Disney College Program for Parents Thread...

[WDW_lover_in_SC]

You can get 3 people in 6 times.

 

[kids4olsen]

thank you

 

[SportsChick]

There are black outs. They are available on the HUB and are released a couple months at a time

 

[starwood]

DS is going down in January and I have a question about banking. How can I set up a bank account for him down there with an atm card and deposit money into his account up here in NJ? He has an account at a local bank that his Disney Store paycheck is being direct deposited into but there are no branches of this bank in Florida.

 

[WDW_lover_in_SC]

DS is going down in January and I have a question about banking. How can I set up a bank account for him down there with an atm card and deposit money into his account up here in NJ? He has an account at a local bank that his Disney Store paycheck is being direct deposited into but there are no branches of this bank in Florida.

Can't her just use a bank/check card if the branch is in your hometown? Also it is possible to deposit money into his Disneys Partners bank account through Western Union. But that's a whole other story.

 

[starwood]

He has an ATM card but will pay fees to use them at an ATM that is not his bank. I'd like to reduce the fees as much as possible. In a pinch that would work.

 

[mickeyonasticky]

He has an ATM card but will pay fees to use them at an ATM that is not his bank. I'd like to reduce the fees as much as possible. In a pinch that would work.

If he uses a check card that takes money directly out of a checking account set up at your local bank, that would reduce fees compared to withdrawing cash (and incurring a fee) from an ATM.

 

[webster76]

I'm so glad this thread is here for parents! And I"ve enjoyed reading many of the questions and am sure many of mine have already been answered. But I don't have time to read all 56 pages! So if someone can help out with my questions, I would really appreciate it!
My dd starts on 1/10/2011 in food service.
I won't be able to come with her and help her with her apartment, which makes me sad, as Disney is one of our favorite places to go!
I was wondering if there is any kind of "graduation" ? I would love to come down sometime while she's attending, but will most likely only be able to come down once. And if there's any kind of "graduation" I would love to come for that. Like many of us, money is so tight and I want to support my dd and spend some time with her in one of our favorite places.
Also,can her paycheck be direct deposited into her account at home or will she need to open an account in Orlando?
Thanks for your help

 

[Praise2Him]

Yes, there's a graduation but parents aren't allowed to attend - only the CPs.

We found that going to visit when they're CPs is the best time when money is tight, because they can get a room for you at 50% off if they stay with you, and they have the main gate pass that will get you in the parks for free up to 6 days. At certain times you can also get the dining plan at a discount (I believe it was 50% off when we got it). It's not always available though. But even if it's not, your main expenses would be food (which can be done cheaply - check out the Budget Board), transportation to get down there, and any spending money (optional).

I believe their check can be direct deposited to any bank, but hopefully someone else will be able to confirm that.

 

[Traveliz]

Yes, there's a graduation but parents aren't allowed to attend - only the CPs.

We found that going to visit when they're CPs is the best time when money is tight, because they can get a room for you at 50% off if they stay with you, and they have the main gate pass that will get you in the parks for free up to 6 days. At certain times you can also get the dining plan at a discount (I believe it was 50% off when we got it). It's not always available though. But even if it's not, your main expenses would be food (which can be done cheaply - check out the Budget Board), transportation to get down there, and any spending money (optional).

I believe their check can be direct deposited to any bank, but hopefully someone else will be able to confirm that.

Yes their check can be direct deposited to any bank.

Liz

 

[kikiq]

I
My dd starts on 1/10/2011 in food service.
I won't be able to come with her and help her with her apartment, which makes me sad, as Disney is one of our favorite places to go!
I was wondering if there is any kind of "graduation" ? I would love to come down sometime while she's attending, but will most likely only be able to come down once. And if there's any kind of "graduation" I would love to come for that. Like many of us, money is so tight and I want to support my dd and spend some time with her in one of our favorite places.
Thanks for your help

My DD was in QSFB from Jun - Dec 09. I was lucky to have a way to visit a few times. Unfortunately, the "graduation" is for CPers only.

My DD is basically a home body, she goes to college only 4 hours away from home, so going from California to Florida was a big step for her plus being away 6 months. If you think that your DD might get homesick, plan your visit mid way through the program. She can then ask or plan her days off so she can be with you. Our DD was able to ask for a few days off plus switch with other CPers to arrange to have the whole week with us. Which meant she worked some long stretches before we came and after we left During another visit, she made reservations at POP and cooked a few meals at her apartment while we rested and then brought the food to POP. There are buses from the apartment complexes to the parks/resorts that ONLY the CMs can ride. My DD just figured out which bus route and where the pick up was from POP. You'll figure out a way...moms always do

 

[webster76]

Thank you all so much for your help. My job as a pre-school teaching assistant doesn't have a lot of wiggle room for taking off. We do have spring break in March, which may have to be when I go. Of course that's when SHE'D be the busiest. I'll have to sit down and talk to her as to what is best for HER. You're absolutely right, mom's find a way! And I will. Thanks again

 

[parkhopmom]

I know there are a lot of parents and CPers getting ready to go down to WDW. It would be great if you guys going in early January have any experiences to share with us late Jan/early Feb parents when you get back! Good luck and have a great time!

