Check-In Recap

Were you standing in a line at 7:00 in the morning? Did you have nightmares about forgetting your passport? Have you lied about what time you were supposed to show up? 

Yes, you have? Are you at Vista Way? Because if so, then chances are, you’re at check in day on the Disney college program!

Here’s a little info about how the rest of check-in day went for me.

Check in started at 7:00. Technically the process begins at 8:00, the earliest check in time emailed out to participants, but lines are forming and parking space is dwindling by then. So, if you have a car and want a spot, 7:00 is a good time to go park in the lot across the street. After doing that, I found two of my newmies (new roomies) in line and settled in for a long wait.

Fun fact: It was in that line that I experienced the first torrential downpour of my dcp experience! Little pink bear is still drying off 

That said, check a couple different weather sources before you get to Vista Way. The iPhone predicted clouds and warmth. We got cold and wet. At least the rain was a good motivator for the check in staff. By 8:30AM I knew my work location, apartment # and traditions date, and I was boarding the bus to Casting!

Piece of Advice #1: 
Bring an expanding file or clipboard to check in. You will have DORMS papers, your I-9 documents (passport, SS card, etc.), an I-9 form, and a program guide when you head to Casting. It might not sound like a lot right now, but those are some important documents, and some of them (like your drivers license) are small and easy to drop. Plus, you will be given further paperwork AT Casting. Folding papers in half and shoving them into my program guide kept them safe and dry, but it didn't give off the most professional vibe. It also didn't help me find specific documents easily.

The ride to Casting is pretty short, and it’s on a very nice coach bus. A program alumni talks you through some trivia and up and coming changes to different areas of the parks. (Downtown Disney-->Disney Springs? Whaaaaaat?) Before you know it, you’re approaching the Walt Disney World main entrance. Hooting and hollering are required upon entry! 

Casting itself isn't all that grueling. There are a lot of steps to becoming a cast member, which means that there are a lot of lines. But don’t worry. The steps themselves went pretty quick, even if the overall process took some time.

After Casting, I rode the bus back to Vista to get my mom from the parent area and move into my apartment.

Piece of Advice #2: 
If you have a parent with you at check in, you might want to give them your car keys before getting in line. You probably won’t see them until you move into your apartment since they aren't allowed to go through the check in process with you. So, if you have Casting right away like I did, your poor parent will be waiting for you indefinitely. I didn't see my mom at all between 7:15 and 12:30.

If, unlike me, you move in between check in and Casting, your parent will be fine waiting through check in. It’s all dependent on your schedule that day.

Well, that was my personal check-in process. Other people didn't have Casting until the next day, or stood in longer lines, or had role specific drug tests on this day. Some check –in days also had more arrivals than mine did. But at least in my case, it was a pretty smooth transition!