College Program Parents Thread...

Thanks for that info, much appreciated. One thing I'm trying to find out is DD is saying she doesn't have to live in Disney housing but can make her own arrangements. I've not found this to be the case, and I would think the dorm would be much better. I understand they do inspections so how could they do that if some people live off property? Anyone know about this?

Neptune's Fork said:

Thanks for that info, much appreciated. One thing I'm trying to find out is DD is saying she doesn't have to live in Disney housing but can make her own arrangements. I've not found this to be the case, and I would think the dorm would be much better. I understand they do inspections so how could they do that if some people live off property? Anyone know about this?

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Did she get accepted at WDW? At DL they must live in housing. At WDW they do not have to live in housing. As a matter of fact, there was a huge uproar January of 2016 because Disney offered extensions to many CPs but without housing. Many Parents felt that Disney owed their kids housing if they offered them an extension. But rather than not offer an extension at all, Disney put it on the table that they could extend but stil had to be out of housing by the end of their first program.
You can even move out of housing during your program. There is a procedure and housing can advise them accordingly as details on how to do this can change slightly. The only hard and fast rule is if you extend and opt in for housing, you could still move out...HOWEVER you will still be responsible for the rent until the end of the extension.
Something else to consider is that properties in Orange and Osceola counties are required by law to have a minimum of a 7 month lease. So you may have to rent for longer than you need. Also utilities will be extra whereas at Disney they are included. And something else to keep in mind is if they get termed, they will still be on the hook for their rent if they lease off property!! Disney terms over 500 kids per program...Sometime programs they term a lot more.

Also just so both of you understand, these are actual apartment bldgs in full complexes. These aren't dorms at all. Each apt will a living room and dining room, a kitchen, and then depending on the apartment the number of bedrooms. And the units my kids have been in have always had walk in closets and onsuite bathrooms. My kids have never lived in the 4 bedroom apts, but it is my understanding these have 2 full and 1 half bath. At least the ones they visited, that was how they were set up. HTH

Another thing about housing is if you live off property you do not get to use the free transportation. So if you are responsible for getting yourself to work snd if your car breaks down or you are late because of traffic Disney is much less forgiving to CMs who drive themselves. I was in housing during christmas and was late to work even though I was on a bus that should have gotten me there an hour and a half early. Myself and the coworker who were with me received no points and we only were about 5 minutes late. Drivers and those off property weren't given as much leeway because they had no proof of when they left their house or the complex. Bus users could take the number of the bus, the drivers name, and get transtar to confirm so more than enough proof for Disney that you did your part to try and get there on time.

wilkeliza said:

Another thing about housing is if you live off property you do not get to use the free transportation. So if you are responsible for getting yourself to work snd if your car breaks down or you are late because of traffic Disney is much less forgiving to CMs who drive themselves. I was in housing during christmas and was late to work even though I was on a bus that should have gotten me there an hour and a half early. Myself and the coworker who were with me received no points and we only were about 5 minutes late. Drivers and those off property weren't given as much leeway because they had no proof of when they left their house or the complex. Bus users could take the number of the bus, the drivers name, and get transtar to confirm so more than enough proof for Disney that you did your part to try and get there on time.

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This is very true, but it is still at the manager's discretion as to whether or not to assign the half point for being late. We know CPs who fought it and lost because they were told it was a manager's decision whether they wanted to waive the half point. Just because you are late and you used Transtar doesn't give the CP an automatic get out of jail free card when they are late even if it is Transtar's fault. The only exceptions we have known to this is when the bus is in an actual accident or that one that caught fire. DD had her own car but occasionally used Transtar. The bus she was on broke down on 535 and they actually had to bring another bus to pick them up. She was 5 minutes late to work and her boss did not assign her a half point but a friend in the same park at a different location was assigned a half point. When the friend tried fighting it, she was unsuccessful.

stitchlovestink said:

This is very true, but it is still at the manager's discretion as to whether or not to assign the half point for being late. We know CPs who fought it and lost because they were told it was a manager's decision whether they wanted to waive the half point. Just because you are late and you used Transtar doesn't give the CP an automatic get out of jail free card when they are late even if it is Transtar's fault. The only exceptions we have known to this is when the bus is in an actual accident or that one that caught fire. DD had her own car but occasionally used Transtar. The bus she was on broke down on 535 and they actually had to bring another bus to pick them up. She was 5 minutes late to work and her boss did not assign her a half point but a friend in the same park at a different location was assigned a half point. When the friend tried fighting it, she was unsuccessful.

