I love credit cards so much! v2.0 (see first page for add'l details)

[schmass]

And are parents really taking vacations until a couple days before school starts??

Oops, are we not supposed to do that? We're flying home from WDW on August 27th and my kids start on August 28th!

 

[disneymagicgirl]

So I am intrigued by DCP (I know DS has a bit of time (5 years) before he is even off to college. Does she still go to college full-time while in DCP? Does it extend when you will complete college? I am guessing depending on what your major is DCP may not be a good fit? Pretty sure DS will be doing some in engineering/math/sceience realm.

All that varies by person, but no it doesn't have to extend the time you are in college. Most kids take the full semester off but some take an online course or two. They work alot, so it would be really hard to maintain full time courses while at DCP.
To stay on track, you can plan ahead and have done dual enrollment in high school (good idea even if you aren't DCP) or take classes in the summer. DD did deal enrollment and takes classes in the summer anyways, so DCP didn't put her behind.

For someone who is on a specific track where courses aren't necessarily offered every semester, like nursing, for example, it would be a challenge to do DCP in the last 2 years when you take those core classes. That person would want to do DCP early on in their college career or in the semester following graduation.
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ETA: But, even in you graduate a semester late, who cares? Adulthood is long. An experience like DCP is once in a lifetime.



Here are the reflections my DD posted to social media when she got home:

"...and so our journey comes to an end." I just finished up my 7 month internship with The Walt Disney Company in which I was working in Magic Kingdom assigned to two locations -- Casey's Corner on Main Street USA and the Happily Ever After Fireworks Dessert Party at Tomorrowland Terrace. It was the most challenging 7 months of my life both mentally and physically, but more rewarding than I could have ever possibly imagined almost a year ago when I was praying that this experience would be one full of personal growth.
I could probably go on for hours about all of the different ways that working for Disney World was demanding and exhausting (to say the least). I was scheduled shifts that didn't end until 3 in the morning, I handled my very fair share of no-good, very-bad guests, I washed, rinsed, and sanitized until my hands were so sweaty from the gloves that they smelled like feet, I took the 9 full trash bags from the Casey's dining room to the trash compactor just to turn around and have them be full again by the time I got back, I scooped fries until my face and arms were red from the heat, and I had to flip an entire dessert party with 200 guests over to a brand new dessert party for the after-fireworks guests in a matter of the 18 minutes that Happily Ever After Fireworks provided us to do so.
However, it wasn't all as bad as my complaints make it seem. In fact a lot of it was so good that I've cried about my time here ending. A lot. Every super late night shift led to lots of dancing to the the music coming from the DJ on the castle stage, laughing with coworkers so hard that I almost pee my pants, and so much time to pre-close that we actually got out on time. For every annoying guest there were 25 more that were celebrating a birthday, anniversary, engagement, adoption, you name it, and they chose to spend their celebration at the place I work. I got to give out souvenir Mickey Sippers, baseball brownies, free bottles of water (more valuable than it may sound), have the culinary team make elaborate desserts, bring them plates with special celebration cupcakes and strawberries, even pick out a group wandering around Tomorrowland to join us at the Dessert Party for free. I was making magic at every turn. Every full trash bag I threw over my shoulder and slung into the compactor, every 4 ounce fry boat that disappeared within 3 seconds causing an endless cycle of scooping, every application of lotion because my hands were so dry from hours of wearing gloves to clean or touch anything pretty much anywhere, were worth it because I was making magic. More importantly, I was learning a lot about putting others before myself.
I have always done what was the social norm. I graduated from my high school and went straight to the SEC university that was in my state and joined a sorority. I figured I'd keep doing what I was doing until I graduated. As much as I loathed her for it when I was crying before and after every every shift in February thinking that I couldn't handle this job, I have to thank my mom for pushing me to do this and for not letting me quit no matter how many times I begged her. I am so unbelievably grateful that I left my bubble. A very small amount of people get to say that they worked on Main Street USA or watched the fireworks every single night. I celebrated Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, Easter, Cinco De Mayo, Memorial Day, my 20th birthday, and the Fourth of July in Disney World. People save their whole lives to be able to do just one. I permanently signed my name on one of the beams for the Tron rollercoaster debuting in 2021, I enjoyed every single week of Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival, surprised my friends from school in Ft. Lauderdale, went to bible study on the hub grass in front of Cinderella's Castle, saw the intricate giant Easter eggs at The Grand Floridian, rode Haunted Mansion on its very first day with a ride photo and participated in the one-day-only special perks of that, became friends with others that work for Disney from all over the entire world, bought a Universal Studios annual pass, hosted my Mom, Aunt Amy, Jen, Grandma, Grandaddy, Anderson, Harrington, Hattie, Tara, Daddy, Shawn, Rowan, Sydney, Kate, and Sydney's Aunt Jill, worked the first ever Villains After Hour Event in Magic Kingdom, visited Miami, rode Hagrid's Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure within days of it opening, discovered a serious love for trying new foods and ate at more restaurants than I could possibly count, got to watch Hercules with my coworkers in PhilharMagic after Magic Kingdom closed for the night, and so much more.
I want to thank my co-workers for putting up with my complaints and attitude and for turning my frowns upside down. Thank you for making fun of me when I deserved it and building me up when I needed it. I've never met a more hardworking, genuine, kind, non-judgmental group of people and I'm lucky to have been part of the TLC crew. You all saw more than what I just portray on the outside and loved me for what is on the inside. I'm never going to forget the time we spent together.
The Disney College Program changed my life not just because I got to hang out in Disney World every day for 7 months, but because I was so challenged and so out of my comfort zone that I was forced to grow as a person. My relationship with Christ and my faith in Him has never been stronger, my perspective on my priorities in life have shifted, and I feel like I know more about myself than I could've ever learned while stuck doing what everyone else around me was doing. All it took was some faith, trust, and pixie dust.
"And let us not forget one thing -- that it all started with a mouse."

