Arriving on June 4, DD on College Program

[mirmatt]

Starting a new question......

Arriving at the airport and wondering whether to take Mears to
Vista (if it goes directly there?) Wasn't planning on renting a car for the four days that I'll be there, but should I consider renting one at the airport? If so, can it be returned somewhere closer to All Star Music, which is where I'll be staying. How much time will I be with my daughter that day....... we'll be there around 11am. Will I be able to help her to take things to her place or do I leave? Thanks for info. Excited Mom Marla

 

[jk1]

You could take Mears to Vista for the check-in. Bu tthen how will you get to your hotel? If you rent an Alamo/National car at the airport, you could return it to the agency's location at WDW. I believe they will give you a ride back to your WDW hotel then.

Check-in will take her 2-3 hours, I would think, depending upon how busy they are then. After she has completed her chesk-in paperwork/stations, she then can move into her apartment. You can hang around and help her move in.

 

[mirmatt]

Is alamo the only car rental on disney property? Is it possible to get on a bus like the college students and get back to the disney ttc? How do the kids get to the apartments? Marla

 

[BuzzMe]

I found it extremely helpful to have a car. I don't know if there is any transportation provided for students to get to their housing. You'll be able to help your daughter move in- you can stay as long as you like. I took my daughter and her friend to Walmart to stock up on food and other things they needed. If you return a rental car to the Car Care Center or the Dolphin, there is a shuttle that will take you back to your hotel. Good Luck!

 

[jk1]

The WDWCP program will transfer your daughter's stuff to Chatham if she is assigned to Chatham. She could take the WDWCP buses to get over there, but you will not be able to. I doubt they drop off the kids' stuff at their individual apartment. They probably do a central dropoff and then the kids are responsible for getting their stuff to their apartment.

You really need a car if you hope to get around that first day, and it will come in helpful for that first Walmart/grocery store run if you plan on taking your daughter on one.

Alamo/National is the only rental car agency on WDW property, though Dollar I believe has a location in one of the Downtown Disney hotels.

Don't forget that your daughter will need to get shoes after she gets her location assignment. A car would come in handy for more than just the first day you are in Orlando.

 

[safetymom]

A car would be helpful on the first day to help get your daughter settled in.

Be prepared to hang around for several hours while she is processed into the system. You will get to meet lots of nervous parents.

They do have a bus that will take them to their apartment complex if they are in Chatham. It is all very organized by Disney.

My daughter wanted to strike off on her own so she started using Disney transporation when she needed to go get her shoes.

She has not had any problems in the year she has been in the CP program with transporation. At first she missed her car but the busses get her everywhere she needs to go. When she needs something out of the ordinary one of the roommates takes her shopping.

I took a clue from my daughter how much of my involvement she wanted. So after she was checked in she took the Disney bus over to Chatham and got settled in and then called me. We spent the evening together. We did that the next couple days until I flew home. I also took her shopping for any of the things she had forgetten to pick up.

 

[mirmatt]

You really have been very helpful. Now I'm trying to find a decent rate to rent a car for five days(and hope I can find my way around) We have been going every summer plus to DW since 1991, but I always let my husband do the driving. I'm afraid that I will get lost once it is dark! Of course there is always the cell phone to call my dh to get directions from home. Daughter is so excited as we all are. Just need to start thinking about what she needs to take with her. Do the students have any lockers for security to keep any valuables? (Like their money?) Did your daughter take alot of clothes, or did you send things down later upon request? How about the tv? Don't really want to fly with one...... Maybe pick one up at the Sam's Club. Hmmm. Marla

 

[safetymom]

Mirmatt, they have litle lockers in their rooms for those important things you want to lock up. My daughter brought way too many "nice" clothes. She ended up shipping a lot of them home.

The TV issue I would wait until you got there to see if one of the roommates brought one. If they didn't you could always go buy one.

We always use Hertz when we need to rent at MCO. To get from there to WDW we take Route 417, the Greenway. You can be at WDW in less than 30 mins. It is a great road, not heavily traveled like I-4. Very easy to get to the parks and resorts.

As far as when you in WDW there are so many signs and different ways of getting to the parks I just follow the signs. It seems every time I go there is another way to get to the parks. You will be fine.

If you have any more questions just ask. I can remember when my daughter first went down we asked lots of questions. I am just trying to repay the favor.

Disney really does have all of this carefully planned and thought out. I was really impressed how it all worked on Checkin day.

