Trip Report March of 2020 Disney College Program reject šŸ˜•

Hi everyone! I used to be quite active here up until about 3 years ago. A lot of ā€œlifeā€ kind of happened in that time and things were crazy! My daughter and I had surgery less than 24 hours apart, I lost my grandmother who was more of a mother to me, my husband was diagnosed with Celiac disease and herniated 2 discs last summer And My daughter, Brooklyn who is now 21 was accepted into the DCP with a start date of March 9, 2020ā€¦.this is a trip report from that experience.

Brook was born with Disney in her veins and has always wanted to do the CP. She was ecstatic when she was accepted and totally rearranged her whole life to move down to Orlando. She quit her job, moved out of her apartment , changed her classes to online for that semester, and found a barn close to cast housing to move her horses to. She packed all her stuff and drove down, while I flew down a few days later. Navigating the airport alone on crutches with luggage was tough. Lots of friendly people helped me tho and I got to skip the line at security, score! She picked me up at the airport and we went back to our off property hotel so we could fresehen up for dinner at ā€˜Ohana and meet up with her College Prorgam roommate, K and her family.

We got to the Polynesian and one of Brooks childhood friends was hosting at Kona. We chatted with her while waiting for everyone to arrive. I walked over to try my first Lapu Lapu, and realized I had forgotten my ID. Brook had only just turned 20 the month before so she couldnā€™t have bought it for me. I just hoped the bartender wasnt going to ask me for it, but she did. I told her I didnā€™t have it and I turned to walk away. She called me back over saying that it was her last pineapple of the night and when she got rid of it she could leave. LOL! She said it was really small so she was only going to charge me half-price! I thanked her profusely, tipped her well, and went to find Brook. I never drink so I though it was really strong and was buzzed after a few sips! we had to pose with it for pictures of course!
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K and her family arrived and they were awesome people and we all really got along well. So well that we met up with them again on our Dec 2020 trip! K was assigned to be photo pass person at the MK, and Brook was really glad that she was assigned to be a lifeguard at Blizzard Beach. BB closes at 6 every night, meaning that she had a lot of free time in the evening. K, would be working until midnight or later!

After dinner we headed back to our hotel for some rest because we were headed Epcot the next day!
 

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Courtney6682

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
March 8, 2020 we drove to Epcot for the day. We arrived and immediately rode Spaceship Earth which is my absolute fave, then headed over the hit up Soarin and Figment. We had lunch at Rose and Crown and sat outside on the water which was nice. I had the Fish and chips and Brook got a burgerā€¦weā€™re so boring lol. After making our rounds in the World Showcase we rode Test Track and then headed back for the night

March 9, 2020 was Brooklynā€™s Traditions day! I stayed at the hotel and swam while she took care of her important business.
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Courtney6682

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
That night we did the after hours event at MK! We loved it the first time we did it in February of 2017, but this night was a bust! It was pretty crowded and some rides had ridiculous wait times! We couldnā€™t believe it! We left pretty early to prepare for Brookā€™s move in day

We met Kā€™s family to move the girls stuff in and meet their roommates the next day. They were living with 2 girls from Norway and 2 girls from the UK who all worked at Epcot at their home countries pavilions. Really nice and welcoming young ladies. It took us about 5 hours to get Brook moved and all set up. (Only to be told a few days later that she would have to pack up and leave due to the shutdown! She was devastated ! )

March 10,2020 we had lunch at Art Smithā€™s for the first time. We enjoyed the fried chicken and left STUFFED! I flew back home the next day and found out a few days later that Brook was told they all had to leave. Disney gave her a 2 week paycheck and told them to pack up and leave. Brook went to the MK with all her friends the last day the parks were open and she said all the CP kids were cryingšŸ˜¢ She came home and life went on. She was offered back her position for this June, but she was at a different place in life and couldnā€™t go. Im so sad for her and hate that it didnā€™t work out. We went back right after they reopened in July of 2020 which was a once in a lifetime experience! We literally walked on every ride at every park, the whole week! I have incredible pictures Iā€™ll have to post sometimes. We went again in Dec of 20, we flew down for the day on her 21st bday in Feb 2021 because she wanted to drink around the world at Epcot, we went in April of 21, may of 21 and we are heading down again in 12 days to attended Boo Bash. We have Christmas week booked as well , so sheā€™s def getting her fix!
 

Songbird76

Well-Known Member
I'm so sorry it didn't work out for her! I'm glad Disney honored the offers they had previously made for the college program, but I have to wonder how many could actually do it at that time. Brook can't be the only one who was in a different place in life and couldn't go. Did she get her old job back?
 

Courtney6682

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
I'm so sorry it didn't work out for her! I'm glad Disney honored the offers they had previously made for the college program, but I have to wonder how many could actually do it at that time. Brook can't be the only one who was in a different place in life and couldn't go. Did she get her old job back?
Exactly! I feel the same way you do. Glad they made good on their promise to the kids, but sad for Those who were at different spots in life. She said they wouldnā€™t find out their placements until They arrived
 

Tuvalu

Premium Member
Happy Pop Tv GIF by One Day At A Time


So sorry that Brook was unable to have the CP experience that she had been dreaming of forever.

But glad you were able to take several trips since reopening! Iā€™m surprised our paths didnā€™t cross in July 2020, we were there right after the reopen too. (Also went in Feb and April 2021! šŸ˜‰)
 

Songbird76

Well-Known Member
Exactly! I feel the same way you do. Glad they made good on their promise to the kids, but sad for Those who were at different spots in life. She said they wouldnā€™t find out their placements until They arrived
Oh no, I meant the job you said she gave up in order to do the CP. I wondered if she just hauled all of her stuff home and got back that original job or if she had to go in search of something new.

One of my high school classmates has a daughter that did CP in 2019, and was doing it again in 2020 and was sent home. She was also called back at the end of July or beginning of August, and indeed they weren't told their placement until they got there. She was put at Haunted Mansion, which she loved....that's where she was when she was sent home, but then for some reason she was only there for a week or so and left again. She said that some kids in her housing placement still didn't even know what their jobs were going to be and that Disney was sending some of them back home already because they didn't have jobs for them. But that doesn't sound right, given what others have mentioned here with being short-staffed and new things are opening up all the time...I'd think they'd have more issues keeping ENOUGH CMs than having too many, but I guess I'm not there, so I have no idea.
 

lindawdw

Well-Known Member
I can't even imagine the disappointment that your daughter felt when she was told to pack up and go home as I'm sure that so much planning went into getting her moved and settled in! You both certainly got the chance to visit Disney often since they re-opened which hopefully makes up for all she went through!
 

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