Disney College Program for Parents Thread...

[mlaw]

My daughter was notified that they are getting the bunk beds this week and it looks like she will be the one stuck with the bunk. There is no word yet when more girls will be moved in. She is very unhappy about this change but realizes there is nothing she can do about it. At least she is in the bigger of the two bedrooms. What I really don't know is how two more girls will have room in the fridge. DD already has almost no space so that will be interesting.

 

[DCPmom2014]

My daughter was notified that they are getting the bunk beds this week and it looks like she will be the one stuck with the bunk. There is no word yet when more girls will be moved in. She is very unhappy about this change but realizes there is nothing she can do about it. At least she is in the bigger of the two bedrooms. What I really don't know is how two more girls will have room in the fridge. DD already has almost no space so that will be interesting.

I am so glad we are hearing about this before my DD selects her housing preferences. She is hoping for a one bedroom, two girls only situation. It looks like Vista Way is the only complex WITHOUT bunks which is not her first choice. I will be curious how many one bedrooms include a bunk bed.

 

[mlaw]

My understanding is that only the two bedrooms/4 students at Chatham are being converted to two bedrooms/6 students. I think the important fact for the students to understand is that they are stating their preference but anything can change at any moment even once they have moved in. Disney has the right to change the rules at anytime. On a positive note, my DD reported that the new mattresses are 100% better and they were told that they will get a second fridge once they are assigned two more girls. They were also given a Disney CP bag, mug and pen to make the change easier.

 

[summertangerine]

How soon after arrival do cast members have access to their passes for family and friends? Is it right after their check in on arrival date, or do they have to wait a few days or weeks?

 

[BobbyT]

How soon after arrival do cast members have access to their passes for family and friends? Is it right after their check in on arrival date, or do they have to wait a few days or weeks?

you have to wait a few weeks for it to be mailed to you. Make sure you change your address on the hub as soon as you have access so it doesn't get mailed back home

 

[poison ivy]

How soon after arrival do cast members have access to their passes for family and friends? Is it right after their check in on arrival date, or do they have to wait a few days or weeks?

At least 4 to 6 weeks.

 

[summertangerine]

At least 4 to 6 weeks.

Thanks everyone, my son checks in May 27 and I'm trying to figure out a good time for our family to go back down to visit. My daughter has to be back in school August 1, and my other son will be starting college in late August. I didn't really want to go in July because it will be so hot, but that may be our only option unless we wait till fall break in October.

 

[kanga5roos]

They get their guest passes after they do Traditions. It can be up to a week after they first check in until they get to do Traditions, and then it can be 2 weeks or so until they get their passes. Although, when my daughter checked in beginning of Feb., she got her passes fairly quickly - I'd say within a week after doing Traditions (and she did Traditions the Saturday after checking in on a Monday). So I'd say think maybe 3 weeks - 4 weeks from check in to be extra safe. But things change all the time! They didn't mail them to her home address either, as we expected, even though that's the address she had on her profile. For many CP's this year, they were hand delivered directly to the Club House of their apartment complex.

 

[tiggersmyguy]

They get their guest passes after they do Traditions. It can be up to a week after they first check in until they get to do Traditions, and then it can be 2 weeks or so until they get their passes. Although, when my daughter checked in beginning of Feb., she got her passes fairly quickly - I'd say within a week after doing Traditions (and she did Traditions the Saturday after checking in on a Monday). So I'd say think maybe 3 weeks - 4 weeks from check in to be extra safe. But things change all the time! They didn't mail them to her home address either, as we expected, even though that's the address she had on her profile. For many CP's this year, they were hand delivered directly to the Club House of their apartment complex.

My daughter checked in Jan 20. Her passes were delivered to her apartment complex as well. However, her roommates were all notified that they had a package delivered. For some reason, my daughter was not notified so she had no idea they were there.

 

[BadDad]

My understanding is that only the two bedrooms/4 students at Chatham are being converted to two bedrooms/6 students. I think the important fact for the students to understand is that they are stating their preference but anything can change at any moment even once they have moved in. Disney has the right to change the rules at anytime. On a positive note, my DD reported that the new mattresses are 100% better and they were told that they will get a second fridge once they are assigned two more girls. They were also given a Disney CP bag, mug and pen to make the change easier.