Another suggestion, take a scouting ride to find Vista before she has to check in. We thought we knew where it was but found out we didn't. My daughters nerves were jumpy so when we found out where we needed to go she relaxed. I just hung back and was there for her moral support but she really wanted to handle things herself.

We arrived at WDW and had a day together in the parks before she went off to the CP program. I was with her when she went to sign up and waited until she was done but she wanted to take the bus over to Chatham and get settled then she called me that night and we went to the parks together.

This was my child that was my home body. She walked into Chatham without a backwards glance. She has really grown as a person since she started the CP program. It has been a wonderful opportunity for her.

The Post Office and UPS get a lot of my business now. Just for your information though if you send something UPS they must be there to accept it. It is not like here where they will leave it. They also won't accept it at the clubhouse at Chatham so if I need to ship UPS I try to plan to have it arrive on a day I know my daughter will be off. So using the Post Office is more convenient.

If your daughter has a computer plan for her to take it with her. They do have computer labs but my daughter finds it much easier to have her laptop with her.

 

[mirmatt]

You are really a big help to me. This will be my daughter's first experience a way from home, working, etc. She is so totally into this, that she is already talking about going to college in Central Fl. We'll see! Unfortunately, she isn't allowed to transfer any credits to college, her advisor told her, so therefore, not getting credit, she chose not to take any classes. However, she is taking two classes that her teacher will allow her to send everything over the internet.(has nothing to do with Disney) I was disappointed that they would not give her credit for classes taken in Orlando. Did your daughter take classes? I think I will send my daughter with a laptop. Are there enough telephone lines that she can connect to the internet? I am not thrilled that it will cost 150+ to rent a car for Wed. to Sun., but that is the best I have been able to do, and it does sound easier to help my daughter this way. We are arriving the morning of the day that she is expected to be there. I guess we are going directly there,as she is worried about being in some long lines. Any info. about rooming? Is it true that you room with people who are directly next to you in line? A friend and her daughter are with us, would it be best to drop them off at the hotel, first? I read there is some welcome party that night? Are the kids trained for several days before they begin their job? Did you visit often, or did your daughter come home at all during the time in the program? I know that I could go on and on........ so many questions....... me, the mother, not my daughter, of course! Marla

 

[safetymom]

If your daughter is assigned to Chatham those apartments have two phone lines. That way you aren't tying up a phone line by being on the computer. Vista apts. only have one line. You don't have a choice of roommates or the housing complex you get. My daughter wanted an apt. in Vista in the worst way but was assigned Chatham and she loves it!!! She is glad she didn't get her first choice.

Yes you are assigned roommates by who is around you in line. I would drop off the other people while you go with your daughter to check in. Once she walks in the door to be processed all you can do is wait. If you have cell phones she could call you when she was done and you can come back. I waited but I could have done something else once she walked through those doors. We arrived before the start of check in and the lines weren't too bad but just before she came out the lines were getting long so I guess that was about 11. It seemed long to me but to my daughter it was exciting. I think the parents waiting were more nervous then their kids. If you get a chance talk with some of the cast members that are there if they aren't too busy. They were a great source of information for the worried parents.

My daughters school wouldn't give her credit either but I thought it was important that she took Disney classes. So we paid the tuition to Central Michigan University so she gets credit for those classes. They will transfer to other schools. CMU has a great program and they are very easy to work with.

There probably was a party that first night but my daughter wanted to spend it with me. I picked her up at the entrance to Chatham because she didn't want to learn how to register a guest on the first night.

I was worried how Katie would do being away from home but she loved it. Of course we talk almost every day. She calls with her cell phone. I also got her a calling card that I got at Sam's Club with very reasonable pricing. She can use that when she calls from the apartment phone. I think she enjoys her independence but misses her family. I think in the year she has been in the program we have been down 6 times. She came home for 3 weeks between her first and second program. The first time we went to visit she only wanted to stay one night with use and get back to her apartment. After that when we visit she stays with us and the morning we leave we take her back to her apartment.

I don't mind answering any more questions. Heaven knows I asked a lot before Katie went down. She had lots of questions too so she had me ask them or went to the other boards that are for the students in the CP.

 

[Poohnatic]

Originally posted by mirmatt
I am not thrilled that it will cost 150+ to rent a car for Wed. to Sun., but that is the best I have been able to do, and it does sound easier to help my daughter this way.

