gina
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Post by gina on Dec 8, 2023 0:22:18 GMT
My oldest daughter is going Jan-May! (My son already goes to University of Tampa so now two of NY kids will be Floridians!) Anyway, I am wondering if you have any tips as I try to think of some fun Christmas gifts for her. I feel like she's given us precisely NO information.  Room assignments haven't come out yet so I don't even know what kind of bedding she wants (she had put some Haunted Mansion sheets on her wishlist but, we still don't know size). I did buy her two custom Mickey head pillows from Etsy she asked for. Her boyfriend bought her a Michael Kors suitcase so I can't get that. I was also thinking of doing some GCs maybe but I don't know what's around the exact area where she will be staying. I am usually a great gift-giver and I feel like I am totally dropping the ball here, but I have 0% info and really don't know where to get any. Any insight anyone may have to offer would be appreciated! |
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Sarah*H
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Post by Sarah*H on Dec 8, 2023 1:31:35 GMT
Is she taking a car? If so, a Sun Pass with some money already on the account would be nice. I think the internet at Flamingo Crossings can be iffy so maybe a wifi booster. Does she know her role yet?
DS was supposed to go in June a year ago but ultimately decided to transfer universities so he moved to Colorado instead. We've known a ton of kids who have gone through the program though and the daughter of a friend is also going in January. Her sister works at Disney full time now.
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gina
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Post by gina on Dec 8, 2023 15:17:20 GMT
Is she taking a car? If so, a Sun Pass with some money already on the account would be nice. I think the internet at Flamingo Crossings can be iffy so maybe a wifi booster. Does she know her role yet? DS was supposed to go in June a year ago but ultimately decided to transfer universities so he moved to Colorado instead. We've known a ton of kids who have gone through the program though and the daughter of a friend is also going in January. Her sister works at Disney full time now. She is supposed to get her role in the next few days I believe... No car. Her brother wants to take his back to Tampa for Spring so he can go "rescue her" on weekends. lol We were like, um, she will most likely be working on the weekends.  |
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zella
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Post by zella on Dec 8, 2023 23:45:41 GMT
She might have a hard time getting around without a car; I've watched many videos by people in the program. They complain a lot about the buses and how long it takes to get to work and home again. I would venture that it's quite possibly an hour each way, even though it's only a few miles. Also I need go figure out just where the Disney apartments are, as we've stayed in condos in that area several times, and there is nothing you can walk to for food/drink/groceries. I've seen quite a few bedrooms; never seen anything but twin size, so I think you'd be safe with twin if you wanted to buy bedding. I don't know the name of the website, but there is at least one website for people in the DCP. There might be a link to a parents' support group or website... just a thought... you can't be the only parent who wants more info. I bet there's a group out there somewhere. Hope you can find some help!
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zella
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Post by zella on Dec 9, 2023 0:00:00 GMT
Flamingo Crossings E is coming up at the same location we stayed. Google Maps shows 19 min drive to Disney World. But that's in a car, with no traffic and no stops. Even when we went to Disney Springs I know it took longer than that. But yeah, there is a Starbucks you can walk to, and that's about it. BTW confirmed the 1 hour Flamingo Crossings to Disney with stops... per Google. Crazy.
b
EDIT: Sorry, I realized I sound like a negative nellie. We've been up to Orlando a bunch of times and really haven't had good experiences. The traffic is insane... and we thought it was bad in Tampa. Hah! Disney prices have gone up so much in the last few years, and you get less for your money, and it just doesn't sit well with us; Disney is out of reach for most families now, which is sad. I do hope your daughter gets a job that she's happy with, and that her experience is good. PM me if you would like my phone #; hubby works from home, and can pretty much drop everything for an emergency, and we can be in Orlando in under 2 hours. I know your DD is an adult, but she's also still your kiddo. I still worry about mine and they are in their 30's
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Post by stingfan on Dec 9, 2023 0:01:29 GMT
Yes - my dd did it for a year and is now full-time with Disney. The bed sizes differ between room types, so you can't really get bedding until she knows her room assignment. You could get her bathroom decor though - rugs, towels, organizers, etc. And/or kitchen stuff. My dd took an air fryer that got lots of use. If you're going with gift cards...just get Disney cards. They spend a lot of time in the parks/at Disney Springs on their days off. And they buy too much merch  . If you're looking to splurge, a lot of them get annual passes to Universal too. Universal will give them a FL resident discount when they show their Flamingo lease agreement. Dd had a car but it was also in the shop for an extended period of time, during which she had to use the DCP buses. While it took longer to get places, she survived. Definitely join the DCP Parents Facebook group. They're a wealth of information! DCP Parents |
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gina
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Post by gina on Dec 9, 2023 1:09:14 GMT
Perfect - thank you for the FB link. Just joined! Air Fryer is a great ides! And some bathroom decor. Thank you!!  |
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gina
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Post by gina on Dec 9, 2023 1:10:23 GMT
Flamingo Crossings E is coming up at the same location we stayed. Google Maps shows 19 min drive to Disney World. But that's in a car, with no traffic and no stops. Even when we went to Disney Springs I know it took longer than that. But yeah, there is a Starbucks you can walk to, and that's about it. BTW confirmed the 1 hour Flamingo Crossings to Disney with stops... per Google. Crazy. b EDIT: Sorry, I realized I sound like a negative nellie. We've been up to Orlando a bunch of times and really haven't had good experiences. The traffic is insane... and we thought it was bad in Tampa. Hah! Disney prices have gone up so much in the last few years, and you get less for your money, and it just doesn't sit well with us; Disney is out of reach for most families now, which is sad. I do hope your daughter gets a job that she's happy with, and that her experience is good. PM me if you would like my phone #; hubby works from home, and can pretty much drop everything for an emergency, and we can be in Orlando in under 2 hours. I know your DD is an adult, but she's also still your kiddo. I still worry about mine and they are in their 30's I'm from NY. Florida traffic doesnt scare us lol Thank you! |
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Post by zuke on Dec 11, 2023 13:33:03 GMT
My daughter started with the college program in 2002. She's now a manager in the Magic Kingdom and LOVES going to work every day! I hope your daughter has the same experience.
Maybe a gift card to a restaurant at Disney Springs. I do remember my daughter going there often with friends. I would try to not get much for her room, other than necessities, being that the rooms aren't big. Maybe they are now being that there are a lot of new apartment complexes for the college program people.
Our daughter didn't have a car to start but then did after a few months. We're also from NY. As stated by someone, traffic doesn't bother us. Yes, there is a lot of traffic at times. There's ways to go through back roads where you don't hit any traffic. (We've taken those roads with her and now we use them when we visit). Also, depending what their work schedule is, (which park and work time), will determine if there will be traffic or not.
Once she gets there, if she speaks to people that have worked there for a while, she can ask them about certain concerns. That's how our daughter learned a lot of the ins and outs of being a college program worker.
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anaterra
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Jun 29, 2014 3:04:02 GMT
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Post by anaterra on Dec 11, 2023 13:41:13 GMT
I have no advice but how exciting!!! Good luck to her
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Room assignments haven't come out yet so I don't even know what kind of bedding she wants (she had put some Haunted Mansion sheets on her wishlist but, we still don't know size). I did buy her two custom Mickey head pillows from Etsy she asked for.
. If you're looking to splurge, a lot of them get annual passes to Universal too. Universal will give them a FL resident discount when they show their Flamingo lease agreement.
