Where and how long should parents stay??

[chefmb]

I plan to drive down with my son in August to help share the driving (14 hours--probably split over 2 days) and get him settled in for his Fall 2014 College Program assignment. I'm looking for suggestions for convenient places to stay. I will probably use the car for the couple days while I'm there since he will have Disney transportation.
Question #2: How long should I stay? I know he will have various trainings to go to. Will he have any time off to hit the parks for a day, or is it right to training/work and I shouldn't even plan to see him after getting him settled in on the first day?? I also don't want to get in the way of him networking with other CPers. I will be flying home so he can keep the car with him. (Also, do any of the hotels nearby offer airport shuttles? I'll need to get there.) I think my DH is not coming with us so that he can save time off for Nov/Dec to go down together for about a week.

 

[wdwislife]

Most people stay at the Holiday Inn Lake Buena Vista, which is across the street from the Vista Way housing complex where check-in takes place.
New CPs don't have Traditions (Disney Company Orientation) until at least 3 or 4 days after their check-in date, which means that they are unable to get into the parks for free until they receive their IDs and Maingate passes on this day. Usually the first couple of days are spend settling into the apartment and exploring non-park places, such as Downtown Disney or the Disney resorts.
The Mears Shuttle is the best way to get back to the airport if you don't feel like springing for a cab.

Hope this was helpful!

 

[dsanner106]

I drove down with my first two children and will be driving my final child down for the fall advantage program. The first time we stayed 3 days, but did not really see my daughter beyond the day after check in. They are very busy, disney keeps them moving. I was able to help buy some groceries and last minute items for the dorm room. I have not stayed more than a day with the other 2 and would recommend no more than an extra day. As they check in early in the AM, I will help my daughter that day after check in and then leave, staying no extra days. They do have a presentation for parents while the kids are checking in, then free to go to their dorms.

 

[BobbyT]

Any hotel near Downtown Disney would be a good place to stay, Vista Way is about a 10 minute drive.

New CPs don't have Traditions (Disney Company Orientation) until at least 3 or 4 days after their check-in date, which means that they are unable to get into the parks for free until they receive their IDs and Maingate passes on this day.

They definitely don't give you your maingate passes on the day of traditions (unless thats changed since last summer). They are mailed to you a few weeks after you check in. But you have to make sure you change your address on the hub to your new apartment the passes will be sent back to your house in your hometown.

Question #2: How long should I stay? I know he will have various trainings to go to. Will he have any time off to hit the parks for a day, or is it right to training/work and I shouldn't even plan to see him after getting him settled in on the first day?? I also don't want to get in the way of him networking with other CPers. I will be flying home so he can keep the car with him. (Also, do any of the hotels nearby offer airport shuttles? I'll need to get there.) I think my DH is not coming with us so that he can save time off for Nov/Dec to go down together for about a week.

Just to give you an idea of how his check in week might go, here's how mine was scheduled

Monday: Check in/Move in at 8 am at Vista Way. Casting later that afternoon
Tuesday: Housing Meeting at The Commons
Wednesday: Nothing
Thursday: Traditions (extremely long day of General Disney Orientation, you get your name tag and I believe cast member ID as well)
Friday: Nothing
Saturday: Orientation day 1 @ job location
Sunday: Orientation day 2 @ job location
Monday: First day of work

And again, unless you want to pay $90 a person, hitting the parks for free won't be possible because he won't have his main gate passes for a few weeks after he checks in


And yes almost all of the hotels around that area offer airport shuttles

 

[netgirl614]

Your right, you don't get your main gate for a few weeks. But they should let him into the parks with his blue id for about two weeks or so (the time it takes to get maingate). That was how it worked for this spring anyways.

 

[touchthesky]

I did the Fall 2013 CP, and my parents stayed for about a week after I got down there. I was wishing they had left after about a day. It was my first time away from home and I'm very close with my parents, so knowing they were leaving in x days made the entire first week miserable. For me, I know it would have been an easier transition if they had left sooner rather than prolong the inevitable, so to say. Plus, as others have said, you won't be able to get into the parks, so I'd save the vacation days and go a month or two into the program when you can all go to the parks together.

 

[mobish]

My daughter did 2 CPs and is currently a PI. You are needed on check in day to help move the stuff in and do a Walmart run for odds and ends. After that they off with the roommates and on their way! We always left that night or first thing the next morning. If you are planning to go down for a visit book the room with the Cast Member discount as soon as they have access to the HUB; the discounted rooms go quickly if it is a popular time. Also check for blocked out dates on the main gate pass. Hope its a wonderful experience; it is for my daughter.

 

[chefmb]

Thanks for the responses. They will definitely help me make plans.

 

[wdwislife]

Your right, you don't get your main gate for a few weeks. But they should let him into the parks with his blue id for about two weeks or so (the time it takes to get maingate). That was how it worked for this spring anyways.

Thanks for the update! I didn't know if you get your maingate on traditions day or still a few weeks later now that CMs use their maingates to get into the parks instead of cast IDs.

 

[BadDad]

I plan to drive down with my son in August to help share the driving (14 hours--probably split over 2 days) and get him settled in for his Fall 2014 College Program assignment. I'm looking for suggestions for convenient places to stay. I will probably use the car for the couple days while I'm there since he will have Disney transportation.
Question #2: How long should I stay? I know he will have various trainings to go to. Will he have any time off to hit the parks for a day, or is it right to training/work and I shouldn't even plan to see him after getting him settled in on the first day?? I also don't want to get in the way of him networking with other CPers. I will be flying home so he can keep the car with him. (Also, do any of the hotels nearby offer airport shuttles? I'll need to get there.) I think my DH is not coming with us so that he can save time off for Nov/Dec to go down together for about a week.

I drove down too, stayed at ASMu. for $90/night.
Being on property gave me plenty to do, from downtown Disney, the ferry boats around BayLake, to the monorail while my D was doing her thing.

Took the Magic Express to the Airport on Wednesday after a breakfast with my D and Mickey Waffles.

BTW: Flying out tomorrow morning, CBR