Room preference request is 50/50 (in order)
My D requested chatham, patterson, Vista way: got Chatham
My S requested chatham, patterson, commons: got vista way

 

[mobish]

Thanks everyone, my son checks in May 27 and I'm trying to figure out a good time for our family to go back down to visit. My daughter has to be back in school August 1, and my other son will be starting college in late August. I didn't really want to go in July because it will be so hot, but that may be our only option unless we wait till fall break in October.

Magic Kingdom is usually blocked out in July on their Main Gate passes, at least it has been in the past. Have her check if MK is a priority.

 

[summertangerine]

Magic Kingdom is usually blocked out in July on their Main Gate passes, at least it has been in the past. Have her check if MK is a priority.

So Magic Kingdom is usually blocked for the whole month of July? What about the end of June? Thanks everyone for the advice, I appreciate any tips we can get!

 

[carol-lamb]

We were at WDW around the middle of June last year and the MK was blocked out for CM Maingates. We spent the morning at DHS and decided to go to MK that night totally forgetting about the block out. My husband was the only one using one of our daughter's Maingates that day and they would not let him in. He wasn't about to buy a ticket for just a few hours so he was happy to go back to the resort and relax! Luckily my son and I have annual passes so we don't have to use her maingates.

 

[mobish]

So Magic Kingdom is usually blocked for the whole month of July? What about the end of June? Thanks everyone for the advice, I appreciate any tips we can get!

My guess is that June is the same. June and July are the high volume months.

 

[Praise2Him]

MK is blocked from May 22 - July 31, except for 2 days - June 7 & 8.
August block out dates haven't been released yet.

 

[DCPmom2014]

wow - can't believe how quiet it has been on this parent thread. anyone else been overwhelmed helping their DD or DS get ready? our DD checks in a week from tomorrow - May 19th. I think the first check in day is tomorrow!! We have been doing power shopping and just making list after list. She was able to select her first, second and third choice for apartments. First choice - 1BR at Chatham, second choice - 2BR at Vista Way, third choice - 1BR at Patterson. Hoping for no bunkbeds. That was actually a choice but she did not check it!

Good luck getting ready everyone!

 

[carol-lamb]

My daughter is not in the college program anymore (Spring '13 with two extensions), but she is getting ready to head back down Tuesday for the summer. She went seasonal in January. So once again we have bags of clothes, shoes, work backpack and boots, bedding, etc., waiting to be packed in her car. Another adventure begins!

 

[DCPmom2014]

My daughter is not in the college program anymore (Spring '13 with two extensions), but she is getting ready to head back down Tuesday for the summer. She went seasonal in January. So once again we have bags of clothes, shoes, work backpack and boots, bedding, etc., waiting to be packed in her car. Another adventure begins!

Good luck! Where will she stay? I wasn't sure how seasonal employees are handled in terms of accommodations. I am sure my DD will extend and want to go seasonal! But then again, she hasn't arrived yet so who knows!

 

[carol-lamb]

Good luck! Where will she stay? I wasn't sure how seasonal employees are handled in terms of accommodations. I am sure my DD will extend and want to go seasonal! But then again, she hasn't arrived yet so who knows!

She is lucky because her best friend from the program decided to stay in Florida. She rents an apartment with another girl. All three of them worked at safaris together. The other girl has since changed jobs and works at the Poly now but my daughter and her best friend are still at safaris. So my daughter will be staying with them. Hopefully they are all still friends by the end of summer! My daughter has one more semester of school and wants to move down after graduation. The plan as of now is for the three of them to live together. They have some plan in the works about a new apartment but who knows if it will actually happen!

Regarding accommodations when you go seasonal. You are totally on your own as far as an apartment and transportation. Disney doesn't provide anything.

Good luck to your daughter. My daughter had the time of her life and got a boyfriend too! That's not who she is living with! Her best friend is a girl. Just want to clarify that! But her boyfriend is from Florida and also works at safaris.

 

[Praise2Him]

MK is blocked from May 22 - July 31, except for 2 days - June 7 & 8.
August block out dates haven't been released yet.

August block out dates are up - August 1-8, 30 & 31.

Other parks for summer are:

Epcot - none

DHS - August 23

AK - Every Saturday from July 5 - August 9