Here's a pack list that may help. Enjoy your program!
Congratulations on being selected for the Walt Disney World College Program! This is such a wonderful experience and you will make life-long friends. Below is a simple pack list.
Basics:
Clothing for hot and cool weather (only pack for cool-cold weather if you will be on your program from late November until late March).
Pack a variety of casual clothing, as well as a few dressy items. When you attend traditions class and go through initial training, you will be asked to dress professionally. This means a nice pair of slacks, blouses, polos, dress shoes, skirts, dresses, etc
no spaghetti straps or flip flops at these activities which state professional dress. Think job interview. For men, slacks and a dress shirt (Tie Optional) and dress shoes. Dont forget to pack 1-2 swimsuits/trunks. Youll also want at least 1 hat (or baseball cap) and comfy shoes for those fun free park days! Bring 1 hoody or sweatshirt and 1-2 light sweaters as well.
Toiletries: Only pack travel-sized bottles of toiletries. You will have plenty of time to go grocery shopping (this is a great way to bond with your new roommates)! So only pack small bottles and buy full-sized stuff when you arrive. Do pack sun block though a nice big bottle (SPF 30 or higher) and use it!
Medications: Be sure you have 1-2 refills of any medications you are taking with you. And have your current prescriptions transferred to the Lake Buena Vista Walgreens located outside the entrance to Vista Way. This works if you end up living at Chattam as well.
Current Health Records & Vaccination Record: This is a good item to have, just in case. You can request this information from your family doctor. Disney provides a health clinic for College Program kids (CPs), which is located at EPCOT in the cast area. If anything happens, it will be helpful for you to have your health and vaccination info on you to take with you if you have to make a visit (due to injury, illness, etc
).
Pre-paid phone card or cell phone with an excellent nationwide plan: This is where a lot of CP kids get into trouble. At both apartment complexes, there are no phone bills. You can only call out of the complexs phone if you use a phone card. Or you can use your cell phone, but make sure you understand your plan and billing! A friend of mine didnt understand his plan and racked up over $1500 in cell phone charges! He has yet to clear his credit report of this debt.
Spending money: I recommend a minimum of $300. You will not receive your first paycheck until about the 2nd week you are there. So you will need some money to tide you over. And for goodness sakes, dont blow it right away (common mistake). Use it for groceries, tennis shoes or flats (depending on your role, youll be asked to purchase either all white or all black tennis shoes for your costume, or dress flats if you are a hostess or waitress. Wal Mart is a great location to get these for cheap and the Disney CP busses take you there. This is a Super Wal Mart, so a good place to get groceries). Now this also leads into the debate over credit cards. As a college student, you should have one credit card (to slowly build up good credit for later in life). If you do not have one, check into a student card from Discover. They are the best in my opinion. The credit line will be low, like $300-$500 so as not to allow you to go crazy. Keep it only for emergencies, but buy the occasional small item like groceries, then pay it in full each time. Simply having the credit card doesnt help your credit. You have to use and pay it off each time to build up great credit. I was wonderful with my credit cards until I went to Disney. You dont make much as a CP (although you will make more than I did in 2001), and it is really tempting to spend your credit card money on dinner or a souvenir for your sister. Fight the urge! I told myself back then, Ill probably never be able come back. I should spend it now while I can! It took me 2 full years to pay off my balance from Disney. And since then, Ive visited a handful of times. So have a credit card, but only use it if you absolutely must and pay it off in full each time.
Camera: You will want to capture every memory you have at Disney World with your new friends! Bring along your digital or film camera and pack plenty of batteries and/or film! Walgreens is right outside the gates to Vista and you can get film developed anytime real easily.
Pictures from home: Its easy to get a little home sick, even while at the Happiest Place on Earth! So pack a few photos of family or friends to look at when you feel a little blue.
A Diary/Journal: I started keeping one, but not until I was half way done with my program. And yes, while I have tons of great and fantabulous memories, I wish I had written down more to look over now. Be good about writing every day, or at least every other day about your experience.
IF YOU ARE DRIVING:
Bedding: Pack sheets and a comforter for a twin sized bed. Or purchase a set once you arrive. The bedding they provide is yucky and scratchy. Same goes for those flying purchase a cheap set once you arrive.
Laptop Computer: Vista Way did just announce on March 5th, 2007 that they had their grand opening for a brand new internet computer lab! However, it is always nice to use your own and internet is available in all apartments. So if you can, bring it!
Anything else you can fit in your car!
and was wondering what everyone else was bringing down. I have a printer but wasn't sure if I should bring it or not. I will be taking 2 of the Disney classes, so I didn't know if it was easy to find a printing service or better off to take my own.
