Disney College Program for Parents Thread...

[Berlioz70]

Yes, they are assigned the location, but it is done internally since things will change over time. Their exact location is decided about two weeks before arrival, the student will find out on Day 2.

 

[kikiq]

I was told in a previous post that once the student pays the fee they are given a job location, ie: Main Street. My daughter hasn't received that information and we are leaving in a few days for the Aug 12 check-in!!! Does anyone know how she finds out her location?

My DD found out her second day of orientation. It was frustrating for me to not be there when she found out since we were worrying about work shoes.
BUT for me, it was time to cut the "strings" and trust my DD. She works in AK and they have to work brown shoes/hiking boots. She's found some shoes that work and we may look for hiking boots when we visit her later this month. I bought her some gel insoles to put in whatever shoes she got and she says that really helps.

 

[graygables]

don't forget that you do have a week to get those shoes, so try not to stress too much! It is nerve-wracking, not knowing to the bitter end (or happy beginning!), but it's a fun memory, that rush of knowledge...

For all you worried parents out there, if your CP gets placed at All Star Merchandise, know they are in great hands and I promise to be a good "mama" to them! (although, I'll whip 'em into shape... )

 

[cp'ersmom]

Thanks for the info. Yes we were stressing about the shoes (amoung other things) but I feel better knowing she has a week. The gel insoles are a wonderful idea!

Is it true they changed the check-in to a 2 day procedure now, Traditions being on the second day?

 

[Berlioz70]

Check-in has been a 2 day procedure for many years. Traditions is not until day 3 or 4.

 

[wdwscout]

This thread has been a wealth of information! Most of the questions I had have already been answered.

I have 2 DS- both interested.
One in CP- he's a college senior graduating this coming December and has only one opportunity to apply- Spring 2010.
The other is 19 and did one year of college, but it wasn't a good fit. He is considering Career Start as a possible option, if they open applications for the Spring or Fall 2010.

Both of them go off our medical insurance in January- but I have learned we will have to find our own- WDWCP or not.

Here are my questions:
1- It seems like start dates in January vary greatly. What dictates when a student starts? Can they pick their start date? I have seen dates from early Jan all the way to the 25th.

2- When a CP or CS has family visiting and staying in a Disney hotel- can they stay with them? I understand the CP cannot have visitors stay in their apartments, but can they go out and stay in the hotels and still fulfill their work schedule? (Each would have their own car available)

3- Can Career Start kids take classes too? Or are they only for CP students?

That's all for now.
I understand applications should be opening up very soon for Spring 2010- we will be watching the website!

Thanks in advance.

 

[Traveliz]

This thread has been a wealth of information! Most of the questions I had have already been answered.

I have 2 DS- both interested.
One in CP- he's a college senior graduating this coming December and has only one opportunity to apply- Spring 2010.
The other is 19 and did one year of college, but it wasn't a good fit. He is considering Career Start as a possible option, if they open applications for the Spring or Fall 2010.

Both of them go off our medical insurance in January- but I have learned we will have to find our own- WDWCP or not.

Here are my questions:
1- It seems like start dates in January vary greatly. What dictates when a student starts? Can they pick their start date? I have seen dates from early Jan all the way to the 25th.

2- When a CP or CS has family visiting and staying in a Disney hotel- can they stay with them? I understand the CP cannot have visitors stay in their apartments, but can they go out and stay in the hotels and still fulfill their work schedule? (Each would have their own car available)

3- Can Career Start kids take classes too? Or are they only for CP students?

That's all for now.
I understand applications should be opening up very soon for Spring 2010- we will be watching the website!

Thanks in advance.

First - and I am not sure of this but I was under the impression that Career Start was only available for students straight out of high school and for your younger son to participate he would need to take at least one college course the semester he was wanting to apply.

The start dates are what are available when you accept your program and are on a drop down type menu. My daughter had alot of choices available when she accepted but I have heard there are times when only one or two are available.

Absolutely they can stay with you (or anywhere else for that matter as long as they are paying their rent or have a waiver to live elsewhere). And the discounts are better if they do stay with you! While my daughter was a CP I came down three times and each time she stayed with us and then just left from the hotel for work. She still works at Disney and we stayed at the Poly over the 4th and she worked two of the nights we were there and she did the same then.

Not sure about classes for Career Start - for some reason I am thinking no but someone with more knowledge of the program will come along shortly.

Liz

 

[khancock]

CareerStart is open to anyone who has graduated high school within the previous 4 years. When they started it, it was for immediate graduates, but they extended the time frame. From what I can tell on the various boards, more people who took a bit of college and then took some time off are doing it than those who are straight out of high school.

They do have classes.
http://disney.go.com/disneycareers/careerstart/wdw/students/learning.html

CareerStart is a streamlined version of the CP. Shares the same basic idea, but not as many offerings (types of jobs, classes).

 

[tlynk]

My DD has only been in the Disney CP for about 2 weeks now, and already one roommate went home and two more are contemplating it? Almost everyone she knows is homesick and regrets applying now. Is this norm? DD says she is sticking it out, but is disappointed to be losing some new friends.

