Kids clubs--why would kids not like them?

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I see parents mentioning that their kids may not like the kids club?

Is this something to be concerned about?

At this point--my 7 year old would be happy if I let her go to the "church school" as we call the baby/toddler program at our church. She's just happy to play with toys.

I guess I am just noticing these posts more as our cruise approaches. And though it is a surprise, they have seen the Travel channel program and the videos on-line to know that it is something they want to do...."someday" .

Is there a huge build up to these things or will they be fun?

(I'm sure she'll be fine either way--but just trying to understand what makes it not fun for a child.)

 

[AmberDaClown]

Boredom, wanting to be with mom, wanting to be with dad, seeing the pool on board and wanting to LIVE in it, not comfortable in group settings, not comfortable in crowds, not comfortable being left "alone"...those are just a few of the reasons why I fear my DD might not want to go and/or stay.

 

[ksc37]

My kids (boys, ages 4 & 6) liked the clubs in general, but they weren't thrilled with some of the programs. In particular, they didn't like the Junkanoo Jam & the Luau, because "they had too much dancing". Also, the Oceaneer's Club closes the slide (a big draw with my kids) quite frequently after they set sail, so this was a little disappointing for them.

Even with the minor complaints, my kids do want to go on another cruise (we haven't told them, but we did rebook while onboard )

 

[millerpjm]

My kids (boys, ages 4 & 6) liked the clubs in general, but they weren't thrilled with some of the programs. In particular, they didn't like the Junkanoo Jam & the Luau, because "they had too much dancing". Also, the Oceaneer's Club closes the slide (a big draw with my kids) quite frequently after they set sail, so this was a little disappointing for them.

Even with the minor complaints, my kids do want to go on another cruise (we haven't told them, but we did rebook while onboard )

What slide do they close?

 

[allshookup]

My kids both complain that there is not enough "free time". I guess one of the things DCL is known for is keeping the kids entertained so they always have activities planned. The problem is my kids just want to go in & play with the computers, games, etc. & they are usually told they can't do that. My DS does like going a lot more than my DD who is very shy. She is only happy when she meets someone her age to hang with. Now that she is a teen, I'm not sure how she'll be in the teen club next year.

 

[tvguy]

My kids were 12 and 16 on our Disney cruise. They just found the activities on the regular Navigator more interesting than the ones on the Navigators for their age groups so they never went to the kids club. The previous year, when they were 11 and 15, it was the same story.
Now in June, on NCL my youngest, now 16, did go for an hour one night, but only because they had a music trivia contest, and that's of interest to her, but other than that, did did the "adult" on general activites on board.

 

[yndygo]

I was worried about it before we sailed too... b/c so many people post that their kids don't like them. But I think it's just really about your child's personality... and what does or doesn't appeal to them.

Our DD loved it so much we still kid around about the time that we were 'going too slow' for her getting ready for Palo before dropping her off and she started literally hopping from foot to foot saying "letttttt's goooooo... I've got to get to my club now parents!!"

 

[AmberDaClown]

We really hope for the alone time because you know it will be our chance to um "be alone". No phone calls, no distractions, hopefully no knock on the stateroom door. All the things that sort of kill the mood, KWIM?

 

[aprilgail2]

My daughter liked it one cruise and hated it the other 2. She hated flounders, said it was to babyish. She liked the 4 year old program but when we went again when she was 5 and 6 she hated it both times. She said there was to much dancing which she does not like, they didn't get enough free time, they were always being told what they had to do, couldn't go off and do anything on their own. She preferred things like the frog race, golf, and things in the regular navigator, not the childrens one. She went down and made flubber last cruise but that was about the only thing she wanted to do there.

 

[ksc37]

What slide do they close?

They close the big slide inside the Oceaneer's club.

 

[MississippiMom]

I'm also amazed by the posts that I read about kids not liking the kids' club. I wonder if it is just more introverted children or children that don't spend much time with their parents and really want to be with them. ???? Really, I wish that the people that posted those type of comments would explain more about their situations and why their children were unhappy.

