College Program Parents Thread...

[AnnaS]

My dd also checks in on the 15th. We are taking my son's old (flat screen) tv since he now bought a 42" one. The only thing is we can't find the pedastal (sp?). My ds had it mounted on the wall. Can she put this in the bedroom if someone else has one in the living room?
TIA

[Joanna71985]

Originally Posted by AnnaS

My dd also checks in on the 15th. We are taking my son's old (flat screen) tv since he now bought a 42" one. The only thing is we can't find the pedastal (sp?). My ds had it mounted on the wall. Can she put this in the bedroom if someone else has one in the living room?
TIA

She can have the tv in the bedroom, but it won't be able to be mounted on the wall

[AnnaS]

Originally Posted by Joanna71985

She can have the tv in the bedroom, but it won't be able to be mounted on the wall

Thank you!!!

[wisblue]

What is the checkout date in January for the 2012 fall and fall advantage programs?

[yellowjacket22]

I believe the check out date is January 2.

[carol-lamb]

I am wondering if there is a facebook group for parents of students participating in the college program? Thanks in advance!

[jmqidoc]

Hi my daughter and myself started a Parents FB for Spring/Advantage 2013.
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/430218563680184/

[carol-lamb]

Originally Posted by jmqidoc

Hi my daughter and myself started a Parents FB for Spring/Advantage 2013.
Link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/430218563680184/

Thanks for replying. I went ahead and requested to join the group. My daughter reports on January 29th for the Spring College Program. Her role will be attractions.

[momof3poohlovers]

My daughter just finished her Fall 2012 CP stay and is extending until May 2013. Her experience was wonderful and I thought I would just post a little about her experience. She ended up working attractions at Animal Kingdom's Kilimanjaro Safari. She really liked the people she worked with but the attraction itself was high stress sometimes because I guess a lot of people get removed or fired for safety violations while driving the trucks. However, she managed to make it through without any safety violations and really liked all of her managers. The only part she didn't like were rude guests. I can't believe some of the things people say to the cm's. She actually had someone tell her on Christmas day that she ruined their kid's Christmas because she wouldn't let them in the FP line when they didn't have a FP and told her if she refused, they were going to call a manager and "get her in trouble"! Luckily her manager was right there and overheard everything.

She had a 3 bedroom apartment in Patterson with 5 other roommates. Amazingly, they all got along really well and no one left early. She has had such a great experience, she wants to stay. She is actually considering living there permanently after she is done with the cp program. She wants to establish residency and then finish college in Florida. I guess we will see if that changes in May. Let me know if you have any questions!

[DianeV]

I'm curious about something as I have seen others extend too. Does that mean no college for a year basically? I just wonder about it being a 'college' program but some kids end up not going for a whole year (unless they are doing some online classes)

I assume they will add extra credits along the way or graduate a little late?

Originally Posted by momof3poohlovers

My daughter just finished her Fall 2012 CP stay and is extending until May 2013. Her experience was wonderful and I thought I would just post a little about her experience. She ended up working attractions at Animal Kingdom's Kilimanjaro Safari. She really liked the people she worked with but the attraction itself was high stress sometimes because I guess a lot of people get removed or fired for safety violations while driving the trucks. However, she managed to make it through without any safety violations and really liked all of her managers. The only part she didn't like were rude guests. I can't believe some of the things people say to the cm's. She actually had someone tell her on Christmas day that she ruined their kid's Christmas because she wouldn't let them in the FP line when they didn't have a FP and told her if she refused, they were going to call a manager and "get her in trouble"! Luckily her manager was right there and overheard everything.

She had a 3 bedroom apartment in Patterson with 5 other roommates. Amazingly, they all got along really well and no one left early. She has had such a great experience, she wants to stay. She is actually considering living there permanently after she is done with the cp program. She wants to establish residency and then finish college in Florida. I guess we will see if that changes in May. Let me know if you have any questions!

[momof3poohlovers]

Originally Posted by DianeV

I'm curious about something as I have seen others extend too. Does that mean no college for a year basically? I just wonder about it being a 'college' program but some kids end up not going for a whole year (unless they are doing some online classes)

I assume they will add extra credits along the way or graduate a little late?

I believe most kids who extend just end up taking the year off and graduate a year later. In her case, she took an online class this fall and could again through the spring but she is going to take a break because she wants to establish residency in Florida and transfer to a college there. She wants to be a zoologist and they have a great program in Gainsville I believe that she wants to attend but it's not affordable if she is not a resident. If she continues going to school here, she won't be able to establish residency. Her plan right now is to continue in the cp for now, then in May try and work PT or FT for Disney or wherever she can find a job until she can establish residency. I believe she will have to work at least a year, not in the cp before she can establish it. After she does, she will attend school and work PT. She has always wanted to live in Florida and her boyfriend is there with her so my guess is once she graduates, her and her boyfriend will get married and stay there.

