The Disney College Program - Pros and Cons

[kimmar067]

We went when our son checked in. They had tents with fans set up for the parents. There were TVs playing and water, but I don't remember any food. Some characters visited for a while. Parents received a packet of information, but there was no formal program. It was August and crazy hot.

It seems like our son was gone about three hours (might not have been that long). We then helped him get his stuff to the apartment and took him to Walmart to buy a couple things. He had stuff scheduled for later afternoon/evening.

We treated our trip to take him as a vacation. We came down early and spent two days at (dare I say it) Universal. Our two younger sons also went there on CP check-in day. We came back twice during the CP, taking advantage of his deep resort discounts and free passes. The second time was at Christmas so the whole family coudl be together even though he had to work. We brought virtually all his stuff home that time and he flew home without even a checked baga few days later.

...and the tents - were they just a seating area?

 

[LisaR]

....WOW! I certainly appreciate your honesty....

It has been really interesting getting all the different perspectives. While some were broke, others had plenty of money. Some witnessed a lot of drinking, others didn't. Some say security was tight and others say it was lacking. I guess it always just depends on the circumstances. One thing that has been consistent with this thread is that while some loved the program more than others, it doesn't sound like anyone regrets it.

 

[tar heel]

Our DS came home with over $1,000, but he's not a partier. Some of his roommates had trouble living on the pay, but they also went out pretty much every night. We gave DS his plane ticket home for Christmas but didn't give him financial support otherwise.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

...I'm guessing that you did NOT have an auto...did your parents supplement your $$ ?

I didn't have a car and never really regretted not having one. My parents did not supplement me. I lived on a strict budget. On my days off, I was often in the park, but didn't eat there very often.

 

[kimmar067]

Our DS came home with over $1,000, but he's not a partier. Some of his roommates had trouble living on the pay, but they also went out pretty much every night...

...I think that THAT says alot right there...

 

[kimmar067]

I didn't have a car and never really regretted not having one. My parents did not supplement me. I lived on a strict budget. On my days off, I was often in the park, but didn't eat there very often.

...if you did eat in any of the parks, did you get any kind of discount? How about eating at a resort?

 

[kimmar067]

...a few people mentioned the hours they put into their work schedule - is there a minumum amount of hours that you HAVE to work? I'm estimating, at least 40 hours....

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

It has been really interesting getting all the different perspectives. While some were broke, others had plenty of money. Some witnessed a lot of drinking, others didn't. Some say security was tight and others say it was lacking. I guess it always just depends on the circumstances. One thing that has been consistent with this thread is that while some loved the program more than others, it doesn't sound like anyone regrets it.

It was my experience that it really depended on the individual. I lived on a very strict budget, so I had money. Other people chose to go to Universal, Sea World, many nights dining out, etc. so they had less. Completely a matter of priorities and the type of experience desired. I also felt that security was different depending on which apartment complex you were in. Same thing for the parties. I have yet to figure it out, but various people I have talked to who were there at all different times have said that Vista was a bit more wild than Chatham. Agree that everyone seems to have loved their experience. It is an amazing opportunity.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

...if you did eat in any of the parks, did you get any kind of discount? How about eating at a resort?

Gosh it's been so long. I know that we got a 20% discount on merchandise, but there were select times that it was 40% and 50%. I want to say that we had a similar discount at the restaurants, but please don't quote me on that. I do know that the resorts were treated the same as the parks as far as discounts went with merchandise.

 

[kimmar067]

Gosh it's been so long. I know that we got a 20% discount on merchandise, but there were select times that it was 40% and 50%. I want to say that we had a similar discount at the restaurants, but please don't quote me on that. I do know that the resorts were treated the same as the parks as far as discounts went with merchandise.

....well, that's still pretty cool.....

 

[luvavacation]

If you can do an Internship, and it is paid, you may be paid more than those in the College Program. My daughter's PI was related to agriculture, and she was paid quite well compared to what she was used to at home, had set hours that did not vary (though there was always the opportunity to add more hours if one desired, and I believe she did that a few times), and was able to meet all her bills and extra expenses without asking us for any extra.

She did go down to do her PI with money already saved, as she doesn't spend much, ever, and she did have her car, but it is tiny and gets something like 50 mpg, so she did not have to fill it up often! Plus, when I would go visit, I always took her grocery shopping for whatever she needed, my treat. Certainly, the pay was not enough to support a family, but for a sophomore in college that does not like to spend money, working 6 months at Disney was not a financial hardship for her.

To whomever does end up doing an Internship or the CP, and you do take your own car, be very, very careful driving down there. DD was rear-ended twice and sideswiped once (nothing that couldn't wait until she came home to be fixed, it was all at low speeds). She was warned by her Disney coworkers that you have to watch for tourists that don't know where they are going until they pass the exit, and elderly newcomers that are slower to respond to changes in traffic. Hit twice by tourists, and once by an older gentleman that had just moved down two weeks before! So be careful driving!

And good luck to all considering this!

p.s. - we helped her move in. We towed her car, fully loaded with stuff, and our car, fully loaded, to move her into the apartment, then spent a few days vacationing while she got settled in and started orientation. Unfortunately, the drive home was incredibly hard, as there were many tears, but knowing that we would go see her every couple of months did help. That might be the best part for us loving family members!

 

[kimmar067]

If you can do an Internship, and it is paid, you may be paid more than those in the College Program. My daughter's PI was related to agriculture....

...okay, now I'm confused - what's the difference?