I can't speak for DCL, but we went on NCL earlier this year, and our (then) four and five year old girls could not get enough of the kids' club. We never forced the issue with them, though. We would look at the activities daily and discuss what they might be interested in doing and what they thought might be "too baby" and scheduled our day around the things they wanted to do. We always had breakfast, lunch and dinner together as a family, and got off the ship at the ports together. The girls attended cooking shows with us and bingo (great way to practice number recognition), but still had plenty of time to attend fun activities in the kids club. About every six weeks or so, one of them asks when we are going to go on a cruise again.

I must admit that in our case, they were in the same age bracket, so they had each other there all of the time, which probably helped with their comfort level at the kids' club.

 

[lg3]

They close the big slide inside the Oceaneer's club.

Why would they need to close the slide when the ship sets sail?

 

[tvguy]

I'm also amazed by the posts that I read about kids not liking the kids' club. I wonder if it is just more introverted children or children that don't spend much time with their parents and really want to be with them. ???? Really, I wish that the people that posted those type of comments would explain more about their situations and why their children were unhappy..

Well, in our case, we discovered cruises are a great chance for DW and I to spend time with DD and DS as their friends....not as mom and dad. DW and I did 5 cruises before kids, and have taken them on 3 cruises. Our kids discovered mom and dad were pretty cool people.
But they have always looked at the kids activities, and just plain always found the other non kids clubs activities more interesting.

Of course, my kids were teens on their first cruise. Now DD is a Junior in High School, and DS is a Junior in College. I literally see DD for an hour to an hour and a half a day during the school year, and DS is away at college, but does come home every weekend. So our vacations are planned as family vacations, for us to spend all our time together as a family.
So, watch out for the 4 of us at the family trivia contest on board our next cruise....we ARE one tough team!!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

My kids both complain that there is not enough "free time". I guess one of the things DCL is known for is keeping the kids entertained so they always have activities planned. The problem is my kids just want to go in & play with the computers, games, etc. & they are usually told they can't do that. My DS does like going a lot more than my DD who is very shy. She is only happy when she meets someone her age to hang with. Now that she is a teen, I'm not sure how she'll be in the teen club next year.

My kids complained about the same thing- the first "day" (not the first evening) they went to the lab. They just felt so disappointed that they could "see" the computers but couldn't play with them or have much free time. However, that didn't last long- once they "got over" the disappointment that they couldn't play the computers and have free time whenever they wanted- they got into the activities and had a great time.
The ONLY problem we had after the first day (which we also had "issues" with them signing out so we took that privilege away...) was that we had late dining and they ate with us every night. The reason this was a problem is apparently all the "fun" stuff seemed to be scheduled during late dining (not just my kids opinions, I also noticed the really fun stuff seemed to be planned during late dining- apparently they assumed all club and lab aged children would probably have early dining and thus be in the club/lab during late dining).

Late dining still works best for us- so on our next cruise we still have late dining BUT this time we're not going to force the kids to eat with us at dinner. They have already expressed a desire to just eat with the lab and then be IN the lab while we're having late dining (sometimes we may just have them eat dinner by the pool- yes, junkfood.. we're such horrible parents LOL and then go to the lab while we have late dining). This should solve the problem of them always missing out on the "fun stuff" during late dining (and/or eating as quickly as they can and then either DH or myself running them off to the lab- like we did last cruise running them off to the club/lab to try to "catch" as much of the fun as they could).

All kids are different. The reasons a child might prefer not to go to the club or lab have already been listed on this thread. My kids did want to swim a lot during the day- and ofcourse we went on excursions and such during the day at the ports of call- but evenings they would have much preferred to be in the club/lab than sitting down to eat dinner with us- and we're fine with not forcing the issue next cruise. They were disappointed to not have free time when they wanted- but they quickly got over that disappointment, because the club/lab have so much fun stuff to do.

 

[CM_Mom]

The best idea I've seen on the boards was posted by Kcashner. Their family REQUIRES the kids to participate in at least ONE activity in the club/lab (at the same time) each day so the parents have an hour or two of grown up time. They review the Navigators with the kids and find out when the kids want to go and plan around that except for when the parents schedule Palo and the kids don't have a choice.

