For parents that go/went to help their son/daughter check in.... how many days did

[edk35]

you stay?? Do the kids need our assistance the day after they check in?? Two days after check in??


Our plan is this: My husband is going to drive our daughter's car to Disney and arrive on Jan. 6th. Our daughter, myself and two son's are going to fly down on Friday Jan. 6th. We are staying at PORS. I booked one room for 4 nights because the boys and myself will leave on Tuesday evening the day after our daughter checks in. I booked our other room for 5 nights so that my husband can stay that Tuesday night too, in case he is needed to help her with anything else that didn't get taken care of during the day. Is this necessary???

I figure she will check in on Monday the 9th, and then we can help get her apt. room setup while she does whatever they do on check in day. Not sure what the kids do the next day of the program. Will we even get to see her??? My husband will more than happy to stay that 5th night/Tuesday and be available if she needs him too though. Any advice??

 

[SpaceMania]

I haven't done the program before, but i would thnk that your daughter should probably spend time with her roomies after she checks in. That is vital time that she is going to need to be able to 'fit in' (for lack of a better term)

I know that if i was going (and hopefully will be) i would almost rather not have an option of hanging out with my family. Because it would obviously be much easier to hang out with family, than hang out with strangers that i would be living with for the next 5 months.
Also this could be the only time all the roomies will be together before work scheduals and things are figured out.

I'm not trying to come off rude or anything, because i understand that you guys will miss her, and she will miss you too. But try not to 'hover' tooo much. Give her space to be able to figure things out on her own, since she will be on her own for a while

 

[edk35]

I haven't done the program before, but i would thnk that your daughter should probably spend time with her roomies after she checks in. That is vital time that she is going to need to be able to 'fit in' (for lack of a better term)

I know that if i was going (and hopefully will be) i would almost rather not have an option of hanging out with my family. Because it would obviously be much easier to hang out with family, than hang out with strangers that i would be living with for the next 5 months.
Also this could be the only time all the roomies will be together before work scheduals and things are figured out.

I'm not trying to come off rude or anything, because i understand that you guys will miss her, and she will miss you too. But try not to 'hover' tooo much. Give her space to be able to figure things out on her own, since she will be on her own for a while

We are going to HOVER on Friday/Sat. and Sunday. We are spending time together as a family on those days. We know that on Monday she checks in and that usually the parents do the moving of their kid's stuff..at least according to what people have posted here. Parents that fly down usually rent cars to help their kid these first couple of days get settled. On another thread.....a few people said that on Tuesday there is not much that they have to do and that is a good day to pick up whatever things might be needed for the apt./shopping for groceries and such. SO....I am trying to figure out from parents that have done this or other college program cast members that had their parents there to start with..... if having a parent there the day after is necessary. My husband will gladly fly home with us on Tuesday if that is the case. However ...I want to know what others did that have been through this already.

I know you were not trying to be rude. However, she has been on her own for 2 years working on 3 years of college... and yes we do miss her when we don't see her for weeks on end. That is not why I posted this. She is 21 and a big girl.... so we know that she can handle stuff. I also think she will have no problems fitting in. She will have 5 months to bond with her roomies so I don't think one day will mess that up if she wants to spend some time with us before we fly home if her schedule allows for it.

 

[Traveliz]

Ok its been a few years for me and I think they have changed the way the days are set up but I took my daughter to check in and helped her move into her apartment early the day of check in. There was no hanging out with new roommates as all were all ready in the program and off to work. Of course its possible your daughter will be put in an apartment with all new CPs but mine was not.

That afternoon she had a meeting and I drove her over to it so she didn't have to take the bus and just waited. It was actually a couple of hours (Housing meeting) and she met people there and in line and made plans to go to the evening whatever they had...it was maybe the next night.

Somewhere in there she had a full day off and we went and got her shoes and then once she started training I did not see her at all.

So I would say two to three days is the absolute most time needed. I was staying in the area (for another reason) and saw her a couple of weeks later for an evening.

