First week schedule

[wdw&sonny]

Looks like my wife and I will be driving down with my son arriving Sunday 1/17/16 late afternoon/evening for his 1/18/16 check-in.
What's the first few days like for him? When will he have time to take us to the airport? Is Monday or Tuesday better? Will we be able to go with him to the dorm and hang out on Monday. Or, should we go on our own? Will we be able to meet up with him for dinner? Where do you recommend we stay since we won't have a car? Since it's just a short trip to get him there, we want to keep it low budget. Won't have time to go to a park. What do you think we'll have time for on Monday and Tuesday. Return flight is at 2:40 pm.

 

[lakphotomom]

I would not guarantee depending on your son for a ride to the airport. He will check in on Monday and that alone can take several hours. Plus he will move into his apartment that day. He will have casting on Monday or Tues as well as a mandatory housing meeting. He will not know much of his schedule until check in. You can go to the apt with him but not without him. He must be with you.

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

Your son will most likely have time to take you to the airport on Tuesday OR Monday, but I can't guarantee which day. Whichever day he doesn't have his housing meeting will probably be fairly empty. Unfortunately though, as lakphotomom said, you dont' find out your schedule until you check in.

 

[Boopuff]

My DD schedule looked like this:
Mon - check in and moved her into housing
Tues - Casting (took about 2 hours)
Wed - Free day
Thurs - Traditions
Fri - Free
The days and times of casting/tradiions varies greatly. A lot of kids have casting the same day as check in. We didn't see our DD very much the first few days. We stayed at a Disney resort so we took advantge of the magical express.

 

[Hannahinwonderland]

Your DD probably also had a 2 hour housing meeting. My schedule was similar: I had a housing meeting on Tuesday, casting on check-in day, and then Wed and Thurs free before my friday Traditions. It really depends.

 

[CarolAnnB]

As others have said, schedules vary widely the first 2 days. Check in is in the morning, you will be assigned a time and are not allowed in early. That is at the Vista Way Apartment Complex.
From the Parents Thread, the Holiday Inn very close to Vista Way (like a minute down the street) is 13351 State Road 535 Orlando, Florida 32821. A lot of people stay there. We had pockets of time on and off to go to Walmart, grocery store, dinner, etc the first two days but hard to plan ahead of time. If you had an evening flight, he could probably drive you to the airport but mornings/afternoons would be iffy. My DD has taken an uber from her CP apartment at Chatham Square to the airport and it was only $22 so that is not too expensive of an option if he cannot drive you. You can go to his apartment with him to move him in and hang out with him. They will not let you in the complex without him.

 

[smzito22]

How my schedule looked this semester was like this:

Monday:
9am Check In
8:30am Casting
1:30pm Drug Testing (This is not for everyone, I was attractions so it was needed for me)
Tuesday: OFF
Wednesday: OFF
Thursday: Traditions