College Program Parents Thread...

[newdrama12]

Originally Posted by wdwmaw

A friends daughter has been accepted to the CP Fall program. They have never been to Disney so they are looking to me for help. I don't know where to start planning for a CP parents vacation. They plan on going down for 1 night in Aug. to get their daughter settled in, 4 nights in Oct. during our fall break to experience Food and Wine festival, and then the whole family in Dec to finish out her time spent in the world.

Can anyone help with discounts they would qualify for like room/ tickets for her parents.Also, during their travel how much time can they expect to have with their daughter. I am doing their dining plans and don't even know if she could even join them. Thank you so much for all your help with this. I am so jealous of all you parents, you must be so proud.

They MIGHT be able to get two full days with her each trip. It will depends on where her location is and how the staffing happens to be. As for discounts, she will be able to get CM discounts on room/tickets and possibly meals as well, once she starts work.

[ZeroToHero]

If she can't get the days off by putting in for them, she could always try to trade them away on the HUB.

[kikiq]

Originally Posted by wdwmaw

A friends daughter has been accepted to the CP Fall program. They have never been to Disney so they are looking to me for help. I don't know where to start planning for a CP parents vacation. They plan on going down for 1 night in Aug. to get their daughter settled in, 4 nights in Oct. during our fall break to experience Food and Wine festival, and then the whole family in Dec to finish out her time spent in the world.

Can anyone help with discounts they would qualify for like room/ tickets for her parents.Also, during their travel how much time can they expect to have with their daughter. I am doing their dining plans and don't even know if she could even join them. Thank you so much for all your help with this. I am so jealous of all you parents, you must be so proud.

My DD was in the 09 Fall Advantage, arrived in June and left in December.

In August, I would suggest that they book one of the non disney hotels close to the checkin complex. Drawing a blank right now, but I'm sure someone will tell you the hotels. They are close and inexpensive.

In October, have their daughter book as soon as she can the dates needed. When I went in October, I stayed one night at POP with my DD's discount then used our DVC points. Her daughter can ask NOW for days off in October. My DD was able to have 3 days off with me. She also surprised us in early November by flying home to see her new niece. Just had to work a lot of days together to get those days off. When they make the reservations, be sure her DD puts her name on the ressie. CPs cannot go into the parks during EMHs unless they are resort guests.

In December, do not expect to get time off. Again book those rooms as soon as she is eligible to make ressies. My DD had no days off between Christmas and NY. She was off NY day and left Jan 2. We came 4 days before Christmas, my DD only had 1 day off and stayed in the room with us. Her name was on the reservation.

Her DD will be able to get her family into the parks, but she has to be there to go in with them and it's a limited number.

My DD says "It was the best thing that I never knew I needed".

[kmg148]

Originally Posted by Traveliz

For dining plans I always make my reservations assuming my daughter can come and if she can't we show up with one less - never a problem. Seriously.

It is always much easier to drop down in your party size than increase, so this is a great tip!

[newdrama12]

I forgot to mention.....she will also have a Main gate pass which will allow her to get 3 people in the park 6 times a year. But she will only be able to use the pass once a day. The people who she gets in, will receive one day park hopper tickets that they can use for the day.

[DisneyWatchMan]

When we took our daughter down for the CP in January, we stayed at the Buena Vista Suites for $89 per night with a free full breakfast. The hotel is located about 2 minutes away from the Vista apartments where they all checked in at 8:00 am.

[wdwmaw]

Thank you so much everybody for all your great info. She is so excited and we will also be there in Oct. and can't wait to see her.

In August I was going to have them stay on property using general public discount, so parents can use magical express to get to airport and she would not have to bother driving over there.

Oct. trip they planned on going to parks 4 days, mainly for F&W festival. I think they should just let her get them park admission on those days and use her discount for room.

In December they should just get a room, buy tickets and go from there. Are there black out dates on rooms through the holidays?

[Praise2Him]

There are 6 days of admission on her pass, so if they use it 4 days in Oct. there will still be 2 days left for Dec. (not sure how many days they'll be there?)

I don't think it's been mentioned that the discount on rooms is greater if the CP stays in the room with them. We were glad for our DD to stay with us, because even on the days she worked, we got to see her before and after.

They get a discount on most table service meals, but not counter service. Definitely include the CP on the ADR's just in case. Always ask about discounts. Beaches & Cream did not give it even though it's table service, but Pepper Market did, even though it's not owned by Disney. They do add an automatic gratuity when using the CM discount.

Our DD had to work most days we were there the first time and the most challenging part was park admission. We had to go to DHS where she works and enter the park with her, then hop to the park we really wanted to go to that day. Not too bad, just a little time consuming.

