Adults Only?

[Clotho]

Why go on a Disney cruise if you don't want to be around kids? Um, because we LIKE Disney and love the whole aspect of escaping into another world that Disney is so good at creating. We enjoy seeing little ones thrill to a new Disney experience but we should also be entitled to take advantage of the Disney specified adults' areas. It's kind of like saying you should only celebrate Christmas if you have children because it is mostly for kids anyway.

I concur with every single thing you said, but this in particular strikes at the heart for hubby and me. We are childless, but we love the Disney experience--their service is hands down some of the best you find anywhere, and we love that we can flow seamlessly from being silly kids one minute to sophisticated adults the next and Disney rolls with both ends of the spectrum. We aren't uptight "we hate kids" people. We love kids, and even with none of our own, we love watching kids play and discover and enjoy the Disney characters and atmosphere. We coo and "awww!" at adorable babies (I would snuggle 'em if I could! , we play along with the kids around us, we sing along, we boogie down.

Just not every minute of the day!

Then we like to dress up, him in a fancy suit and me in a dress and heels, and go out and enjoy fine dining. We sip excellent wine, enjoy being served by impeccable staff, and revel in the adult-only (or sometimes just "mostly adult") restaurants . Or we head out to the piano bar and sing along as we clink our glasses with other adults.

Disney tries to accommodate all of us, and I love them for it. That is why they get so much of our vacation money--because they recognize that not all kidless people are kid-haters, and not all people with kids want to be constantly surrounded by kids!

 

[orangemonster]

How very nicely and kindly put ~ you have a way with words and we are exactly the same way!

 

[DVC Jen]

I love kids! I was a preschool teacher for 11 years. However now that my family consists of me, DH and our two DDs - both of whom are over 18 we really enjoy the adult only areas. Not because we hate little kids. Geesh - our oldest DD is in college getting her degree in early childhood through grade 4 special education.

We LOVE seeing the smiles and wonder on the faces of the children around us. It makes me yearn for those days my own girls were little.

There are times however that we want a bit more quiet, where we can relax and not worry about being splashed in the face by kids who are just being kids - not ill behaved - just having fun.

Or to go sit and enjoy a drink and a good book without seeing and hearing a child melt down.

Just like with parents of young children - they like to have some alone "adult" time - we all did when our kids were young.

Well my family LOVES Disney. We LOVE seeing the smiles on those precious faces and the excitement in their eyes. But it is also nice to know there are places we can go and have OUR adult quiet time as well.

Just because those of us without little ones - or in my case my little ones are taller than I am and of legal age - want our adult only spaces - it doesn't mean we don't care of children.

Disney does it perfectly - they have spaces where kids can be kids, teens can be teens, families can be families and adults - can be adults. I really just think people would appreciate a little more enforcement of those adult only areas.

heck I would LOVE to play around in the kids clubs - but I know that is not going to be allowed anytime soon.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I love kids! I was a preschool teacher for 11 years. However now that my family consists of me, DH and our two DDs - both of whom are over 18 we really enjoy the adult only areas. Not because we hate little kids. Geesh - our oldest DD is in college getting her degree in early childhood through grade 4 special education.

We LOVE seeing the smiles and wonder on the faces of the children around us. It makes me yearn for those days my own girls were little.

There are times however that we want a bit more quiet, where we can relax and not worry about being splashed in the face by kids who are just being kids - not ill behaved - just having fun.

Or to go sit and enjoy a drink and a good book without seeing and hearing a child melt down.

Just like with parents of young children - they like to have some alone "adult" time - we all did when our kids were young.

Well my family LOVES Disney. We LOVE seeing the smiles on those precious faces and the excitement in their eyes. But it is also nice to know there are places we can go and have OUR adult quiet time as well.

Just because those of us without little ones - or in my case my little ones are taller than I am and of legal age - want our adult only spaces - it doesn't mean we don't care of children.

Disney does it perfectly - they have spaces where kids can be kids, teens can be teens, families can be families and adults - can be adults. I really just think people would appreciate a little more enforcement of those adult only areas.

heck I would LOVE to play around in the kids clubs - but I know that is not going to be allowed anytime soon.

