DCP: Choosing Roommates

(Hey Y'all! I know I know... "But sarah, you're not even doing the Disney College Program this summer!"

...Well, no. I'm not. But I am a (self-proclaimed) expert on all things Disney programs and I have an obsession with answering questions about my summer and giving advice for those starting their adventure with the Disney Company!

So here we go! I'm going to be answering some of the most asked questions about the DCP.)

So, you've been accepted to the DCP (or ICP!)! Congratulations! You've started packing your bags, creating that bucket list of park attractions, booked your flight for the long journey to Orlando, and placed the countdown on your phone.

There's a lot of decisions to be made in between acceptance and arrival...And the one that can truly make or break your program is choosing your roommates!!

If you have ever lived with roommates, you know this to be true. I spent 3 years living in dorms, and who you live with can completely change your 

A couple of weeks before your arrival you'll get an email from DORMS (disney's onboarding site) asking your housing preferences. You have two options: link up with others, or be "adventurous". Both choices have their pros and cons...but lets just say you're like me, and want to know what you are getting yourself into. 

Finding roommates.

If you want to link up with your roommates beforehand, you're going to need to know people who are doing the program with. Keep in mind that in order to link up, you must have the same arrival dates, be the same gender, and all be over/under 21. There should be plenty of facebook groups for your arrival dates, and there may already even be a roommate search group for your dates! Be active in those groups, talk to people, and let them know you're looking for roommates! Be upfront and honest in these groups - don't be afraid to voice your concerns about who you live with. 

For example, my biggest concern about housing was being in a non-wellness apartment. I am uncomfortable with partying and hate when people are over in the apartment all of the time, but I didn't want to live in a wellness apartment and live with people who could potentially get me in trouble. I was completely honest about this when looking for roommates, and found people who understood that from the start.

Choosing the right roommate

One of the easiest ways to get everything out there is roommate surveys (try this one!). Here you'll learn about people, their likes and dislikes, habits, etc. This is EXTREMELY important for a great DCP experience. If you're a person who like to go to bed early, but your roommate is a night owl, you're probably going to have a bad time. If you're a slob, but your roommate is a neat freak, there's going to be tension (Sorry Val)! 

Get to know each other, coordinate what you are all bringing (especially if one of you is driving down!), figure out your housing preferences, and get excited together! Make plans and get your disney nerdiness on! :)

Don't be Afraid

Our roommate group didn't get to know each other too well before arriving. There were four of us, but we were open to having more roommates joining us...and it was the best decision we could have made! The other two girls who got placed with us turned out to be the most wonderful, hilarious, caring girls and I don't know what my program would have been like without them. 

There are so many terrifying roommate stories all over the internet, it is easy to get super anxious about what kind of crazy person you're going to be stuck with for the summer. But I PROMISE it's not all bad. There are so many more stories of roommates who turned into lifelong friends than there are the terror stories. Make the most of your roommate situation whatever it may be. 

Remember, to have good roommates, you have to be a good roommate. Pull your weight, go above and beyond to make your program as special as possible. It all goes by so fast! 

So that's my advice for choosing the perfect roommate! If you have any questions for me to answer, or any topics for me to cover on the DCP, let me know in the comments below! 

love + pixie dust,

sarah