What To Bring & What Not To Bring?

[MTEPCOT55]

So January is getting closer & in another week or two I like many of you are starting to pack for living in Walt Disney World for a couple of months! So what items should we bring, leave at home, or just buy when we are down there? I only have a list of personal items to bring like my laptop, PC, digital camera, video camera, Nintendo Wii, my iTouch, some cloths, & bathroom items. Do the apartments we will live in have kitchen items like knives, forks, spoons, pots, pans, microwaves, plates, & a refrigerator? Is there couches & tables in the apartment? My roommate plans on bringing a TV but is there one already there? What are the beds like? Is it recommended that you bring your own mattress? Answering some these questions will be a big help. Thanks!

~Matt T.

 

[epfootballcutie04]

just for the sake of posting it, here's a basic list i went off of for spring 09... and will go off of for fall 10 if i get accepted again...

Bedroom/Closet
1. Bedding (twin size)
a. Comforter
b. Blanket
c. Sheets ( a couple sets)
d. Pillow (s)
e. Pillow cases
2. Bed Risers
3. Organizing stuff for under your bed
4. Decorations
5. White board and markers (for roommate messages, etc)
6. Extension Cords (2)
7. Fan (helps drown out sound from roommates and cooling down in summer months)
8. Garbage can/bags
9. TV Tray Table (helps a lot… in more than one way)
10. Clothes (business, casual, etc)
11. Shoes (business, athletic, etc)
12. HANGERS!
13. Laundry basket/hamper
14. Laundry soap, etc
15. Swimming Suit, beach towel, etc.
16. Calendar of some sort
17. Curtains
18. Something to wear for spring/winter formal

Bathroom/Linen Closet
1. Shower curtain
2. Shower organizer
3. Toilet seat cover/ Floor mat
4. Air freshner
5. Shampoo, etc anything you use to get ready with
6. Towels (bath and face)
7. Wash cloths
8. Straightner/curling irons
9. Medicine, if any

Kitchen/Living Room
1. Towels and wash cloths
2. Cookie cutters!!
3. Magnets to decorate fridge
4. Masking tape/duct tape/sharpies to help label food
5. Tupaware/paper plates/plastic silverware (trust me!)
6. Sandwhich maker/quesadilla maker, coffee pot
7. Curtains
8. Bean bag chairs
9. Lawn chairs for patio/deck
10. Decorations

Misc
1. Tool set/screw driver
2. Check in paper work
3. Insurance (car, health, dental)
4. Car registration
5. Passport/license/birth certificate
6. DVDs
7. DVD Player
8. Ipod/head phones
9. Computer/charger for laptop (printer if you think you need it)
10. Cell phone/charger


now, to answer your questions:

Do the apartments we will live in have kitchen items like knives, forks, spoons, pots, pans, microwaves, plates, & a refrigerator?
- The kitchens have all of that. silverware, pots, pans, microwaves, fridges (2 fridges and 2 freezers if you live in chatham 4 bedroom apartments), dishwasher, oven, etc.

Is there couches & tables in the apartment?
- There is a couch and a chair, a coffee table of sorts and 2 end tables in the living room.

My roommate plans on bringing a TV but is there one already there?
- There are no TVs in the apartments. You have to bring your own.

What are the beds like? Is it recommended that you bring your own mattress?
* The beds are ok. They are kind of hard and pretty squeaky... you don't need to bring your own mattress. Just purchase a mattress PAD and you should be ok

Check out my blog for more information! I have a few pictures of my apartment layouts and links you can go to for video tours of the different apartments... here's the link:


http://crissadcp09.blogspot.com/2009/08/living-situation-and-roomates.html

or check out youtube and search disney college program apartments

 

[teamlouise]

I'm sure Crissa already covered anything, and although I've never been I just wanted to add my recommendation that you budget plenty for buying cleaning stuff (like soap and swiffers and etc.) and really basic groceries like salt and butter and spices when you get down there. Because they add up fast but you (or at least I) definitely need them! These were expenses that I wasn't prepared for when I was setting myself up in my first apartment!

 

[ZeroToHero]

Wait... you're bringing a laptop and a desktop computer? I don't know if there will be enough room to set up both of those... do you need both?

 

[ajruck]

Well, it seems they've pretty much covered all the essentials above. Disney provides the furniture and kitchen utensils. I would recommend maybe bringing a cup or two? You can never have too many cups.

