Finally we made it to the blog post DCP applicants have been waiting for, and here it is as promised –DCP housing options (if you are looking for Disneyland housing click the step into the magic link). However, first I am going to cover DORMS* what it is, when you will fill it out, and what you need to know.
DORMS (Disney Onsite Residents Management System) aka their housing site that participants need to fill out prior to their start date.
Apartment Complex (which will be below)
Unit Size (aka bedrooms)
Names and roommate numbers of the individual you would like to live with **
Also if you are bringing a vehicle this is where you register it (if you do not know if you are bringing one you can do it when you get there during check-in as well)
Well all participants who request to line in the same apartment together have to meet certain requirements, and they are the following.
Must have received their DORMS email with roommate ID
Share the same gender as those they are requesting to live with
All occupants are over or under 21+ ***
Share the same arrival week and departure date (Yes both so always check!)
What is the fee?
The fee for the Walt Disney World college program where majority of the applicants go is around $350-$400. It coveres the first two weeks rent as well as some fees as well, and is 100% non-refundable. In case you were wondering (I will cover DCP for Disneyland in another post) their fees are much either around $850-$900. Also yes it still coveres the same thing as Florida's DCP -that's just you are paying to live in California.
How is rent paid for?
When you pay your DCP fees a large amount of that money goes to cover the first two weeks rent, and then afterwards you will be working full-time. After the two weeks rent is then taken out of your weekly paycheck from Disney to pay for housing. If you do not work a week, or do not make enough to cover housing you have two options. The first is to pay them in-person with out-of-pocket money, or you can request it be taken out of the next weeks paycheck.
Do I get my first choice from DORMS?
No, you do not always get your first choice sometimes not even the second. Why? Well CP housing is a little complex so let me explain. Internships do not all have the same end date, and this is important due to there are limited apartments. So, you may have requested a one-bedroom two-person apartment, but current interns who have not left yet could occupy them all.
Do I have to live on property?
No, you do not if you are over the age of 21+ and have your own vehicle. However, there is an exception to this rule if you are a summer alumni you have to live on property.
What are my options for apartments?
Fair warning these are from 2016, so if you are reading this anytime after it might be different. Also the number of roommates also depends now as some have bunk beds, so always check number of roommates with housing options.
1 bedroom/ 2 person: $124 | 1 bedroom/ 3 person: $109
2 bedroom / 4 person: $122 | 2 bedroom / 5 person: $102
3 bedroom / 6 person: $110
4 bedroom / 8 person: $109
Chatham Square:
1 bedroom / 2 person: $120 | 1 bedroom / 3 person: $105
2 bedroom / 6 person: $93
3 bedroom / 6 person: $107
4 bedroom / 8 person: $106
Vista Way:
2 bedroom / 4 person: $110
3 bedroom / 6 person: $101
Patterson Court:
1 bedroom / 2 person: $120 | 1 bedroom / 3 person: $105
2 bedroom / 5 person: $100
3 bedroom / 6 person: $107
Prices are from Fall 2016 DORMS
Alright, so now the basics of DORMS is covered lets talk about the actual complexes. So, to begin we will start with the oldest complex Vista Way.
Renovated in 2014
Main DCP bus depot with access to all the busses
Largest complex
Closet to Walt Disney World Property
Easy access to the main DCP office
Has the Disney resource center where you can rent films, books, games, and etc.
Easy access to Walgreens and dining options
Check-in is at Vista
Laundry is in the hallways
Cons:
Largest complex (yes I know I have it twice Vista is hard to navigate due to its size)
Has a certain reputation
Near a heavy traffic area with two major roads
Not close to the other DCP housing options ****
Exterior is dated
I want to make this clear I did not live at Vista way, but I did have friends that did. I will say that its reputation for being a party complex is not always true Chatham, Commons, and Patterson have their fair share as well especially after Happy Mondays.
Pros:
Closest to Mickey’s Retreat (a cast member only recreation site with pool, lake, volleyball, soccer field, and picnic area)
Majority of the housing events are hosted at Chatham
Has a bus stop right outside the complex that has most of the stops (few exceptions)
Close to the outlet mall, Walgreens, and Publix
Laundry facilities fairly close to each complex
Cons:
It is hard complex to get into to since it is highly requested
Housing events make parking impossible, and very loud
Complex is also fair large and confusing (seriously I mean dead end parking lots?)