 

[Traveliz]

My DD has only been in the Disney CP for about 2 weeks now, and already one roommate went home and two more are contemplating it? Almost everyone she knows is homesick and regrets applying now. Is this norm? DD says she is sticking it out, but is disappointed to be losing some new friends.

I think its fairly common - I know my daughter went through a bunch of different roommates including several who chose to leave, several who were termed and several who changed rooms.

Liz

 

[kikiq]

My DD has only been in the Disney CP for about 2 weeks now, and already one roommate went home and two more are contemplating it? Almost everyone she knows is homesick and regrets applying now. Is this norm? DD says she is sticking it out, but is disappointed to be losing some new friends.

My DD is 2 1/2 months into her CP and has lost only one roommate to homesickness. But this was her room mate's first time away from home and she had not ever been to WDW either. My DD just had her first bout of homesickness this last week which I expected sooner as she's 3000 miles away from home. I don't know that all students understand that they are working for a major corporation that just happens to be Disney. They work hard but as my DD says, she's learning so much and classes haven't even started yet. I think this program tests one's work ethic and one's ability to work with different personalities as well as serving so many different guests. Congrats to your DD for making the commitment to hang in there.

 

[Joanna71985]

My DD has only been in the Disney CP for about 2 weeks now, and already one roommate went home and two more are contemplating it? Almost everyone she knows is homesick and regrets applying now. Is this norm? DD says she is sticking it out, but is disappointed to be losing some new friends.

I think it really depends on the person. Over my 4 full programs, only one of my roomies left to go home.

Is it true they changed the check-in to a 2 day procedure now, Traditions being on the second day?

Check-in now is a 1-day process. Everything that happened on Day 2 now happens on Day 1 (finding out work locations, ect). I like it much better this way. And Traditions is usually on Day 3.

 

[Luv2Diz]

What do the students do on day 2 if all the check is in done on Day 1 and Traditions is day 3?

 

[Joanna71985]

What do the students do on day 2 if all the check is in done on Day 1 and Traditions is day 3?

Nothing (although, I suppose if you got to check in late on Day 1, you might do some of the stuff on Day 2 instead). I took care of some of my shopping on Day 2.

 

[Berlioz70]

What do the students do on day 2 if all the check is in done on Day 1 and Traditions is day 3?

You have that very important roommate meeting and hash all that out before problems arise. Ours took nearly 3 hours.

 

[cp'ersmom]

None of my daughters roommates are talking about leaving but they are all having trouble getting along. I told my daughter it's early days, learn how to live with different personalities and you can add that to your list of job related benefits. Other than that she is loving it and taking full advantage of all that is offered.....already booked to visit in Oct!

 

[tlynk]

None of my daughters roommates are talking about leaving but they are all having trouble getting along. I told my daughter it's early days, learn how to live with different personalities and you can add that to your list of job related benefits. Other than that she is loving it and taking full advantage of all that is offered.....already booked to visit in Oct!

My daughter and her roommates are now loving the program. She is really fortunate to room with a great group of girls. Out of 8, so far only one left due to receiving a full ride scholarship to her college. Some of the others are homesick, but decided to stick it out and are now having a ball. They don't want to leave the program, but say they will be ready to go when it is over. It will be interesting to see how it all pans out over the next couple of months?

 

[kikiq]

My daughter and her roommates are now loving the program. She is really fortunate to room with a great group of girls. Out of 8, so far only one left due to receiving a full ride scholarship to her college. Some of the others are homesick, but decided to stick it out and are now having a ball. They don't want to leave the program, but say they will be ready to go when it is over. It will be interesting to see how it all pans out over the next couple of months?

My daughter is also living in a 4 bdrm. 2 have left, one for medical reasons and the other because of extreme homesickness (first time to away from home and to WDW). They gained a girl from Shanghai. Everyone gets along. They have rallied to help each other out. One interesting thing, my DD's BFF thought she really wanted to work at WDW, and now she realizes that Florida would be a long way from Southern California and home. But isn't that one of the reasons they have this experience. My DD has learned so much since June about people and work. She can't wait for the Disney classes to start.

 

[tlynk]

My daughter is also living in a 4 bdrm. 2 have left, one for medical reasons and the other because of extreme homesickness (first time to away from home and to WDW). They gained a girl from Shanghai. Everyone gets along. They have rallied to help each other out. One interesting thing, my DD's BFF thought she really wanted to work at WDW, and now she realizes that Florida would be a long way from Southern California and home. But isn't that one of the reasons they have this experience. My DD has learned so much since June about people and work. She can't wait for the Disney classes to start.

That is neat the girls can help each other out. So. CA is a long way from Florida. We are from No. CA, so we can definitely relate. I wish I could afford to see my DD more often.

 

[kikiq]

That is neat the girls can help each other out. So. CA is a long way from Florida. We are from No. CA, so we can definitely relate. I wish I could afford to see my DD more often.

This was suppose to be our year not to go to WDW, but my youngest was accepted. Thank goodness for our DVC and good airfare deals.