I don't know if my daughter had a "different" situation than most but I think I have mentioned before she had maybe 30 different apartment mates in her two semesters there and probably about 10 different key changes. She actually only "bonded" with a couple of those 30 and her closest friends were from work.

Liz

 

[EMur13]

First off congratulations to your daughter I haven't done the program yet but this is something my parents and I are trying to figure out. I'll be 22 when I arrive for the CP and I think it's nice to have parents there to help out. I know some people say that this time at the beginning is for us to get to know our roomies. I see it this way, I'm going to be there for 8 months, I have plenty of time to hang out with my roomies. I still plan on hanging out with my roomies as well as my parents, I don't plan on going to spend the whole time with them, but I know it's nice to have them around when you move. I've been in school now for awhile, this is my 4th year and I've lived in a house and an apartment and each time I've moved into a dorm, house etc. my mom has been there to get me settled, I am a big girl and capable of doing it myself but when you're in a new environment it's nice to have that help.

Anywho, I've been searching these boards a lot and I have some friends and acquaintances from my University I attend that have done the college program or have friends who are doing it and a lot of them say that their parents stay to help out and it's nice because some don't and your daughters roommates might not have their parents there and it's nice to have at least one there in case there are major things they need help with. My one friend said her friend has done the CP 3 times now and his parents go down each and every time and stay for the first 4 nights after check in to help.

I know I haven't gone yet, but I've researched a lot and have asked a lot of people questions. I think it would be fine for your husband to stay and help your daughter out. I don't think this will ruin her relationship with roomies. It's really nice to have help. Hope this helps, I know it doesn't answer everything, but there is also another parents board that answers a lot, my mom and I have looked on that one too Good Luck with everything!!!

 

[SpaceMania]

errr i didn't mean it was going to ruin relationships with roomies, i meant that once all the work scheduals and stuff works out, she may not see her roomies (i have friends who did the program and they only really saw their roomies that 1st week)

I guess th point i was trying to make didn't really come across. oh well.

 

[antlane]

I think that leaving on that Tuesday will be more than fine for how long you need to stay to help her settle in. My roommates parents were there for the whole week of check in, but didn't hover or anything, they did their own thing and let him live. If she's already independent enough that she isn't living at home you shouldn't have to worry. I do suggest grocery shopping the night before check in or night of check in, just to save time so you aren't rushed to do it before you leave. Other than that, congratulations to your daughter! She'll have a blast, I know I did!

 

[Iris]

you stay?? Do the kids need our assistance the day after they check in?? Two days after check in??


Our plan is this: My husband is going to drive our daughter's car to Disney and arrive on Jan. 6th. Our daughter, myself and two son's are going to fly down on Friday Jan. 6th. We are staying at PORS. I booked one room for 4 nights because the boys and myself will leave on Tuesday evening the day after our daughter checks in. I booked our other room for 5 nights so that my husband can stay that Tuesday night too, in case he is needed to help her with anything else that didn't get taken care of during the day. Is this necessary???

I figure she will check in on Monday the 9th, and then we can help get her apt. room setup while she does whatever they do on check in day. Not sure what the kids do the next day of the program. Will we even get to see her??? My husband will more than happy to stay that 5th night/Tuesday and be available if she needs him too though. Any advice??

I will give you my thoughts from a parent's point of view who went down to help our daughter last September. First I think a lot depends on the relationship you have with your child. Our family is extremely close and even though both of my daughters are very outgoing and have a lot of friends, they both have learned to appreciate family time. My daughter when down last September having just turned 18 so she was one of the youngest ones in the program. This was her very first time being away from home for any length of time. We decided to make it a mini family vacation so all of us went in two cars to take her down. Since we are DVC members, we stayed at OKW for the week. We arrived on August 28th and she checked in September 1st so we had a couple of days of play in the park and she also went to a get together with friends she had met online who were also on the program.

