Disabled child in a wheelchair and the kids clubs

[PrincessShmoo]

Whoa. Since when are parents not allowed in during "secured programming hours"? I'm glad my kids are older now, I liked being able to go in and talk to them a bit or see what they were doing. Not like I stayed more than a few minutes but still.
Guess I'll have to keep that in mind when I have grandbabies someday (hopefully not anytime soon please though LOL)

Since Dec 2011. That's when DCL revamped the ages and policies for the kids clubs.
Oceaneers Club/Lab ages 3-12
Edge ages 11-14
Vibe ages 14-17
18 and over (regardless if still in HS) ADULT

The Club/Lab has Open House on one side or the other 1 or 2 hours once or twice a day. The alternate side is Secured Programming for those parents who still just want to drop off their children.

During Secured Programming only DCL CMs are allowed in the kids areas. During Open House, families are permitted to participate with their children in the programming.

 

[lbgraves]

I have an elevator tip for anyone using a wheelchair, stroller (us) or any other reason not being able to use the stairs.

If you are having a difficult time getting on the elevator because everyone is going in one direction/elevators are full by the time they reach your floor (example after shows, getting on/off ship at ports, embarkation/disembarkation), then call the elevator going in the opposite direction of the crowd! This way, you can get on a relatively empty elevator and not have to fight the crowd (since they are going in the opposite directions) and then ride the elevator up/down and then back to your destination.

We have done this since 2003...even though the kids have long ago outgrown their strollers.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

It's no big deal to get a pass to walk in to check on and talk to your kids and/or see what they're doing. It's just to cut down on the opportunity for other parents who you don't know interacting with your kids. Same logic that's behind background checks to help out at schools.

Oh ok. It sounded like from other posts (even after yours!!) that you aren't allowed in -at all- not even for a second. And that seemed odd to me. Granted I never spent much time there- either my kids would say they wanted to go with me after I talked to them a moment and we left together (checking them out ofcourse) or they'd be all "go away mom" with their body language and "I'm having fun mom" type comments if they were busy into something. But not allowed in at all seemed weird. So I was thinking in order to talk to them I'd have to call them on the wave phone or interrupt what they are doing and have them come to me? I can see a child who waited their turn for a computer being highly peeved if they had to get off and come talk to me LOL

 

[NCConch]

: But not allowed in at all seemed weird. So I was thinking in order to talk to them I'd have to call them on the wave phone or interrupt what they are doing and have them come to me? I can see a child who waited their turn for a computer being highly peeved if they had to get off and come talk to me LOL

It is not all about the kids fun (despite being a Disney cruise). It is about safety. I am an education administrator and appreciate their protocols. Even if an adult can be verified as a parent it is much more difficult to prove that they're not a predator.

 

[peachygreen]

I was let into the club or lab to pick up my daughter everytime I went in there. I have a feeling it is just a lot easier for the parents to go get their children than for the counselors who don't necessarily know everyone's names to find the right child at any given time in a timely manner.
Sometimes she would tell me she wanted to stay and I would give her a time frame when I'd be back. Sometimes it was just time to go.

ETA - this was in July of 2012 on the Magic after they had changed the rules about no parents during supervised activites.

 

[lanejudy]

I was let into the club or lab to pick up my daughter everytime I went in there. I have a feeling it is just a lot easier for the parents to go get their children than for the counselors who don't necessarily know everyone's names to find the right child at any given time in a timely manner.
Sometimes she would tell me she wanted to stay and I would give her a time frame when I'd be back. Sometimes it was just time to go.

ETA - this was in July of 2012 on the Magic after they had changed the rules about no parents during supervised activites.

It may depend what is going on at the moment and/or how many kids are in the club at the time. Sometimes I was waved in to find my child at pick-up (they would tell me what room) and other times they brought her to the gate.

It is not all about the kids fun (despite being a Disney cruise). It is about safety. I am an education administrator and appreciate their protocols. Even if an adult can be verified as a parent it is much more difficult to prove that they're not a predator.

This is exactly the reason! DCL's policy is to limit adults' ability to interact with other children within the club; they are providing an environment where the children (and parents) can feel safe that there will be no interaction between their child and another adult. Most of us simply locate our own child at pick-up without any conversation or interaction with others, but once inside the gate that cannot be guaranteed. The incident that many believe likely prompted the current policy involved an adult who had legitimate reason to be in the club with another child.