The Official "What to Pack" Thread

[killabee_1993]

I figured since January is bright on the horizon and with many others including myself that are going down to start the College Program, we should have an on-going thread where you post and suggest something or several things that everyone should pack to bring to Florida. Maybe make this thread a sticky or something. My biggest suggestion as an alumni is lots of underwear. I know that sounds kinda stupid, but if times are busy and laundry doing is few and far between, at least you have plenty of clean underwear even you are wearing old clothes. haha. Oh yea, and a fan. Florida is dang hot sometimes and you never know what temperature your apt. will be kept at.

 

[stc1223]

I just logged onto the college board with this specific topic in mind. I plan to take my son shopping today and would like to have everything ready before we head down so we don't have to go looking for a Target the minute we get down there. We're leaving on the 7th. I never thought of a fan, but I'll put it on my list. We'll be sure to make a giant pile of underwear. Is there a dress code for when you're at Disney classes or seminars? I'm still pretty much in the dark about what he'll be doing. Thanks for any more suggestions.

 

[sarbruis]

I think you've got to be business casual for the classes and whatnot (same for Traditions).

And Florida isn't hot at all. But if you're bringing a fan, I would suggest a ceiling fan. Disney's very lenient about installing ceiling fans.

 

[IamCourtney]

Maybe I don't get the joke...but are you kidding?

You can't even put thumbtacks in the walls...what makes you think you can install a ceiling fan? The only problem you should encounter with room temp would be roommate conflict. Price Management (the management company that operates the apartments) WANTS you to keep your apartment between 70 and 75. Too hot creates a lot of mildew. They will tell you that you aren't paying for it, so keep it cool. If you think you'll need a fan, bring one, but the problem most of us have is getting roommates to keep it warmer...my roommate likes it below 67, and that gets really cold. She's from IL and I'm from TX.

You do need business casual clothing for all non-costume WORK activities including and classes you take. You need to have shoes to go with these clothes. Shoes is one of the most forgotten things when people arrive at Traditions. If you are not in Disney Look guidelines when you arrive, they will tell you to fix what is wrong; if you show up to Traditions without it fixed, you will be sent home until it is fixed. There's no way around it...if you need to shave, just shave, or you will be sent home--for good.

As far as other things to pack: I brought clothes, TV, bed spread and pillow, 3 sets of twin sheets (I have A LOT of clothes and no time, so changing sheets happens more often than laundry), clothing hangers (I worked in retail before I came, so I had a whole box--200--and used every one of them between roommate and me, they don't give you these), cleaning products (one reason I was assigned to housekeeping), power strip for all the electronics, alarm clock that I don't use (most people use cell phones, because you don't necessarily spend every night in your apartment!), computer and printer (I am the only person I know that has a printer--makes me kinda popular when the Learning Centers are closed), laundry bags (but I use garbage bags more), and basic toiletries.

On arrival day, Roommate and I went to WalMart and bought things like laundry detergent, garbage bags, iron and small ironing board, broom and dustpan, more pillows, MATTRESS PAD/egg crate (the beds are not comfortable at all), and various kitchen utensils not inlcuded in the kitchen.

Since then, I've bought curtains (the sun is very bright early in the morning), more kitchen things like cheese grater, ice cream scoop, mixing bowls, tupperware, hand mixer, bathroom rug and shower curtain/liner (to replace the one they gave that was really thin and got nasty quickly), and a cheap dvd player and various dvds (we watch movies more than tv a lot at night).

That's pretty much everything, and I move out on January 5 and plan to take all of it with me, so I think it was all worth it.

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

If you find that you forgot anything, there's a Super Walmart about 5 mins away from Vista Way, and a Super Target about 8 mins away.

As far as hangers go, most of the costuming locations on property (where you get the clothes you wear while working) have gone to cast zooming, which means that you can check out a few costumes, so you don't have to change at work every day. If you're like me and just take your costumes back weekly and get clean ones (why should you pay to wash the clothes when Disney will do it for you?), then you'll end up with a lot of hangers.

 

[mikkiblueeyes]

What is Traditions?

 

[natty41]

The alums at my school suggested that if we drive down (which I am) to bring our clothes in those rubbermaid tubs like the ones that are flatter and can be stored under a bed and such.

*So here's my random question* Is there room under the bed to shove the flat containers or will they be bunking in my car for the whole time I'm there?

 

[mikkiblueeyes]

Yeah, I'd like to know how much room there is for "stuff"? My daughter just bought 2 of everything and she wants to know how much room she'll have to store stuff. Also they told her to buy a combo lock. What would that be for?

thanks
Michelle

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

If there's not room under the bed, you can always go out and buy a set of cinder blocks, put the bed on them, and have 12 inches more storage space.

 

[IamCourtney]

The beds aren't amazingly tall, but I fit things under mine. You can also buy bed lifts for about $8 a set at Walmart. My old roommate had them and she stored a lot under there. We also have a "Locked Air Handler Closet" in the kitchen, but we picked the lock and its a huge empty closet. Almost everyone opens them. You will have about half a walk in closet to hang your things and store stuff, plus about 3 drawers in the dresser, and a night stand with two drawers. It really depends on how you and your roommate divide things.