[AnnaS]

Originally Posted by momof3poohlovers

My daughter just finished her Fall 2012 CP stay and is extending until May 2013. Her experience was wonderful and I thought I would just post a little about her experience. She ended up working attractions at Animal Kingdom's Kilimanjaro Safari. She really liked the people she worked with but the attraction itself was high stress sometimes because I guess a lot of people get removed or fired for safety violations while driving the trucks. However, she managed to make it through without any safety violations and really liked all of her managers. The only part she didn't like were rude guests. I can't believe some of the things people say to the cm's. She actually had someone tell her on Christmas day that she ruined their kid's Christmas because she wouldn't let them in the FP line when they didn't have a FP and told her if she refused, they were going to call a manager and "get her in trouble"! Luckily her manager was right there and overheard everything.

She had a 3 bedroom apartment in Patterson with 5 other roommates. Amazingly, they all got along really well and no one left early. She has had such a great experience, she wants to stay. She is actually considering living there permanently after she is done with the cp program. She wants to establish residency and then finish college in Florida. I guess we will see if that changes in May. Let me know if you have any questions!

I am happy to read that your daughter had a great experience. I hope my dd does too since she is so looking forward to this. I also hope none of the kids get sent home because of anyone else's action - from I read. I hope they are not homesick and everyone has a great experience because not all the stories I hear are rosy.

We leave soon to drive her down!!!

Some people on the fb list are asking if someone does not have a car, where do the "kids" leave their luggage while checking in? Does anyone know. TIA.

[goofy4tink]

Originally Posted by AnnaS

I am happy to read that your daughter had a great experience. I hope my dd does too since she is so looking forward to this. I also hope none of the kids get sent home because of anyone else's action - from I read. I hope they are not homesick and everyone has a great experience because not all the stories I hear are rosy.

We leave soon to drive her down!!!

Some people on the fb list are asking if someone does not have a car, where do the "kids" leave their luggage while checking in? Does anyone know. TIA.

Most of the issues at AK, and the safari ride in particular, are driver issues. They all know the rules. The rules are in place for a reason...guest safety. I know of one very good CM that got moved from that job because she 'broke' the rules, but she felt that her guests' safety was more important than the 'rule'. But, she was removed from that job and placed elsewhere.
I also have heard horror stories from CMs about guest behavior. It is just mind boggling what guests will say and do. My dd is looking forward to doing the CP right after she graduates...at least she has been going to WDW since she was 5, and knows a lot of CMs (gotta love the social networking sites!!), so she knows full well what guests try to get away with.

Dd has wanted to do the CP for years...has looked forward to going to college so she can add that. But, we won't let her do it until she is a senior!! If they ever offered her a job after completion of her stint, there is no way she would go back to school!!! So, she will apply in her senior year, and be ready to go right after graduation!!! Then, if she wants to, she can stay down there and work.

[momof3poohlovers]

Originally Posted by goofy4tink

Most of the issues at AK, and the safari ride in particular, are driver issues. They all know the rules. The rules are in place for a reason...guest safety. I know of one very good CM that got moved from that job because she 'broke' the rules, but she felt that her guests' safety was more important than the 'rule'. But, she was removed from that job and placed elsewhere.
I also have heard horror stories from CMs about guest behavior. It is just mind boggling what guests will say and do. My dd is looking forward to doing the CP right after she graduates...at least she has been going to WDW since she was 5, and knows a lot of CMs (gotta love the social networking sites!!), so she knows full well what guests try to get away with.

Dd has wanted to do the CP for years...has looked forward to going to college so she can add that. But, we won't let her do it until she is a senior!! If they ever offered her a job after completion of her stint, there is no way she would go back to school!!! So, she will apply in her senior year, and be ready to go right after graduation!!! Then, if she wants to, she can stay down there and work.

You are correct about about most cm's losing their job or being transferred on the Safari due to driver issues. I know my DD said there are so many rules and it was hard to drive that big truck and get it perfectly lined up at the dock. My DD extended but asked to be transferred because she always felt nervous that she would do something wrong. She just found out she will be working right next door driving the train to the Pagani Forest. I would guess it is just as safety conscious as her first job but she thinks she was placed there because she didn't receive any safety violations.

I don't know about where they can keep the luggage. I would assume they have a place somewhere where they check in. We rented a car so I am not sure.

[Wishes Count]

Originally Posted by AnnaS

Some people on the fb list are asking if someone does not have a car, where do the "kids" leave their luggage while checking in? Does anyone know. TIA.

If I remember correctly there is a large tent where you can leave your luggage while you wait in line to check in.