Well, actually, you can during the Open House times.

 

[mmackeymouse]

I have not heard of teens able to buy alcohol on board using parents key cards. Hopefully, that is not happening either. But I know of kids in the teen club who have brought on illegal drugs in Nassau (from my DD's talking about it).

Noooooo don't say that! Covering my ears, la la la la la la, I can't heeeaaaar you!

Up at work, my coworkers have had discussions of their cruises (all on Carnival- not trying to knock Carnival, but just stating fact), and they make it sound like SS Woodstock or something- it had me question why they choose to go back.

They talk about seeing someone on their "private island" dealing drugs on the beach; hallways that smell like pot; hallways that smell like alcohol; hallways that smell like puke; or a combination of all. Then, they would brush it off, saying, "Well, that's just how it is when you cruise. That's the lifestyle"

And, I was thinking, "Uh, it is?" Thank goodness I don't have to worry about that kind of stuff, right? Then, I see your post, and I am like noooooooooooooooooooo.

 

[Guineveree]

I concur with every single thing you said, but this in particular strikes at the heart for hubby and me. We are childless, but we love the Disney experience--their service is hands down some of the best you find anywhere, and we love that we can flow seamlessly from being silly kids one minute to sophisticated adults the next and Disney rolls with both ends of the spectrum. We aren't uptight "we hate kids" people. We love kids, and even with none of our own, we love watching kids play and discover and enjoy the Disney characters and atmosphere. We coo and "awww!" at adorable babies (I would snuggle 'em if I could! , we play along with the kids around us, we sing along, we boogie down.

Just not every minute of the day!

Amen to you both, Clotho & Orangemonster!

We are *exactly* in the same boat as you guys are (no pun intended). No children, but we *love* Disney. Whenever you go to Parks or on the ships, you see the attention to details, the "telling of a story" (as Imagineers would say) that stirs up memories and tugs at our imagination.

Plus the fantastic dining experience, and the ability (nay, the right!) to act silly and have fun doing it!

I was just telling my husband the other day that the Disney's experience is the best "bang for our buck," so much so that when on property at WDW, it would never occurred to us that we should have dinner in Kissimmee or Orlando. We get incredible options at WDW! And for DCL, while we're more or less captive on the ship, I found this to be the equivalent of an all inclusive resort where you have the convenience of different (and top notch) experiences within walking (or elevator) distance. While price wise we could cruise on other fancy lines like Crystal or Regent, I'm just worried that the "magic" will be missing... I know this may sound silly, but when it's my turn to get the latte from Cove Cafe a 7am, and I hear "When you Wish Upon a Star" in the stairwell up to 11th deck, I do shed a tear (ok maybe 2).

I'm guessing that there are probably a lot more of us (born in the late 1950-1960-1970) that have been raised with the sunday night "Wonderful World of Disney"...and DCL/WDW is a trip into nostalgia and our special happy places...

 

[CarolAnnC]

Noooooo don't say that! Covering my ears, la la la la la la, I can't heeeaaaar you!

Up at work, my coworkers have had discussions of their cruises (all on Carnival- not trying to knock Carnival, but just stating fact), and they make it sound like SS Woodstock or something- it had me question why they choose to go back.

They talk about seeing someone on their "private island" dealing drugs on the beach; hallways that smell like pot; hallways that smell like alcohol; hallways that smell like puke; or a combination of all. Then, they would brush it off, saying, "Well, that's just how it is when you cruise. That's the lifestyle"

And, I was thinking, "Uh, it is?" Thank goodness I don't have to worry about that kind of stuff, right? Then, I see your post, and I am like noooooooooooooooooooo.

LOL! Sorry but covering your ears won't make it go away. If you are confident in the lessons you taught your kids, even before they are teens, hopefully you won't have to worry about this. But drugs are everywhere, our towns, our malls and even in our schools.

