Arrival Dates and other questions

[milk]

So I've decided to accept but I'm not sure one which arrival date to choose

either:

1/05/09 - 5/15/09

or

1/07/09 - 5/15/09

or

1/12/09 - 5/22/09


The reason I want to arrive on the 5th is because I hear rumors that you have a greater chance of getting the apartment complex you want like (Chatham/Patterson) is this true? If it's not true I might decide on the 7th or 12th.

Is there a specific time you have to arrival at on that day like 8am-- 10am.. etc? or You can come in any time period on that day?

Should I bring my car? I've read that people regretted not bringing their car.. lol

Does anyone happen to know the apartment rates for Chatham/Patterson? And how many roommates do you guys recommand? 4, 6, or 8?
Are they near any department stores?


Sorry for asking so many questions ^^;;; but this is a very new experience for me and I'm really overwhelmed haha.

 

[imagineergurl]

I personally chose January 5th to May 15th since summer classes at my university start May 18th and I have to take a few to make up for the lost semester.
Getting there early on the check in day you choose is crucial to whether or not you get to choose your apartment. I heard that they have a set amount of each apartment to give away at each check in date.
Check in day you must arrive between 8am and 1pm.
Also Patterson is $1 more a week than Chatham. I believe a 3BR in Chatham is $90 where a Patterson 3BR is $91. I'm personally going with 6 roommates.

Also all of this information is located on the college program website so if you have any questions make sure to check there first.

 

[milk]

ah I can't seem to find it on the wdwcollege site... did you have to accept and be logged in to find out apartment prices and such? ;

 

[imagineergurl]

ah I can't seem to find it on the wdwcollege site... did you have to accept and be logged in to find out apartment prices and such? ;

wdwcollegeprogram.com


It's the site you had to go to to apply.

 

[milk]

All I've found under the housing section was an estimate 80-120
But can't find specific info for like each apartment vista/chatham/patterson and depending on how many roommates etc...


Oh and when we get paid weekly do we receive a check to cash or does it automatically go to our bank accounts? ;

Sorry I haven't really worked before.. lol

 

[Tinkrbell]

You can either get a check that you are responsible for cashing every week, or you can set up direct deposit with your bank. If you dont use direct deposit, you have to go your "home" location to pick up your paycheck every week. (I work at the Studios now, but I started out working at Epcot before I asked to work at one of the shows instead of the character room. If I didnt have direct deposit, I would have to go to Epcot to pick up my check even though I dont regularly work there.) If you don't use direct deposit, you have until Sunday to pick up your check before they mail it to whatever address you have listed on the Hub.

 

[Bug715]

If you don't have a bank account on your first day they give you the papers to fill out to start one with the Disney credit union Partners. I initially signed up but they have a start up cost and a monthy cost. There is a SunTrust bank in a building near DTD and in the Wal Mart that all CPs go to. And all the ATMs are Chase so if you have a Chase bank account you could direct deposit there and use the ATMs on property.

 

[milk]

ahh in Bank Atlantic under chase? ^^;;

 

[davidpw97]

I cashed my checks my self at the Sun Trust bank the previous poster mentioned. I always liked having cash on hand and I've never been a big ATM fan.
Bring a car if you can, I don't know if I could have made it through with out mine.
Whichever day you choose to arrive, get there as early as possible. The check-in process takes some time and once you've got it over with you have the rest of the day to unpack and relax while all the late-comers are still busy checking-in/unpacking. Also if you get there early and are the first person to move into your apartment, you get first pick at which room you want to sleep in and some rooms are better than others.

 

[joanna71985]

So I've decided to accept but I'm not sure one which arrival date to choose

either:

1/05/09 - 5/15/09

or

1/07/09 - 5/15/09

or

1/12/09 - 5/22/09


The reason I want to arrive on the 5th is because I hear rumors that you have a greater chance of getting the apartment complex you want like (Chatham/Patterson) is this true? If it's not true I might decide on the 7th or 12th.