[glendalais]

Originally Posted by Praise2Him

They get a discount on most table service meals, but not counter service. Definitely include the CP on the ADR's just in case. Always ask about discounts. Beaches & Cream did not give it even though it's table service, but Pepper Market did, even though it's not owned by Disney. They do add an automatic gratuity when using the CM discount.

Actually, Cast Members do receive discounts at select Florida-Site Quick Service Restaurants, such as those at the Resorts (which includes Pepper Market, which is actually a Disney-owned-and-operated Restaurant) and at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. The full list is available through internal sources.

Table Service Cast Member Discounts are subject to availability. In order to ensure that the discount is applied, Cast Members must make the dining reservations through the Company's internal system, available on The Hub, or by contacting Cast Member Reservations. They cannot be made by contacting Disney Dining or through DisneyWorld.com.

[wdwmaw]

Originally Posted by glendalais

Actually, Cast Members do receive discounts at select Florida-Site Quick Service Restaurants, such as those at the Resorts (which includes Pepper Market, which is actually a Disney-owned-and-operated Restaurant) and at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. The full list is available through internal sources.

Table Service Cast Member Discounts are subject to availability. In order to ensure that the discount is applied, Cast Members must make the dining reservations through the Company's internal system, available on The Hub, or by contacting Cast Member Reservations. They cannot be made by contacting Disney Dining or through DisneyWorld.com.

Thank you I will have them some dining plans made and as soon as she starts work I will have her try and get the same ADR's and cancel the ones I make for them.

[wdwmaw]

Originally Posted by Praise2Him

There are 6 days of admission on her pass, so if they use it 4 days in Oct. there will still be 2 days left for Dec. (not sure how many days they'll be there?)

I don't think it's been mentioned that the discount on rooms is greater if the CP stays in the room with them. We were glad for our DD to stay with us, because even on the days she worked, we got to see her before and after.

They get a discount on most table service meals, but not counter service. Definitely include the CP on the ADR's just in case. Always ask about discounts. Beaches & Cream did not give it even though it's table service, but Pepper Market did, even though it's not owned by Disney. They do add an automatic gratuity when using the CM discount.

Our DD had to work most days we were there the first time and the most challenging part was park admission. We had to go to DHS where she works and enter the park with her, then hop to the park we really wanted to go to that day. Not too bad, just a little time consuming.

Thanks for the clarification on the tickets.

[wildviper]

My daughter has been accepted to the Summer CP. She is very excited and we are very proud of her. There is one potential conflict. Her sister and only sibling graduates from high school on Thursday, June 10. She starts the CP June 1. Will they allow her a brief leave to come home to attend the graduation? We would fly her back and forth to MN so she would miss, at most, two days.

[glendalais]

Originally Posted by wildviper

My daughter has been accepted to the Summer CP. She is very excited and we are very proud of her. There is one potential conflict. Her sister and only sibling graduates from high school on Thursday, June 10. She starts the CP June 1. Will they allow her a brief leave to come home to attend the graduation? We would fly her back and forth to MN so she would miss, at most, two days.

It's one of those things that's simply not likely. Particularly so close to her start date.

I would suggest she ring Florida-Site College Recruiting on (407) 828-1000 and discuss the issue with them. They might be able to offer possible remedies.

[Praise2Him]

Originally Posted by glendalais

Actually, Cast Members do receive discounts at select Florida-Site Quick Service Restaurants, such as those at the Resorts (which includes Pepper Market, which is actually a Disney-owned-and-operated Restaurant) and at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. The full list is available through internal sources.

See, that's why you should always ask! When did Disney take over Pepper Market? I know I've read on these boards for years that it was independently owned, but we did notice that they now have the same refillable mugs as other resorts when we were there a few weeks ago. Last year they still had the old CS resort mugs.

Originally Posted by glendalais

Table Service Cast Member Discounts are subject to availability. In order to ensure that the discount is applied, Cast Members must make the dining reservations through the Company's internal system, available on The Hub, or by contacting Cast Member Reservations. They cannot be made by contacting Disney Dining or through DisneyWorld.com.

I didn't know this. I made our ADRs on the Disney website and we just asked the server when we got there if there was a cast member discount. I guess we just got lucky that they were available for us!

Thanks for clarifying!

[kmg148]

Originally Posted by Praise2Him

I didn't know this. I made our ADRs on the Disney website and we just asked the server when we got there if there was a cast member discount. I guess we just got lucky that they were available for us!

Thanks for clarifying!

The dining system for CMs is fairly new. It didn't start exactly when online reservations came into place.