Disney College Program for Parents Thread...

[t-ho]

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.

When is your sons check in date?

 

[Tink431]

t-ho -- My son is checking in on May 23rd.

Can anyone suggest a reliable cab company in Disney? I have to get us from the Yacht Club to Vista and I have get myself back to YC in the afternoon to catch Magic Express to the airport.

 

[piratechick]

t-ho -- My son is checking in on May 23rd.

Can anyone suggest a reliable cab company in Disney? I have to get us from the Yacht Club to Vista and I have get myself back to YC in the afternoon to catch Magic Express to the airport.

Try Mears! They are very reliable and affordable. http://www.mearstransportation.com/

 

[Laken :))]

What should we buy for the apartment?

 

[t-ho]

What should we buy for the apartment?

Check out this thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2667814

 

[arieslmom]

DD accepted for Fall Advantage 2011 Season on May 23rd. We are driving up on the 21st and can only stay until the 22nd. I am worried that she will be spending the night on her own and then taking a taxi the next morning by herself from the hotel to Vista Way. (She has never done this on her own.) How safe is this? Should I get a room at one of the Value Resorts (FL Res. Rates at the Music) or stay on at an outside hotel closer to Vista Way like the Sheraton Safari? Can't really spend to much on a better hotel since we will be there again for Memorial at the Dolphin. Will anyone else have a DD or DS with the same problem that can stay at the same hotel and share a cab?

 

[t-ho]

DD accepted for Fall Advantage 2011 Season on May 23rd. We are driving up on the 21st and can only stay until the 22nd. I am worried that she will be spending the night on her own and then taking a taxi the next morning by herself from the hotel to Vista Way. (She has never done this on her own.) How safe is this? Should I get a room at one of the Value Resorts (FL Res. Rates at the Music) or stay on at an outside hotel closer to Vista Way like the Sheraton Safari? Can't really spend to much on a better hotel since we will be there again for Memorial at the Dolphin. Will anyone else have a DD or DS with the same problem that can stay at the same hotel and share a cab?

There is a hotel right across from Vista Way that I can't imagine too be too expensive, especially compared to a Disney Resort. It that's the case it will be one short trip via cab, and it is quite safe. The entire area is very touristy and there will will already be CP's there. I imagine all the cabbies would know all about the CPs and what to go and all those things. If your daughter is responsible enough to stay down for a 2 semesters, surely she'll be fine for that night. All she has to do is get a good nights rest then make her way to Vista bright and early. The rest of the process is heavily dictated by Disney. They tell her where she needs to go and do and it all can be accomplished by the CP buses. Good Luck!

 

[deek05]

DD accepted for Fall Advantage 2011 Season on May 23rd. We are driving up on the 21st and can only stay until the 22nd. I am worried that she will be spending the night on her own and then taking a taxi the next morning by herself from the hotel to Vista Way. (She has never done this on her own.) How safe is this? Should I get a room at one of the Value Resorts (FL Res. Rates at the Music) or stay on at an outside hotel closer to Vista Way like the Sheraton Safari? Can't really spend to much on a better hotel since we will be there again for Memorial at the Dolphin. Will anyone else have a DD or DS with the same problem that can stay at the same hotel and share a cab?

Holiday Sunspree Inn is across the street, kind of. Walgreens/Chic-a-filet is directly across the street. Vista Way is right behind them. Your daughter could walk to Vista Way from there. It's not very far at all.

 

[KCMiller]

I know my DD can get us a WDW hotel discount once she begins her CP, but if we book at a WDW hotel for the trip to bring her, can the discount be applied retroactively? My sister and I are more than likely going to fly down with my DD, drop her off the next morning for her check in, then enjoy the parks for a few days after (OK, and be around just in case she needs anything - I'm a mom, so sue me ). I'd like to stay on property, but would like it even more if my DD could get us a CP discount.

Advice?

Thanks,

KC

 

[kikiq]

I don't think the discount can be retroactive because in order to get the discount the CP has to make the reservation on the Hub.

And, it's OK "to be a mom" and hang around. I had a last minute change in plans and had to fly back after I dropped my DD off. I was a mess all the way home back to California. AND she lost her phone the very first day somewhere between her apartment and Walmart. Found that out when my older DD picked me up from LAX. What we discovered from that incident was, my youngest DD would lose her head if it wasn't attached to her body. Smart child, but can't hang on to her keys, phone or wallet. Thank goodness they wore lanyards.

 

[Tink431]

We are taking a taxi from the Yacht Club on Check-in Day. My question is how early is too early to get there? I don't really want to be dropped off at the entrance standing there with all his belongings waiting for the gaits to open.

And totally unrelated question. Do they need to bring curtains for the windows? If so, are they standard size?

Kelly

 

[progroupie]

The windows will have blinds, curtains are not a neccesity. I'm a late sleeper so the sunlight in my bedroom bothered me a bit and I just draped a sheet over the window to lessen it.

 

[Tink431]

My son can't sleep with alot of light either so I packed darkening curtains and a flexible curtain rod.

