meaning she can't use a credit card with your name....card will either need to be in her name or the good old option of cash.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I was planning on transferring the $ to her Chase account, so she would be the one purchasing.

If anyone has specific % off of AP vouchers, it would be appreciated. Trying to decide on renewing in April with the $100 discount, or buying a new AP in August and getting an August 2016 trip out of the pass before it expires. We have 5 passes to renew or purchase so this is going to add up no matter which route we go and we're already planning on Thanksgiving and Christmas trips in addition to the August trip.

TIA for any help!

DD bought regular ticket for a cousin (we had used up all her other ones and her holiday tickets were blacked out) and the discount was 10%. Everything I read says CM tickets are 10% off. Not sure if it is the same on the AP or not.

HopperFan said:

DD bought regular ticket for a cousin (we had used up all her other ones and her holiday tickets were blacked out) and the discount was 10%. Everything I read says CM tickets are 10% off. Not sure if it is the same on the AP or not.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the info. I appreciate it. My daughter reached out to her FB group and they said 10%, so we'll hope that's what it is.

How did your children that have done the program find roommates? My daughter is having panic attacks so worried about the whole roommate thing. She has lived at college for 4 years but always had a single room. Never had to share. She is asking for medical housing due to allergies and other issues. But she is not counting on it.
She wants to find girls who don't party but enjoy having fun going to parks, the beach doing crafts and sports.
Any help would be great!

mickeyway said:

How did your children that have done the program find roommates? My daughter is having panic attacks so worried about the whole roommate thing. She has lived at college for 4 years but always had a single room. Never had to share. She is asking for medical housing due to allergies and other issues. But she is not counting on it.
She wants to find girls who don't party but enjoy having fun going to parks, the beach doing crafts and sports.
Any help would be great!

Click to expand...

DD had never shared a room and not a bathroom since she was 12. Her college housing was private room and bath within 4 bedroom apartments with her last year her having her own one bedroom apartment ... so I understand your DD concern with the roommate thing. DD went through a year of bad roommates and a year of rooming with friends that wasn't great. She was going to get her own apt in Orlando but realized she would miss out on the DCP whole experience and meeting people.

DD found her roommates for her first round via the Facebook group. They filled out a like/dislike sheet and talked back and forth to each other. Her group was all 21 and over. DD had strict expectations regarding cleanliness and partying in the apartment. First she and one girl found each other, talked on FB and decided they would share a bedroom, then they began talking to others to find two more. They at least were okay with each other. Her roomie found another girl. Then they kept talking and then that girl found her roomie. Once they were good they all texted each other to get to know each other (and facebook friends help you see each other) and got down details about which housing they wanted, who was bringing what. Once it was time to put in for housing they had decided one person who was available would set up and rest follow. Once at Disney my DD drove and picked them all up at their hotels so they could check in together. Initially they did everything together until they all got to be friends with their work people. The other three still did a lot because they worked days but DD worked nights and her friends became her work friends. Slowly she grew apart from them.

She extended (new job new park) and so did one of her work friends so they put in to room together with strangers. Put in for large apartment but got a 2 bedroom again. Both those roommates have already termed or moved out so they got a new set of internationals. Honestly she spends little time at the apartment. It's truly for sleeping, showering and cooking a meal to save for lunches. She works 5 days a week and has made sure to enjoy everything she can on her off time or hours before she starts work. She went with a bucket list and slowly checking things off. She went out with work folks for breakfast today and then her & roomie went to the Magic Kingdom.

I would have her join the Facebook group just to start reading (don't let the whiners and Debbie Downers get her down - my DD got aggravated but then just learned to ignore them) and then if she gets comfortable she can join in on some of the roommate hunt. I think her goal should be at least her bedroom roommate since you have to share space and personal area. Otherwise don't let her worry about the roommates - so many seem to find that their friends end up being your workmates as you spend the most time with them. It has been an amazing experience and my DD who is very private and never shared has done just fine since last August.

mickeyway said:

How did your children that have done the program find roommates? My daughter is having panic attacks so worried about the whole roommate thing. She has lived at college for 4 years but always had a single room. Never had to share. She is asking for medical housing due to allergies and other issues. But she is not counting on it.
She wants to find girls who don't party but enjoy having fun going to parks, the beach doing crafts and sports.
Any help would be great!

Click to expand...

My DD used Facebook also. There are is a questionnaire that asked Do you like to Party? Do you drink? etc. My DD picked girls that said the only partying they do is to watch Disney movies with friends. She picked a roommate and then 4 others. They all messaged each other for a while before they decided to room together. Well they moved in Jan 19th and are still great friends. They all get along great. My DD has the craziest hours so she doesn't see them all together but when they are off - they go to the parks. My DD would show us the questionnaires - the kids are honest. My daughter just extended and so did some of her friends - she is looking to stay roommates with them. My daughters best friend is in the DCP too - but they couldn't room together because they had different dates. She found her friends on Facebook too and they get along great too. Your daughter will do great.

