DD in College Program

[Jungle Skipper]

Glad your DD enjoyed the WDWCP..I loved mine back in Spring of 2001...I miss it! My college didn't accept the credit for it, but i can say it was one of the most educational experiences I have ever had...not in a book sense, but it a life sense...the most important kind of education..I learned a lot about myself on the WDWCP.

I would reccommend it to anyone! Especially Disney fanatics!

I miss WDW....now that Im unemployed, maybe I should head back there...hmmm....

Jungle Josh

 

[Deb T.]

Hi All,

YesDear is correct, I'm just now back from taking DS down to begin his CP experience. He now knows he will be working in the Magic Kingdom, but still doesn't know exactly where yet. In the meantime, he is busy in training and getting to know his five roommates.

DH and I were a bit sad leaving him behind. However, we know it's going to be a great experience for him. He knows the WDW area as well as our own hometown since he's been there 25 times! When I miss him too much, I know I can call RweTHEREyet and YesDear anytime for encouragement!

~Deb T.

 

[jk1]

Deb T, use your son's time in the WDWCP to the fullest - visit often! It's a great excuse to go to WDW!

YesDear, that is great about going down on fall break. Wish our colleges had such a thing. I'm not sure when my daughter will be going down next to work. Life and school is just getting in the way! :lol Wish I could say I would be there in June, but I can't. We are leaving tomorrow for 5 days. But most of those days will be spent picking out colors and everything for the house we are building. Sure hope our travel plans cross again soon.

Marla, I hope you and your daughter got home ok. Seeing how long she was down on the program, I bet she will be missing it terribly in about a month.

Maybe we should all plan a WDWCP parent reunion at WDW sometime!

 

[safetymom]

Deb T, I sent you a PM.

 

[Katy]

I left my daughter to do the CP program last week. She's working in merchandising at the WL. She is in a three bedroom with five other nice girls. They seem to be getting along finde so far. My daughter was wondering if they ever let students change rolls. She teaches at a nursey school when she is home on vacation and when she got there wondered how hard it would be to be placed in one the Child Care Centers, Cub's Den, Neverland Club, etc..

I would appreciate any advice, insights, experience (good or bad) that you think would help me as I adjust to her being away.

Did your children ever get homesick, decide they may want to leave, how did they handle issues with roomates?

Thanks for any tips you can give me and my dd.

 

[safetymom]

I don't think it is real easy to change roles. My daughter had bouts of homesickness but we used the cell phone a lot. I had her phone changed to a Florida number so the calls didn't cost more. She would call several times a day when she had the blues.

I felt like I went throught the program with my daughter. When she was doing something fun in the parks she knew I would like she would call. I can't tell you how many times I heard the Share a Dream parade through the phone.

There are some rocky moments but she just kept remembering what a wonderful opportunity it was. She never got close to quiting the program like some of the kids.

 

[jk1]

Katy, welcome to the world of Parents of WDWCP'ers! My daughter did the program in Spring, 2003 and loved every bit of it. Like safetymom, I also received numerous calls from my daughter sharing her experience. One of my favorite calls was during the MK fireworks when she was backstage getting her car! Car alarms would go with every boom of the fireworks! I also visited WDW a lot that spring!

My daughter was never homesick, but then she had already spent a year at a college 1000 miles away from home. She never gave any thought to leaving the program, although one of her roommates did leave after about a month.

Her roommate situation was ok. But they never really hung out together. My daughter did make a few friends in the program and did things with them.

I don't remember hearing of any WDWCP'ers placed in the childcare clubs. I don't think it's a category for them to select on their application. And it is difficult to change roles during your internship. Your daughter's best bet might be to network and maybe she can hook up with someone in the child clubs who would be willing to let her see how they are run.

My daughter stayed on as a casual seasonal CM. She went down and worked her spring break for a week.

As far as you adjusting to her being away, phone calls will keep you close. And try to visit. It's a great excuse to say you have to go to Disney World!

 

[Katy]

My daughter had one bad day, now she seems fine. I think it was first day of work jitters. She doesn't have her own car and I think she was unsure of the bus schedules.

She did speak to someone in the Child Care facility and got a name to call as they told her they had open positions, so you never know. She said she may be able to get some part-time work there.

She loves her living situation (I know it's still early!) and her roomates are supportive and fun. They have started doing little outings together, beach, movies etc. So I hope they stay close.

I hope you don't mind if I pick your brains every once in a while as I go through this experience with her!

Have you ever gone to visit your child during the Christmas Holidays? We will this December (knowing she'll be very busy) cause we can't imagine the holiday without her. If you have, what advice or suggestions do you have on that?

 

[safetymom]

I visited during the holidays. I just knew that I wasn't going to see much of my daughter. We stayed at CBR and I got to see her before and after work. She stayed with us at CBR so that helped.

Disney is great at the holidays.

 

[jk1]

Since my daughter was spring, we didn't have the major holidays. But I did go down for the week after Easter, mainly to visit with my cousin and his family who had gone down to WDW.

Whenever I went down to WDW during her internship, my daughter stayed at the hotel with me. So I did get to see her more than I would have if she worked and stayed at the apartment. It worked well, but she did have a car with her.

If she was there during the fall, I definitely would have scheduled trips during the holidays. We would have visited during her off hours, realizing she would probably be pulling some extra hours during those times.

I'm glad to hear that she likes her living situation. That is such an important part of the experience.

Feel free to ask any questions you might have throughout your daughter's internship! The people who have participated in this thread are very helpful!