 

[cindyr222]

Hi , My son will be attending the extended fall CP program in June. He is flying by himself and meeting up with a friend from college. He will be staying at a hotel the night before. Either at the Holiday Inn across from Vista Way or some place else cheap.

Here are my questions:
1. Recommended transport to the hotel from the airport and appox. cost?

2. What do men need to wear to check in day
and the day they first view their park/ hotel wherever they are assigned? My son is QSFB. I can't imagine they would have to wear dress pants and dress shirt to the parks that day or am I wrong? It says business casual so no shorts or polos for that day? I know Traditions is a dress pants/shirt dress shoes day.

3. Chatum or Vista Way? What are the costs to stay at these and it is worth the extra cost? How few roommates can you have if you choose Vista Way? I heard there is alot of partying at Vista and I don't want him kicked out because some roommate left beer in the room during inspection. He needs this job.

4. What does he do with his luggage while checking in? He will have two suit cases and a laptop at a minimum with him. Is there a holding area for luggage during check in? We can't go down with him to help out.

5.Can you request to work indoors for QSFB? If so who does he call/email? Melanoma runs in our family and he is very fair skinned.

Thanks for any help anyone can give us. We are so excited for him as this is his first job and loved his freshman year at college so far. He is counting down the days !

 

[piratechick]

My son can't sleep with alot of light either so I packed darkening curtains and a flexible curtain rod.

Curtains are not allowed. Security usually goes around the apartments in a golf cart checking to make sure that nothing is hanging up the balconies or windows. If they see curtains up, they will tell you to take them down.

 

[progroupie]

You can wear anything on check in day, he'll be moving and unpacking so they don't really expect you to be dressed too nicely although he'll still want to look presentable of course.

The day he goes to the parks for his tour is business casual, I'd suggest khaki slacks and a polo. He'll be allowed to wear sneakers though since there's a lot of walking.

They'll let him leave his bags at Vista while he checks in. Of course he'd probably want to keep his laptop with him.

I honestly don't think there's a huge difference in Vista and Chatham. Vista has more of reputation but at the end of the day the place is full of college kids no matter where you go. If he ends up in a negative roommate situation he can move out for a fee.

I think there is someone you can call to make requests and other people have posted it here but I don't know it myself.

 

[cindyr222]

THanks so much for all the info. and answered questions.

 

[wisblue]

My daughter is coming for the fall program with a check-in on Monday, August 22. We are arriving on Saturday, the 20th and staying at the nearby Saratoga Springs using DVC points. I am planning to rent a car for at least a few days to help with move-in, shopping, etc. I plan to hang around the resort until Thursday, the 25th in case I can help with some shopping or other errands. Otherwise, I plan to enjoy the resort (it's tough duty but someone has to do it.)

Can someone help describe for me what check in day is like and how much the parents are able to help with moving in? Specifically,

1. How early is too early to get there? If check-in starts at 9 AM we would plan to get there no later than that, but is there any reason or advantage to getting there early?

2. When can my daughter actually move in to her apartment? Is it available as soon as she checks in? Can the parents help at this time, even if just to take bags into the room? Or does the actual, physical move-in take place later in the day? Because I will be staying so close, I could just as easily hang around the resort and come back later instead of sitting around the apartments waiting for her to be available to move in.

3. I understand that the day after check in is a "free" day where the participants have no scheduled activities. Is that right? I thought that that might be a perfect day to run errands like buying work shoes and getting an initial supply of groceries.

4. What does everyone do about banking services? Is there a nearby bank that allows the participants to open free accounts to deposit paychecks and obtain cash? Does that bank have ATM's in the area where its customers can withdraw cash without paying a fee? Does Disney offer direct deposit to accounts at this or any other bank?

5. Do the participants get a secure storage area where they can keep things like their suitcases or any other things they won't need on a daily basis?

Thanks for any help.

 

[wisblue]

My daughter didn't even want me to come down! She ended up going with my father-in-law and never needed him past dropping off her stuff. She quickly made friends with a couple of the girls, and with her activities the first few days, she really didn't have time for me even if I had gone down.

That's what I'm hoping for. Not to be selfish but I am hoping that she will make friends quickly and won't need me around. She says she feels bad that I will be there by myself for a few days, but to me a couple of days to enjoy the Disney resort, even by myself, is hardly a punishment.

 

[progroupie]

The only notable advantages to getting there early is the obvious, the sooner you get there the sooner you'll be done for the day. Also if she's got any preferences for apartment location and size she'd have more options earlier in the day.

I think she'll get her apartment key within an hour or two.

It is a good day to go grocery shopping and what not. She'll have to spend an hour or so in a housing meeting, but other than that there's nothing scheduled for that day.

Disney has a credit union that's available to all CM's. They'll be given a chance to sign up during their housing meeting. There are locations on property as well as on the bus route and ATM's in backstage areas.
Disney will do direct deposit to any bank though.

There are no storage areas. The best thing to do is put the suitcases under the bed or on the top shelf in the closet.