 

[dakcp2001]

Our DS came home with over $1,000, but he's not a partier. Some of his roommates had trouble living on the pay, but they also went out pretty much every night. We gave DS his plane ticket home for Christmas but didn't give him financial support otherwise.

I did not party every night, not at all. I lived in Chatam which was not a party area like Vista. I had to get up early for work, so I appreciated that. My time off was mostly spent in the Disney parks or with my roommates. I was paying for my car insurance, my gas money I had a few minor car issues, flat tires and belts such nothing major, my roommates did get cable which I did not contribute to, I contributed to all other household expenses aside from that. I had to buy shoes to go with my costume, we wore hiking boots at DAK in my area, groceries, and I was in no way partying away my money or spending like crazy. It was not fun to see all my friends go to Universal and such when I could not afford to go. Trust me, I was not partying away my money as others have suggested. I did try to use the Disney buses in the beginning to get to and from work, but my schedule started to early it did not work out. They run really sparse in the early morning.

One tuesday a month me and my roomies went out to TGIFridays for a "family dinner" that was the night they offered SIN discounts (service industry night). Oh and security in Chatam was very tight.

 

[dakcp2001]

...a few people mentioned the hours they put into their work schedule - is there a minumum amount of hours that you HAVE to work? I'm estimating, at least 40 hours....

I think it was 32 a week in my area, but we could sign up for extra or ask for less. They tried to accommodate. During busy times it was all hands on deck and we all were scheduled over 40. OT was easy to get and we were able to volunteer to help out at other areas for OT and parade duty which was fun.

 

[kimmar067]

...I'll bet 'orientation' had to be kinda kewl....

 

[kimmar067]

...okay, now I'm confused - what's the difference?

...looking for a response....

 

[metalis4ever]

I went down with $1300.00 in the bank and came home with about $700 or so....But that was my own doing I went out a lot and although I wasn't old enough to "drink around the World" I was old enough to spend money on "eating around the World"....I remember getting a discount on food at most places it's been so long that I don't remember how much, but as a Cast Member I had the option of going backstage to the Cast Member dining area which was much cheaper than the Park food but not nearly as delicious.

I also brought my car which added the extra expense of gas as well as being the go to taxi for friends haha But having the car was convenient because I didn't have to rely on anyone else or the provided transportation. Not to mention I worked 4PM to Midnight and sometimes 1AM or 2Am so being able to hop in my car and get home was great.


Apologies to the OP and everyone else....but I'm going I just had both of the below on my mind.....feel free to ignore

Going slightly OT but I have to know, anyone else who participated in the 90's on this thread earn a "Mousters" or "Ducktorate" or did you just go for the certificate? I earned a "Ducktorate"

Going way OT and not to share another personal story but again this thread has got me thinking about my time during the WDWCP. My best experience as a CP, was when I was in the park as a guest and it was right after the "3'oclock" parade at MK and people were doing what they normally do, rushing this way or that and this little girl and her family had just come out of the Main Street Ice Cream Parlor and she had cone in hand and someone bumped into her and I saw her scoop go plopping down to the ground, I will never forget the look on her face. Her father give him credit turned right around and got back in the very long line. Seeing this transpire I got up from where I was sitting and went right up to the front showed my ID to one of the Cast Members and asked for a vanilla cone for Guest Recovery. I then took the cone over to the Father and Daughter, showed the father my ID and crouched down handed the girl the ice cream and seeing that she was wearing a Jasmine shirt I told her the Genie was busy helping Aladdin and Jasmine but he wanted me to give this to you. She took the cone and turned to her father with the biggest smile on her face, her father just smiled at me and nodded. It was a good day

 

[kimmar067]

I went down with $1300.00 in the bank and came home with about $700 or so....But that was my own doing I went out a lot and although I wasn't old enough to "drink around the World" I was old enough to spend money on "eating around the World"....

...Apologies to the OP and everyone else....but I'm going I just had both of the below on my mind.....feel free to ignore

Going slightly OT but I have to know, anyone else who participated in the 90's on this thread earn a "Mousters" or "Ducktorate" or did you just go for the certificate? I earned a "Ducktorate"

Going way OT and not to share another personal story but again this thread has got me thinking about my time during the WDWCP. My best experience as a CP, was when I was in the park as a guest and it was right after the "3'oclock" parade at MK and people were doing what they normally do, rushing this way or that and this little girl and her family had just come out of the Main Street Ice Cream Parlor and she had cone in hand and someone bumped into her and I saw her scoop go plopping down to the ground, I will never forget the look on her face. Her father give him credit turned right around and got back in the very long line. Seeing this transpire I got up from where I was sitting and went right up to the front showed my ID to one of the Cast Members and asked for a vanilla cone for Guest Recovery. I then took the cone over to the Father and Daughter, showed the father my ID and crouched down handed the girl the ice cream and seeing that she was wearing a Jasmine shirt I told her the Genie was busy helping Aladdin and Jasmine but he wanted me to give this to you. She took the cone and turned to her father with the biggest smile on her face, her father just smiled at me and nodded. It was a good day

...you truly have a kind heart - I'll just bet that girl will remember that incident FOREVER.

 

[frndshpcptn]

I earned my "Ducktorate"!!

I have it framed I was so proud of that. I still have the binder I had to create as part of the program, too.

 

[disney junky]

...looking for a response....

DD was in the CP as a cast member at ToT. There wasn't any pretense of traning to be a manager. Later she applied for a got a PI and worked at the Vacation Club. There was a bit more of an educational aspect to it. The PI was a higher wage. They are completely different programs.