Disney College Program for Parents Thread...

[scoopmorgan]

i kept the list I used for my son this May in case he decides to go down again, I didn't want to forget anything

I asked him if he wanted to send anything home and the only thing from this list was the one suit and a few dress shirts.

Money, ID, lunch bag, Lanyard, Toilet paper, paper towels, laundry det, dish wash det, kitchen towels, cleanser, facial soap, dress shirts, undershirts, shorts, casual shirts, dress pants, ties, socks, belts, underwear, suit coat, razor, lock for locker, umbrella, rain poncho, toothpast, sheets, blanket, pillows, trashbags, towels, meds, powerstrip, electronics, laptop, laptop lock, camera, bathing suit, pj sneaks, sweat shirts, sweat pants, flip flops, sunglasses, extra phone, chargers, bathroom essentials, alarm clock, laundry basket, hangers, calendar, reusuable grocey bags (great for runs to walmart on the bus), watch, bed risers, extension cord, beach towel, shower curtain, shower organizer, bath mat, floor mat, air freshner, labels (food), sharpie (food), paper plates, DVDs, shampoo, body soap, dry erase board, toothpaste, suntan loation, walmart gift cards, Cash. I sent curtains down with him also, but I don't think he was allow to put them up. Now of course you would need to make adjustments for your daughter with some of the dress items, but so far I think all he really needed to go to walmart for was food and anything he may ran out of. Sorry if the list is all over the place, but we had to put it together within only a few weeks of him leaving.

Great list! Thanks so much!

 

[Tink431]

You are welcome. This site was so helpul to me when I was sending my son down a few months ago. I'm so glad I was able to help someone in return.

 

[psherman42]

wrong thread.

 

[Tink431]

?

 

[scoopmorgan]

?

I think the post was deleted because it was off topic- on the wrong board.

 

[mickmom728]

Good luck to all those starting this month! It was one year ago that we took our DS to Disney for the CP--he worked in Epcot Innoventions doing a "spieling" role at StormStruck initially and then got trained at Waste Management and Segway. He loved it and extended his program until May.
We took him down in August, stayed offsite and did not go into the parks then. We made up for that though since I went in October(Food and Wine girls trip with free dining) with my daughters and family trips in December and March! We didn't want those free passes and room discounts to go to waste ha!
For those trying to book make sure you keep calling back until you get what you want. If it is 60% off and discounted dining during your timeframe be aware of that and be persistent, even talking to a supervisor if warranted. It is definitely worth all the phone calls--your child is supposed to do the calling and/or arranging things on the Hub.
It really is a Magical time for them even though they may complain about getting used to the Disney way...just be encouraging...send a package or card once in awhile because they love getting mail

 

[scoopmorgan]

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I don't know if it's just me, or what. I've been so excited for my daughter for the past several months, but now that it's just over a week away, I am getting weepy, and emotional. It does my heart good to hear some feedback, and to know it will be okay.

 

[DOPEYLUVER]

send a package or card once in awhile because they love getting mail

I saved the text message that my daughter sent me in response to a package I sent, "Oh my gosh momma. Got the package today. I don't think you can possibly understand how happy I am."

 

[DISshopkeeper]

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I don't know if it's just me, or what. I've been so excited for my daughter for the past several months, but now that it's just over a week away, I am getting weepy, and emotional. It does my heart good to hear some feedback, and to know it will be okay.

I could have written this myself! Headed down next week with DD.

 

[Tink431]

Dopeylover I know what you mean. The other day I get a call from my son and he said to me "Mom, I think you were right"......WHAT. .... I had told him it would probably be best if he extended his stay because at this point he had a full time job and he would then come home in May and start back in his Junior year at college. I just thought it was a much better plan than him coming home in January and not going to school until the fall. He has no car, no job here and all his college friends would be heading back to college at that point. He seems so much more settled now that he knows he will be staying there and taking classes as well.

 

[BadDad]

My S21 just came home Friday (8/12) after completing the Spring Adv program. He had a rough start but finished with a smile and tear in his eye. Here's what I learned:

Wellness Apts do not mean no alcohol, it really means 18 & 19 year olds. My S was 20 when he started. He found those who only had 1 semester of college lacked maturity. When he turned 21, he went to a non-wellness apt. Yes, there was alcohol in the frig but there were clean bathrooms, garbage was taken out and a general respect for quirky work schedules.

Going to work sick is not a bad thing. 1 point deduction for being sick even with a doctor's note for a CP. Better to show up sick and get ER (early release) than call in sick. Arriving 90 min late will get you 1/2 pt deduction, sick with a doctor's note will get you a whole point.

Tourists go to Disney sick. My S and all of his roommates were constantly picking up bugs from the guests. Guests who pay $$$ for non-refundable tickets come to WDW and pass whatever they bring (from around the world) to CM who handle their tickets, money, trays, etc. Advice: Before you leave, register your CP at the medical clinic that services the CPers including insurance and payment method. A strep test costs around $250. They didn't take our health plan but luckly, I have a flex health care account whose account information I had to give over the phone while my CPer waited in an examining room.

They will have the time of their lives!! If your child is not living in a dorm. This is the best experience for them.

 

[KCMiller]

...
Going to work sick is not a bad thing. 1 point deduction for being sick even with a doctor's note for a CP. Better to show up sick and get ER (early release) than call in sick. Arriving 90 min late will get you 1/2 pt deduction, sick with a doctor's note will get you a whole point.

Tourists go to Disney sick. My S and all of his roommates were constantly picking up bugs from the guests. Guests who pay $$$ for non-refundable tickets come to WDW and pass whatever they bring (from around the world) to CM who handle their tickets, money, trays, etc. Advice: Before you leave, register your CP at the medical clinic that services the CPers including insurance and payment method. A strep test costs around $250. They didn't take our health plan but luckly, I have a flex health care account whose account information I had to give over the phone while my CPer waited in an examining room.

