questions about Oceaneer club and lab

[cutesnoopy]

My son will be cruising on 2 weeks before his 3 years old birthday. Can he sign up for the Oceaneer club and Oceaneer lab?

He is not potty trained and he doesn't speak much when meeting strangers. If he is in these activities, do I need to worry that he is being with kids a lot older (up to 13 years old)

When is the drop off time and pick up time? Is it a full day program or can I drop off any time I want?

I know the nursery is available but want to see if those two programs are more fun for my son.

First time taking a kid on Disney Cruise so any advice is appreciated. Thank!

 

[Susiesark]

I think both of these areas are too old for your son. There is a lot of running around, and can get a bit wild. The kids going inside the Club and Lab are more independent.

 

[Melissa&Shawn]

He needs to be fully potty trained to go to the Club.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

My son will be cruising on 2 weeks before his 3 years old birthday. Can he sign up for the Oceaneer club and Oceaneer lab?

He is not potty trained and he doesn't speak much when meeting strangers. If he is in these activities, do I need to worry that he is being with kids a lot older (up to 13 years old)

When is the drop off time and pick up time? Is it a full day program or can I drop off any time I want?

I know the nursery is available but want to see if those two programs are more fun for my son.

First time taking a kid on Disney Cruise so any advice is appreciated. Thank!

If he is under 3 and not potty trained he will only be eligible for the nursery. Oceaneers Club/Lab is for ages 3-12, and must be fully potty-trained (able to be aware that they need to use the toilet, undress, use toilet, redress, and wash hands without assistance).

There are Open Houses at the Club/Lab daily that he can attend (with an adult) and play there.

 

[GusGus77]

Children must be fully potty trained to be in the club/lab. They will not consider a child who is not potty trained (especially one under the age of 3.) The nursery is your only option. It is $6 an hour and you must schedule your hours ahead of time. Because you don't have an infant, you may be able to walk into the nursery and drop off last minute if they have openings (which is more likely for toddlers than infants.)

 

[cutesnoopy]

What kind of activities in the nursery? The room doesn't seem to have much fun than the club (from the pictures online). Should I just have my son all time than going to the nursery?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

What kind of activities in the nursery? The room doesn't seem to have much fun than the club (from the pictures online). Should I just have my son all time than going to the nursery?

I will admit I don't have any young children at this time, but I do have children. If we had cruised when they were the age to be in the nursery, I would have put them there at least once so DH & I could have some adult time.

Of course, you know your child best, and you need to do what is right for you (and your child). You never know unless you try.

 

[Jackiet123]

My kids are 3 1/2 and were eaten alive in the club lol! They are potty trained but the club wasn't a good fit. Too many kids with too many age groups running around. Other cruise lines break it down (3-5 or 3-6). I can't believe disney of all cruise lines keep 3-12 year olds all together.

I was paged after 15 minutes. My kids were hysterical. Counselors were great but just too many kids and total chaos. There was an organized activity going on but the running around and craziness going on just confused my kids.

If I could've done the nursery I would've! Since your child still meets nursery criteria I'd put him there.

 

[Weedy]

The clubs will have open house each day. You will be able to go with him and enjoy the club. I feel the clubs would be a bit overwhelming for a 2 year old. The nursery will be available so you can have some adult time and maybe a quiet dinner.

There are also family activities through out the day. Here is a link to the Personal Navigators, they are the info paper you will get each day to tell you the activities that will happen. Things can change each cruise but you can find the cruise you are on and get an idea what will happen.

http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/cruise-new/cr-stateroom-navigator.htm

You will still have a great cruise

 

[PrincessShmoo]

My kids are 3 1/2 and were eaten alive in the club lol! They are potty trained but the club wasn't a good fit. Too many kids with too many age groups running around. Other cruise lines break it down (3-5 or 3-6). I can't believe disney of all cruise lines keep 3-12 year olds all together.

I was paged after 15 minutes. My kids were hysterical. Counselors were great but just too many kids and total chaos. There was an organized activity going on but the running around and craziness going on just confused my kids.

If I could've done the nursery I would've! Since your child still meets nursery criteria I'd put him there.

Oceaneers Club and Lab used to be separate areas (on the Magic class ship the spaces are still separate, CMs escort the kids between the areas if they want to change) with the Club being agd 3-7 and the Lab being ages 8-12.

Many parents complained that they wanted their younger children to be able to attend the club with older (but still young) children. So they combined the spaces. The Club actvities are still geared toward the 3-7 group, while the lab activities are aimed at the 8-12 group. That said, any child in the Club/Lab may participate in whatever activities appeal to them.

 

[Melinda79]

Our daughter was 2 1/2 last time we cruised. I had the same concerns. We only put her in the nursery 1 night while we went to Palo. The CM's did activities with her I know they painted with glitter paint. She had a great time. We took her to the club during some Open House time and it seemed to work out great! If I had put her in the nursery earlier in the cruise I probably would have used it more. I just thought she was going to be bored and miss her sister in the nursery. I was wrong it was great. If their is something you want to do I wouldn't hesitate using the nursery I think they accommodate the 2 year old age group you just have to pay for it.

 

[Jackiet123]

Oceaneers Club and Lab used to be separate areas (on the Magic class ship the spaces are still separate, CMs escort the kids between the areas if they want to change) with the Club being agd 3-7 and the Lab being ages 8-12.

Many parents complained that they wanted their younger children to be able to attend the club with older (but still young) children. So they combined the spaces. The Club actvities are still geared toward the 3-7 group, while the lab activities are aimed at the 8-12 group. That said, any child in the Club/Lab may participate in whatever activities appeal to them.

I met other families with kids the same age have no problems, most had older siblings in the club with them. I was shocked to see some of the older ones participating in activities clearly geared for the preschool age. Ill try it again next time!

 

[Namsupak]

What kind of activities in the nursery? The room doesn't seem to have much fun than the club (from the pictures online). Should I just have my son all time than going to the nursery?

They have some story time and character time. They have toddler appropriate play toys, think fisher-price and playskool. The counselors do art activites with the kids. The counselor to kid ratio is much lower. The nursery has been fine for both of our kids in the past and unfortunately without the potty training it is the only option you have. Our DS just had his first cruise last year at 3mo old, he pretty much slept the whole time which is to be expected. Our DD has been on 9 cruises starting at 5 months old. She is 3 now and potty trained and it was slightly difficult for her in the club, we loved the nursery for her but we thought that it was time to try the club. Her last cruise in the nursery she was about 2 years and 8 months and she loved the nursery, obviously every child is different. One thing you can do is just try it and see how it goes, if your child is in daycare at home that will definitely help.

 

[lbgraves]

It isn't as crazy in the nursery as it can get in the club due to the ages and the ratio. The characters stop by and spend time with the kids there as well. Friends have been given pictures of their child with the characters while they were in the nursery.

 

[Meghatron]

DD has been in both the club (week of her 3rd birthday) and the nursery (at 21 months) and had a great time in both places. If your son is not potty trained (fully independent; the CMs cannot go with the kids to the bathroom) he will only be allowed in the nursery. They do activities with them; I still have all the stuff DD made in the nursery, including a Flounder-themed set of handprints that I framed.