Also go into it with a less is more attitude. If you think it's something you may or may not use while you're there (certain DVDs or books, other crap, etc) I would opt for not bringing it. After a while if I realized I absolutely needed something, I'd just pick up another at Walmart or have my parents send it to me. Otherwise, it's nice to not have a bunch of stuff cluttering your apartment, especially if you're going to have a lot of roommates.

have fun!

 

[rcpromike]

I know I'm planning on bringing the small Foreman Grill from home, and I'll probably end up getting a cheap toaster as well (unless there's one in the apartment already). I may also steal a few other kitchen items from home to take with me. I'm definitely bringing my cheap plastic cups, because like someone above said, you can't have too many cups!

My biggest questions are about the closet space and how high up the beds sit. Main question about closet space is what shelving is like. I've watched a few video tours on YouTube, and if its two people sharing one of those walk-ins, I am anticipating quite a bit of space even after clothes are in there. Is it just the basic one shelf/hanger rack around the inside, or are there multiple shelves? On the beds, I've noticed that the dorms I've lived in tend to have beds that sit higher than your typical home bed frame does, allowing me to slide some very handy storage bins underneath. Are the beds in the Disney apartments of the typical dorm type with a higher floor clearance, or are they "normal" bed frame heights (i.e. of the kind you would buy at Sears)?

I've noticed people mentioning fans, but I thought the apartments were all air conditioned? Does the A/C have a tendency to not work, or has everyone lived with cold-blooded people who don't like the A/C on? lol

 

[epfootballcutie04]

Wait... you're bringing a laptop and a desktop computer? I don't know if there will be enough room to set up both of those... do you need both?

no, on the list, i just put both because some people dont have one or the other. you only need one computer. They do have an area where you can hook up a desktop, but it's not very big, so if you can, i recommend bringing a laptop, forsure.

My biggest questions are about the closet space and how high up the beds sit. Main question about closet space is what shelving is like. I've watched a few video tours on YouTube, and if its two people sharing one of those walk-ins, I am anticipating quite a bit of space even after clothes are in there. Is it just the basic one shelf/hanger rack around the inside, or are there multiple shelves? On the beds, I've noticed that the dorms I've lived in tend to have beds that sit higher than your typical home bed frame does, allowing me to slide some very handy storage bins underneath. Are the beds in the Disney apartments of the typical dorm type with a higher floor clearance, or are they "normal" bed frame heights (i.e. of the kind you would buy at Sears)?

I've noticed people mentioning fans, but I thought the apartments were all air conditioned? Does the A/C have a tendency to not work, or has everyone lived with cold-blooded people who don't like the A/C on? lol

If you can, bring bed risers. There isn't too much room for storage under them if you don't have them.

And the apartments are air conditioned Some roomies like it hotter/colder than others, though. Fans also really help drown out the noise your roommates make in the morning while you're sleeping. I know of a couple people, myself included, that can't sleep without the sound of a fan, haha... some people think it's weird, but eh! lol

but yeah as far as temps... the apartments are air conditioned

 

[epfootballcutie04]

I'm sure Crissa already covered anything, and although I've never been I just wanted to add my recommendation that you budget plenty for buying cleaning stuff (like soap and swiffers and etc.) and really basic groceries like salt and butter and spices when you get down there. Because they add up fast but you (or at least I) definitely need them! These were expenses that I wasn't prepared for when I was setting myself up in my first apartment!

YES! cleaning supplies and basic food items definitely add up!

If you can, go the first couple nights with your roommates and stock up on cleaning products and stuff like toilet paper and other stuff you can buy cheap in bulk. it will help keep costs down.

my roommates helped chip in for a cheap vacuum. You can rent one with your housing front office for a dollar... but the cheap vacuums aren't more than like 40 bucks... and you can use it whenever you want. It came in handy and we just donated it to the donation bins at the end of the CP.

 

[Toffy]

Question about the decoration... (in regards to your blog post about how you're not supposed to have posters)... Personally, I love putting all sorts of things on my walls, so I was wondering what the official rules are on that stuff and how to go about making my apartment decorated but still up to code.

 

[jewjubean]

I do have a recomindation if you guys are wanting to decorate more I would try to get into a Vista apartment because they are more lax in the hanging of stuff in Vista. We are a million years old while the others are newer and they actually care if stuff gets messed up.


And a biggie right here.
DONT BRING A BOAT LOAD OF STUFF YOU DONT USE AT HOME, there's not much room in these apartments with up to 8 people living in them.

 

[ZeroToHero]

no, on the list, i just put both because some people dont have one or the other. you only need one computer. They do have an area where you can hook up a desktop, but it's not very big, so if you can, i recommend bringing a laptop, forsure.

