DD coming from Australia for DCP

[Oz Katie]

I took my DD for her high school graduation trip to WDW, NYC and SFO in November 2024. While at WDW, we met a young man working at the pin store at Disney Springs from our city in Australia. He told us he was doing the DCP/International cultural exchange and encouraged my DD to apply for it.

Roll forward to January this year, and within 24hrs of learning the AU/NZ program opened for applications, my DD had applied. Then it was a LONG wait to find out about interviews (early March), then an in-person interview and information session in late April. At the start of this week, DD got her offer letter! She'll be doing QS F&B and starts in August.

We're planning on heading over with her to give her some extra luggage, and then spending Christmas week at/around WDW. Of course, she may be working on Christmas day, and we know we may not see a lot of her.

She's a Muppets fan, and we were at HS in 2024 when they announced the Muppets area would be closing, and the RocknRoller coaster would be
rethemed to Muppets. She's thrilled she'll get to see the new ride!

Is there anyone here who are international parents of DCP/IP participants?

Right now, our biggest concern is wanting to book her flights, and have them flexible enough for her to change if she gets an extension. But also not wanting to book her flights until she gets her visa; hopefully the visa paperwork from Disney will come through in the next month. She has to fly to another city to a US consulate for an in-person interview, and then should get her visa and passport back within 2 weeks. This is feeling like incredibly tight timing, as the consulate currenlty has about a 6 week wait for interviews for that visa type. Eeek!

In the meantime, I'm researching accommodation, being overwhelmed by the offerings available and hoping an airfare promotion drops for August.

 

[china mom]

Congrats!!! It is so exciting. I know you have tons to think about . Step 1. Join this Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/231993707176342

There is a Files section with an abundance of very helpful information.

I strongly recommend you stay in one of the Flamingo Crossing hotels. You will be very close to your daughter and for this trip, IMO is a better arrangement than staying on property. There is a really good discount code in one of the files.

We are not international but my daughter has been in the DCP since January and is doing really well.

 

[Oz Katie]

Thanks for the link @china mom !
We’re planning on staying at Flamingo Crossing for the first couple of nights and then maybe move to a different hotel with shuttles to the parks, rather than driving.

At Christmas, we’re thinking of staying on property but with a reservation for 3 so she can stay with us if she wants to and can.

 

[china mom]

Thanks for the link @china mom !
We’re planning on staying at Flamingo Crossing for the first couple of nights and then maybe move to a different hotel with shuttles to the parks, rather than driving.

At Christmas, we’re thinking of staying on property but with a reservation for 3 so she can stay with us if she wants to and can.

She gets hotel discounts but is supposed to be staying in the room with you. (no one actually checks who is sleeping there) but to use the discount, she has to be on the reservation. We have not done tis yet but my understanding is that she has to check in with her blue card but you can pay with your credit card (unlike other discounts where you cant use her discount and your credit card).

 

[BlingBling22]

I took my DD for her high school graduation trip to WDW, NYC and SFO in November 2024. While at WDW, we met a young man working at the pin store at Disney Springs from our city in Australia. He told us he was doing the DCP/International cultural exchange and encouraged my DD to apply for it.

Roll forward to January this year, and within 24hrs of learning the AU/NZ program opened for applications, my DD had applied. Then it was a LONG wait to find out about interviews (early March), then an in-person interview and information session in late April. At the start of this week, DD got her offer letter! She'll be doing QS F&B and starts in August.

We're planning on heading over with her to give her some extra luggage, and then spending Christmas week at/around WDW. Of course, she may be working on Christmas day, and we know we may not see a lot of her.

She's a Muppets fan, and we were at HS in 2024 when they announced the Muppets area would be closing, and the RocknRoller coaster would be
rethemed to Muppets. She's thrilled she'll get to see the new ride!

Is there anyone here who are international parents of DCP/IP participants?

Right now, our biggest concern is wanting to book her flights, and have them flexible enough for her to change if she gets an extension. But also not wanting to book her flights until she gets her visa; hopefully the visa paperwork from Disney will come through in the next month. She has to fly to another city to a US consulate for an in-person interview, and then should get her visa and passport back within 2 weeks. This is feeling like incredibly tight timing, as the consulate currenlty has about a 6 week wait for interviews for that visa type. Eeek!

In the meantime, I'm researching accommodation, being overwhelmed by the offerings available and hoping an airfare promotion drops for August.

Hi. My DD started the ICP in January and we are here visiting now. We are from Sydney.

My daughter arrived 2 days prior to her start date to allow for any delays. She booked in to a value resort for those 2 days. We didn’t fly over with her, she met other CPs travelling from Australia through FB and some of them came together. Doing that was a really good start and helped her settle in as she already had some new friends.

We booked a one way ticket. And we didn’t wait till her VISA was approved as that is much closer to the departure date. She has extended for the 12 months. We will book her return later as she is thinking of stopping in LA with some of the friends she has made.

Good Luck with the planning.

 

[Oz Katie]

Hi. My DD started the ICP in January and we are here visiting now. We are from Sydney.

My daughter arrived 2 days prior to her start date to allow for any delays. She booked in to a value resort for those 2 days. We didn’t fly over with her, she met other CPs travelling from Australia through FB and some of them came together. Doing that was a really good start and helped her settle in as she already had some new friends.

We booked a one way ticket. And we didn’t wait till her VISA was approved as that is much closer to the departure date. She has extended for the 12 months. We will book her return later as she is thinking of stopping in LA with some of the friends she has made.

Good Luck with the planning.

Thank you so much for the info, @BlingBling22!