They will have the time of their lives!! If your child is not living in a dorm. This is the best experience for them.

I'm bringing my DD21 down to Orlando tomorrow to begin serving her Mousey Overlord - can you tell me a bit more about the medical clinic that services the CPers? Is this a Disney run clinic?

Thanks so much!

KC

 

[BadDad]

Centra Care
12500 South Apopka Vineland Rd.
Orlando, FL 32836
407-200-2300

Not run by Disney but they pick up sick CPers (there maybe an agreement with them and Price Management).

I am not affilated with the clinic, it did not take our health insurance but it did take my $282 payment.

 

[cindyr222]

centracare.org is a walk in clinic very near chatham apts. they take most ins. and will pick you up and take you back to your apt for free if you have no trans. My daughter needed to go there two weeks ago as we were visiting my son who is a cp there . He went just last week after he lost his bus pass and had to walk home in the heat from his work location. Someone found him passed out on the ground right outside chatham apts. He got seen there for dehydration. Good luck to your son. I'm sure he will enjoy his time there. Make him take vitamins. They tend to get sick a lot .

 

[wisblue]

We are taking our daughter for check in next Monday, 8/22.

Can anyone describe the check-in process, such as how early to get there, where you can park/wait with the car before check-in starts, how long it takes before participants can move into their apartments, what other obligations they have the first day, etc?

Thanks for any help.

 

[wdwfam]

Wow, this all brings back memories. Almost exactly three years ago, I drove down with my then DD20 to her CP. She had never lived away from home (University was in our hometown) and moved over 1,100 miles. Those were the best 5 months of her life. She absolutely LOVED it! When she came home, she became a campus rep. Once she graduated, she went back for a professional internship and has stayed on with Disney ever since. It is really a love it or hate it situation. She did get homesick in late October that year, but a quick trip home for the weekend helped a lot. I loved getting phone calls from her about how much fun she and her roommates were having. Her CP was Merchandise in Fantasyland. Very magical. Long hours around the holidays (kept her mind off of being home). Good luck, parents. You will survive.

 

[cindyr222]

I*can only comment on the check in process for my son as I have heard it depends on your work location as to how it all works as far as schedules. He arrived alone as he flew down the day before. He stayed at the hotel across from Vista Way Holiday Inn Lake Buena Vista also known by former cp's as Holiday Inn Sunspree. This hotel is right across the street from Vista Way the place you check in. My recommendation if your child wants a certain apt or certain #of roommate to get there by 6:45-7 at the latest. My son arrived at 6:50 but the line was already formed . He just happened to be with a very small group of only 300 or so. Most groups are at least 500. They say check in is at 9:00 but they start letting in at 8:00 to avoid a huge line .

Your child can find a roommate ahead of time if there is a facebook group for their starting date or request to room with someone. They need to be in line together as they tend to put you with whomever is right there in line with you as long as your requests for wellness/or nonwellness and # of rooms and apt location are the same. Saves them time in trying to fill apts. So if you don't like who you are standing with in line you may want to move if you have the same requests . My son's roommate ended up being the kid he stood with for and hour in line. His other roommates where right behind them. They try to find an apt. that you request if one is available.
Parents usually stand near a tent set up with a luggage holding area for those that flew in or unloaded their cars already. You can park in a designated area with your car fully loaded and locked. Disney is pretty safe so no worries there. If your child is assigned to Vista you will not need to drive too far as this is their apt complex. If they are assigned to Chatham or Pattern they can either take the cp bus with their things or you can drive them to their location. They will be given directions to the other apts.

Depending on your child's time to check in to casting services ( this is where they find out their actual work location and meet some of their managers if they happen to be helping that day), you may have time to move in. Parents who are there can do this while their child may be at casting. It really depends on their casting time. My son said he had time to drop his luggage off at Chatham and go right to the bus to casting as he was assigned the first group to go to casting services.

Once at casting they will stand in line again . Disney employees will size you up at this point for the "Disney Look" My son's friend from college had dyed her hair while in school and tried to cover it up with dye before she left and they told her she needed to get her hair professionally colored again so she did not have two toned or highlighted hair. Another person in line behind my son was told never to show up wearing jeans shorts with holes in them . He was told that he was here to possibly meet some of his managers.

Dress nicely but not over the top. Boys should probably wear, nice shorts and a polo or ironed tee, girls, shorts that are not too short , nice shirt or a sundress. Again this was my son's experience , your child's may be different.

After casting , they receive a schedule as to what they need to do next. My son had a few days off before he needed to report for Traditions and then training. Some of his roommates had Traditions the next day and then training . It depends on your role and work location.

Hope this helps . This is what he told his cousin on the phone before he went down there to work.

The first few days are very busy and exciting. Hope your child has a great experience, as it is not something everyone gets to do and it looks really good on a resume too.

 

[wisblue]

Thanks for the information.

We are going to be staying at Saratoga Springs (DVC members) with a rental car and, because that is so close to the apartments, I am thinking about taking my daughter over early to meet up with the roommates she arranged through the internet. Then I might go back to the hotel until closer to 9 AM and come over with her luggage then.

 

[cindyr222]

That sounds like a great plan. She should be through the line by then and ready to move in. Good luck to her. Hope she likes her role and location as much as my son does. It truly is a magical place.

 

[Adpi<>Belle]

Hey parents,
My name is alyssa and i just started the CP in may! Feel free to ask any questions you may have and i can do my best to answer them for you. I have a blog that might be helpful as well its http://alyssasdreamcometrue.blogspot.com
This is going to be a great experience for your child so let me know wha you need.