Disney College Program for Parents Thread...

[Joanna71985]

I have a question about blackout dates. I am a school teacher and the only time we can visit out daughter is on springbreak which are blackout dates. I realize that she can not use her free passes to get us into the parks on these dates, but my question is can she get into the parks on those dates when she is not working? Thanks for your help.

Yes. She should be able to get in with her ID.

 

[Jillpie]

what are the black out dates specifically?

 

[Joanna71985]

what are the black out dates specifically?

They are dates where the Maingate does not work (which means the CP, or CM, can't get people into the parks for free on those dates).

 

[Jillpie]

They are dates where the Maingate does not work (which means the CP, or CM, can't get people into the parks for free on those dates).

thanks Joanna, but I was asking if you knew what the dates are for the blackout, I already understood what the term meant.

 

[glendalais]

thanks Joanna, but I was asking if you knew what the dates are for the blackout, I already understood what the term meant.

It depends on the Park, and Management does reserve the right to add additional black out dates, as well as black out Cast IDs, based on projected Park Attendance.

For example, last here at the DLR, Management added 5 October as a Main Gate and Cast ID Blackout Day, due to the Miley Cyrus disa...*cough* I mean Party .

Walt Disney World Resort (Bay Lake, Florida)

Magic Kingdom Park:

• 14-15 February
• 3-17 April
• 3 July - 1 August
• 26-28 November
• 24-31 December

Epcot:

• 7-14 April
• 24-31 December

Disney's Hollywood Studios:

• 8, 9, 13-15 April
• 3-5 July
• 27-28 November
• 26-31 December

Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park:

• 15-16 February
• 6-16 April
• 27 November
• 26-30 December

Disneyland Resort (Anaheim, California)

Disneyland Park

• 1-3 January
• 3-19 April
• 4 July
• 10 July - 16 August
• 27-28 November
• 5, 6, 12, 13, 19-31 December

Disney's California Adventure Park

• 3-19 April
• 25-31 December

Disneyland Resort Paris (Marne-la-Vallée, France)
Contact Disneyland Resort Paris directly for current Blackout Dates for both Disneyland Park and Walt Disney Studios Park.

Hong Kong Disneyland Resort (Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, People's Republic of China)

Hong Kong Disneyland:

• 1-26, 31 January
• 1 February
• 9, 10, 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, 31 October
• 19-31 December

Tokyo Disney Resort (Urayasu City, Chiba Prefecture, Japan)
Walt Disney Company Main Entrance Passes are not valid for entry to either Tokyo Disneyland Park or to Tokyo DisneySea Park

 

[ZeroToHero]

Walt Disney World Resort (Bay Lake, Florida)

Magic Kingdom Park:

• 14-15 February
• 3-17 April
• 3 July - 1 August
• 26-28 November
• 24-31 December

Epcot:

• 7-14 April
• 24-31 December

Disney's Hollywood Studios:

• 8, 9, 13-15 April
• 3-5 July
• 27-28 November
• 26-31 December

Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park:

• 15-16 February
• 6-16 April
• 27 November
• 26-30 December

...I hope you didn't know that off the top of your head!
So I guess it's a good thing to do CP during the fall, because you don't have to deal with not being able to invite people down to go anywhere during the first half of April... Thanksgiving and Christmas blackout isn't that bad, and I expected that anyway. I'm surprised New Year's Day itself isn't on there though.. I thought that would have been busy too.

 

[ptc]

I dropped my daughter off last week in Orlando and thought I'd share observations that might help other parents plan.

My overall impression of the check-in process is very favorable -- it's a well run program, at least based on what we experienced the first couple of days.

We got there on Tuesday -- her check-in time was Wednesday morning. We had flown down, so there were certain things we didn't pack that we bought that first day -- towels, sheets, pillows, bulky stuff like that.

WEdnesday morning, check-in was at 9:00 -- we got there at 8:30. She had already connected with three other CPers via Facebook, so they were set in terms of roommates -- I don't know how it works if you go there without having picked a roommate ahead of time.

The process of checking in took about 90 minutes -- they meet their roommates, find out where they are going to live, get their keys, and have a criminal background check. While she was checking in, there was a separate place for parents to gather and do things like set up automatic payroll deposit, pick up some reading material geared towards parents and families, and view a model apartment. There also was a presentation for Disney parents.

When she was done with check in, we drove over to her apartment. The check-in is at Vista Way -- she's living at Patterson Court which is about a mile or so away. Patterson Court is right across the way from Chatham. all three complexes are laid out similarly -- each complex has15 to 30 buildings, all three or four stories, each with about 15 apartments. Each also is a gated community, meaning that no one gets through the front gate (the only entrance) without a pass or ID.

My daughter is in a two bedroom apartment. Each bedroom has its own bathroom and a closet that is shared. There's also a combination living room, dining room and kitchen. The apartments come furnished with very basic things -- beds, nightstands, a shared dresser with mirror in the bedrooms. The living room has a sofa, matching chair, coffee table, two end tables, and a small desk with chair (this can fit a desktop computer and printer). There's a dining room table with four chairs.