 

[GlamMistress]

I came across this post on another forum I frequent and I wanted to share here - it's probably the truest commentary on Churning ever and great for our new friends joining us here - especially the part at the end!

 

[schmass]

I tried to get a couple of the $100 VGCs at Shaws yesterday before the promo ended. There were only 3 left and the tabs on the back of all of them were ripped off so I had to pass.

 

[Judique]

All that varies by person, but no it doesn't have to extend the time you are in college. Most kids take the full semester off but some take an online course or two. They work alot, so it would be really hard to maintain full time courses while at DCP.
To stay on track, you can plan ahead and have done dual enrollment in high school (good idea even if you aren't DCP) or take classes in the summer. DD did deal enrollment and takes classes in the summer anyways, so DCP didn't put her behind.

For someone who is on a specific track where courses aren't necessarily offered every semester, like nursing, for example, it would be a challenge to do DCP in the last 2 years when you take those core classes. That person would want to do DCP early on in their college career or in the semester following graduation.

Older daughter got accepted into the program twice and did not go because it conflicted with her graduation schedule. The last time she got to the point of knowing she would start as a transportation CM. I really wanted her to go because of the discounts and the experience, but after we looked at the impact on her schedule, I was with her in canceling out. She had already done semester abroad so was not lacking in experiences.

And way back when, I saw the ad posted at my university, gave it passing thought and continued on my way. I had not yet traveled to Disney, so had no idea!

 

[havaneselover]

Oops, are we not supposed to do that? We're flying home from WDW on August 27th and my kids start on August 28th!

This is us to. We go back to school the Tuesday after Labor Day and I typically cruise the week before Labor Day returning home on Saturday or Sunday. I don't get why people wouldn't vacation the week before school starts.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

Lol! This validates paying for most of my John Deere lawn tractor with cashed out MR points for Home Depot gift cards! The offer's expiration was originally 7/31. It was still there last evening but is gone today as are the other sale cards. I also cashed out an additional $300 that I had built up before it ended. Now I've got a measly 6000 MR's but I'm still collecting. (Probably should have done the last $75 worth also.)

Oh dang it. I just looked and DH's walmart sale option is gone. No new sale offers for him. I did notice Uni tickets are on there though. I may use them for that eventually. DS11 is asking to go for his birthday.

 

[schmass]

This is us to. We go back to school the Tuesday after Labor Day and I typically cruise the week before Labor Day returning home on Saturday or Sunday. I don't get why people wouldn't vacation the week before school starts.

Our district always used to go back on the Tuesday after Labor Day. Now we start the Wednesday before but the kids have that Friday off. So they go 2 days and then have 4 days off, which doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me.

Next year we'll be going to Hawaii and getting back right before school starts but I want to get back a few days prior since there will be an adjustment to the time zone.

 

[chattadisser]

All that varies by person, but no it doesn't have to extend the time you are in college. Most kids take the full semester off but some take an online course or two. They work alot, so it would be really hard to maintain full time courses while at DCP.
To stay on track, you can plan ahead and have done dual enrollment in high school (good idea even if you aren't DCP) or take classes in the summer. DD did deal enrollment and takes classes in the summer anyways, so DCP didn't put her behind.

For someone who is on a specific track where courses aren't necessarily offered every semester, like nursing, for example, it would be a challenge to do DCP in the last 2 years when you take those core classes. That person would want to do DCP early on in their college career or in the semester following graduation.

I was going to do the DCP, even dragged a friend of mine to the info session and he ended up doing the program, but when I realized that it would put me a semester behind due to classes I had coming up that were only offered every fall semester I didn't even apply. I did go visit my friend while he was doing the DCP and it was fun to see a semi-look behind the scenes but I do wish someone had convinced me to go for it. Being a semester or even a year behind wouldn't have been that bad in the grand scheme of life, there's a lifetime ahead of working. My husband and I joke that if we had known what was ahead of us we wouldn't have worked so hard to graduate in 4 years!! I would encourage anyone to take advantage of opportunities like the DCP or study abroad while they can - life comes soon enough and these won't be options then.

Now - let's see what I tell my kids when they want to leave for some study abroad halfway around the world!!

