Sign up for the Disney College Program
Parent & Family Member Newsletter and receive information on the
program, updates, and new opportunities.
Here is a sample of comments we've heard from our participants as well as some facts we want you to know regarding the "Housing" aspect of the Disney College Program. Please also be aware that all Disney College Program Cast Members receive a Resource Guide when they arrive to begin their program. This book includes phone numbers and contact information, as well as details about each component of the program. It also features answers to just about every question we get. If your child says, " I don't know," ask if he/she has looked for the answer in the Resource Guide.
Please click each question or comment for additional information.
- What can my child do if he/she is not getting along well with
his/her roommates?
Similar to dormitory life, sometimes two roommates just cannot get along with each other. In these cases, our Housing leaders can moderate "apartment meetings" to help roommates express their concerns and agree on compromises to reach a solution. If a Cast Member wants to move out of the apartment, he/she may move as long as alternate accommodations are available. (All Cast Members are assigned to apartments based on a number of factors, including gender, whether they are under or over 21, their departure date, etc.) We do not accept relocation requests until three weeks after our participants arrive. We often find that once they are settled, they change their minds and don't want to move. Cast Members relocating may incur a maintenance fee.
- How often are the Community Codes reviewed with participants?
What if they are unaware of the Community Codes?
When new College Program Cast Members arrive at Vista Way on their first day in the program, they receive a Resource Guide, and they sit down to read and sign their Community Codes. Cast Members keep a copy of these guidelines, and they are reprinted in the Resource Guide, too. Cast Members are also required to attend a welcome session. During the session, leaders discuss these Community Codes, provide examples, role-play situations, etc. There should be no way that one of our participants is not aware of these guidelines.
- Do students have access to grocery stores or other things
outside of the housing complex?
Our transportation system provides buses to and from work, as well as the grocery store, post office, bank, shopping mall and other areas of interest near our housing complexes. In addition, there are grocery stores and drug stores located within walking distance of each of our complexes. Because of the large number of riders, our bus system is similar to the public mass transportation offered in a large city. Each month, the housing team also schedules trips to areas such as the beach, Kennedy Space Center, etc.
- What does their weekly housing payment include?
When your child travels to the Walt Disney World Resort to be on the Disney College Program, the last thing we want them to worry about is finding an apartment, setting up electricity, phone and cable accounts and furnishing their new home.
The fee your child pays each week covers all utilities (electricity, basic cable, local phone, water, high-speed internet access), amenities, maintenance, etc. Our apartments, which are open exclusively to Cast Members participating in our programs, are fully furnished and include pots, pans, silverware, plates, cups, cooking utensils. No deposits are required to set up utilities because everything is ready when your child arrives.
If anything needs to be fixed or replaced in the apartment, maintenance is available to take care of it as soon as possible. Cleaning equipment, such as vacuums and mops are available to borrow from the front desk.
Transportation is available to and from work, as well as other areas of interest such as the shopping mall, grocery store, bank and post office.
The costs are relative to what's typical in Central Florida, and Walt Disney World Co., actually subsidizes a portion of the overall housing cost to keep the fees low for our Disney College Program participants.