On the day of check in(Wednesday), it worked out that she was able to go to casting while we (and almost all of the other parents in the room) stayed behind and unloaded, unpacked and CLEANED. Yes...the apartment was pretty dirty and my husband made some walmart runs for cleaning supplies. My daughter loved that we had unpacked everything and so did the other girls in the room. She was done around 2ish with everything, I believe there was a housing meeting later that day and then she had dinner with us and then went back to her place to hang out with roomies.

The next day was free so we spent quality family time together that day. She was not concerned about getting to know her roommates as she would have the next several months to spend with them. This was never a concern. Friday was her traditions so we spent the time getting groceries, and other things that we forgot to get and also spend some park time (entry into the park wasn't an issue). After traditions she met us for dinner and we spent the rest of the time together with her as much as possible until our departure which was a couple of days later.

We knew we wouldn't see her again for several months (turned out to be 4 months - when we went to visit her for the first time after dropping her off) so we took advantage of being together as a family one last time.

She and her roommates had all met online before and they had no troubles becoming friends and doing things together...there was plenty of time for that during the program. Even with their crazy schedules, they all managed to do do a lot of things together on days off. Acutally, when most of them extended into the Spring, three of them moved in together in another apartment. One who did not, is still a good friend of hers now, has returned to florida and they now hang out when they can. (my daughter stayed after her program ended and is now a part time castmember with the company - she never returned home).

So all in all, I was grateful for the time we spent with her checking her in and helping her move in. We had time to help her move, see her after training, etc.

It is rare now for all of us to be together since her older sister is in college (my younger one will start Valencia in Florida in the fall as she will have established Florida residency by then). Both of my daughters have learned to be on their own and take care of things on their own, they are pretty independent: but they have also learned how great it is to have parents around to help and pamper them on occasion.

If you are a close family, I would say go for it.

 

[edk35]

I will give you my thoughts from a parent's point of view who went down to help our daughter last September. First I think a lot depends on the relationship you have with your child. Our family is extremely close and even though both of my daughters are very outgoing and have a lot of friends, they both have learned to appreciate family time. My daughter when down last September having just turned 18 so she was one of the youngest ones in the program. This was her very first time being away from home for any length of time. We decided to make it a mini family vacation so all of us went in two cars to take her down. Since we are DVC members, we stayed at OKW for the week. We arrived on August 28th and she checked in September 1st so we had a couple of days of play in the park and she also went to a get together with friends she had met online who were also on the program.

On the day of check in(Wednesday), it worked out that she was able to go to casting while we (and almost all of the other parents in the room) stayed behind and unloaded, unpacked and CLEANED. Yes...the apartment was pretty dirty and my husband made some walmart runs for cleaning supplies. My daughter loved that we had unpacked everything and so did the other girls in the room. She was done around 2ish with everything, I believe there was a housing meeting later that day and then she had dinner with us and then went back to her place to hang out with roomies.

The next day was free so we spent quality family time together that day. She was not concerned about getting to know her roommates as she would have the next several months to spend with them. This was never a concern. Friday was her traditions so we spent the time getting groceries, and other things that we forgot to get and also spend some park time (entry into the park wasn't an issue). After traditions she met us for dinner and we spent the rest of the time together with her as much as possible until our departure which was a couple of days later.

We knew we wouldn't see her again for several months (turned out to be 4 months - when we went to visit her for the first time after dropping her off) so we took advantage of being together as a family one last time.

She and her roommates had all met online before and they had no troubles becoming friends and doing things together...there was plenty of time for that during the program. Even with their crazy schedules, they all managed to do do a lot of things together on days off. Acutally, when most of them extended into the Spring, three of them moved in together in another apartment. One who did not, is still a good friend of hers now, has returned to florida and they now hang out when they can. (my daughter stayed after her program ended and is now a part time castmember with the company - she never returned home).

So all in all, I was grateful for the time we spent with her checking her in and helping her move in. We had time to help her move, see her after training, etc.