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Very true. I did call before hand to the number of the back of ID calls so they said that helped too. Of course at the end of the day it is up to management but personal car vs transtar can be the difference sometimes.

wilkeliza said:

Very true. I did call before hand to the number of the back of ID calls so they said that helped too. Of course at the end of the day it is up to management but personal car vs transtar can be the difference sometimes.

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Agreed!
And I also believe that mgt knows who its chronic offenders are and tends not to cut them slack even when they could because they are habitual about it.
One thing both of mine learned VERY QUICKLY working at Disney is if you are "on time", you are late, and if you are "early", you are on time! LOL

The big housing rule that does not change is nothing that resembles a weapon including blasters and light sabers. They may have relaxed on light sabers but I remember housing telling us if we worked at a Star Wars area it was to stay in our work lockers or our private vehicles. I worked in Epcot and during the fall they do a culutral exchange. Japan gave out really nice heavey weight throwing stars. Most of us kept them in our work locker but one CM took his back to apartment and threw it under his roomies bed. He completely forgot about it until a housing check when they asked whose it was no quicker then him saying mine was he termed and on a flight back home. It was crazy how 0 tolerance turly means 0 tolerance.

Yes, with the rules it is very black and white. There is no gray area.

Neptune's Fork said:

Thanks for that info, much appreciated. One thing I'm trying to find out is DD is saying she doesn't have to live in Disney housing but can make her own arrangements. I've not found this to be the case, and I would think the dorm would be much better. I understand they do inspections so how could they do that if some people live off property? Anyone know about this?

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My dd started last fall...early Sept. She wanted to live off-site. But, that was a big no for us! She would need a car and we weren't prepared to do that. We felt she needed to live in Disney housing until she figured out the area. Yes, she has been going to WDW since she was 5 and could probably give park tours. But, that's the parks, it isn't the outside world! And there are some very not so good areas in Orlando!!! We told her we would discuss living off-site after her program ended. So, she lived with 5 other girls and it was okay. Things got a bit hairy towards the end of the program....girl issues.
Anyway...she now lives in a two bedroom apt in Clermont, with her boyfriend and a girlfriend. BUT...she has graduated from college, and has no intentions of returning home to NE. She hopes to continue working for Disney when her current extension is over in May. So, having a lease isn't an issue.
The only way CPs, who aren't planning on staying for a long period, can stay in an off-site apt is to find a situation where someone is looking to sublet their room in an apt.

As far as your other questions go.... We found that dd barely existed, still the case. Disney takes their rent out of the paychecks. If your kids aren't working at least 30 hrs a week, that doesn't leave much wiggle room for fun stuff on top of food!!

Time off hasn't happened. Before they changed the rules, dd found it easy to just give away a shift or two if she needed the time off. She has requested time off but has yet to get it. Now, she can't pick up shifts nearly as easily if she needs the money. We don't ask her to take time off if we're visiting...this is her job, not a vacation for her. She needs to be there when she's scheduled.

Disney has rules in place, and man, they follow those rules. I guess that's a good thing. A lot of these kids have never been on their own before. I know that they changed the giving away shifts thing because some kids were giving away so many shifts (so they could just go to the parks and play) that they didn't have enough money to pay their rent! I thought they should be given one warning. If it happened again, they got termed. Evidently Disney didn't think that was a good idea. So, all the kids get to suffer.

So proud to say my daughter got accepted for Fall 2017!!!!

Congratulations to all the new acceptances! Saw on facebook that there were another wave of acceptances!

goofy4tink said:

My dd started last fall...early Sept. She wanted to live off-site. But, that was a big no for us! She would need a car and we weren't prepared to do that. We felt she needed to live in Disney housing until she figured out the area. Yes, she has been going to WDW since she was 5 and could probably give park tours. But, that's the parks, it isn't the outside world! And there are some very not so good areas in Orlando!!! We told her we would discuss living off-site after her program ended. So, she lived with 5 other girls and it was okay. Things got a bit hairy towards the end of the program....girl issues.
Anyway...she now lives in a two bedroom apt in Clermont, with her boyfriend and a girlfriend. BUT...she has graduated from college, and has no intentions of returning home to NE. She hopes to continue working for Disney when her current extension is over in May. So, having a lease isn't an issue.
The only way CPs, who aren't planning on staying for a long period, can stay in an off-site apt is to find a situation where someone is looking to sublet their room in an apt.