It's up to you. But the earlier dates should (in my opinion) have more choices available.

Is there a specific time you have to arrival at on that day like 8am-- 10am.. etc? or You can come in any time period on that day?

Check-in runs 9am til 1pm. But people can get in early. I've been able to get in at 8am for each of my 4 CPs, and each time I got my apartment choices.

Should I bring my car? I've read that people regretted not bringing their car.. lol

If you can...bring the car!! It makes life so much easier. And you wouldn't have to use it every day (since the buses are there). Of course, you can survive without a car (I have not had one for my CPs).

Does anyone happen to know the apartment rates for Chatham/Patterson? And how many roommates do you guys recommand? 4, 6, or 8?
Are they near any department stores?

For Fall 2008, Chatham was $80 for a 3/4 BR apartment, and $90 for a 1/2 BR apartment. Patterson was $81 for a 3/4 BR apartment, and $91 for a 1/2 BR apartment. However, I believe they are going up in Jan.

Sorry for asking so many questions ^^;;; but this is a very new experience for me and I'm really overwhelmed haha.

No problem.

ah I can't seem to find it on the wdwcollege site... did you have to accept and be logged in to find out apartment prices and such? ;

You won't find out the exact prices until you get to check-in (there is a sheet they give you with the prices for each complex/apartment size).

All I've found under the housing section was an estimate 80-120
But can't find specific info for like each apartment vista/chatham/patterson and depending on how many roommates etc...


Oh and when we get paid weekly do we receive a check to cash or does it automatically go to our bank accounts? ;

Sorry I haven't really worked before.. lol

You won't get the apartment rent info til check-in.

It can be either. I have always done Direct Deposit.

 

[Bug715]

ahh in Bank Atlantic under chase? ^^;;

What?

I cashed my checks my self at the Sun Trust bank the previous poster mentioned. I always liked having cash on hand and I've never been a big ATM fan.
Bring a car if you can, I don't know if I could have made it through with out mine.
Whichever day you choose to arrive, get there as early as possible. The check-in process takes some time and once you've got it over with you have the rest of the day to unpack and relax while all the late-comers are still busy checking-in/unpacking. Also if you get there early and are the first person to move into your apartment, you get first pick at which room you want to sleep in and some rooms are better than others.

Does SunTrust charge for check cashing without having an account there?
I took my car and was glad I did. The first month I took the bus but I liked being able to run errands before or after work.

I got to Vista to check in a half hour before it started. We had to wait in the parking lot across the street. I was in my apartment at Chatham by 10am. My roommate got there about an hour or half hour after check-in started and she didn't get to the apartment until 12:30.

 

[lovesdisney44]

You can either get a check that you are responsible for cashing every week, or you can set up direct deposit with your bank. If you dont use direct deposit, you have to go your "home" location to pick up your paycheck every week. (I work at the Studios now, but I started out working at Epcot before I asked to work at one of the shows instead of the character room. If I didnt have direct deposit, I would have to go to Epcot to pick up my check even though I dont regularly work there.) If you don't use direct deposit, you have until Sunday to pick up your check before they mail it to whatever address you have listed on the Hub.

Is direct deposit something you take care of before you leave for the college program or, if you already have a checking account set up in your home state, is it something you take care of at check in?

 

[joanna71985]

Is direct deposit something you take care of before you leave for the college program or, if you already have a checking account set up in your home state, is it something you take care of at check in?

All bank stuff is taken care of in FL. I did the direct deposit at the housing meeting (there was someone from VCU there). To do direct deposit for other bank branches, it is done over the HUB (I believe).

 

[Bug715]

All bank stuff is taken care of in FL. I did the direct deposit at the housing meeting (there was someone from VCU there). To do direct deposit for other bank branches, it is done over the HUB (I believe).

Yea. If you use a bank other than Partners you have to fill it out on the HUB. I'm thinking that for a few days right when we first got there the lady who gave out the checks in the Mouseketeria also helped get the direct deposit set up.