Disney College Program for Parents Thread...

[Praise2Him]

8 days till we are in Disney visiting my son who is working in AK..... I am a big time planner my son is not so much lol.... I have no idea what to expect as far as tickets go..

How do the passes he gets to use for family and friends work?
He gets 6 days and can get 3 people in per day (must be all at the same time)

Does he need to be with us when we use them (he will have to work some of the time)
Yes, he must go with you to the gate to get you in, but he doesn't have to stay with you.

are they park hoppers?
Yes

Do they somehow link them to the magic bands so we can schedule FP?
No, unfortunately they don't at this time. You will have to get your Fastpasses when you get to the park.

Thanks for the help

My answers in red - hope that helps!

 

[MERMAIDchar]

Hello All!

I just have a quick question hopefully someone can help me on please...

I was wondering, since there is not a lot of info out there...for the Disney PI's, is it totally necessary you have a car? Are the apartments close to your working location where you could possibly walk/ride a bike? Also, if walking or biking is not an option, is there a city bus that one could take?

Thank You So Much as this would help me immensely!
Have a Magical Day!

 

[1pixiemom]

Hello All!

I just have a quick question hopefully someone can help me on please...

I was wondering, since there is not a lot of info out there...for the Disney PI's, is it totally necessary you have a car? Are the apartments close to your working location where you could possibly walk/ride a bike? Also, if walking or biking is not an option, is there a city bus that one could take?

Thank You So Much as this would help me immensely!
Have a Magical Day!

They have a bus for cast members but my son said it takes way to long so he drives to work every day!!! not sure about PI's

 

[1pixiemom]

My answers in red - hope that helps!

Thank you Praise2Him..... one last question, how does the park hopping work, will he need to be with us when we do that? He has to work most of the time we are there but is trying to switch shifts.... I dont want him doing anything to jeopardize his chances to extend so I told him not to worry about the fact that he has to work while we are there, that we would just visit with him every day after his shifts...

 

[MERMAIDchar]

They have a bus for cast members but my son said it takes way to long so he drives to work every day!!!

They have a bus for the Professional Interns? I thought they only had a bus for the College Program people?

Oh and Thank You for the quick reply earlier!

 

[Praise2Him]

Thank you Praise2Him..... one last question, how does the park hopping work, will he need to be with us when we do that? He has to work most of the time we are there but is trying to switch shifts.... I dont want him doing anything to jeopardize his chances to extend so I told him not to worry about the fact that he has to work while we are there, that we would just visit with him every day after his shifts...

No, once he gets you into the first park, you're good to go, and can park hop on your own.

 

[mobish]

They have a bus for the Professional Interns? I thought they only had a bus for the College Program people?

Oh and Thank You for the quick reply earlier!

My daughter is a PI. Housing is not guaranteed and if you get your offer late it is usually filled. PIs must have their own transportation, the bus system is for CPs only. Falcon Square (PI complex) is northwest of MK and in my opinion in a bit of a remote area. Many PIs get together and rent a 3 or 4 bedroom apartment and have their own room for the same amount of money as sharing a room in the Disney housing. Most apartment complexes offer 7 month leases. In either case you must have your own transportation.
Good luck; its a great experience!

 

[MERMAIDchar]

My daughter is a PI. Housing is not guaranteed and if you get your offer late it is usually filled. PIs must have their own transportation, the bus system is for CPs only. Falcon Square (PI complex) is northwest of MK and in my opinion in a bit of a remote area. Many PIs get together and rent a 3 or 4 bedroom apartment and have their own room for the same amount of money as sharing a room in the Disney housing. Most apartment complexes offer 7 month leases. In either case you must have your own transportation.
Good luck; its a great experience!

Thank You SO Much for the reply and details!
I hope your daughter is having a Magical Time doing her PI.

 

[Goofy4WDW1964]

My answers in red - hope that helps!

Thanks for posting about the tickets that the interns can get. This is probably going to sound like a stupid question, but I am asking this because someone told me this.

As you indicated, an intern can get 3 people into the park and all three have to enter, with him/her, at the same time. Does it have to be 3? Can he/she just do 1 or 2?

Again, this didn't seem right to me that has to be 3 but someone told me this was how it works.

 

[mobish]

It doesn't have to be three but you lose the ones not used. They don't carry over to another day so 1, 2 or 3 guests are the same, that day's pass is finished.

 

[Goofy4WDW1964]

My answers in red - hope that helps!

It doesn't have to be three but you lose the ones not used. They don't carry over to another day so 1, 2 or 3 guests are the same, that day's pass is finished.

Thank you for the info. This is probably what they were thinking of, or trying to convey to me. This makes more sense.

 

[lacy1101]

Hello everyone! My daughter just got accepted today and I have a couple of questions. First, she was offered Quick Service Food and Beverage. Can she request an alternate position or does she have to accept what's offered? Secondly, she was actually prepared to decline the offer if she was accepted since she will just be a college sophomore in the fall and thought maybe it would be better if she waited until her junior or senior year. Of course, now that she has actually been accepted, she is so excited and isn't sure what to do. Does anyone here have any thoughts on which is better-earlier or later in your college career? Thanks and congrats to all those here who have been accepted and good luck to all those who are waiting to hear...

