Girlfriend visiting for 1 month whilst I'm a CP from UK

[Gotto]

-- I apologise if this is in the wrong area and accept if it is to be removed or put in a new topic --

Hi all,
I’ll outline the specifics below, but to sum up in one question…
How feasible would it be for my GF to join me out in Orlando for 1 month whilst I am out there working on the Disney College Program?

I apologise in advance for the long post.

Now for the specific details.

We are from the UK.

I am 23, and have visited Orlando around 10 times, most with my parents and once with my best friend. So I know the area pretty well and I am confident with shopping and getting taxi’s to places. This will be my second program as I did it last summer, 2016. My program is June 18th to August 31st.
My GF is 21, she has been to America before, but never Florida and really wants to go and experience everything.

So here is the situation. My parents are looking at coming to visit July 10th for 2 weeks, and originally my GF was going to join them. As I will be a cast member, I can get discounts on Disney hotels, and was looking at either getting 2 rooms or a suite in a value hotel (music has suites?). Alternatively, my parents are thinking of getting a villa. Now, my parents have said that if we get shared accommodation, i.e. villa/suite, then my GF wouldn’t have to pay to stay (as the price is fixed no matter the number of occupants and they would have had to pay that amount anyway).
So this will most likely happen, however, now my GF has spoken to her parents about it, they have said that she should come out for longer than the 2 weeks to experience as much as possible as she might not get chance to go back again for a few years. Obviously, my GF is really excited about doing this, but I am very concerned about how much this will cost as we will have to pay for a further 2 weeks hotel as my parents will have travelled back home. Obviously using my Cast Member discount, I can get 50% off the price, and then splitting it between the 2 of us essentially means that we are both paying 25% of the rooms original price and so will be cheaper for the both of us. But I am aware of how much it may cost for her to “live” out there. Between park tickets, spending money, money for food, transport, and more, I am unsure that it would be wise for her to stay so long.

She keeps saying that she realises how expensive it will be, and that she can dip into her savings, but I really do not know what to do.
So ultimately, I am asking if anyone has any advice whatsoever.
Are there any ways to make this cheaper?
Possibly her getting an Annual Pass?
Sorting accommodation so that it is a cheap as possible?
Anything else that I may not have factored in/thought of?

Thank you so much for reading this, and any help that you can give me.

Have a magical day!

 

[FSU Girl]

I don't know anything about the college program, so not sure if this is possible or not. But what about her staying with you wherever you're living? That would cut out the hotel completely. The cheapest hotel rooms on property would be value and at 50% they should be pretty cheap. One option would be for her to stay with your parents in their hotel for two weeks, then move to a different cheaper hotel for the second two weeks. It also won't be completely free for her to join your parents, they charge extra for a third adult in a room. I believe it's $25 for deluxe, not sure about the other levels.

Anyone can buy an annual pass, but I'd do the math on that to see if it'll be cheaper or not depending on how many days she actually wants to go to the parks.

 

[Lynne M]

Check out the Orlando Hotels board, too. It may make more sense for your parents to rent a house or condo for their portion of the stay, and for your girlfriend to move to a hotel near where you're living after your parents leave.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Post your question on the College Board where lots of other CP people post. And check out the CP Facebook page, too.

I think she should visit for two weeks while your parents are there so she will be able to visit with them while you are working. You don't even know your work schedule yet and it might work out not so good for her for those two extra weeks. What will she do while you are working your 40+ hours each week? As for lodging, if you are living in Disney housing, she cannot stay with you. No overnight guests are permitted in the CP housing. You'll have to sign her in and out when ever she comes to visit. Even with your CM discount, two weeks in a hotel is not going to be cheap. You might already be blocked out of many nights and there might be a blackout over some dates. By the time you have access to the HUB to book anything for her, those dates for the less expensive lodging might be booked up. Your guest passes are limited in number and she might not be able to use them for some days. Heck, there are a few days when you can't even use your CM pass to get into some of the parks, especially AK with the opening of Pandora. By the time you can make fixed plans, it may be too late for her to cancel or change her plans. After you pay for you share of the CP housing, your meals, etc, you are not going to have a lot of money left over. The CP doesn't pay that well.

 

[michhess]

I would look at weekly or monthly for a condo, through VRBO or a similar service. There are tons of them within a 10 mile radius.

 

[Deb & Bill]

I would look at weekly or monthly for a condo, through VRBO or a similar service. There are tons of them within a 10 mile radius.

Then she will need transportation.

 

[JAM113]

Your CP park pass actually has very few blackout dates. It's the PT/FT CMs that have blackout dates. Disney makes it very easy for CPs to use their pass since they are here for such a limited time. You can get a discount on your gf's ticket at Company D (10% off the posted rate). If she is going to be staying for a month and going to the parks at least half the time, it is a much better deal for her to get an annual pass, which you can also buy at Company D. You have to pay for it though, and have her reimburse you.