Oh, no, I meant the original poster, not your list, sorry! (I copied and saved your list into word, actually. And then spent a really long time reading your blog.)

 

[jewjubean]

Zero were you accepted into the program??

 

[MTEPCOT55]

Wait... you're bringing a laptop and a desktop computer? I don't know if there will be enough room to set up both of those... do you need both?

I have both so mine as well bring them. My PC will just be set up next to my night stand. I edit videos & upload pictures for a website so that is why I need my PC. My laptop is what I will use for web browsing since I can take it anywhere & just connect to WiFi.

 

[Pure_Imagination]

Don't forget hair dryers for those who like to use them

Do a lot of people bring musical instruments? I would like to have my guitar down there, but I don't know if that's a general annoyance in the apartments. I don't play my guitar very loudly, but I don't want to walk in with my roommates thinking *sigh* great, she has a guitar...

Was this a problem for anyone?

 

[ZeroToHero]

Zero were you accepted into the program??

Nah, still pending. Next week at the latest though, is when I'm supposed to hear back.

But I wanted to save it so I didn't lose the thread and then look through all my subscribed threads trying to find it, just in case I get in and go....

(And if I don't go/don't get in this semester, I'll be applying again, so it's a good list to have!)

 

[rcpromike]

A continuation on the decorations question...I'm guessing hanging stuff with nails is an obvious no-go, but what about those wonderful 3-M poster strip solutions? I use those a lot, as well as masking tape for really light things. I have several nice matted pictures (no frames, just a basic matte) I've taken that I would love to put up, and I've always used those 3-M poster strips to hang them.

 

[epfootballcutie04]

Question about the decoration... (in regards to your blog post about how you're not supposed to have posters)... Personally, I love putting all sorts of things on my walls, so I was wondering what the official rules are on that stuff and how to go about making my apartment decorated but still up to code.

I love putting stuff all over my walls, too The technical rule is, one bulletin board in each room. All decorations (including calendars) must be placed on that. Technically speaking, that is the only thing you are allowed to have up.

With that being said, it really depends on your inspectors. some of very stirct and others don't care as much.

Oh, no, I meant the original poster, not your list, sorry! (I copied and saved your list into word, actually. And then spent a really long time reading your blog.)

ahh lol ok I hope you got some good info from my blog lol

Don't forget hair dryers for those who like to use them

Do a lot of people bring musical instruments? I would like to have my guitar down there, but I don't know if that's a general annoyance in the apartments. I don't play my guitar very loudly, but I don't want to walk in with my roommates thinking *sigh* great, she has a guitar...

Was this a problem for anyone?

One of my friends had his guitar down there but I didn't know of anyone else playing it. I say bring it, but when you get there, talk to your roommates about how they feel regarding when/how loud you play it. It's best to get that talk done right away just so you don't make anyone upset

 

[iMia345]

Is it best to just buy everything once u get there?

I live in Chicago and our sales tax is like 11% so I'm thinking it will be cheaper down there, no?

I was only going to bring clothes, bulletin board, laptop, printer and that's about it.

 

[Pure_Imagination]

Is it best to just buy everything once u get there?

I live in Chicago and our sales tax is like 11% so I'm thinking it will be cheaper down there, no?

I was only going to bring clothes, bulletin board, laptop, printer and that's about it.

I've heard the Wal-Mart down there tends to sell out of everything once the CPs start to come, but that doesn't mean you can't do some shopping on the way down there.

Here's a tip I just thought of while looking through my closet:

When packing clothes make sure you remember to look through *all* your clothes. For example, if I just went through the main clothes I see in my closet I would have forgotten all about the summer clothes I had stacked in drawers. I really would have, lol. So don't forget about places you might have stored your summer clothes in.

One of my friends had his guitar down there but I didn't know of anyone else playing it. I say bring it, but when you get there, talk to your roommates about how they feel regarding when/how loud you play it. It's best to get that talk done right away just so you don't make anyone upset

Thanks for the advice! I'd probably just play whenever there wasn't anyone else around, or if it was maybe just me and a friend but I'll definitely have to reassure them that I wouldn't play while they were sleeping, watching tv, or whatever!

 

[kmg148]

Watch how many clothes you bring. I brought SO many more than I needed. Everyday (since I worked only nights) I ended up getting up, switching into gym shorts, coming back and showering, switching into pajama pants and then work clothes. I barely used any shirts that weren't t-shirts!