I found that my daughter join a facebook group and found two girls who are rooming together and she can room with them as a third. She now needs to find someone to share her room with. She is very nervous. She is an RA at campus and has seen her share of roommate horror shows. She is excited and nervous at the same time.

My DD is heading in June to do the FA with DCP. From fellow parents whose DDs/DSs have done the program, what did they really get out of the program. Did the experience really do anything for them after college? Just curious. We know there are positives like working for a Fortune 500 company, personal growth, networking, but what else am I missing? My DDs advisor thinks it is a waste of time, and that she shouldn't go. (She's going.) Anything she could say to the advisor?

My DD completed FA last year.......an amazing experience. She is still in college so we don't know the long-range benefits, but the personal growth experience was enough. She attends school 5 hours away from home so she already knew how to deal with that, but she grew up so much and became more confident. She's in a small, rigorous honors program at her university and her advisors teased her about it A LOT. They did not discourage her, however, and one even took her to dinner while she was down on vacation. EVERYONE she talks to is interested and I'm sure having this will help her be remembered after interviews. For us it was all about the life experience, though.

dizagain said:

My DD completed FA last year.......an amazing experience. She is still in college so we don't know the long-range benefits, but the personal growth experience was enough. She attends school 5 hours away from home so she already knew how to deal with that, but she grew up so much and became more confident. She's in a small, rigorous honors program at her university and her advisors teased her about it A LOT. They did not discourage her, however, and one even took her to dinner while she was down on vacation. EVERYONE she talks to is interested and I'm sure having this will help her be remembered after interviews. For us it was all about the life experience, though.

Click to expand...

Since she lives at home while going to college, we are hoping for the same things in personal growth in addition to learning how to handle money a little better.

Can they live off the money they make during this program for food and fun? I know we'll end up giving her some money but I want her to learn how to budget a little.

Dizzyworld said:

Since she lives at home while going to college, we are hoping for the same things in personal growth in addition to learning how to handle money a little better.

Can they live off the money they make during this program for food and fun? I know we'll end up giving her some money but I want her to learn how to budget a little.

Click to expand...

Absolutely. My DD has been there since August and has 6 weeks left. She has decided to work less and enjoy the remainder of her time off in the parks. She said she has to work 2 days to cover the rent they take out of her paycheck and one day to cover her groceries and gas. The other days are her play money (eating out, shopping, other fun not doing a Disney or Universal park).

When she has asked for time off - she took off a week because her BF came to visit - she picked up extra shifts the week before and after to make up for the money loss. So extra shifts can help if she is running low or looking to spend on something special.

My DD had plenty of money and even came home with a small amount. She worked between 30 and 45 hours a week. She also took a whole week off with us and several other shorter visits with friends. I will say that alcohol wasn't something she was into and I've heard partiers often seem to go through money faster. We did not give her any money but sent $50 Disney gift cards and care packages sometimes and bought a plane ticket for a weekend visit home. She had plenty of money for fun Disney dining and Universal visits, etc.

Dizzyworld said:

My DD is heading in June to do the FA with DCP. From fellow parents whose DDs/DSs have done the program, what did they really get out of the program. Did the experience really do anything for them after college? Just curious. We know there are positives like working for a Fortune 500 company, personal growth, networking, but what else am I missing? My DDs advisor thinks it is a waste of time, and that she shouldn't go. (She's going.) Anything she could say to the advisor?

Click to expand...

My DD is currently there - she too is in a vigorous Honors program at her college and her advisors thought it was a great idea. The head of the business school said that having working for Disney on her resume will be priceless. Companies know the Disney training and Disney's high expectations of their employees. We won't know this for sure until she graduates but she is definitely learning how to juggle a full time job and school work - she is still a full time student. She absolutely loves it.

mickeyway said:

How did your children that have done the program find roommates? My daughter is having panic attacks so worried about the whole roommate thing. She has lived at college for 4 years but always had a single room. Never had to share. She is asking for medical housing due to allergies and other issues. But she is not counting on it.
She wants to find girls who don't party but enjoy having fun going to parks, the beach doing crafts and sports.
Any help would be great!

Click to expand...

My DD just got accepted for Fall '15 so excited! She's been scouring the FB groups for roommates. She's joined several (over 21, Greek - as in sorority member and the Fall 15 group) She's had good luck with the Greek group - and has found a mix of 3 girls from the Fall 15 group and 3 from the Greek group. They've chatted daily and have lots of plans. They have discussed everything from parties, cleanliness, chores, decorating. It did take awhile for my DD to find this group I'm hopeful it will work. I"m sure your DD will find a nice roomie! Good luck to her!

Question: Do they give the DCP kids magic bands? or can they buy them and link their passes etc.?