Housing/Check in Info

Soooo for housing we got

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CHATHAM 3 BEDROOM!!!

So this wasn't our first choice (actually was about our 4-5th) BUT it all worked out really well!

We got two new girls that joined the room and luckily we all get along really well! I am so thrilled to not have bunk beds. My roommate Becky tricked me at checkin and said she was in a different unit. OMG I was so mad at her! She legit pulled that trick off; she even made it seem like she could cry. 

The process is so different now compared to my 2012 program. Check in literally took us 30 minutes.We were able to go into Vista Way 15 minutes prior to our check in time (10am). I recommend getting to the first portion of the check in window. I feel like that helped speed  along our process. After check in some of us went to casting and some had casting the next day. I was able to first go to the apartment and lay down some stuff before casting though. 

At check in you will need your ID and social OR a passport. You will not need your vehicle information until later on. You will receive a 3 day temporary parking pass. During your first three days just make sure to go to the housing office and get your parking decal. At check in you will also take your housing ID picture so make sure you like how you are looking that day :) (and also are in Disney look from the shoulders up)


OHHH! And I got my work location!!!!!!

I am at The Coronado Springs resort for Concierge :)))))

Casting was so simple. You fill out a few forms, do finger prints, and get your training schedule. 

Let me warn everyone...Bring cleaning supplies for check in! Our apartment was SO gross. I was afraid to even stand barefoot in the bathroom before we cleaned it.  So yah, bring cleaning stuff!!! 

I am currently editing my check in/day 1 vlog and I will link that in my next post!!

All about DORMS

DORMS is Disney's new (ish) system for housing registration. I have mixed opinions about the new system. I think it makes things 100% easier from Disney's perspective, but I also think it is less fair for residents. When I did my Spring 2012 College Program I lined up at Vista Way at 3am to get first dibs on housing choices. Now everything is done online, and you aren't really given any choices.

I made a vlog to explain the DORMS process.

Here are some helpful tips for the DORMS process:

•Make sure you have your vehicle tag # and drivers license # handy if you are bringing a car
•Select a leader in your group of roomies (this person will log in first)
•Be ready to rank housing options that will fit your group and larger (example: 6 girls don't have to rank 1 and 2 bedrooms)
•Make sure after the leader logs in and ranks the housing options that each roommate logs in one at a time. If you all log in together it will mess things up in the system
•You have the chance to go back and print everything after the fact, so don't freak out if your printer isn't handy when you complete the process.
•I got my email 13 days prior to my program (not 10)
•Keep calm and DORMS on :)

Chatham Square

I know part of the excitement for the Disney College Program is selecting your housing complex. I am not too familiar with all of the complexes, but I thought I would share my insight about Chatham Square. On my college program in 2012 I lived in a 3 bedroom apartment in Chatham Square. The process back then was a little bit different. You went and waited in line at check in with your roommates that you wanted. The earlier you got there the better your chances were of receiving your first choice. My group arrived at 3:30am, and we were the first group to select our housing.

Roomies: L-R Top: Chelsea, Julia, Andrea Bottom: Morgan, Demi, Me

We got our first choice of a 3bedroom in Chatham Square. We were even able to request ground floor and a good location. Unfortunately with the system being all online now it is harder to make specific requests.

So about our unit!

When you walk in the unit you have the kitchen on your left and the den on your right. Right past the den was mine and Morgan's room. I loved our spot because we could keep our door open and still feel part of the action in the kitchen even if we were in our rooms. Our room was about the same size as the others, but a bit smaller than one of the rooms. Our closet had two stacked hanging racks (one up high and one down low) and then one long rack for dresses and longer things. We each took one of the stacked racks and shared the long one. Our Bathroom was decent sized. There was a medicine cabinet for extra storage. The shower/tub are standard size. 

Moving in my room

Outside of our bedroom was the nook with the kitchen table. Then down the hall there was another nook with a desk. On the right of the hall was one bedroom and facing the back of the hall was the additional bedroom. Something interesting about the other two bedrooms was the layout. The largest room had two bathroom doors. One led to the hallway and the other led to the bedroom. The additional bedroom was unique because the closet was in the restroom. 

My Room

For kitchen space we had a decent amount. We were each able to have one shelf in the pantry. The only area that was a struggle was the fridge. Most of my roommates enjoyed cooking so the fridge was always crammed. I would recommend a 2 bedroom unit if you enjoy cooking alot. 

Our Kitchen

The nice thing about Chatham is that you are convenient to the bus stop, classrooms, and housing events. We were right across from the building that had laundry. We were also next to the pool and mailboxes. I loved our location so much! (27103!)

My only downside to Chatham was the new ness. Our apartment was fine, but then when I saw Patterson I was bummed. My friends in Patterson appeared to have more of a "luxury apartment" feel. Their carpets and furnishings were much newer, simply because Patterson IS newer. The only downside to Patterson is their sinks aren't behind the restroom doors.

Overall, I loved Chatham and plan to return there for my upcoming DCP!

Helpful things to pack for the DCP

So it was requested that I make a packing list of things that were helpful for my DCP.
Before I start I will let you guys know that I lived in a 3 bedroom apartment in Chatham. We had a GREAT spot. We were right by the pool and laundry. We also were able to request ground floor at check in. We got to check in at 3am and were first in line to pick our unit. Now the system is all done online and I am not sure how I feel about that. Anyways..here are things that I found helpful or needed on my DCP

•A rolling laundry basket (I had a standard basket and it was tricky to carry to the laundry building with my heavy detergent etc)

• Bed Risers (there isn't much storage storage space, so this helps create under the bed space)

• Tension rod and curtains (since you can't hang things on the walls having a tension rod with curtains makes the room more exciting)

•Bulletin Board Fabric (my roomie covered her bulletin board in pretty fabric, it also added color)

•Hanging clothes organizer (the dressers in Chatham were tiny so we each had a hanging storage thing for tshirts etc)

•Under clothes for work (I went through so many tank tops and work out shorts that I wore underneath my work costume daily)

•Water Filter (Fl water is just gross)

•Floor rug (once again to add color to the room)

• Over the door hanging rack (for towels in bathroom and purses and coats in bedroom)

• Lunch bag (for work)

• Space bags (there were helpful when packing to move)

•A shelf type contraption ( I will post a picture below of what I am talking about)

•Cleaning supplies (it was nice to wipe down everything before moving in)

•Colorful thumbtacks (for the cork board)

•Hanging wall calendar (to keep track of shifts)

•Memory foam (the beds aren't soft, it was worth every penny)

Our move in mess

The finished product!

closet size