It is rare now for all of us to be together since her older sister is in college (my younger one will start Valencia in Florida in the fall as she will have established Florida residency by then). Both of my daughters have learned to be on their own and take care of things on their own, they are pretty independent: but they have also learned how great it is to have parents around to help and pamper them on occasion.

If you are a close family, I would say go for it.

Yes we are very close and her two brothers 18 and 13 are also going because they too want to be a part of this in some way too. So I am guessing my hubby will stay an extra day. The boys can't miss anymore school so we have to leave that Tuesday. That Tuesday night our daughter and her dad can hang out and have a nice dinner together before he leaves on Wed.

 

[poison ivy]

I can tell you what we did.

We drove and arrived on Jan 11th. Our son's check-in day was Wed Jan 12 - which if anyone remembers, was the day after that crippling snowstorm in the Southeast. Many CP's were delayed. We drove all night Mon from NJ and barely managed to get south of the storm. We left to drive home on sunday.

He was among the first to check-in for orientation. We obtained the one-day parking pass from the guard booth at vista way allowing us access to his housing complex. Once he completed orientation at Vista we were able to get into the apartment.

Because he was one of the first to wrap up at Vista, he was able to attend the housing orientation that afternoon. While doing this, we proceeded to unpack and set up in the apt.

He did not completely finish up until around 4pm.

We didn't shop in his absence, since he is a commuting student at home, we felt it necessary he handle this. So we provided a ride that evening for him and one of his roommates to scout bedding and make decisions re: meals and groceries etc. enough to sustain them for about two weeks. Back then, they docked their first paychecks for housing so the pay was minimal.

I found his schedule. Keep in mind this will vary for your daughter.

Wed - check-in
thurs - off
Friday - Traditions at Disney University (professional attire)
Sat - Class F&B Basics at Disney Univ. 1-4:30 (prof. attire)
Sun - off
Mon - Class "red carpet role" at Cast Services bldg 9:30-4 (bus casual)
tues - Class "e-lab" at Cast Svc Bldg 8-12 (business casual)
Wed - Fri begin training/work at CP assigned location.

Our security pass expired the first day. After that, our son had obtained clearance for us from the security booth at Chatham.

 

[edk35]

I can tell you what we did.

We drove and arrived on Jan 11th. Our son's check-in day was Wed Jan 12 - which if anyone remembers, was the day after that crippling snowstorm in the Southeast. Many CP's were delayed. We drove all night Mon from NJ and barely managed to get south of the storm. We left to drive home on sunday.

He was among the first to check-in for orientation. We obtained the one-day parking pass from the guard booth at vista way allowing us access to his housing complex. Once he completed orientation at Vista we were able to get into the apartment.

Because he was one of the first to wrap up at Vista, he was able to attend the housing orientation that afternoon. While doing this, we proceeded to unpack and set up in the apt.

He did not completely finish up until around 4pm.

We didn't shop in his absence, since he is a commuting student at home, we felt it necessary he handle this. So we provided a ride that evening for him and one of his roommates to scout bedding and make decisions re: meals and groceries etc. enough to sustain them for about two weeks. Back then, they docked their first paychecks for housing so the pay was minimal.

I found his schedule. Keep in mind this will vary for your daughter.

Wed - check-in
thurs - off
Friday - Traditions at Disney University (professional attire)
Sat - Class F&B Basics at Disney Univ. 1-4:30 (prof. attire)
Sun - off
Mon - Class "red carpet role" at Cast Services bldg 9:30-4 (bus casual)
tues - Class "e-lab" at Cast Svc Bldg 8-12 (business casual)
Wed - Fri begin training/work at CP assigned location.

Our security pass expired the first day. After that, our son had obtained clearance for us from the security booth at Chatham.

Okay so I am going to PLAN for my husband to stay that Tuesday night and not fly back with me and the boys. She checks in on a Monday. We will probably leave the property around 2:30 on the Magical Express that Tuesday to get to the airport so he can have that afternoon/evening with our daughter to take her out to get whatever else she might need and groceries. Then he can fly back on Wed.