They just figured out to bring it on in Nassau to avoid the drug sniffing dogs at Port Canaveral. Problem is, they can catch it on the way back, too. Oh, and I don't think I'll be cruising on Carnival (for a variety of reasons, lol).

 

[orangemonster]

Guineveree, you, Clotho, myself and respective hubbies would have a FANTASTIC time together at Disney / on the ship! LOL! And YES I certainly DO remember the 'Wonderful World of Disney' Sunday nights! Got so excited when I heard the music and saw the castle with Tinkerbell - thanks for the memory!

 

[Clotho]

Guineveree, you, Clotho, myself and respective hubbies would have a FANTASTIC time together at Disney / on the ship! LOL! And YES I certainly DO remember the 'Wonderful World of Disney' Sunday nights! Got so excited when I heard the music and saw the castle with Tinkerbell - thanks for the memory!

THIS is what the Dis is all about, right? Discovering our mutual joys and sharing in them together! *happy dance*

 

[dkis4nu]

Clotho, Orangemonster, Gueneveree - I like your way of thinking! I agree!!


Dk

 

[orangemonster]

ABSOLUTELY! It's always nice to 'meet' people here who you have something in common with!

 

[orangemonster]

Hi dkis4nu! Nice to 'meet' you as well!

 

[kendall]

Guineveree, Clotho & Orangemonster - you stated it so well! Indeed, DCL is a bit of the Sunday evening Wonderful World of Disney relived.

We cruised DCL twice when our kids were younger. Earlier this year we did our first DCL cruise without kids - and we enjoyed it very much! We were able to fully enjoy the adults-only areas of the ship, and we delighted in seeing the wonder and giggles of the kids and families on board, smiling and thinking "been there, done that - and it was a great family experience". Now we enjoy sipping gin and tonics on our verandah, having coffee in quiet cove café, going to the adults-only lounge for the different shows, and the excellent service from DCL staff. Truly the service is outstanding. I took a HAL cruise for business/pleasure (professional seminar), and for me the "magic" of DCL wasn't present. While the service was really quite good, the ship nice, the HAL entertainment couldn't touch DCL and the ship design and detail didn't match DCL in telling a story.

 

[Guineveree]

THIS is what the Dis is all about, right? Discovering our mutual joys and sharing in them together! *happy dance*

Clotho, Orangemonster, Gueneveree - I like your way of thinking! I agree!!


Dk

ABSOLUTELY! It's always nice to 'meet' people here who you have something in common with!

Guineveree, Clotho & Orangemonster - you stated it so well! Indeed, DCL is a bit of the Sunday evening Wonderful World of Disney relived.

We cruised DCL twice when our kids were younger. Earlier this year we did our first DCL cruise without kids - and we enjoyed it very much! We were able to fully enjoy the adults-only areas of the ship, and we delighted in seeing the wonder and giggles of the kids and families on board, smiling and thinking "been there, done that - and it was a great family experience". Now we enjoy sipping gin and tonics on our verandah, having coffee in quiet cove café, going to the adults-only lounge for the different shows, and the excellent service from DCL staff. Truly the service is outstanding. I took a HAL cruise for business/pleasure (professional seminar), and for me the "magic" of DCL wasn't present. While the service was really quite good, the ship nice, the HAL entertainment couldn't touch DCL and the ship design and detail didn't match DCL in telling a story.

That's the beauty of WDW/DCL, these are fantastic experiences for *everyone*...after all....big or small, we've all got an -inner child- to please/appease...

 

[Brumbie13]

There's so much love happening in this thread today...

 

[juliebug1997]

While I do think that if you don't like children you should probably pick a different cruiseline, adults should have a place to escape for some peace if they want to.

As an adult, I am not allowed into the OL/OC or other younger areas. Disney enforces that.

I like kids. I like them so much, I work with them. However, they are not allowed in the teacher's lounge, the teacher's restroom, or the mail room. Why? Because they aren't teachers.

It really is a parent problem that Disney has to enforce because there are some parents (we have all seen them) who think that it's their vacation too and they don't care what their kids do.

 

[Clotho]

There's so much love happening in this thread today...

I LOVE love. Don't you?