Well, it’s all said and done; my first college program is over. I’ve made some of the most amazing memories and I’ll never forget the experiences that I had and those I’ve met. Now that I’ve experienced the whole college program, I can look back and give advice to those who wish to do it as well.
First up, I felt that my assigned housing in Chatham was the best place to live. It’s quiet, simple and the amenities are great. Even though the apartments are not as new as Patterson, they’re still nice and the rent is less. Unlike Patterson, Chatham also has its own bus stop which can really save you when you’re waiting for a bus and you realize you forgot something in your apartment.
Let’s dish about some of the other places.
From what I heard this semester, Vista Way is a little bit louder. If you like the party scene then, Vista might be for you.
The Commons is a seemingly difficult place to live, mostly because of the bus system. Most bus routes don’t stop at the Commons so if you work at The Magic Kingdom, the Polynesian, the Grand Floridian, the Contemporary, Old Key West, Fort Wilderness, or most other Disney hotels, you’ll have to request a bus to pick you up and tell the bus driver to drop you off on the way home. Let me tell you, if you are the one Commons person on a bus full of tired extra-magic-hours-worn cast members you will be hated by most people on that bus when they have to make an extra stop.
Patterson is the nicest set of apartments, but keep in mind they are the most expensive. Another downside to Patterson is that there is no bus stop. You must walk about a block from the guard entrance to the Chatham bus stop.
Now don’t get me wrong, no matter where you are living you are going to have an awesome time, I am just telling you why I think Chatham is the best apartment complex.
Some other advice is to only use your car sparingly, or don’t bring one at all. Even though the bus system is not ideal, paying for gas really uses up your budget. From the college program, I found myself making a small profit after expensies, but most of my friends who wouldn’t use the buses and drove to work were losing money to work the College Program. If you don’t need the money then maybe a car is for you. The downside is that with the bus system you’ll find yourself waiting at the bus stop for about 1½ – 2 hours before your shift starts to catch a bus. Overall, if you do decide to bring a car, use it wisely. The Walt Disney World property is huge, and if you drive to work every day you’re going to find yourself losing money just on gas.
Don’t be afraid to meet people. You will be there for a semester and even longer if you extend. Become friends with your co-workers, meet people at events, and talk to other CPs on the long and grueling bus rides. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: don’t be afraid to meet people.
My last bit of advice is to roll with the punches. You will encounter difficult guests and difficult cast members, but don’t let it get you down. I have always seen that for every difficult guest there are 30 guests behind them who are on your side. Some may even come up to you and say that you handled a specific situation very well. Don’t be scared after a bad situation happens. If you remain a good cast member and treat guests with the utmost courtesy, it’s all you can do.
So, I bid farewell to Walt Disney World. I learned some amazing things here that definitely apply to other fields of my life. The best part was being able to see the parks on a daily basis. I grew up in California and a Walt Disney World vacation was a huge treat that would only happen once every few years. Even though I was working my way through the College Program, it definitely was a lot more fun than a regular job, and I cant wait to do it again sometime.
Messieurs and Madames, it’s time to say adieu but we hope that you will always remember the amazing things that happened here in Walt Disney World’s Enchanted College Program.
See Ya Real Soon!
Do you have any questions for me about the college Program? Leave a comment and I’ll do my best to answer!