Have you checked out the codes at www.mousesavers.com? I got a FULL SIZE for 149.99 a week here in Virginia using a Broward Co. code with Dollar. This was after being quoted 219.99 and 199.99 from their 800 line and web site w/o a code. I've seen codes at various times for 99 a week. Hope that helps out!

How exciting for your daughter! I had classmates go ( a long time ago) and was invited along with them to the auditions, but my then fiance, now ex husband was not interested. I didn't want to go without him. Dumb me! I would have seen that a technical theatre degree did not require me to get a job on a b'way show!

Suzanne

 

[jk1]

If both you and your daughter have cell phones, you could drop her off first and then go check into your hotel and drop your friends off instead of hanging around Vista. Since you are not getting there until 11am, it will probably take a bit longer to check-in than if you were able to get there earlier.

My daughter and I got to Vista check-in at 8:30am (check-in was at 9am) and found plenty of people already in the process of checking in. Because it was not yet crowded, she was able to check in with a minimum amount of waiting. She was done with check-in and we had moved her things into her apartment all by noon.

My daughter had wanted Chatham because of the dataport in those apartments, but ended up in Vista. Everyone on her check-in day went to Vista. She loves it but does have a hard time getting on her computer there. Because of the situation, she dropped the idea of taking two distance-learning classes online. Her college is giving her 6 credits for doing the internship itself.

That afternoon, I took my daughter and 2 of her 3 roommates on a Super Target grocery/decorating run. Got back in plenty of time to unpack her things and get to the welcome party for new WDWCP'ers. Families were welcome to attend (take your camera!).

They don't make you register your guests for the first 2-3 days as they know parents are still around helping their sons/daughters get settled. You will have a paper for your car window letting them know you are new to the program and the guards will wave you in.

My daughter's first week involved meetings and Traditions training as well as an orientation to her work area/park assignment. But my daughter had a lot of free time that first week as well. She would call me when she was free and we would meet up. In fact, she ended up having some unscheduled days at the end of her first week, so I extended my stay for a couple of days! We had a great time in the parks.

My daughter had already spent her freshman year at college a good distance away from home, so this was not her first experience at being away from home. She will not be coming home at all during her internship. It is too hard to get enough days off in a row to make it worthwhile. But that doesn't mean I don't visit! She started the end of January and I stayed a week at WDW then. Then I went back the beginning of March for a long weekend. Tomorrow I go down for a week's visit. Then I am going down Mother's Day weekend. Her father was also down for a couple of days. So she has had family there about every 4 weeks.

And like safetymom, my daughter and I talk quite frequently. Some weeks, it's daily.

I think my daughter's biggest challenge has been having the responsibility of feeding herself. She is not one to make any kind of meals and I am sure is just getting by. I have told her I will make her a turkey dinner next weekend. Already at least one of her friends has found out and is salivating at the thought. So I told her to find out how many people we are "hosting" at this dinner so I can make sure I get enough food for everyone!

Don't worry about asking too many questions. The WDWCP is a great program and I am glad to help in whatever way I can.

 

[mirmatt]

Hey, safetymom, how did it turn out that your daughter went for two programs? I can imagine my daughter wanting this. I actually hope that she will love it that much. We spoke to someone who was on the program last year, and she had so many bad things to say..... she left early. She has been telling my daughter what a mistake she is making but my daughter is so excited because she has heard far more good things.

Boy, I hope that she will be able to get on a computer to do her work. Didn't I read that there is a computer lab. somewhere? Do you know the exact directions on how to get to the place that they register? jk1..... your daughter prepares food like my daughter.....NOT AT ALL My daughter already told me that she will live on Slim Fast, Bagel Dogs, and Park food. Do they get any kind of discount on food? Do they need to bring things to eat on, eat with, cook with? I read somewhere that someone took their kid to a cast store and they decorated their room with markdown stuff. Anyone know what they are referring to? My daughter is set to room with the max. How about your daughters? How have they gotten along? Thanks, Marla

 

[jk1]

Once you are in the WDWCP, you can extend up to a year. During the program, everyone is given an opportunity to apply to extend if they wish. They can also audition for a character role which is what my daughter is doing. (Please keep your fingers crossed this Thursday.)

Each apartment complex has a computer lab. I do think Chatham has fewer computers and less hours than Vista. It is also sometimes hard to get on a computer in the lab. But I guess it all depends on when you try.

The directions to Vista are on the WDWCP website that your daughter can log into. It is very easy to find. If you can't find them, pm me and I will give them to you.