This sounds like a very reasonable plan to me. It's the parents vacation also and it sets the expectations for the kids. Unfortunately, some families are kid driven and the kids determine the whole agenda.

I doubt anyone's kids will be permanently warped if they spend a couple of hours a day being "bored" or participating in a "babyish" activity so the parents can enjoy a little time together but that's a decision each family has to make for themselves. My kids never had an option when we hired a sitter for an occasional evening out and I don't see a big difference on the cruise.

But I know some families with such busy schedules at home that spending lots of time with their kids is a real treat, so they're pretty much take it or leave it where the clubs are concerned. As I said, every family has to decide what works best for them.

Hey, last cruise we had a 25 yo DD sharing our room so we were kinda short on "alone time". We couldn't very well drop her off in the club!

 

[CM_Mom]

The slide is part of the Pirate Ship in the club. That part's not open all the time. Only when they have a CM monitoring the kids using it to be sure it's being used safely. You don't let your kids use the slides at the park without you watching, same idea here.

I can understand where a kid that was planning to play on the pirate ship and slide down the slide would be disappointed if they were doing a different activity and it was closed.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Okay--that makes more sense!

What we had planned on doing is checking out the kids navigator's and having the girls pick what they want to do from that. (I'm assuming they will want to do lots.)

But I am a bit concerned as some of the posts here contradict other things I have read. Here some say there wasn't enough free time and the kids HAD to participate in the activity, but elsewhere it had been posted that if your child just wants to play then that is okay too. So which is it?

Also--is there "scheduled" "free play"--basically a time when an activity is NOT planned so if they want to just play and not miss anything, they can do that?

I hadn't planned on throwing my kids in the club at dawn and picking them up at midnight.

 

[frdeb1999]

My 11 yr old absolutely loved the clubs. But my older daughters hated the teen club. Said it was mostly younger teens and that it was more fun hanging out by the pools and going to the activities listed in the navigator. My 11 yr old on the other hand had to literally be dragged out at the end of the night she loved it so much!

 

[coastgirl]

But I am a bit concerned as some of the posts here contradict other things I have read. Here some say there wasn't enough free time and the kids HAD to participate in the activity, but elsewhere it had been posted that if your child just wants to play then that is okay too. So which is it?

Also--is there "scheduled" "free play"--basically a time when an activity is NOT planned so if they want to just play and not miss anything, they can do that?

This is of concern to me, too. My son has sensory issues--for the most part he's fine (e.g., in school) but can get overwhelmed and needs a safe retreat from time to time. A book or computer game can help him calm himself. He rarely chooses to join, but often will once he's comfortable--so forcing him is not a good idea. I'm quite willing to talk to the staff and give them some strategies, if they have flexibility. (I'm not talking separate program or one-on-one needs, just things that will allow him to be there with other kids and have fun without melting down.) I wouldn't dream of leaving him there all day, we can take him out and tend to his "sensory diet", but I'd like him to be happy for a few hours at a time at least.

I'm a SAHM who has no babysitter backup right now, we moved this summer. I have LOTS of quality time with my kids. I need a break, and I was trusting Disney to be able to care for my kids a few hours a day and keep them happy. (Not willing to go with a lesser line or resort where the kids' programs are warehousing.) TMI, sorry, I do that. But if everything is structured and everyone needs to join in, I need to know that before we make this decision. Thanks for any guidance or experience you can add.

 

[Chipfan]

There is scheduled free time throughout the day for each age group. There are also structured free times and full blown programs throughout the day. In the Club htere is quiet moie time about 2 hours before close but the back room with the computers is open if the children don't want to watch the movie. The slide is usually only closed when there is a program going on so that the children aren't distracting the other kids during it and because as counselors we need to be on the floor during the program not sitting on the slide. That being said there are programs like the Farewell party where the slide may be opened as part of a game but thats not guaranteed. As far as forcing a child to participate rarely does it happen especially if we are aware that a child will not respond to it. The only time a child may be brought over to participate is when they are being disruptive to the rest of the group. If a child is playing quietly on the computers while the group is in the lab they are most likely not going to be pulled off the computers

Hope this helps