Charging privileges - Edge and Oceaneers Lab

[audrey13]

Is there anything for kids to charge to their room key in the Edge or Oceaneers Lab? I'm debating whether to give my DS (11) charging privileges. If I do, I will need to instruct him on what costs extra (like getting a soda at one of the bars or by the pool instead of at the drinks station). Is there anything that costs extra in the kids clubs? Like, do they offer them smoothies or other food or drinks that is not free? What about internet or playing games?

Thanks!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Is there anything for kids to charge to their room key in the Edge or Oceaneers Lab? I'm debating whether to give my DS (11) charging privileges. If I do, I will need to instruct him on what costs extra (like getting a soda at one of the bars or by the pool instead of at the drinks station). Is there anything that costs extra in the kids clubs? Like, do they offer them smoothies or other food or drinks that is not free? What about internet or playing games?

Thanks!

There are no extra costs within the club. Sometimes they have smoothies there, but they are no charge during that time. And sometimes Edge will do an "Invade the Arcade" during that time the games are set for free play.

Any charges you kids might make would be when they are not participating in club/Edge activities.

 

[Eeyore'sthebest]

Is there anything for kids to charge to their room key in the Edge or Oceaneers Lab? I'm debating whether to give my DS (11) charging privileges. If I do, I will need to instruct him on what costs extra (like getting a soda at one of the bars or by the pool instead of at the drinks station). Is there anything that costs extra in the kids clubs? Like, do they offer them smoothies or other food or drinks that is not free? What about internet or playing games?

Thanks!

Everything in the clubs is free (at least the younger clubs). I believe the teen clubs have smoothies they can purchase. Otherwise, nothing needs to be charged.

Just my 2 cents with charging abilities and kids, make sure they are aware of how much they can charge, whether it be daily or the entire cruise. We always set a limit for DD such as 1 smoothie a day and no more than $20 at the gift shop if we aren't present. She's always with us so it's never an issue but she likes that she can spend "her money" .

 

[audrey13]

Thanks! That is really helpful.

 

[OKW Lover]

Be very careful allowing charging privileges for youngsters. While its not likely that they will buy something expensive from a gift shop the card can be used to buy/recharge arcade cards. A child could easily run up a large bill just playing the arcade games.

 

[audrey13]

Okay, thanks. I'll be sure to talk to him about the arcade. Are charging privileges something that can be changed during the cruise (could we start off with no charging privileges for him and then add them later, or vice versa)?

 

[ktb2002]

Everything in the clubs is free (at least the younger clubs). I believe the teen clubs have smoothies they can purchase. Otherwise, nothing needs to be charged.

Just my 2 cents with charging abilities and kids, make sure they are aware of how much they can charge, whether it be daily or the entire cruise. We always set a limit for DD such as 1 smoothie a day and no more than $20 at the gift shop if we aren't present. She's always with us so it's never an issue but she likes that she can spend "her money" .

I can relate to this! I gave my son charging privileges for the first time, he was basically always with me but he thought he was something else using his card to buy my purse "mom, I've got this!" Lol

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Okay, thanks. I'll be sure to talk to him about the arcade. Are charging privileges something that can be changed during the cruise (could we start off with no charging privileges for him and then add them later, or vice versa)?

I'm pretty sure that you can turn on/off the charging privleges at any time. I do know that you can't have a limit, it's either on or off.

The problem in the arcades is the older kids conning the younger kids who have charging privleges on their KTTW card into loading up the older kids arcade card. That's caused some real problems from what I've read. One solution you would have there is to turn off your child's charging, and you buying an arcarde card using your KTTW card. Once the arcade card is used up, it's done. The card's initial value is $10 and you can reload in $5 increments.

 

[wendyoconnor]

Another solution, especially if your child is saving up their own money for the trip.

If you would like your child to have charging privileges, purchase Disney gift cards before your trip in an agreed upon amount and once on board attach them to your child's KTTW. That way they have some freedom to purchase but are limited in the amount they can. And you don't have any surprises on your credit card. Any amount they don't spend will be refunded back onto their gift card. It's really easy to check what has been charged to each KTTW card during the trip.

 

[iamadisneynut]

Can you do that? Like attach a $50 disney gift card to each kids KTTW card?

 

[kcashner]

Can you do that? Like attach a $50 disney gift card to each kids KTTW card?

You can, but that means you are giving them charging and you have to sign that you'll cover any overage.

There is NOTHING done as part of the programming in any age group that has any fee with the exception of the Wild Side excursion on Castaway Cay (and you sign up for this thru port adventures). There is a "bar" in the teen area where they can purchase smoothies or sodas when they are not part of the programming. By that I mean that if it is free time in the Vibe and your kid wants a smoothie, she pays. If it is Smoothie Party, each kid in attendance gets a free smoothie. If it is "make a t-shirt," each kid participating gets a free t-shirt to decorate. If it is "Invade the Arcade," all the games are set to free play for that hour.

I told my kid that if I EVER saw a charge for a soda because she was too lazy to go to the beverage station, it would be the last money she'd see from me. Sorry; no excuse for plain laziness in my mind. I worked hard for that money. I would give her an amount (usually $50) and explain that it was enough to buy a smoothie each day and something small in the gift shop...and that if she chose to not spend it on vacation, any left overs would be given to her in cash after the cruise (it eliminated the purchase she didn't really want just because she had money!). Worked for us......

So no, if you don't want your teen/tween to have charging, it will not affect how they can participate in the Vibe or Edge at all.

 

[audrey13]

You can, but that means you are giving them charging and you have to sign that you'll cover any overage.

There is NOTHING done as part of the programming in any age group that has any fee with the exception of the Wild Side excursion on Castaway Cay (and you sign up for this thru port adventures). There is a "bar" in the teen area where they can purchase smoothies or sodas when they are not part of the programming. By that I mean that if it is free time in the Vibe and your kid wants a smoothie, she pays. If it is Smoothie Party, each kid in attendance gets a free smoothie. If it is "make a t-shirt," each kid participating gets a free t-shirt to decorate. If it is "Invade the Arcade," all the games are set to free play for that hour.

I told my kid that if I EVER saw a charge for a soda because she was too lazy to go to the beverage station, it would be the last money she'd see from me. Sorry; no excuse for plain laziness in my mind. I worked hard for that money. I would give her an amount (usually $50) and explain that it was enough to buy a smoothie each day and something small in the gift shop...and that if she chose to not spend it on vacation, any left overs would be given to her in cash after the cruise (it eliminated the purchase she didn't really want just because she had money!). Worked for us......

So no, if you don't want your teen/tween to have charging, it will not affect how they can participate in the Vibe or Edge at all.

Thanks!

 

[iamadisneynut]

But if you attach a gift card to each kids KTTW card they don't just max out the amount and then hit a spending wall so to speak?

 

[kcashner]

But if you attach a gift card to each kids KTTW card they don't just max out the amount and then hit a spending wall so to speak?

No, they don't. That's the problem. If you tie ANY pay source to their KTTW card, DCL puts charging on their card AND requires an adult to sign a financial responsibility statement (you'll be responsible for their charges). Of course, YOU can monitor their charges and remove charging when they hit the $50.....but DCL won't do it. They will "spend" the $50 and then run any overflow to your pay source.

 

[iamadisneynut]

Thanks!!