As far as your other questions go.... We found that dd barely existed, still the case. Disney takes their rent out of the paychecks. If your kids aren't working at least 30 hrs a week, that doesn't leave much wiggle room for fun stuff on top of food!!

Time off hasn't happened. Before they changed the rules, dd found it easy to just give away a shift or two if she needed the time off. She has requested time off but has yet to get it. Now, she can't pick up shifts nearly as easily if she needs the money. We don't ask her to take time off if we're visiting...this is her job, not a vacation for her. She needs to be there when she's scheduled.

Disney has rules in place, and man, they follow those rules. I guess that's a good thing. A lot of these kids have never been on their own before. I know that they changed the giving away shifts thing because some kids were giving away so many shifts (so they could just go to the parks and play) that they didn't have enough money to pay their rent! I thought they should be given one warning. If it happened again, they got termed. Evidently Disney didn't think that was a good idea. So, all the kids get to suffer.

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CPs are Full Time CMs which means they are guaranteed 30 or 32 hours (I forget which of those 2 is F/T). If they aren't getting scheduled for that then they need to talk to their manager because that is a part of their contract with Disney.
Some positions and locations can pick up shifts easier than others. For example, it tends to be very difficult to pick up extra shifts if you work front desk at a hotel. On the other hand it can be easier to pick up shifts if you work a large merchandise location (i.e. MouseGears or the Emporium) or attractions. Attractions can vary based on the park and whether it's an "E ticket" attraction (i.e. Haunted Mansion, 7D Mine Train, Sp Mtn). Usually and I stress usually, those working in parks get more hours than those working in hotels (except housekeeping, they generally get a set schedule...not always but seems to be the pattern). Also those working in MK tend to get more hours than those working in AK or the Studios (since those parks tend to have the shortest operating hours).

I agree with goofy4tink. Many bad apples have ruined it for the entire group. I have seen the problems unfold over the 4 years I have watched the program closely because my kids were in it multiple times....
1. the internet has helped kids get in who probably shouldn't be there. But with all the info out there, the kids are learning this is what you say to get in. And often it is working. Eventually many of them get weeded out and termed, but they never meant what they said in their interview.
2. Some kids think it is a 4 to 7 month Disney vacation with a little bit of work thrown in here and there. The stuff that some of them post in their FB groups is CRAZY!!! I saw a post where someone was offered a role they really weren't interested in so they weren't sure if they were going to accept their offer. Others were telling them, well it's only about 50% work and the other 50% was playing in the parks!! Seriously???
3. The kids learned the system well enough to know that they could give away shifts or if no one took the shift or it was too last minute, they'd call out and go to Universal instead. This leaves Disney short staffed and the guests pay when too many do this. The kids learned how frequently they could call out without getting to the point of jeopardizing their job. I kid you not, there were constant posts on how to do it and tracking your points, etc....

I do believe that this is an excellent program for those participating with the right mindset. But the reality is they are cheap bulk labor. I think if done right and well, it can be a benefit to both parties. But the kids need to realize it is a job first, and the off the clock fun is the bonus... not the other way around.

My younger DD worked in a park and got decent hours. She managed just fine. She paid her rent, bought groceries, gas, paid her own car insurance (and she has her own policy, she's not on ours!), shopped some, went out to eat some (some off property and some TS restaurants with roommates or workmates), did other things like Cocoa Beach, Busch Gardens, etc... if they work in the parks (esp MK) the Fall kids can get swamped with hours for a few weeks around Thanksgiving and Christmas/New Year's. Mine was getting 60+ hours in those weeks.

One thing I have found is each CP's experience is different based on many factors....you can have 2 CP's at the same location but ask them the same questions and chances are you will get different answers.

stitchlovestink said:

something else to keep in mind is if they get termed, they will still be on the hook for their rent if they lease off property!! Disney terms over 500 kids per program...Sometime programs they term a lot more.
HTH

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I just want to say that getting termed is, in my opinion, difficult. So I'm not sure I would factor that in to housing choices- if living off site is perfect for your kid in every way except for the fear of being termed, I would go off site.