The kitchen has a basic set of pots and pans as well as plates, bowls, cutlery, glasses, cups, can opener, cooking utensils. There's a microwave, a nice size refrigerator with freezer, eletric stove, and dishwasher.

Things we bought after she moved in -- a toaster oven, a mattress pad (the mattresses are twin size, plastic covered, very ligh and basic), a bulletin board (you can't attach anything to the wall), and a lamp for her bedside table.

Patterson is the newest complex -- the apartment was so clean I thought that maybe she was the first one to live there, but I found out later that people had just moved out two days before -- they cleaned it very well.

Later on on that first full day, my daughter went to a meeting at one of the complexes to go over all the housing rules and regulations -- this took abot two hours. Then she was free the rest of the day.

The next day, she went to a 10:0o meeting to find out where she was working and to sign up for classes. This meeting took about 90 minutes, also. Then she was free for the next 24 hours (I left town later that second day.)

So, as a parent, if you are trying to figure out when you can see your student those first couple of days -- the first day they are busy about 90 minutes in the morning and 90 minutes in the afternoon, starting about 3:00. and the second day they are busy about 90 minutes in the morning and then free. The third day is the Traditions session, which lasts about four hours (I had left town by then).

Hope this helps.

 

[Traveliz]

I dropped my daughter off last week in Orlando and thought I'd share observations that might help other parents plan.

My overall impression of the check-in process is very favorable -- it's a well run program, at least based on what we experienced the first couple of days.

We got there on Tuesday -- her check-in time was Wednesday morning. We had flown down, so there were certain things we didn't pack that we bought that first day -- towels, sheets, pillows, bulky stuff like that.

WEdnesday morning, check-in was at 9:00 -- we got there at 8:30. She had already connected with three other CPers via Facebook, so they were set in terms of roommates -- I don't know how it works if you go there without having picked a roommate ahead of time.

The process of checking in took about 90 minutes -- they meet their roommates, find out where they are going to live, get their keys, and have a criminal background check. While she was checking in, there was a separate place for parents to gather and do things like set up automatic payroll deposit, pick up some reading material geared towards parents and families, and view a model apartment. There also was a presentation for Disney parents.

When she was done with check in, we drove over to her apartment. The check-in is at Vista Way -- she's living at Patterson Court which is about a mile or so away. Patterson Court is right across the way from Chatham. all three complexes are laid out similarly -- each complex has15 to 30 buildings, all three or four stories, each with about 15 apartments. Each also is a gated community, meaning that no one gets through the front gate (the only entrance) without a pass or ID.

My daughter is in a two bedroom apartment. Each bedroom has its own bathroom and a closet that is shared. There's also a combination living room, dining room and kitchen. The apartments come furnished with very basic things -- beds, nightstands, a shared dresser with mirror in the bedrooms. The living room has a sofa, matching chair, coffee table, two end tables, and a small desk with chair (this can fit a desktop computer and printer). There's a dining room table with four chairs.

The kitchen has a basic set of pots and pans as well as plates, bowls, cutlery, glasses, cups, can opener, cooking utensils. There's a microwave, a nice size refrigerator with freezer, eletric stove, and dishwasher.

Things we bought after she moved in -- a toaster oven, a mattress pad (the mattresses are twin size, plastic covered, very ligh and basic), a bulletin board (you can't attach anything to the wall), and a lamp for her bedside table.

Patterson is the newest complex -- the apartment was so clean I thought that maybe she was the first one to live there, but I found out later that people had just moved out two days before -- they cleaned it very well.

Later on on that first full day, my daughter went to a meeting at one of the complexes to go over all the housing rules and regulations -- this took abot two hours. Then she was free the rest of the day.

The next day, she went to a 10:0o meeting to find out where she was working and to sign up for classes. This meeting took about 90 minutes, also. Then she was free for the next 24 hours (I left town later that second day.)

So, as a parent, if you are trying to figure out when you can see your student those first couple of days -- the first day they are busy about 90 minutes in the morning and 90 minutes in the afternoon, starting about 3:00. and the second day they are busy about 90 minutes in the morning and then free. The third day is the Traditions session, which lasts about four hours (I had left town by then).

Hope this helps.

Very good -- just one comment though - there are several housing meeting times - my daughter checked in during the morning (before 9 like yours) yet her housing meeting time was 1:00 so she was done by 2:20 her first day.

Liz

 

[ptc]

I figured there must be several different slots for check-in, the housing meeting, traditions, etc., just because of all the students arriving in the same week. Still, it all went very smoothly.

 

[ZeroToHero]

The process of checking in took about 90 minutes -- they meet their roommates, find out where they are going to live, get their keys, and have a criminal background check. While she was checking in, there was a separate place for parents to gather and do things like set up automatic payroll deposit, pick up some reading material geared towards parents and families, and view a model apartment. There also was a presentation for Disney parents.

When she was done with check in, we drove over to her apartment. The check-in is at Vista Way -- she's living at Patterson Court which is about a mile or so away. Patterson Court is right across the way from Chatham. all three complexes are laid out similarly -- each complex has15 to 30 buildings, all three or four stories, each with about 15 apartments. Each also is a gated community, meaning that no one gets through the front gate (the only entrance) without a pass or ID.

