Benefits as a College Program Participant

[snowprincessofAK]

does anyone know if it's better to go in September for free dining or can my parents just use the dining plan? Will they be eligable for that with any hotel discounts I can get them?

 

[DisneyJersey]

does anyone know if it's better to go in September for free dining or can my parents just use the dining plan? Will they be eligable for that with any hotel discounts I can get them?

well, you can take your parents out for dinner on property and get the 20% discount, only issue is it only applies to sit down restaurants, not quick service..make sure you bring your ID with you, the WDW one, not the housing ID...I am not sure about the "free dining" you mention, so i can't comment on that.

 

[csaribay]

does anyone know if it's better to go in September for free dining or can my parents just use the dining plan? Will they be eligable for that with any hotel discounts I can get them?

The MYW Package that includes free dining (at least up to this point) is only offered for guests staying on the 'rack rate' of a Disney Resort, and can't be combined with any other special discounts. While there may be a special discount w/dining that is inclusive of a cast member discount later on, this did not happen last year during the months of August and September. Also note that each person staying in the room must purchase at least one day of admission (even if your plan is to use your blue-main gate to admit your family into the parks, it is a requirement of the package).

Something else to consider is that during those two months, cast member discounts and both table service and quick service locations is entirely blocked out, so anything outside of the food you eat on the dining plan won't be discounted (although it is a lot of food). You'll have to do the math and see what options will work the best for your family.

(I will say that the first couple weeks of December is a fantastic time for family to visit- crowds are very manageable (if not low), holiday decorations & celebrations are up and additional discounts with both the dining plan and Disney-resorts may be extended. Outside of that, the week after Labor Day leading up to a week or two before Thanksgiving is a good time to visit.)

 

[Traveliz]

We visited our college program daughter last year and did the free dining plan (it really is a good deal and is probably better than just using the resort CM discount). Other trips we had the CM discount and that was great but if your parents are planning on coming in September the dining deal is great.

We are frequent Disney visitors though and never depended on using our daughter's ticket priviledges - we have kept our APs current and will continue to do so. I hate to be dependent on when someone can let me into a park. Plus that way she had the passes to use for when friends visited.

Liz

 

[Joanna71985]

well, you can take your parents out for dinner on property and get the 20% discount, only issue is it only applies to sit down restaurants, not quick service..make sure you bring your ID with you, the WDW one, not the housing ID...I am not sure about the "free dining" you mention, so i can't comment on that.

Actually, there are CS that give the discount. Tusker House used to (before it changed).

 

[csaribay]

Actually, there are CS that give the discount. Tusker House used to (before it changed).

Yeah, AK counter service locations and all resort locations accept the cast dining discount (save blanket F&B blackout dates).

 

[jpod523]

Just another question about CM benefits...

I know that you can get into the parks unlimited (i.e. like a park hopper, if i'm correct), but what about the water parks? I imagine they're not free for CM's b/c Disney Quest isn't either, but is there a discount on tickets? Just wondered. And please tell me there's a discount for La Nouba!!

 

[Joanna71985]

Just another question about CM benefits...

I know that you can get into the parks unlimited (i.e. like a park hopper, if i'm correct), but what about the water parks? I imagine they're not free for CM's b/c Disney Quest isn't either, but is there a discount on tickets? Just wondered. And please tell me there's a discount for La Nouba!!

Water parks are not free (not sure about Water Park people). There is a discount, but not sure what it is.

Yes, there is a discount for La Nouba.

 

[Merriweather86]

For the waterparks, there is typically a promotion in the fall that gets you into Typhoon Lagoon for free (this is typically during the Blizzard refurbishment, which typically happens late fall-February). Also, in the cast holiday celebration booklet that you get (if you are doing the fall program), it gives you and 3 others a day of admission into the waterparks (like a day of a maingate, but for the waterparks), and depending upon the season, you typically can get 50% off a day's admission. I know it sounds confusing, but it varies throughout the time of year

 

[browneyedgal]

Just another question about CM benefits...

I know that you can get into the parks unlimited (i.e. like a park hopper, if i'm correct), but what about the water parks? I imagine they're not free for CM's b/c Disney Quest isn't either, but is there a discount on tickets? Just wondered. And please tell me there's a discount for La Nouba!!

