Disney College Program for Parents Thread...

[Mousefan72]

My DD was a CP in Spring 2010 and is going back this summer for the Alumni 2011 Summer program. In 2010 she was in an eight person apt. in Chatham. Having two refrigerators they each had their own space/shelf in the fridge and their own shelf(s) in the cabinets. One thing we found out when she moved in to her apt. was that the beds are very firm. So we went to the Walmart and bought a foam mattess pad. By the time we got there twins were all sold out and I had to buy a full/queen and make a few adjustments. It wasn't too much money and DD slept much better. So if you drive down, bring a mattress pad.

Quick question: My DD has been put into QSFB for summer 2011. Spring 2010 she was in attractions, Space Mountain. QSFB was her second choice....any of your kids doing QSFB right now? If so, where and do they like it?

 

[BadDad]

My S is doing QSFB (his first WDWCP) at ESPN and Typhoon Lagoon and likes it.

 

[KCMiller]

My DD was just accepted for the Fall 2011 program, in Attractions - I don't know who's more excited, her or me !

I'm going to be driving her down and helping her move in this August, and I have a few questions. First of all, on that first day, I know we're supposed to get there at dawn's early light, but do I stay with the car and she gets on a line somewhere to check in, or is it like when you go to the Campgrounds, and they check you in while you're in your car? How much time will she have to spend with me once the check in process starts - if I stay for the next few days, will I see her at all? And regarding food in the apartments - is it a good idea to bring masking tape and a Sharpie so the shelves in the cabinets and the refrigerators can be marked with who's is what?

I wish I was in College !

thanks,

KC

 

[dnoyes]

My DD was just accepted for the Fall 2011 program, in Attractions - I don't know who's more excited, her or me !

I'm going to be driving her down and helping her move in this August, and I have a few questions. First of all, on that first day, I know we're supposed to get there at dawn's early light, but do I stay with the car and she gets on a line somewhere to check in, or is it like when you go to the Campgrounds, and they check you in while you're in your car? How much time will she have to spend with me once the check in process starts - if I stay for the next few days, will I see her at all? And regarding food in the apartments - is it a good idea to bring masking tape and a Sharpie so the shelves in the cabinets and the refrigerators can be marked with who's is what?

I wish I was in College !

thanks,

KC

Sent you a PM

 

[DeeCee735]

On check in day, you will park the car and your DD will go to check in, you will go to an area for parents waiting. You will get a booklet w some info about life in the program. You will move your DD in. She may want to hang out w the kids later on in the day, or you will have time with her. My son ditched us and Hung out w the new roommates and new kids. we saw him a couple of times in the following few days. Once for lunch and once to go to Walmart for some things he needed. It is a good few days, exciting and alittle nerve racking for them, but good. Good luck with it and enjoy!

 

[DISshopkeeper]

Old time DISer here....

DD just got accepted! I will be haunting these threads!

 

[deek05]

DiSshopkeeper, congrats on your DD acceptance. Ours is doing the Spring 2011 and is having a blast. She is a character performer! Your daughter will have a great time!

 

[mjh8955]

I tried a search to find some posts on this and didn't come up with any. I am a parent with a kid interested in the Disney college program.

Is it recommended to do a semester of college before starting the college program or an entire year first? I know that there is a program you can start right after high school, but if you have GPA and ACT scores worthy of incoming freshman scholarship offers you lose that opportunity. So it makes sense to me to start college and then after one year do the summer internship. Is that the most logical path?? And how far ahead do they schedule interviews? A year? Six months? When you interview is it for a certain semester or can it be open-ended? Thanks!

 

[SportsChick]

Unless things are going to change next year, summer is only for Alumni.

Applications for Fall/Fall Advantage are about winding down, they went up in January. I think Spring/Spring Advantage go up in August.

I did an on-campus presentation just over a year ago for Fall - your interview is only good for the semester they're currently recruiting for.

 

[kikiq]

Is it recommended to do a semester of college before starting the college program or an entire year first? I know that there is a program you can start right after high school, but if you have GPA and ACT scores worthy of incoming freshman scholarship offers you lose that opportunity. So it makes sense to me to start college and then after one year do the summer internship. Is that the most logical path?? And how far ahead do they schedule interviews? A year? Six months? When you interview is it for a certain semester or can it be open-ended? Thanks!

The College Program is during the school year. The decision your child and you need to make is do you want to miss a quarter or semester of school. For example: My DD's school is in the quarter system. She went during her junior year. Applied in Jan, interviewed late Feb, was accepted in early April, left right after school in June and didn't return until Jan 2, the next year. She did not take any online college classes or any of her Disney classes for credit. You can however take Disney classes for credit IF your college will take them. I don't know too much about those because my DD's major is animal science, not too many animal science majors in the CP and she had credit already for those classes. Her BFF took 2 online classes from her university while she was at WDW. There are facilities for the students to use if they are taking college online classes.

Have you read the online CP information? Certain majors have access to special Disney designed college credit courses. And as my DD says, interviewers have looked at her resume, see Disney College Program and nod their head in a positive manner. The reality is it's hard work, the hours are not glamourous but you learn how a major corporation works and their expectations. My DD says "It's the best thing, I never knew I needed"

 

[Mousefan72]

My daughter will be participating in the alumni program this summer. We plan on visiting her in June. If I make a hotel reservation for our family, would she be able to apply her discount to the reservation once she starts working? I'm worried that by the time she gets there we won't be able to get the week we want at the resort we'd like to stay at if we wait and let her make the reservation for us. Any information or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Berlioz70]

I do not think so. She would have to book it with the discount from the start, as only a certain number of rooms are allowed for the CM discount.