Bus stop is outside the complex, so you will need to show your ID all the time to get back in (If you are like me it will annoy you when you forget it)
They are a little dated now (I mean green carpet come on!)
I personally lived in Chatham, and would have preferred Patterson personally (I had a car). However, as for why I would have preferred somewhere else I hold that until the end of this post.
Pros:
It is the newest complex, and honestly is pretty nice
Within walking distance to the outlet mall, Walgreens, and Publix
Small complex (for Patterson this is useful and you realize why in the cons)
Most of the Disney classes are here
Right next to Chatham where the housing events are held
Near Mickey’s Retreat
Probably has the nicest pool of all the complexes
Laundry facilities close to apartments
Cons:
Does not hold any events (for some that is a negative)
There is no bus stop, so you have to walk to Chatham (honestly it is not that far maybe ten minutes max)
Has a reputation for being quiet
Right next to a major street
Hard complex to get into since it is highly requested as well
Pros:
Washer and Dryer in units (Right there no paying for laundry, which when I was there was about $4 dollars total –think about how often you do laundry? Now thins about how much you just saved)
Bus stop located inside the gates
The outlet mall is directly across the street (about a five minute walk)
Directly behind Mickey Retreat’s soccer field
A lot of ICP and International students still live here, so a lot of different culture exchanges
Holds housing events
Cons:
Not all busses stop here (Super inconvenient if you work at Magic Kingdom, since it only stops at Chatham which is about a ten to fifteen minute walk).
Complex can be noisy after Happy Mondays
Close but not near Patterson or Chatham
(Fair warning right now! This is not an actual housing option, but it is sometimes used for overflow for anyone 21+ with a car. I am listing it since if they ever ask you have an idea of would you want to move there or not)
Pros:
Nice apartment complex
Fairly quiet compared to the DCP options
More spacious and updated
Elevator (yup you read that right)
There is no security check-in (gate uses a fob)
Two swimming pools with hot tub
Fairly nice gym
Screened patio
Movie theater
Pool tables
Valet trash service
Large walk-in closets with large bathrooms (yes it was such a bonus)
Cons:
Parking is hard to find (After 10pm you're probably parking across the complex at, more then likely illegally parking at 11pm, and any later well good luck)
Does not host any DCP events due to being a regular apartment complex
Very little furniture given
Only for 21+ with cars
Regular tenants (So you might be like me hearing a newborn baby cry all night)
Across the street from Chatham and Patterson (there is no crosswalk on that four lane road)
Honestly I had the chance to live here, and truly I do not regret it (other then the parking). It was a nice complex, and was worth not living in Chatham anymore.
I know but there is the burning question what do the insides look like? Well none of these are my photos, but these are the DCP apartments. Yes, they all have the same basic setups the only difference is commons has the washer and dryer. As well as some apartment with more roommates have two refrigerators.
Now let us address some other things you are going to want to know to make a decision –that's right myths, truths, and just some info I personally experienced.
- Vista is for partiers –as stated earlier this is not always true anymore Chatham when I lived there threw some pretty awesome parties as well (Building 11 you were crazy) If you ever lived in a college dorm you know labels are pretty ridiculous.
- If you have banned items (no lightsabers are not banned anymore as of 2015, but they will go over the list at the housing meeting) it does not mean just not in housing you also cannot have them in your car either (yes I have seen security search someone’s car who lived in wellness and brought liquor on site).
- Housing is owned by Disney –this my friends is false. The Disney housing is actually run by Lincoln Property, and it is a partnership program. The only people on-site who work for Disney are the CPs (of course), and the DCP related offices otherwise they are all Lincoln Property.
- Yes, they really do apartment checks every month where they come in and inspect cleanliness, and also check for banned items especially in wellness apartments.
- Which leads me to my next point the white glove award (basically perfectly clean like no one lives there), and to those who do not care yes you still can pass if it is clean.
- Let’s talk condition of the apartment, but honestly it depends on who lived there before. They all have their wear and tear they are older complexes none of them are brand new, so expect college dorm room not Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.
- Is the crazy insane story about (blank) true? Honestly it really depends some of them are completely true, and some of them are just rumors that got way out of control. I do not know everything about Disney housing, but I do know take every story with a grain of salt.
- No pets allowed once so ever you cannot keep a living animal in the apartments at all.