Cast Members do get a discount on food, but it is primarily the sit-down table service places. The MK has a cafeteria or some such place for CMs too. Many of the local restaurants also offer discounts to the Cast Members.

The apartment kitchens are fully stocked with both cookware and dinnerware.

That was me who wrote about taking my daughter and some of her roommates to Property Control where they found posters and other things to decorate their apartment. I was lucky enough to know about the place ahead of time and how to get to Property Control as well as the Company D Cast Member stores.

My daughter's bedroom roommate is very quiet. They get along though they don't do much together. Her other two roomates are not as quiet - they go out more. One of the girls did leave the program early. So they are down to 3 girls in the 2 bedroom apartment. They do all get along well and have not had any problems they could not work out. In the beginning, they did talk about "ground rules", very similiar to what dorm mates do at college.

Any other questions, just ask!

 

[frndshpcptn]

I did the CP for 2 summers, in 1998 and 1999. In terms of eating while on the CP, all of the parks AND all of the resorts have a cast cafeteria which has hot and cold food for breakfast, lunch and dinner. It much less expensive than eating park food. Most of us would get at least one meal there per day. One of my roommate's mother's used to make dishes like eggplant parm or chicken parm and freeze it and then overnight it to us to keep in our freezer when we wanted a home cooked meal. There is a Wendy's and a CHick-fil-a right outside Vista, we ate there quite often as well. Some of the quick serve places also offered the 20% cast discount on food as well and we made sure to eat at those places when we went to the parks. I also learned very quickly how to make mac and cheese. My second summer we bought a George Forman grill and used that all the time to make turkey burgers or grilled cheese sandwiches.

 

[safetymom]

My daughter plans to eventually graduate with a culinary degree. At Thanksgiving she cooked a turkey with all the trimmings. She was real popular when she shared the dinner with several other CP's.

Katie really appreciated my home cooked meals when she came home for the 3 weeks. I am not used to cooking full dinners since she left but cooked all her favorites. She is turning into quite a cook since she is on her own.

Ah, you must go to Property Control. I love it when my daugher takes me there. You can find lots of great bargains.

The first apt. roommates were terrible. It was like the remake of Carrie. Eventually several of them left the program. It was not fun when my daughter was crying and scared at 1 in the morning and I am hundreds of miles away. She even filed a complaint with security.

This time they all get along together. They don't go out together or anything but they get along. She went from a 3 bedroom apt. to a 2 bedroom this time.

 

[frndshpcptn]

I stayed in a 3 bedroom apartment both summers I worked in Florida and lucked out in having mostly great roommates both times. I ended up staying very close to about 5 of them in total and we still talk to each other almost every day and see each other every other month. That's in addition to the great people I met and have stayed friends with from my work locations.

 

[mirmatt]

I hope my daughter made the right decision. She decided that staying in the larger apt. (more rooms) might allow a better chance for finding kids that you could get along with. Limiting to only 4 kids might make someone feel left out.(that was my thought pattern) Gosh I hope she doesn't run into problems like I just read on this board. If kids aren't so nice, what are they doing at DW in this program? This seems like a great chance to meet people from all over. Maybe she should avoid standing in line when she gets there, with kids who look like they came together.....the old twos company story. Just wondering........ Marla

 

[safetymom]

I wondered the same thing. I figured everyone in the CP would have that Disney feeling. Well it wasn't in my daughters first apt.
There were 2 of them that figured they were superior to everyone in the apt. They hadn't met before being assigned by Disney.

My daughter has met lots of great people. It was just her roommates the first time.

This time they get along. I am sure it will work out fine for your daughter.

It seems they all work different schedules so it made it hard for them to do anything together. My daughter is not a late night person so they may go shopping togethe.

 

[RweTHEREyet]

mirmatt, we will be going thru exactly the same as you will about two weeks later.

My husband and son will drive down in my son's car and I will fly down. Hubby and I will fly back a few days later. We will probably rent our own car while down there. I would not recommend doing all this without having a vehicle. There are going to be many times you need run get this and run get that.

I am sure this is almost as exciting for you as it is your daughter, at the same time, I am sure you are anxious about a lot of things. It seems that Disney has this CP almost down to a science and I am very comfortable with the experience my son will have there.

What role does your daughter have. I don't think I saw that mentioned anywhere.

As of this moment, we are staying at the AllStar Music for check-in week also. Too bad we are not there at the same time.

Good luck with all this, it won't be too long before time to go.