You did it! You're finally moving to make some magic by working in Disney World as a College Program Participant! But working is only part of the DCP experience. The other half is the living situation. For those who are worrying or simply curious, here are a few basics of what to expect before your big move!
Understanding the Housing Basics
All Disney College Program and International College Program Participants are offered the choice to live in company-sponsored housing. A certain amount is automatically taken from your paycheck each week to pay for your rent and utilities- no need to worry about being late to make payments! CPs are guaranteed a minimum amount of hours to be able to pay for their rent each week. There are four main housing complexes: Vista Way, The Commons, Chatham Square and Patterson Court. Each unit and rooming choices cost different amounts. Chatham, Patterson and Commons are all within walking distance of each other, with Vista being located a bit further away, but accessible via the bus system. Each housing complex has its own pool, gym, and computer labs. I took advantage of Patterson's labs all the time as I continued with online classes all throughout my program.
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Each complex has strengths and weaknesses. During my program and my extension in 2015, I lived in Patterson and absolutely loved it. It is the newest complex, with Vista being the oldest. Some people referred to Patterson as the "Retirement Community" because it was less social than the others, but I genuinely enjoyed it there. Think of the housing complexes as your college dorm/hotel: they provide furniture, security, and basic dishes and silverware. You live there, with the ability to make it as homey as possible, but you still have to follow their guidelines. This includes no damaging the walls (command strips are your best friends!) or furniture, and keeping the apartment clean. There are inspections that involve housing reps checking in to make sure the apartment is being well-kept. Luckily, housing offers an option to rent out some basic cleaning items, like vacuums, but they can be a pain in the butt to carry from the office back to your apartment, so plan accordingly!
You must show your housing ID to get into any of the complexes and sign in all non-college program guests, including fellow Cast Members. While you are able to get into your own complex at all hours, there is a curfew that keeps CPs from venturing into other complexes after a certain time. You are not allowed to have overnight guests in your apartment, so let any friends or family who want to visit know that they must find a nearby hotel. Sorry to say they can't crash with you for a few nights.
Each housing unit offers laundry on site. However, the Commons is the only complex with in-unit machines. Every other one offers multiple communal laundry rooms. It may be less than ideal having to haul your laundry across the parking lot to wash your clothes, but it's doable!
And don't be worried! DCP housing is wonderful for people who are living away from home for the very first time. The CP housing complexes are like a little community. Having gone to a city school in the heart of Chicago, I never experienced a classic college campus atmosphere until my program. It is a very secure area, so let your parents know not to worry!
Roommates
Sometimes in life, your roommates become your best friends. Other times, you simply share a living space. The DCP roomie experience is no different. Through a long and winding journey of college, study abroad, DCP, and simply moving frequently, I have had 16 roommates in a span of 3 years and have experienced every roommate situation you can think of. I am used to living with a wide variety of people, but for many, this is their first experience living away from home. For those freshly wading into the uncertain waters of living with strangers, just remember that we have all been there at some point in our lives. It's a new experience as you all learn how to live with one another.
Your roommates are some of the very first people you meet on your program. You're all a team, learning the ropes together. Sometimes you share wonderful adventures with your roommates. Other times, you work totally opposite hours and are only aware of each other's cohabitation through a work schedule posted up on the bulletin board. In Patterson, both in my original program and my fall extension, I was in a 5-person, 2-bedroom unit, meaning I was sharing a bedroom with two other ladies for almost an entire year. No matter how much you love your roommates to the moon and back, at times it can be a bit suffocating, feeling like you don't have any personal space.
Whether you are a seasoned roommate like myself, or are diving into this for the very first time, my advice to you is this:
Be open and honest with your roommates.
Be courteous and let them know when you're going to have friends over. If you want to create a chore chart to keep the place tidy, talk about it with them! If you had a bad day and just don't feel like conversing, let them know that you need some alone time! After working long and tiring hours in the Florida sun, coming home should be an oasis from the chaotic WDW atmosphere. The only way to maintain this is to keep an open line of communication amongst the people you live with. As difficult as it may be to initiate a conversation, it is much better than bottling up minor annoyances until they come bubbling up to the surface. Respect your roommates and they will respect you, making you feel at home and welcome.
Transportation
As with many CPs, I spent my entire internship in Orlando without a car. I relied solely on the generosity of friends (or strangers- shoutout to the kind souls who have offered to take me home from West Clock!) and the Transtar bus system. It can be...frustrating to say the least. I definitely experienced the "Disney Bubble" of not venturing outside of where the buses could take me for a significant chunk of my program.
Vista acts as the transportation hub, with Chatham being the second largest complex bus stop. Patterson does not have it's own stop (it's just a quick walk to Chatham from Patterson's gates) and not all buses stop at the Commons. There are schedules available of the bus system and you can soon become accustomed to it. You must have your housing ID to get on the bus, whether you are headed to work or merely going to play in the parks.
While it was nice not having to worry about my own car, it was quite exhausting having to deal with an outside mode of transportation. Schedules would be infrequent, buses broke down, and I would be running late for work. I worked in the Magic Kingdom and would often take the bus at least an hour before my shift to ensure I got to work on time. Being paranoid about clocking in on time often lead me to having to wait around in my breakroom before my shift. But I would much rather be early and have to wait than be late and get in trouble.
The buses do venture to some non-Disney areas as well. They have buses to the mall, Walmart, post office, and a few other basic locations. I, however, chose to take the 20 minute walk from Patterson to Publix to get my groceries; a routine that soon became tiresome after 7 months, resulting in me becoming lazy and eating on Disney property WAY too much. Plan accordingly and stock up on some healthy, easy-to-pack snacks to bring with you to your shifts to avoid going broke like I did! There are also a few groups that set up social events for CPs. I took advantage of the party bus a few times to go to bars, and even took some weekend trips to Key West and Clearwater with my roommates!
It is totally and completely doable to have a wonderful program without bringing a car with you! Sometimes parking would get full, both in the complexes and in cast parking lots, forcing drivers to circle around for long periods of time looking for a spot. I had friends who would clock in late because they couldn't find a place to park some days. There are pros and cons to having and not having your own car, but luckily the free transportation DCP participants are offered allow you to easily explore the area without one.
Being prepared can help ease anyone into the transition of living life on site as a Disney College Program participant. It may not always be easy, but it can still be a simply wonderful experience!