Disney College Program for Parents Thread...

[CampingMom]

Yes CMs get this booklet. She should check her CP mail if she updated her address on the hub or it went to whatever address she put in when hired.

Ok great. I guess it will be coming to me since she did not change her address.

 

[wilkeliza]

Ok great. I guess it will be coming to me since she did not change her address.

Yeah if her main gates went to you that is where the booklet will go. Make sure you open all mail even if it looks like junk because they do not reissue them very easily.

 

[::Snow_White::]

Hi Everyone:
I saw on a search that the cm's get a booklet with discounts and coupons for the holidays to celebrate with their families when they come. Any idea if the college kids get this too? I read in the past they get coupons for free drinks/popcorn, discounts on hotels, extra maingate admissions and such. Just wondering as we are booked to go down 2 weeks before Christmas and I have heard there are great discounts on hotels like 60% off so I have not booked anything yet. Had DD look up hotels now for then and only 2 different hotels showing up and they are both expensive even with a 40% off! I hope more variety in hotel choices come available too. Thanks!

Yes, it's the best thing about Fall!! I think that you can book hotels now and then later call back to see if there are any updates on the discounts, such as a holiday 60% off, not for sure on that though. It's hard with Christmastime, we got Beach Club 60% off last Fall and I booked that in September. Around November a ton of hotels were booked up so you might look into booking it now and checking later?

I think the booklets come late october or early november.

 

[wilkeliza]

Yes, it's the best thing about Fall!! I think that you can book hotels now and then later call back to see if there are any updates on the discounts, such as a holiday 60% off, not for sure on that though. It's hard with Christmastime, we got Beach Club 60% off last Fall and I booked that in September. Around November a ton of hotels were booked up so you might look into booking it now and checking later? I think the booklets come late october or early november.

I asked my current CM friend when the booklets are coming this year. They usually come very early October. The booklet is not needed for the extra merchandise discount (40% oh how I will miss you this year) and for hotels. The hub will have a link under cast booking that will auto apply the holiday discount and the mercy discount is automatic.

 

[Goofy4WDW1964]

Can you still do magical express if your room is booked through your DCP? I am flying down January 2, 2015 to help drive my son back. I want him to get me a value resort room from January 2 to January 5. Since I will be flying into Orlando instead of Sanford, I just wanted to make sure I could still utilize the magical express.

 

[Traveliz]

Can you still do magical express if your room is booked through your DCP? I am flying down January 2, 2015 to help drive my son back. I want him to get me a value resort room from January 2 to January 5. Since I will be flying into Orlando instead of Sanford, I just wanted to make sure I could still utilize the magical express.

Yes. The information comes to them though (if they are primary on the reservation). If you are doing the family and friends discount (they are not in the room) the reservation will go to you. That said my daughter kept her IL address as her address on the CP so the stuff all came here anyway and I had it for my flights.

Liz

 

[wilkeliza]

Yes. The information comes to them though (if they are primary on the reservation). If you are doing the family and friends discount (they are not in the room) the reservation will go to you. That said my daughter kept her IL address as her address on the CP so the stuff all came here anyway and I had it for my flights. Liz

You can change the address of where it goes pretty easily on the hub. It only needs to be in their name not their Florida address. Also none CMs can add the reservation to their MDE and change the address for the magic bands to the proper address.

 

[MUFFYCAT]

My daughter just got accepted for January and we're all super excited!! I can't help but think when she can start booking rooms for us to come and visit.
Are discounts available for all the resorts?

 

[lacy1101]

Our daughter is a current DCPer and just found out tonight that she needs a new starter on her car. Can someone give us the name of a reputable place for her to take her car and have one put on?

 

[DianeV]

My daughter is there right now and we have found its hard to say. The pickings for December near Christmas especially have not been too great but other times have been ok. I don't think you will ever see all the resorts available though at least from what we have experienced.

Once they get through their training and are able to get on the Hub she will be able to start checking for you

My daughter just got accepted for January and we're all super excited!! I can't help but think when she can start booking rooms for us to come and visit.
Are discounts available for all the resorts?

 

[stitchlovestink]

This may seem a little early to be thinking about this, but I am. When we moved our son down, we drove his car and our car. I am going to fly down and him and I will drive his car back when he is done. So, we are going to have to fit everything in one car. It's not as bad as it seems. We didn't have a lot of his stuff in our car.

I bought him a cheap vacuum cleaner and fan to use. If we are tight on room in the car, I won't be bringing both of those back. I would like to leave them for someone in the Spring program to use but I have no idea how to do that. I know I can't leave them at his apartment because they will just get thrown away. Any suggestions?

CPers often "sell" their stuff (cheaply) that they cant take home to other CPers who are there and are overlapping. Most borrow a vacuum (certain items such as vacuums and some others can be signed out) to use because no onein the unit wants to buy one. Or the person who owns it moves to another unit. Sometimes residents get switched around. I bet he'd have no problem giving it away!!
I bought a couple of chairs for the deck and when mine was leaving there was 'fighting' over who was getting her deck chairs. LOL

 

[stitchlovestink]

Our daughter is a current DCPer and just found out tonight that she needs a new starter on her car. Can someone give us the name of a reputable place for her to take her car and have one put on?

