Disney Cultural Exchange Program Summer 2025

[Cenerentola]

Originally Posted by Floridatilly

No advice but I wanted to say how fantastic that’s going to be! Well done for getting through 🥰

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Thank you. DD has been wanting to do the CEP since she was age 8 or 9, a lovely English girl was a lifeguard at our Disney hotel and told her all about it (during a lightening break when the pool was closed). Xx

[Cenerentola]

Originally Posted by Nimbus

We went over with DD and took some bedding with us. We bought a pillow over there and DD did end up buying a thick blanket because her room mate liked having the aircon on full blast.

I would suggest anyone going selects the option to have their own bedroom (other areas can be shared). Although my DD's roommate was nice, she did seem to like having the room *very* cold and we're sure DD caught Covid (or something similar) from her. My DD felt that she would've liked her own room to retreat to at the end of the day.

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Thanks for the info, I don’t know if that is something she should have done by now or nearer the time?

[Cenerentola]

Originally Posted by BevS97

It’s also possible to request a specific roommate if you know someone else going or meet someone at the interviews.

My DD shared with a friend from home. They were in very different shift patterns so didn’t see a lot of each other but I think it was nice to have a familiar face to share with.

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DD has booked to go with another 3 girls, that she has met through various online groups. So I will let her know that this is an option too. Thanks xx

[cheekytink]

Like John (Walt4it), DS did last summer and is the other person on the podcast. He worked in Merch in EPCOT and had a blast - made really important friends for life.
It's hard work though - long (can be anti-social) hours and working several days without a day off.
Buy bedding/kettle/pillows etc when you get there - I went out with DS for a few days and went to Walmart on the 192 which was cheaper than Target.
Happy to answer any parent-questions!

[steel1203]

My DD is also on the CEP this year and myself and DH are flying over with her a few days before they start to do universal/epic.
She has done her security checks, now waiting for visa application - when was this arranged last year?

[Nimbus]

Originally Posted by steel1203

My DD is also on the CEP this year and myself and DH are flying over with her a few days before they start to do universal/epic.
She has done her security checks, now waiting for visa application - when was this arranged last year?

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My DD went for her visa interview on 12th April last year, I think. She only booked it a couple of weeks beforehand, so probably at the very end of March. She was a bit later than some others because she was waiting to find out whether her exams in May/June didn't clash with this Disney programme.

I think some of the others had their visa interview in early March.

I think the visa application forms come sometime in February?

[Faith]

My daughter is doing the CEP this year too in Food & Bev.

My question for those who purchased bedding out there - what did they do with it afterwards? Is there anywhere to recycle rather than throwing away?

Thanks

[rusty30]

Originally Posted by Faith

My daughter is doing the CEP this year too in Food & Bev.

My question for those who purchased bedding out there - what did they do with it afterwards? Is there anywhere to recycle rather than throwing away?

Thanks

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There is a Facebook page where people advertise things they are selling or giving away when leaving. I think it’s just called Disney College Program. My son loved his pillows so bought them home on the plane! I think his flatmate kept his duvet and bedding (she was American on a longer program).

Edited to add: Most airlines charge about £65 for an extra bag - it would probably be a cheaper option to buy bedding over here, vacuum pack it and take it. DS said it was a lot more expensive than he thought and spent about $120 getting everything. He reckoned the equivalent in Dunelm here would have been about £50. If he gets the Cultural Rep position at any time in the future he would definitely buy extra baggage and take it with him.

[Faith]

Originally Posted by rusty30

There is a Facebook page where people advertise things they are selling or giving away when leaving. I think it’s just called Disney College Program. My son loved his pillows so bought them home on the plane! I think his flatmate kept his duvet and bedding (she was American on a longer program).

Edited to add: Most airlines charge about £65 for an extra bag - it would probably be a cheaper option to buy bedding over here, vacuum pack it and take it. DS said it was a lot more expensive than he thought and spent about $120 getting everything. He reckoned the equivalent in Dunelm here would have been about £50. If he gets the Cultural Rep position at any time in the future he would definitely buy extra baggage and take it with him.

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Thank you x

[walt4it]

Originally Posted by Faith

My daughter is doing the CEP this year too in Food & Bev.

My question for those who purchased bedding out there - what did they do with it afterwards? Is there anywhere to recycle rather than throwing away?

Thanks

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We already had the extra bag full of merch that Josh bought whilst out there.
We took the pillows, quilts and bedding to a Church donation store on the 192. At Flamingo Crossing on moving out day there was the option to donate your unwanted things for charities to support those who were in need locally.
Would have hated to have just thrown away and many on the longer college Program may also be thankful too.