 

[Limes96]

We get back from our DW trip next Saturday night and move DS2 to college 400 miles from home on Monday. We scheduled it that way so my boys could work their summer jobs as long as possible without having to take time off. DS2’s first day of class is 8/19, DS1 8/21, DD 8/21.

 

[wendow]

I don't get why people wouldn't vacation the week before school starts.

I just thought y’all needed to go back to school shopping - clothes, supplies, backpacks

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I agree. Sad there was no summer magnet! And these double festival magnets are killing me! I won’t be able to get Minnie so I will probably buy one off eBay. I didn’t get the Mickey cutting board last year because I heard about it too late and didn’t want to rework my short trip to run to Epcot more times. This year I will try to incorporate 4 swipes over 4 days, but I don’t want to make it unpleasant.

Thats a good idea. DIdn't even occur to me. I really want those coasters!!! I was just thinking 4 trips in the fall and that seemed hard to pull off. Love the 4 days idea.

 

[Alexle2007]

Y'all, just a vent...All our MK days for our upcoming trip have gone up according to TP's This *should* be a slower time. A lot of kids are going back to school, and what kind of decent parent is pulling their kid out the first week rotfl. I'm kidding...if you are *that* parent lol. Anyways, SWGE isn't open yet, it's surface of the sun hot, hurricane season and it's first weeks of school for like70% of the country. So, what gives people!?!

I am pretty sure this is not true for the NE or at least the mid-Atlantic states. My DS starts on 8/23 and that is only because he is starting private school. Otherwise, he would be starting after LD.

 

[havaneselover]

I just thought y’all needed to go back to school shopping - clothes, supplies, backpacks

My 15 year old typically wants to start back to school shopping on the last day of school!

 

[wendow]

I am pretty sure this is not true for the NE or at least the mid-Atlantic states. My DS starts on 8/23 and that is only because he is starting private school. Otherwise, he would be starting after LD.

I know the NE goes back late. We have always gone over LD and there are always plenty of NE families there still.

I think it’s the SWGE previews that are causing our increase more than anything.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

I'm a bad person. Just told my cousin's wife we may be in Disney LD weekend, which is when their baby's 1st bday party is...

I'm really not a bad person, I know. This is the one I mentioned a while back here on the thread... We booked our hotel in Feb and she told me about it the end of May, that they would do it that weekend. I'm working on not letting people make me feel bad for things that really shouldn't matter. We are close to this cousin and his wife, but we are not godparents or anything. Then I would feel more obligated. Also they are an 8 hour drive away no matter what, so it's not like it's in town or anything.

omgosh, I'd never drive 8 hours for a kid bday party. That is nuts. Don't feel bad at all. I don't even throw1st bday parties for my babies. My parents come and we do cake and focus on the child all day. No preparing party stuff and entertaining folks...all that takes away from the actual birthday child. JMHO.

 

[DisneyMandC]

Sorry, but the new stuff sucks harder than the prequels.

Episode 1 is my favorite

I love a good pod race and darth maul is my favorite character

The Force Awakens was fine, if a bit derivative. I was literally cringing in my seat and in physical pain when I watched The Last Jedi.

I liked Rogue One.

Hated Solo (except for Donald Glover’s young Lando).

Wow, @Lain. Them’s fightin words!! I love the new movies, though I will admit that the whole casino scene in TLJ was stupid. I absolutely love Rey though. As much as I hated Adam Driver in Girls, I do like him as Kylo Ren. Prequels were terrible but the Darth Maul fight scene is incredible in terms of both choreography and music. Empire Strikes Back is definitely my favorite. I didn’t really care for Rogue One, but I enjoyed Solo way more than I expected to.

 

[disneymagicgirl]

We only got one when we activated, I don't remember who it was addressed to.

We have gotten 0/4 magnets from disney. @MrPTato was kind enough to mail me one though. I was able to pick up both F&G ones this spring though!

 

[kmc8826]

@disneymagicgirl thank you for sharing your daughter’s post. I read it to my husband just now and am saving to have girls read later. Good job for pushing her! I know it is such a long shot to even be accepted these days but that is awesome she had the opportunity. My oldest is just starting junior high/middle school this year so we are a ways off but fingers crossed maybe one of them would have the chance. I did my undergraduate degree in three years and now it is completely meaningless...the DCP is something you have for your entire life.

 

[disfanforlife]

Thanks! I am guess I am looking at it wrong since yeah, while are you may be working for a Fortune 500 company, you are still a cashier,

They have the $50s in the Sam’s I go to in Hanover, PA. I was debating what to get for my current FL visit since I knew we were eating at Trail’s End one day. Of course, getting Tiki Bird raincoat put a little wrinkle in the plan.

Oh, just an FYI, the weather has been horrible Wed through Fri. The mornings start nice but by the afternoon is pouring through the evening. It looks like that pattern is supposed to continue today through next week thanks to some tropical fronts that are at least falling apart. I just hope for clear weather when we come back on the 15th and that we can make it out of here on time for our 8:25 pm flight this evening. Since it will after 1 am when I get home.

Yes, that is true. But it is still a nice addition to a resume. I have heard of many DCP alumni who have had doors open for them that otherwise may not have just by having Disney on their resume.