 

[chinarider]

I think they need to accept what is offered but, I am just guessing. My daughter was offered QS as well and accepted. Not sure when we find out where she will be working or if they will be rotating her. Not sure if she declines position if that alters the possibility of her being accepted again or not? I'm curious to find out if they get information on who their roommates are going to be before they arrive so that they can reach out and speak with them before arriving. Also, my daughter is set to arrive on Aug 4th so, I'm not sure if all her roommates would be arriving the same day or if she would be going into a room where everyone was already settled from the summer session?

 

[carol-lamb]

Hello everyone! My daughter just got accepted today and I have a couple of questions. First, she was offered Quick Service Food and Beverage. Can she request an alternate position or does she have to accept what's offered? Secondly, she was actually prepared to decline the offer if she was accepted since she will just be a college sophomore in the fall and thought maybe it would be better if she waited until her junior or senior year. Of course, now that she has actually been accepted, she is so excited and isn't sure what to do. Does anyone here have any thoughts on which is better-earlier or later in your college career? Thanks and congrats to all those here who have been accepted and good luck to all those who are waiting to hear...

My daughter was in the Spring '13 college program and worked at Kilimanjaro Safaris at AK. She extended twice and her program ended on January 3rd. She went seasonal at the end of her program.

You have to accept the position that was offered to you. There is not an alternate position. As far as when to do the program, I don't think there is a right or wrong time to do it. My daughter was midway through her junior year when her program began. She had two really good friends that she met at safaris and one was a freshman and the other was a sophomore. With my daughter staying a year, she is a little behind in school. She should be graduating this Spring, but she won't graduate until December. She will also need to take online classes this Summer while she is back working at Disney World.

 

[hightown]

Just wanted to do an update.... My daughter got ACCEPTED yesterday for fall in transportation!!!!! We're beyond excited. We had settled in for a long wait after she got her pending email last week.

If anyone's kid had that role would appreciate hearing about their experiences. Only question that comes to mind right now is what sort of shoes?

Now we just have to wait 5 months!

 

[tiggersmyguy]

Hello everyone! My daughter just got accepted today and I have a couple of questions. First, she was offered Quick Service Food and Beverage. Can she request an alternate position or does she have to accept what's offered? Secondly, she was actually prepared to decline the offer if she was accepted since she will just be a college sophomore in the fall and thought maybe it would be better if she waited until her junior or senior year. Of course, now that she has actually been accepted, she is so excited and isn't sure what to do. Does anyone here have any thoughts on which is better-earlier or later in your college career? Thanks and congrats to all those here who have been accepted and good luck to all those who are waiting to hear...

My daughter is currently doing Spring Advantage QSFB. When she was offered this she called recruiting to ask about alternatives, there are none, take it or leave it. She was conflicted, had not wanted QSFB, really wanted front desk resort, but was told those are very hard to come by. Needless to say, she accepted QSFB after speaking with a few of her professors who are very familiar with the program. She would have been in her 2nd semester sophomore year. She is actually enjoying QSFB, I had my doubts when she accepted. I think she is hoping that the timing in her college career will possibly open up more PI opportunities in the roles she really wants. Good luck to both of you.

 

[Rvillediser]

My daughter accepted for the fall program today, start date Aug 17. I'll drive down from Chicago area with her and fly home so she has her car. What hotel can you recommend I stay at for a couple days? Thanks!

 

[stitchlovestink]

Just wanted to do an update.... My daughter got ACCEPTED yesterday for fall in transportation!!!!! We're beyond excited. We had settled in for a long wait after she got her pending email last week.

If anyone's kid had that role would appreciate hearing about their experiences. Only question that comes to mind right now is what sort of shoes?

Now we just have to wait 5 months!

Wait and see. Some roles are provided shoes because they have to have specific ones. just set aside some $ and if she isn't provided with them, they will tell her exactly what she needs to buy. You don't want to buy something now and find out they don't meet the requirements. Sorry, I know, probably not what you really wanted to hear.

 

[Summertime]

Hi, Good move bringing your daughter's car down......my daughter is there now without a car and it's doable, but always need to find a ride when she needs something....ugh! I think she would be enjoying it better if she had her car. I stayed at the Hilton right across the street from Downtown Disney and it's only 5-7 minutes from the Disney apartments. I stayed a couple days after my daughter moved in and I really liked being able to just walk across the street to Downtown Disney. Check different websites for deals, or call the hotel directly and ask them what is the best deal they can give you. I think I paid about $100 a night.

 

[poison ivy]

congratulations to all the new acceptances!

I agree. Having a vehicle is much easier.

We stayed on Disney property at the pop century the night before check-in. It was very reasonable. Parents will need a way to get around the first few days.