- Some CPs steal laundry, and dude it is 100% true. I cannot tell you the amount of sweatpants, t-shirts, and even jackets I lost working here –seriously I can’t. The washing machines are locked once it is started then unlocks when finished, but the dryers are not –which sucks. Also speaking of laundry if you wait to long to take your clothes out of the washing machine, and you will probably find them on the floor –I swear the amount of clothes I saw on the floor was insane. The same thing will also happen with the dryer just an fyi. Now how to avoid this well I had the advantage of having ‘regular’ hour shifts, so I could do it in the afternoon when most were at work. However, best time to do laundry is either super late at night around 2-3am, or super early in the morning around 5-6am.
- Apartments come with wireless internet –eh’ close but not quite. Your apartment has access to the internet, but in order to have a wireless network in your apartment someone is going to need a router.
- Pest –yes you knew this one was going to come. While full disclosure they do technically spray for insects I suggest bring your own bug spray as they generally only do the kitchen.
- Bed bugs: I did not have any personal experience with this, but I have heard of several bed bug problems. My suggestion is bring bed bug spray, and mattress protector****. Also wash your sheets in hot water every week just in case (yes annoying and expensive)
- Spiders: Yes they live here too it is a thing, but honestly they tend not to be a major problem in the apartments.
- Frogs: I know this is an odd one to put on here, but they tend to break into your apartment from time to time.
- Lizards: Also commonly break into your apartment from time to time as well
- Snakes: They are generally outside of your apartment, and the ones I have seen are mostly non-poisonous. However, I have seen a few poisonous ones just call housing (on the back of your apartment Id).
- Roaches: Yup, you knew this was coming they live in warm climates. Okay, now our apartment building (yes the whole building) had a roach problem. I am not talking one or two roaches in the time we stayed I am talking we made a roach count compared it with our neighbors upstairs, and it came out to be 300+ roaches in the 6 months we lived there. Yes, they are huge and 1000% disgusting. This is not every apartment though I know people who did not have a single roach problem, but they did have other insects. This is why I suggest bringing bug spray as the problem seemed to subside when I started spraying every week around the apartment. I know this is uncomfortable trust me I do not do roaches at all! However, it is something you have to deal with in Florida no matter how uncomfortable the subject is.
- Ants: Yes, you are also going to have ants also just a problem of living in Florida. As with the roaches I suggest bringing bug spray as housing only sprays once a month or so.
- Mail yeah I know this is an odd one you are going to get a lot of mail from old CPS, or current CPS who moved apartments do not be that person who throws it out just stick it in the return to sender box.
- Packages that come from FedEx or UPS they go directly to your apartment door (anything USPS goes to the housing office), so yes people steal packages sometimes as well –just make sure you are home or a roommate so someone is there to get it quickly.
- Parking I did not have a problem with this, but I know some smaller complexes like Patterson did. It is not bad honestly you are just not going to park near your building calm down it is not the end of the world even if it is pouring rain.
- The gym is open 24/7, but the pool closes at night –also there is no more hot tub at Vista Way
- No, overnight guest are allowed in the apartments so that does include CPS from other complexes. Also yes it does include even non-Disney employees it is annoying I get it, but do not get termed because of it.
- You are more likely to get termed at work then housing, well yes and no. Most of the terms I personally know the story to happened due to something that happened at Disney housing not work.
- These are just a few things I can think of at the moment if you have other questions feel free to leave them below, but honestly just remember one thing. You are not doing the DCP to live at Disney (sure it is a perk), but this is a job your there to work not take a vacation.
As promised though here is a map so you can get an idea of where Vista is compared to the other complexes. Also those wondering Cumberland is the one across the street from Patterson, and can also be rented as an off property option******
*If you are over the age of 21+, and are bringing your own vehicle you can live outside of Disney housing, which may be something to consider if you plan on staying as well
**If you do not fill this part out your roommates will be chosen at random
***Apartments with roommates under 21 are called wellness which are alcohol prohibited apartments (no alcohol at all at any time once so ever), and this is important due to an over 21 roommate can choose to live in wellness –this rule applies to them as well no exceptions. Over 21+ apartments are called non-wellness and are allowed alcohol within the apartment.
****I will post a map so you can have an idea of where they are located
*****I will go over a packing list in other post
******If you live off property you cannot use the DCP bus system as you are given an off property id.
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