My daughter is in a two bedroom apartment. Each bedroom has its own bathroom and a closet that is shared. There's also a combination living room, dining room and kitchen. The apartments come furnished with very basic things -- beds, nightstands, a shared dresser with mirror in the bedrooms. The living room has a sofa, matching chair, coffee table, two end tables, and a small desk with chair (this can fit a desktop computer and printer). There's a dining room table with four chairs.

How did you go about picking the complex you want to live in? Or do they assign you one? And can you pick how many roommates you want? For instance, say I have a roommate decided, and we want to have a one-bedroom... can we get that just by asking?

 

[Joanna71985]

How did you go about picking the complex you want to live in? Or do they assign you one? And can you pick how many roommates you want? For instance, say I have a roommate decided, and we want to have a one-bedroom... can we get that just by asking?

Usually you are asked at check-in which apartment complex/size you want, and they do try to grant it. However, I know a few people who were automatically given a complex or an apartment size.

 

[ZeroToHero]

Usually you are asked at check-in which apartment complex/size you want, and they do try to grant it. However, I know a few people who were automatically given a complex or an apartment size.

Okies, thank you Joanna! You've got answers to everything!

 

[ptc]

My daughter has been in Orlando for three weeks now. We just got our first late night call from her -- she had serious issues with one of her roommates, serious enough that security was called and my daughter and one of her roommates are sleeping elsewhere tonight. I won't go into more detail on a public board, but I wondered what experience parents of CPers have had . . . or CPers themselves have had . . . in having the housing people step in to help resolve roommate issues. thanks.

 

[Berlioz70]

My roommates had an issue like that (after I moved out of the housing a crazy girl replaced me). In this case the girl threatened another's life... she stayed one more night (because the incidint occured late at night) and then was out by 11 the next morning.

 

[BWVPam]

Does anyone know how the maingate pass works. Can you park hop? What if my son got us into a park on his maingate, but then had to leave to go to work a few hours later. I thought I had heard somewhere that you could get a pass when you left that park to go to another park.

We are going in 3 weeks and know that our son will be working while we are there, but have know idea how the maingate pass works. It will be me and my husband and our daughter.

 

[Joanna71985]

Does anyone know how the maingate pass works. Can you park hop? What if my son got us into a park on his maingate, but then had to leave to go to work a few hours later. I thought I had heard somewhere that you could get a pass when you left that park to go to another park.

We are going in 3 weeks and know that our son will be working while we are there, but have know idea how the maingate pass works. It will be me and my husband and our daughter.

Yes. The passes you get from the Maingate are park hoppers. So you can go to more then 1 park in a day.

 

[tlynk]

My DD will be doing the Fall 2009 program instead of Spring like she originally intended, so now I have more questions?

1) Do the CP students have to stay at their apartment the first two nights, or can they stay offsite?
2) Does anyone know what time traditions will start on the 3rd day, and where it will be held?
3) Unfortunately DD will be without a car while doing the program, so I was wondering if she will know what type/color shoes she will be required to purchase beforehand? If not- when does she find out?
4) Is the bus system safe- will there be lots of other students utilizing them?

DH or I would like to leave the second day of DD starting the program, but if she will not find out exactly what is needed until the second or third day we don't want to leave her stranded.

Thanks in advance.

 

[mathlady11]

My DD will be doing the Fall 2009 program instead of Spring like she originally intended, so now I have more questions?

1) Do the CP students have to stay at their apartment the first two nights, or can they stay offsite?
2) Does anyone know what time traditions will start on the 3rd day, and where it will be held?
3) Unfortunately DD will be without a car while doing the program, so I was wondering if she will know what type/color shoes she will be required to purchase beforehand? If not- when does she find out?
4) Is the bus system safe- will there be lots of other students utilizing them?

DH or I would like to leave the second day of DD starting the program, but if she will not find out exactly what is needed until the second or third day we don't want to leave her stranded.

Thanks in advance.

Congrats to your DD!

1. She does not have to stay there but she will be charged rent. She may want to stay though. Those first few days are a good time to get to know the roommates.

2. I'm not sure about this one as I was back in Ohio already. I know it was in the morning and I'm thinking it was at Disney University.

3. Most roles require either black or white plain (no big colored logos) sneakers so if you get her one pair of each she'll probably be set. However if you know what role she will be in and can be more specific, some other folks may know about the exceptions.

4. The students are the only people who ride the Disney busses. They are very safe and the few times DD has called them they've been extremely helpful. Now, if she's venturing into other areas on the city bus (LYNX), of course everyone rides those. They are still quite safe though. DD uses them quite alot.

 

[PrincessJordynx]

classes? anyone know where they are being held as of fall 09 program? i heard they are in one of the apt complexes? and if placed in a neighboring complex is there a way to get to them? thanks

 

[Joanna71985]

classes? anyone know where they are being held as of fall 09 program? i heard they are in one of the apt complexes? and if placed in a neighboring complex is there a way to get to them? thanks

They are held at Vista and Chatham (and possibly Patterson- not sure).