The DCP: Roommate Horror Stories 'N' Stuff

These tips are more fun because they pertain directly to your program and not nasty ole school. Here you will learn about the online process of getting to Disney, as well as how to choose your roommates and housing.

Dates and Fees

When you are accepted into Disney, you will receive a few different emails in succession to one another. The first will be the email to accept your role offer and pay the $350 in program fees. I know it is steep. But the $200 housing fee will pay your first two weeks of rent, and the $150 program fee is for Disney Housing to host those fun events I talked about in my “What is the DCP” blog, and also various other costs, such as the bus transportation, your housing ID, your program guide, etc.

The next email you get will instruct you to select your program dates. You usually have three or four different weeks to choose from for arrival and departure. Your dates are totally up to you, but may I just add that the earlier you get there, the better, because that means you get to be at Disney longer, and you don’t have as much FOMO (fear of missing out), when you see that everyone on the Disney College Program Facebook page is there already and you’re not).

Roommates

Speaking of Facebook pages. This is how you’re going to find your potential roommates, folks! And please do find roommates. There are a ton of Facebook pages out there every time a new program rolls around, specifically for finding roommates. All you have to do is post a survey about yourself and then search the page for potential roomies. I highly recommend finding some people you could trust in advance. Because let me tell you a little story …

Once upon a time, Haley Moore checked into the Disney College Program. She did not participate in these roommate Facebook pages because she had faith that letting Disney choose random roommates for her would work out just fine. And fine it did. Until two of her roommates turned out to be alcoholics, and one of them a legitimate psycho.

Psycho roommate ended up reporting the entire apartment for the alcohol she found in the two alcoholic roommates’ bedroom. Luckily, after sobbing in the security office for about three hours, and ruthless interrogation, the alcoholic roommates were terminated from their roles on the spot, and they packed up their stuff from the apartment that day, while spewing profanity and bitter remarks to the rest who got to stay. And that is the story of how Haley Moore almost lost her dream job at Disney for her entire life, because her alcoholic roommates couldn’t go a few months without getting trashed in an underage apartment. The usual kind and meek Haley Moore could have spit fire.

But wait, there’s more. So pyscho roommate had it in for Haley Moore and her roommates. She was creepy. She would watch them. She ate all their food without buying her own, even when they boldly labeled it and asked her not to. She stole from their personal belongings, and lastly, when it came time for the program extension (which entailed moving apartments and the option of – praise God – switching roommates), she dug through their private things to find their work ID numbers so that she could secretly link them as roommates online again without their knowing. And that, is why Haley Moore would never trust a random roommate selection again as long as she lived.

Now, I am not saying that all your potential random roommates are going to be insane as mine were. However, I am suggesting that knowing who your roommates are going to be in advance is never a bad idea. This is also convenient because then you will be able to decide who is bringing what to the apartment, so you don’t end up with six toasters.

Just be sure to remember that you can only select someone to room with if they have the exact same arrival and departure dates as you. You will be able to preference your roommates and housing complex about two weeks prior to your arrival date. As Disney receives many roommate preferences from the thousands of applicants, the roommates you preference are not guaranteed. But Disney does try to put you with your preference. And if all six or so of you are requesting each other on DORMS, then chances are, you will end up together.

Housing

The last thing you will want to keep in mind when applying for housing is the different complexes. Remember, Disney will do your best to accommodate your preference, but no guarantee, yata yata. If you are underage, you will be forced into a wellness room, if you are over 21, you have the choice of wellness or nonwellness. But remember: no alcohol in a wellness apartment if this is the fate you choose. I will give it to you straight. Here are the pros and cons of each housing complex:

Vista Way

• Also known as Vista Lay – you do the math. It’s the party complex.

• Cheapest and most conveniently located near food, convenience stores, buses, and work computers. There is a 95% chance this is where you will be placed if you don’t select that you are bringing a car.

• Has the least quality rooms – therefore is cheap.

• Set apart from the other 3 complexes by a stoplight down and a windy road.

Chatham Square

• Also close to the buses

• Apartments are not beautiful – second cheapest – beware of the green carpet.

• Much averageness

The Commons

• The only complex that has in room laundry! That’s right folks, you can kiss quarters goodbye.

• Far walk to the bus stop

• Fairly nice apartments

• Third most expensive

Patterson Court

• Beautiful apartments

• Also known as the old folks home – opposite of Vista Lay – super quiet – almost dead – do people live there? I dunno.

• Most expensive

• Far walk to the bus stop – I saw a snake on my way one time – true story.

Choose wisely …

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