Major Homebody Applying for DCP -- Advice, Please!

[majorbsquared]

I haven't been on these boards for a while, but I often browse them for the latest details on the DCP application process.
My story is that I've been wanting to do the DCP since middle school. It's something that I've always pictured myself doing eventually -- Disney is my "happy place."
Being an education major, I didn't have an opportunity to do the program while in school (I applied once and was accepted, but had to decline due to a class I found out was only offered in the spring that I had to take to graduate on time). Now, however, I'm getting ready to apply again for a potential Fall 2015 internship.
The "realness" of it all has had me really considering if I should go ahead and do this. I'm an education major, but I have always pictured myself doing this program and THEN teaching.
However, what's really keeping me nervous is the idea of homesickness. I'm a major homebody, and go to a college that is close to home (not on purpose -- it was the best program). I see my family a lot, and I enjoy being home for breaks and such. It's always hard at first to go back, but eventually, I get into a groove and don't crave home as much anymore.
This DCP matter is different, though -- this is multiple states away from home. I won't be able to go home for six months. The thought of it makes me tear up a lil'.
I also have an anxiety disorder that I have been taking treatment for, which I suppose is important to mention -- however, I don't want my anxiety to "win" in this case, you know?
The Fall program also means missing Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's....all major events with my fam. Oye.
I know in my heart that I want to do this. However, I'm terrified that I'll get down there and discover it's too far from home for me.
I don't wanna give up.
Thoughts/advice from anyone? Muchas gracias.

 

[sgmurkowski]

I did the college program Fall 2012 and I was a bit worried. I went in knowing not a single soul but I bonded with my direct roommate that I found on a FB group. Once I had found her I knew that I was set!

This is an opportunity that will suck when you miss the family and home. But there is Skype and facetime and they can always come out and see you. I didn't go home for six months either and there were times that it was REALLLLY HARD! But I had bonded with my roommate and a few other suitemates and that helped keep the homesickness away. Also the care packages were a bonus from the rents!

As for holidays. Yeah. Those are hard. But I worked in Frontierland and we had a family. A bunch of us got together at my apartment and had a thanksgiving day brunch and watched the parade. I was lucky and had family friends in town. But after I saw them my roommate and I went out to the parks.

For Christmas we all went to breakfast as a froland family when we got off work and then after waking up on Christmas my suitemates and I unwrapped presents we got each other & went to breakfast and then went to Celebration to walk around and enjoy the day before we all went to work.


I skyped with my family on both of those holidays and that helped. But I think if you get connected with your suitemates as well as the people you are working with you create you own Disney family and it makes the holidays a bit better not being at home. Not saying I didn't miss Christmas with my parents and puppy.... I mean I DID. But I knew that I had people who were in the same boat as me and we all wanted to have the holiday feeling.

My experience on this program was something that changed my life in so many ways from the people that I met (I met my boyfriend there and my best friend now) to what I learned about myself. I'm a homebody in a way. I went to college 20 from my house and I still live there being 24. I love my family and I was comfortable with my life. This program pushed me to be interdependent in ways I didn't know that I could as well as I gained knowledge and honestly has the best time of my life. I look back at those holiday pictures of all of me and my CP friends and smile because I knew I was with a family.

I hope that helps

 

[DisneyFansInNYC]

My daughter just got accepted for the 2015 Spring DCP and she is only there for 4 months. Actually she could have picked dates that it would have been 3 1/2 months. I don't know if the Fall semester is different. She could have done 6 months but is also a homebody and chose to do the 4 months and will try to extend it if she is not homesick. She does dorm at her college but it is less than an hour from home - so she comes home just about every weekend. We are also planning to see her in Disney World often. We are going in Jan, Feb and April - plus we have friends going in March. She LOVES Disney and we know this will be a great opportunity. I say go for it. I always think of the worst case scenario - and that is that you go and have to leave and come home. It will not be a failure - but that you tried it and didn't care for it.

 

[disfanforlife]

I don't think that anyone can give your the right answer. Ultimately, the only way to find out how it will be is to go for it! I do agree, the Fall is a harder time to be gone because of the holidays. But, if you don't apply - you may always regret missing out on this one chance to go. My DD is a homebody too and goes to school only 40 minutes from home, but she does live there and doesn't come home a lot. Just "knowing" we are nearby is enough for her. Still she chose to apply for this spring because she didn't want to miss the holidays. She only applied for the regular DCP program. She wasn't given a choice on dates - I don't know if it has to do with her job but she will only be there for 3 1/2 months. I already told her that I wouldn't be surprised if she loved it so much and decided to try and extend. I wish you the best whatever you decide to do.

 

[::Snow_White::]

I was in the same position as you are when I applied for the DCP of Fall 2013. I live at home and go to school, I'd never been away from my family for more than a few days and I was so nervous that I'd term. I ended up LOVING it and didn't have any problems.

Tips:
Go for the shortest time you can, pick later check-in dates.

Make friends with anyone else applying either online or on FB, that's where I met all my best friends that I still talk to everyday.

Schedule times to go home or have your family visit. Days off are a little difficult but even 2 days or so may help you.

I didn't mind being away from home for the holidays, my family sent me care packages and I worked every holiday, so our managers held parties in the break room. All my coworkers and I had a nice time working regardless, all the guests were really great too. I'll agree that we were all like family so it wasn't so bad. Plus there are all the awesome festivities going on in the park for your days off.

Talk to your family a lot, call, text, skype anything you need. Overall once you make a few friends and learn what you're doing it gets so much easier and it speeds by. You can always term if you're having too much anxiety, better to try than not to.