I checked the price for a 10 day base ticket (the longest you can get) and it is $440. A 4 day base ticket is $350. The annual pass is $779. All of these are plus tax, and again, you would save 10% by buying at Company D. The annual pass allows her to park hop, as opposed to just having a base ticket, and it gives her flexibility with your work schedule. She could just go for a couple hours to a park without feeling like she is wasting a day off a regular ticket.

I do think your biggest challenge will be the room. You don't have access to the hub for discounts until you go through traditions, which is usually the end of the first week you arrive. You won't have much time between then and your parents/gf's arrival to secure a discount, and what will they do if there isn't anything available. I think you just have to look at what is available for her now in her price range because it would be awful for her to book flights and then not be able to afford someplace to stay when she gets here.

Good luck to you.

 

[Westcoastwild]

Then she will need transportation.

Wouldn't she anyway, though? Unless she's a guest at a resort, which I don't think is practical. From what I understand, Disney has staff buses but nonstaff can't use them. So would she be able to walk to staff quarters to visit the OP?

I don't know if you get a CP discount for the resorts. But if it was significant, the cheapest option would be fort wilderness with an annual pass. She probably wouldn't be eating very well, but it would be doable. She could bring an electric kettle and subsist on ramen if need be. Order supplies through amazon prime, only buy ice at the camp store.

I'd frankly say "not my circus, not my monkey". If her parents are giving her this advice, I would hope they can fly her home when she runs out of money. Because if she runs out, who can help her? You don't want to be put into that position and your parents, even if they could afford it, don't want to pay for both of you, I'm sure.

Editing to add: I didn't do the CP. It didn't sound like fun to me. My best friend did it though, and the person who mentioned your work schedule is right. To cover her rent, and actually make enough to have fun on, my friend worked an insane amount of hours. Like I was back home, working half that, making less per hour, and I still had more disposable income then her because Disney really gouged them on rent.

 

[Westcoastwild]

Another thing that occurs to me is that I have no idea what she has in savings. But she's not even gauranteed entry into the US unless she can prove she can support herself. I don't think your idea of getting her lodging at a resort with your employee discount and then paying half would fly with passport control, though I could be wrong.

 

[wagner1225]

There are some College forums out there somewhere, I think on this site also, if I remember right, they put up CP's into dorms with are only for you, I think disney also has a forum about this...

 

[happymommy]

I would have her look into renting a condo for a month, then having your parents stay there as well. Even using Uber to get around, it would work out much cheaper. She could have a kitchen and laundry facilities, so they could prepare meals rather than eat out (I once spent 15 nights off site, and other than counter service occasionally, my kids and I didn't eat out at all. I grilled or cooked basic things in the condo, which was off site). There was a Target and Walmart very close, pretty much a $5-$10 Uber ride away.

She should also look into what things she wants to see, solo, as you will be working long hours. She should go into understanding that your time will be limited to spend with her, so she will need to figure out what she wants to do.

 

[HopperFan]

Just a few thoughts -
- You will be cutting it close with your access to discounts and when your folks are coming - so your options may be limited.
- You might have to be flexible and multiple plans in place, in case what is your first choice is not available.
- Staying with them will drop the percentage off more.
- The best ticket options are likely to be the UK tickets, both for price and length.
- Keeping her on property is likely the best option if she will be alone.
- I would look at her either staying only while your parents are here since it will be free for her ...
OR
- Maybe have her add just one week in a value room, not two.
- One week keeps lodging costs down by half AND the 21 day ticket would cover her whole trip.
- You have to consider your working hours and her being alone ... I think she needs Disney buses & tickets, easy access.
- Staying at Disney gives her free transport back to the airport at the end of the trip.

The extra week hotel will be doable with your discount, she'll have the longer ticket, she'll have Disney buses, you don't need too much spending money and when you move to the hotel from the villa arrange for a food delivery with some items for breakfasts, sandwiches, bottle water etc to keep food costs down for the week.

 

[Deb & Bill]

So this will most likely happen, however, now my GF has spoken to her parents about it, they have said that she should come out for longer than the 2 weeks to experience as much as possible as she might not get chance to go back again for a few years. ...

As for her experiencing as much as possible, that's not going to happen with you working and being involved with the CP. She's going to be sitting in a hotel room unless she is adventurous to go out on her own while you are working. And her experiences may just be limited to WDW. Not a broad adventure at all when there is so much to see and do in the US.

 

[Westcoastwild]

[QUOTE="Gotto, post: 57429445, member: 456041]...
So this will most likely happen, however, now my GF has spoken to her parents about it, they have said that she should come out for longer than the 2 weeks to experience as much as possible as she might not get chance to go back again for a few years. ...

As for her experiencing as much as possible, that's not going to happen with you working and being involved with the CP. She's going to be sitting in a hotel room unless she is adventuresome to go out on her own while you are working. And her experiences may just be limited to WDW. Not a broad adventure at all when there is so much to see and do in the US.[/QUOTE]


Yikes. That had not occured to me but that's true. Why don't you suggest she fly up to D.C. Or New York and stay at a hostel for a week or two? There's really good train service on the east coast. (And as much as I hate to say this, a hostel and playing tourist in Philly or D.C. would be MUCH cheaper than staying on Disney property, even with the discount.