Traditions is the course you are required to go to before you start any training. Its part of the hiring process, and it teaches you about the history of the company, its vision, purpose, its future, etc.

You will get a lot of hangers from costuming, but it will be at the rate of like 5 a week, so if you want to hang your clothes when you get there, you should bring hangers.

 

[stc1223]

Thank you for all of your suggestions. I was wondering about things in the bathroom. Is there room for everyone to keep his/her soap, shampoo, shaving gear, etc? Or do they keep them in their rooms after they're done?

 

[sarbruis]

I'm sorry for confusing you. I was indeed kidding. I'm well aware that Florida is ridiculously hot and that Disney would throw you out if you tried to install a ceiling fan.

 

[IamCourtney]

That's okay...I just couldn't tell if you were kidding or if you were one of those know-it-all alumni (I know I sound like one of these, but I really don't mean to, I just want to be helpful) that think they can get away with things. I've been here 7 months, and I will be managing some CPs in about a week, so I've seen it all and will be dealing with it later.

As far as bathrooms go: It depends. That's not a very good description, but every bathroom in every apartment is different. Our vanity is outside the bathroom, and we have space for everything we want to keep where ever we want to keep it, but there are only 2 of us. The apartment across the way from mine only has 1 bathroom for 3 girls, but its the biggest bathroom I've seen anywhere else on property. You probably won't be sharing your bathroom with more than 2 or 3 people, so you should really be okay, as long as everyone is organized. I did buy a bathroom tote to keep all my hair product and toothbrush and stuff in, because the inspection team doesn't like to see stuff all over the place. They DO NOT like clutter. I have had 3 out of 3 perfect inspections

So much for not looking snooty, but it really is easy to do. They give you candy, too!

 

[TXTink]

That's okay...I just couldn't tell if you were kidding or if you were one of those know-it-all alumni (I know I sound like one of these, but I really don't mean to, I just want to be helpful) that think they can get away with things. I've been here 7 months, and I will be managing some CPs in about a week, so I've seen it all and will be dealing with it later.

As far as bathrooms go: It depends. That's not a very good description, but every bathroom in every apartment is different. Our vanity is outside the bathroom, and we have space for everything we want to keep where ever we want to keep it, but there are only 2 of us. The apartment across the way from mine only has 1 bathroom for 3 girls, but its the biggest bathroom I've seen anywhere else on property. You probably won't be sharing your bathroom with more than 2 or 3 people, so you should really be okay, as long as everyone is organized. I did buy a bathroom tote to keep all my hair product and toothbrush and stuff in, because the inspection team doesn't like to see stuff all over the place. They DO NOT like clutter. I have had 3 out of 3 perfect inspections

So much for not looking snooty, but it really is easy to do. They give you candy, too!

Wow!! An Inspection Team??? I had no idea!! Sounds great to me...keep everyone "neat and clean"!

Thanks for all of your insight Courtney!!

 

[sarbruis]

What kind of candy!

 

[killabee_1993]

Yea, what kind of candy? We never got any, but our room was usually trashed. I think over the course of five months, we spilled half a dozen full pitchers of kool aid and put all kinds of other food stains on the carpet. It was no suprise that after our last inspection, they informed us that they were gonna be putting new carpet in our apartment almost immediately after we left. And as far as bathrooms go, I think we had a decent amount of space and I know this sounds pathetic, but my roommate and I didnt find out that the mirror even opened until we were 3 months into the program. Thats pretty sad

 

[Principessa1284]

Somebody said somethng about bringing curtains? I read that we're not allowed to put anything on the windows.. do they allow darker curtains?

 

[IamCourtney]

For our first inspection we got a 24 pack of Ferrero Rocher chocolate hazelnut things, then the next one we got just 4 of them, and this time we got a couple handfuls of Hershey's kisses. I hate chocolate. But whatever.

I've been in my apartment for the past 2 inspections, I've been there when the pest control people and air conditioning people have been in there...not one person has ever said anything about the curtains I put up. The woman on the inspection team always tells me that she like what I did with the solarium (my bed is in there) and she likes my bathroom (its just plain purple, but I think I'm the only person that put up a real shower curtain and rugs and stuff.

You can hang things on suspension rods, but you can't drill into the walls. You can have curtains (as far as I know) as long as nothing can be seen from outside. I've used thumbtacks for everything including my christmas decorations, and no one has said ANYTHING to me.

I do have 2 write ups for leaving my door open and someone left a bag of trash near the stairs so they blamed it on us. Oh well, they both say "First Offense" and I only have 4 days left!

 

[Princesslizmac]

On the topic of cleaning stuff, are thier vaccum cleaners there that we can use?

 

[IamCourtney]

They aren't the most amazing vacuums, but there are vacuums to borrow at the club houses. We borrowed one twice...