If you actually follow the rules, do the right thing and become halfway decent at your job, you won't be termed. We had a coworker who many of us really WANTED to get termed- they were truly awful and messed up safety protocols many times- and they still weren't. Show up to work, don't drink if you are underage, follow safety rules at your location, and I honestly think you should be all set.

One thing most CPs don't do is pick up hours off of the extra hours board. If you work almost any in park r0le you probably are okay for crowd control. That means that once the positions are posted for anyone to pick up (so it goes people in those roles, then if still available that park but not in that role, then if still available it goes to anyone) you can grab them. In my time I picked up FP+ at DHS and Main Street Operations at MK. DAK was sadly the only park of the main 4 that I never worked at. I also was able ot pick up just random PAC roles at EPCOT. This could be anything they thought they needed extra bodies for so one shift you may be helping with overflow form Norway and the next you were helping at the American Gardens theater. Basically if Disney lets you take the shift you can work the shift so if CPs want to work there are often ways to get more hours. It is also great for those who want to stay with the company because you get to know the other parks and other managers so when your time comes to transition to PT and FT you have people who know of you.

Hannahinwonderland said:

I just want to say that getting termed is, in my opinion, difficult. So I'm not sure I would factor that in to housing choices- if living off site is perfect for your kid in every way except for the fear of being termed, I would go off site.

If you actually follow the rules, do the right thing and become halfway decent at your job, you won't be termed. We had a coworker who many of us really WANTED to get termed- they were truly awful and messed up safety protocols many times- and they still weren't. Show up to work, don't drink if you are underage, follow safety rules at your location, and I honestly think you should be all set.

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I respectfully disagree. We have known many kids (over 2 dozen) over the course of multiple programs who have gotten termed. It can happen. Should they base where to live just on that fact? That is for each individual to determine. But it does happen. We've known kids who have been termed for something they posted on the Internet. We've also seen a few kids who have had their offer withdrawn after someone at Disney saw their posts of how they were going to party (screw the job, I am here to party!) But as it was previously stated, there are no gray areas and a "simple/innocent" slip up (like the throwing star "incident" Wilkeliza spoke of) and you are done. One rule I don't agree with is that if someone in a wellness apt is caught drinking (in the apt), they can term the whole apt. This has happened. Yet you can't control what your roommates do and sometimes you don't even get to pick them.

stitchlovestink said:

I respectfully disagree. We have known many kids (over 2 dozen) over the course of multiple programs who have gotten termed. It can happen. Should they base where to live just on that fact? That is for each individual to determine. But it does happen. We've known kids who have been termed for something they posted on the Internet. We've also seen a few kids who have had their offer withdrawn after someone at Disney saw their posts of how they were going to party (screw the job, I am here to party!) But as it was previously stated, there are no gray areas and a "simple/innocent" slip up (like the throwing star "incident" Wilkeliza spoke of) and you are done. One rule I don't agree with is that if someone in a wellness apt is caught drinking (in the apt), they can term the whole apt. This has happened. Yet you can't control what your roommates do and sometimes you don't even get to pick them.

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The whole apartment firings for wellness apartments are the sole reason I refused to room in one. It wasn't worth my career as the potential only 21+ in a room to have alcohol be found and it automaically fall on me. I remember that part of housing too well that even said if you are non-wellness and host a party if someone touches a cup or is just relatively nesr a cup of alcohol when security came in then the under ager could be termed as well as the host. The only one who wouldn't be involved would be those not in th apartment at the moment or who were asleep or something.

My roommate was actually termed for a reason that some may not agree with but I believe it was best for her at the time. I won't go into it because it is a private matter but basically Disney takes that no threat of harm rule seriously.

Hello. New to here. Daughter will be starting in June 2017 at WDW.. Just looking at information

Dee_B_1967 said:

So proud to say my daughter got accepted for Fall 2017!!!!

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My daughter will be starting in June 2017

My DD is still waiting to hear. I'm kind of hoping she gets word one way or the other ASAP if only because she has five midterm exams next week and needs to focus. She applied for fall advantage and has been told to not be surprised to have to wait a little longer.

My daughter is thinking about applying to the CP. Can anyone tell me how long the shifts are and what kind of breaks you get?