Water parks are not free (not sure about Water Park people). There is a discount, but not sure what it is.

Yes, there is a discount for La Nouba.

Sorry to ask, but could someone explain to me what "La Nouba" is?

Thanks!

 

[mdparker88]

We will potentially be having 3 families visit (all at the same time) while our daughter is a CP (kind of a mini-reunion). Is there a limit to the number of resort rooms she can get us with the friends & family discount? How does payment, deposits, etc. work for this discount? Thanks!!

 

[DisneyJersey]

We will potentially be having 3 families visit (all at the same time) while our daughter is a CP (kind of a mini-reunion). Is there a limit to the number of resort rooms she can get us with the friends & family discount? How does payment, deposits, etc. work for this discount? Thanks!!

I don't believe there is a limit, but everything is based on availability, so I suggest going at a time when it's not a high travel/peak period, this way you can ensure everyone can get a room on a discount...I am not sure on the payment scenario works so maybe someone else may know. if you go onto the wdw college program website wdwcollegeprogram.com , they have an email where you can email them any questions, and they can answer it for you.

 

[csaribay]

Actually, there are discounted Cast Member Grand Gathering experiences available. They can't be booked online, but the cast reservations line can definitely assist you with arranging that once you're down on the program.

Like Justin mentioned, this all pending availability. With the normal resort room discount, you can pay with different credit cards and such per room (since the reservations would all be separate- you can specify being 'close' to your party during the reservation process), but I'm not sure how Grand Gatherings work. You may want to call the Disney Reservations Center at 407-W-Disney and ask for more info on grand gatherings.

 

[Merriweather86]

Actually, there are discounted Cast Member Grand Gathering experiences available. They can't be booked online, but the cast reservations line can definitely assist you with arranging that once you're down on the program.

Like Justin mentioned, this all pending availability. With the normal resort room discount, you can pay with different credit cards and such per room (since the reservations would all be separate- you can specify being 'close' to your party during the reservation process), but I'm not sure how Grand Gatherings work. You may want to call the Disney Reservations Center at 407-W-Disney and ask for more info on grand gatherings.

Just to expound upon this a little bit, what you should be booked under is a "magical gathering"- that's any group that is a party of 8 or more. What you'll want to do is call the cast line to book your rooms (don't book them online in this case), they'll make sure that you go into the system as a Magical Gathering. When booked like that, your resort will do their best to keep your rooms either next door to one another, or at least nearby. My one tip is to make sure that you all book within the same room category. After you're booked, you can also book the Grand Gathering experiences. These are additional to your vacation package, and there's a few different options to choose from, if you wanted to do one. They have different ones ranging from fireworks cruises, to character interactions at Epcot. Here's a link to the part of the official website about it, it may be of some help to you http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/experience/experienceLanding?id=MagicalGatheringsExperiencePage&count=8

 

[Joanna71985]

Sorry to ask, but could someone explain to me what "La Nouba" is?

Thanks!

La Nouba is a show. Very amazing, from what I have heard.

 

[db4ffc]

La Nouba is a show. Very amazing, from what I have heard.

Yep, its the Cirque Du Soleil show at DTD - AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!

EDIT: MY FIRST EVER POST ON HERE

 

[Joanna71985]

Yep, its the Cirque Du Soleil show at DTD - AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!

EDIT: MY FIRST EVER POST ON HERE

Welcome!!

 

[browneyedgal]

La Nouba is a show. Very amazing, from what I have heard.

Yep, its the Cirque Du Soleil show at DTD - AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!

EDIT: MY FIRST EVER POST ON HERE

Thanks guys! Sounds like fun- I'll have to make sure I go see it sometime during my fall CareerStart program

 

[snowprincessofAK]

I really want to take my family to go see La Nouba, it looks so cool.

 

[Hoosier Mom]

A friend of ours has invited us to Disney while she is there working. So my understanding is she gets a discount at the resort. Does she reserve our room for us or do we do it? We are coming in January, so hopefully there will be lots of rooms to pick from. We are hoping for Riverside.

Also we are planning to visit Disney either during the very last week of her work, or the week after she is done. Will the discount still be in effect for a week when she is actually already done? I think her actual last week is the week of New Years, and I doubt there's a discount available during a holiday, so that's why I'm thinking the week after New Years.