 

[starwood]

DS checks in on 1/12. I'm very glad we got the snow storm when we did so maybe we are clear to drive down in 2 weeks.

 

[DeeCee735]

DS checks in on 1/12. I'm very glad we got the snow storm when we did so maybe we are clear to drive down in 2 weeks.

Us too. DS checks in on the 10th. DH and DS are driving, I'm flying so hoping the weather is good and clear. Good luck to you.

 

[mauigal]

Us too. DS checks in on the 10th. DH and DS are driving, I'm flying so hoping the weather is good and clear. Good luck to you.

Going down this week end too! DD starts the same time!
Where are you staying?!

 

[webster76]

Took my daughter to the airport VERY early on 1/10/2011 for her first day at Disney! She was nervous but excited too. She's says the apartments are really nice, so that was good to hear. She found out she's doing food service at Cosmic Rays in Tomorrow Land at Magic Kingdom. That's one place we've never eaten! Can't wait to talk to her tonight to see how her second day went.

 

[DOPEYLUVER]

Thought I would take a minute to share our recent move in experience. I think there are others still to move in this month. Basically we did everything wrong, so hope others can learn from our mistakes.

We live in Massahusetts and DD is enrolled in college in Florida. In December she moved all of her stuff out of the dorm and into my friends place. She left her car with him and flew home. A few days before check in we flew into Fort Lauderdale. We packed up her car and I rented a car. I was returning to Fort Lauderdale after she moved in. We also thought we would need both cars for her stuff. We would not have needed both cars if I didn't go because her car was packed full. She could have put her backpack on her passenger seat but instead put it in the rental.

We drove to Orlando the night before check in and stayed at a Howard Johnson on Rt. 192. It was very cheap and because we had a car transportation was not a problem. We also picked a place with outside access versus hallway access to the room, and requested the first floor. The packed to the gills car was parked right outside the room. After we checked in we drove over to check in to make sure we could find it.

Check in begins at 9:00. We got there at 7:30 because that's what everyone does. The area is gated and we couldn't get in but there was a small parking lot across the street that was full. We parked in a nearby strip mall lot. My daughter went to check in by herself because I didn't want to leave the overpacked car unattended in the parking lot. My daughter met up with her roommate. They checked in and were sent to casting for 10 o'clock. I had to leave at noon to get my rental back on time. The small parking area near check in had many, many places available and I moved her car - still full and left.

Here are the things I learned afterwards:

Closer to check in time the gates opened and cars were allowed in to park. So I didn't have to sit with the car in strip mall.

Even though the girls had to report to casting immediately, DD's roommate checked in with her mother (actually there, not sitting in the car) who then moved all of her stuff into the apartment. The nice thing there was that she was able to pick out their room so they got the best room.

The bed risers that she used in her dorm to give her under bed storage don't work on the beds in the apartment, at least in Vista.

I think that is about it. If anyone has any questions just ask.

Also, now that we are past move it we have a trip planned to see her. My son is in college so we are visiting during spring break. We are only going for an extended weekend. We are getting to the Orlando area on Friday night and staying in a cheap hotel. There are four of us going plus DD. On Saturday she will accompany us to check in. We got the 50% off rate and are staying in a cabin at the campground. She requested Saturday through Tuesday off. She was given Sunday through Tuesday and is hoping to switch with someone to get off Saturday. She works QSFB in the Magic Kingdom and even if she can't get the day off she doesn't generally go to work until afternoon or evening. So she will either be with us Saturday or she will get us into the Animal Kingdom then join us back at the cabin after work.

She is absolutely having the time of her life. She is a freshman and her first semester away from home was extremely difficult. She actually is taking the semester off because freshman can't do internships. Hopefully she'll return to college but for now she is living the dream.

 

[BadDad]

Here are the things I learned afterwards:

Even though the girls had to report to casting immediately, DD's roommate checked in with her mother (actually there, not sitting in the car) who then moved all of her stuff into the apartment. The nice thing there was that she was able to pick out there room so they got the best room.

Good Point!! One of my son's roommates did the same thing and got the room with the bathroom. (6 of them). My son has the best view but shares a single bath with 4 guys.

Another thing the other parent did was get their kids food all in a single area in the pantry that way their son didn't have to mark his food. (my son was advised to mark his food by his cousins who've lived in off-campus apts).

Marking his food: That did not sit well with some of his other roommates but everywhere I read, kids end up either fighting over whose food and end up marking it eventually.

 

[kikiq]

Another thing the other parent did was get their kids food all in a single area in the pantry that way their son didn't have to mark his food. (my son was advised to mark his food by his cousins who've lived in off-campus apts).

Marking his food: That did not sit well with some of his other roommates but everywhere I read, kids end up either fighting over whose food and end up marking it eventually.

My DD was in a four bdrm apartment. They didn't mark their food but they did have separate areas on the shelves/pantry. They also had 2 refrigerators for 8 girls that they also didn't mark but separated their food. The girls also had a standing rule that any packaged food on the dining table was for everyone.