When I was there, I had to have work done to DD's car twice!!
I used this place....
The bill was less than they quoted me and was a VERY FAIR price. My hubby would have normally done this work. He talked to the mechanic over the phone (he was here at home, I was in FL). He has friends who own auto repair shops and knows the pricing. He said it was a fair price. They fit me in fast. I hope not to...LOL....but I would use them again in a heartbeat! They also gave me a discount...car is titled in DD'S name and since SHE worked for Disney, they gave me that add'l Disney CM discount. IIRC it's about 8 miles and 15-20 min from where the CPs live.
GOOD LUCK!
http://www.rikersauto.com/m/index.htm

 

[lacy1101]

When I was there, I had to have work done to DD's car twice!!
I used this place....
The bill was less than they quoted me and was a VERY FAIR price. My hubby would have normally done this work. He talked to the mechanic over the phone (he was here at home, I was in FL). He has friends who own auto repair shops and knows the pricing. He said it was a fair price. They fit me in fast. I hope not to...LOL....but I would use them again in a heartbeat! They also gave me a discount...car is titled in DD'S name and since SHE worked for Disney, they gave me that add'l Disney CM discount. IIRC it's about 8 miles and 15-20 min from where the CPs live.
GOOD LUCK!
http://www.rikersauto.com/m/index.htm

Thanks so much, stitchlovestink . . . you're awsome!!

 

[::Snow_White::]

My daughter just got accepted for January and we're all super excited!! I can't help but think when she can start booking rooms for us to come and visit.
Are discounts available for all the resorts?

Discounts are available for most, but availability just depends. I was there for Fall and in Sept booked AOA for Oct. and Beach Club for December. As you get closer resorts book up fast and those were sold out not too long after. Just have her book as soon as she has access!

 

[Praise2Him]

Are discounts available for all the resorts?

I know that The Little Mermaid (and I think Nemo) rooms at Art of Animation are never discounted for CMs. Other than that, I think most rooms are available for discounts. I've even gotten Club Level at Beach Club.

 

[Traveliz]

Our daughter is a current DCPer and just found out tonight that she needs a new starter on her car. Can someone give us the name of a reputable place for her to take her car and have one put on?

We use the Car Care Center right at Disney. They have a CM discount and we have found them to be very fair. We have actually used them for years for a variety of things - first as tourists, now my daughter as a CM and even as a local resident...we live behind MK and I have used them for a few issues also. It's just so convenient. My daughter has dropped her car off and then gotten a ride to the monorail to get to work at Epcot on occasion.

Liz

 

[hippiechicken]

My daughter was accepted yesterday for Costuming.
She is auditioning this Sunday so I assumed she wouldn't hear anything until afterward. I'm planning all my trips now!!

 

[Dizzyworld]

Hello Everyone.....my DD has had her phone interview recently. My DD is excited, and has her fingers crossed. My DH is excited for her. I have mixed feelings about all of this. Help me understand what these students get out of this program. It looks like cheap labor for Disney where these young people are working like crazy doing entry level jobs with some a little fun thrown in there too. Since this is a college program, I take it they can be made to work 40+ hours for minimum wage and no overtime pay? Do they have any rights/protection? What am I missing? Please help me see the big picture.
Thanks.

 

[wilkeliza]

Hello Everyone.....my DD has had her phone interview recently. My DD is excited, and has her fingers crossed. My DH is excited for her. I have mixed feelings about all of this. Help me understand what these students get out of this program. It looks like cheap labor for Disney where these young people are working like crazy doing entry level jobs with some a little fun thrown in there too. Since this is a college program, I take it they can be made to work 40+ hours for minimum wage and no overtime pay? Do they have any rights/protection? What am I missing? Please help me see the big picture. Thanks.

Anything over 40 is overtime.

What they get is experience with a Fortune 500 company. During the course of the program there are amazing classes and seminars that one can go to. They do resume workshops, "selling yourself" workshops on how to interview and dress for jobs. It also teaches the value of hard work. Most of the students who have gone have never worked a day in their lives or paid their own bills. On the DCP you pay rent and utilities and work. It teaches these skills in the relatively safe environment that is Disney.

You also make wonderful connections and if you finish you get to put something on your resume that holds a lot of weight.i came home and was able to get a management position at Starbucks and then less than a year later am now a salaried employee at a tech company. Every interviewer told me the DCP and the fact I worked for Disney is what set me apart from the 1,000 other applicants they received.

To be quite frank most college age kids wouldn't get much else in today's job market.

 

[AnnaS]

Hello Everyone.....my DD has had her phone interview recently. My DD is excited, and has her fingers crossed. My DH is excited for her. I have mixed feelings about all of this. Help me understand what these students get out of this program. It looks like cheap labor for Disney where these young people are working like crazy doing entry level jobs with some a little fun thrown in there too. Since this is a college program, I take it they can be made to work 40+ hours for minimum wage and no overtime pay? Do they have any rights/protection? What am I missing? Please help me see the big picture.
Thanks.

It's all about the experience. It's priceless. My dd loved it. I was so worried before she went and so happy she did this especially since she does not go away to school.

It costs us a ton of money and she worked very hard but it was all worth it!

Good luck to her