If you're part of the Disney World College Program, you have no choice but to live here. It's part of the "overall experience" ... well, let me tell you a little something about it.

Back in '93 I was paying $73.00 a week, which is deducted right out of your check, which adds up to, depending upon the # of weeks that month, an average of $328.50 a month, which at first doesn't seem so bad, but here's the catch, you are in a three bedroom apartment, and you have a roomate in your bedroom, and the two other rooms also have two people in them, so you have six people at any given time living in that apartment. Now, let's do the math again ... six people X an average of 328.5 and they're making an outrageous $1,971.00 per apartment per month. You're being taken gross advantage of. And don't let them kid you. The busses that pick you up and take you to Disney are owned and operated by Disney, not the management company of the property, which isn't Disney by the way.

There are two pools, and if you're smart you won't get into either of them. The entire complex is a bunch of college age kids, who jump in with all their clothes on on several occasions, and others have sexual intercourse in the pools when it's late and convenient for them. I know, because I've seen it first hand.

You have no privacy, and you have a locker in your closet to keep what few of your precious belongings you have in them. If you are smart, you won't try to move in with a television or nice stereo, for you may find it broken or missing, as happened to a friend of mine.

There are parties day and night, so don't expect to get any real sleep. The people you share your apartment with are not only from colleges all over the us, but are also from several other countries, the people that work at Epcot, who, God bless them, sign up for this for a year.

So, essentially, you have people Moving in and out of your apartment every other month or so ... and since you are only there for about four months, you won't be moving in all at the same time, so you're moving into an apartment with potentially five other people already living there.

Most college age kids are not the cleanest people I've ever met, so imagine what it's like to get someone to take the trash out, or wash their dishes so you can use a bowl or spoon. Florida has what are called palmetto bugs, which are basically huge cockroackes, and thanks to your sloppy roommates, you'll see plenty of them.

Oh, by the way, the washers and dryers are located on the ground floor of each building, not in your apartment, and they're not indoors, they're in a recessed area of the passthrough hallway, so don't leave money in your pockets, because there are those who check dryers on a regular basis for beer money. Stay with your laundry, and bring a book to read until it's done!

Also, keep your bedroom door locked at night when you sleep. There are plenty of drunk college boys running around who don't know what no means, or just plain forget where their apartment is, and you may find one sleeping on your floor, or even your bed when you open your eyes.

I'm not a priss, and I'm not a good girl. I had my boyfriend sleep over more than once, much to the chagrin of my own roommate, God bless her for putting up with me. She was a good girl, and often read her bible to save my soul, or so she said ... I hope you're getting the picture, because this is the honest to goodness bare truth that I lived for four months. Some of it was great fun, and a lot of it was just plain crap.

User Responses
From: pjd99	Date: 08/15/2006
Oh please!!! I lived at vistaway in 1993 and unless you where some friendless geek, it was the best place on earth to be. So good that I came back in 2005-2006 to participate as an american on an international program. Great parties, great friends and a basic sleepaway camp for big kids. Yes people did drink to much and walk into the wrong apartments but, that was the fun of it plus, all of the apartments do look exactly the same!!!
From: piccola9283	Date: 12/01/2006
I totally agree with pjd99! I've heard complaints but this one is just ridiculous. Definately a friendless geek. This was one of the best experiences of my life!!
From: Anonymous	Date: 02/24/2008
What I'd give to be back in Vista Way. Lived there in 1993 and again in 1994. Sure Disney made out pretty hefty from the rent, but I'd never trade the memories and friends I made those years. 15 years later and I'm still in touch with many of them.

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