You can book now, but cancel later if she is able to book a discount for you!

 

[Tink431]

I am flying down with my son and spending a few days at Disney before hand with him. My question is ...when we get to check in on the first day (bright and early) will I.

1. Stay with his bags
2. Be able to travel to the store with him on the bus to help him purchase items he will need (we won't have a rent a car).
3. Will we know when his free time is that day to get him settled in.
3. How long will I be there at the apts.(I need to figure out when to make a returning flight home that day).

Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

 

[WDW_lover_in_SC]

I am flying down with my son and spending a few days at Disney before hand with him. My question is ...when we get to check in on the first day (bright and early) will I.

1. Stay with his bags
2. Be able to travel to the store with him on the bus to help him purchase items he will need (we won't have a rent a car).
3. Will we know when his free time is that day to get him settled in.
3. How long will I be there at the apts.(I need to figure out when to make a returning flight home that day).

Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

He's going to be busy most of that day his free time won't be until the afternoon honestly barring an hour here and there. I don't think they will let you go to the store with him so he'd either need a list or you would have to call a cab. I'm not sure about the bags you can't go through the process with him and the normally have a tent sent up for the bags but I don't see a problem with you holding them for him.

 

[Tink431]

Thank you so much for answering my questions. Now I can get him prepared for what he will need and I can make my plans for my trip home.

 

[kikiq]

I am flying down with my son and spending a few days at Disney before hand with him. My question is ...when we get to check in on the first day (bright and early) will I.

1. Stay with his bags
2. Be able to travel to the store with him on the bus to help him purchase items he will need (we won't have a rent a car).
3. Will we know when his free time is that day to get him settled in.
3. How long will I be there at the apts.(I need to figure out when to make a returning flight home that day).

Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

I originally planned on staying with my DD when she checked in, but couldn't. This was my trip/her check in. Her last final was Friday morning, she drove home right after that 4 hours. Spent the rest of Friday packing, we left on a red eye from the west coast Friday night and arrived at MCO EARLY Saturday morning. Rented a car, checked into our room and she slept most of the day. I went to WalMart and got a few things that she hadn't brought from home. Early Sunday morning checkin, I made 2 trips to the airport to pick up her roommates. I was directed to the luggage drop off (tented area), told to wait in the family area if I was staying but I left my DD and her BFF to pick another set of girls. AFter I dropped them off, I went to the airport to get my flight back to the west coast. I found out afterwards that the bus drops them and their luggage at the apartment. They then go to a meeting . Sometime in the afternoon, they will have free time to take the bus to Walmart (parents cannot ride the bus). You really can not go through the actual check in process with your son. They make family members wait in another area. I'm not sure you can ride the bus to the apartment if he's staying in the other apartment complex.

 

[Traveliz]

I am flying down with my son and spending a few days at Disney before hand with him. My question is ...when we get to check in on the first day (bright and early) will I.

1. Stay with his bags
2. Be able to travel to the store with him on the bus to help him purchase items he will need (we won't have a rent a car).
3. Will we know when his free time is that day to get him settled in.
3. How long will I be there at the apts.(I need to figure out when to make a returning flight home that day).

Any help you could give me would be greatly appreciated.

1. You can stay with his bags.

2. You cannot travel on the bus with him.

3. You will know right after he checks in what his schedule is.

4. If you are not staying all night somewhere you could plan your return trip for a later flight - there is a hotel close by if you chose to stay over and then depart the next day.

Liz

 

[Tink431]

Wow...your were all great help. THANKS! I'm really not concerned about him going to through process as much as I want to make sure his luggage gets to where it needs to be and that he will have time to shop for the things we couldn't bring with us or we forgot. I bit the bullet and made a return flight to philly at 5:00. Figuring I probably will leave him sometime after lunch and return back to Disney to catch Magical express and then cry all the way home on the plane. I will definitely miss him alot.

Just one more question (for now). The first day is there somewhere close by we can get lunch, since I don't have car we will have to walk.

Thanks again, you have calmed some of my anxiety.

 

[WDW_lover_in_SC]

Wow...your were all great help. THANKS! I'm really not concerned about him going to through process as much as I want to make sure his luggage gets to where it needs to be and that he will have time to shop for the things we couldn't bring with us or we forgot. I bit the bullet and made a return flight to philly at 5:00. Figuring I probably will leave him sometime after lunch and return back to Disney to catch Magical express and then cry all the way home on the plane. I will definitely miss him alot.

Just one more question (for now). The first day is there somewhere close by we can get lunch, since I don't have car we will have to walk.

Thanks again, you have calmed some of my anxiety.

There is a Wendys and Chick-Fila right by Vista def in walking distance.

 

[Practically.Perfect]

Wow...your were all great help. THANKS! I'm really not concerned about him going to through process as much as I want to make sure his luggage gets to where it needs to be and that he will have time to shop for the things we couldn't bring with us or we forgot. I bit the bullet and made a return flight to philly at 5:00. Figuring I probably will leave him sometime after lunch and return back to Disney to catch Magical express and then cry all the way home on the plane. I will definitely miss him alot.

Just one more question (for now). The first day is there somewhere close by we can get lunch, since I don't have car we will have to walk.

Thanks again, you have calmed some of my anxiety.

just some things to consider:

how were you planning on getting to check-in? if you were staying on Disney property I would assume you'd get a cab.

Also he might not be living in Vista (where check-in is). the other apartments are about a five minute drive away, but they would be pretty far to walk there. I don't think they would let parents ride the bus.