Oh, yeah, the old "you must eat dinner with us" rule. We had that. Worked for one night. Our first cruise my dd ate with us the first night. (clubs weren't even open until 1/2 way though dinner) She actually wolfed down her dinner (which she asked to have come out with the appetizers) and then skipped dessert so she could get to the clubs. The second night we ate at Tritons and she rationalized with us that it was too fancy for her tastes and could she please eat with her club that night. Ok, we went for it! 3rd night, Animator's Palate, she wasn't missing that. 4th night, a repeat of the 1st night so she rationalized with us that it was just a repeat and why should she stay. Hard to argue. Ds ate with us every night, but by cruise 3 he was starting to eat now and again with the club. I think they also like that we can't monitor what they eat. Dd is very proud to say "All I ate for dinner was pickles and jello one night." She knew she couldn't get away with that in a dining room!
I've got a navigator from our most recent cruise. Now, this is for a Wonder 4 day, but it will give you an idea of how many things the 5-7 yr olds do:
Day 1
6:30-8:30 stormin' the club--arts and crafts new friends and fun.
8:30-9:15 welcome aboard party
9:30-midnight movie time and fun in the captain's closet (that's where the dress up, games and computers are)
Day 2
9-10 morning fun for everyone, slide games and lots of fun
10:15-11:15 animation antics in animator's palate-learn to draw mickey mouse
11:15-12 lunch at animator's palate
12:15-1:00 music, fun and games in studio sea
1:15-2:15 invading the oceaneer lab (the 5-7's go to the lab)
2:30-3:30 all about animals-crafts, coloring sheets, masks, lots of fun animal things
3:30-4:15 prepare for pirate training
4:15-5:15 so you want to be a pirate? our local pirate teaches landlubbers how to fit into the pirate gang. captain hook may even stop by to inspect his new pirate crew
5:15-5:30 get ready for dinner
5:45-6:30 dinner at beach blanket buffet (will be called topsiders on the magic)
6:45-7:15 fun and games in the lab (taking over the older kid's space again)
7:15-8:15 gases in action--this is a real gas for any child interested in experiments. it's a real blast (also in the lab)
8:15-9:15 let's explore the lab--microscopes, K-NEX, games, computers and more
9:30-1:00 am movie time in the club.
Day 3
9-10:15-activity time in the club
10:15-11:15 escape from hook. captain hook is lurking about, trying to steal our treasure. it's our job to scare him away and keep him from finding it.
11:30-12 lunch in animator's palate
12:15-1:15 professor goo's magical experiments (lab) young scientists join our professor and explore a squishy green substance that looks like Flubber.
1:15-2:15 fun in the lab
2:15-3:15 Nemo's challenges of the sea (lab) come join in the fun and work in teams to discover more about the ocean
3:45-4:45 under the sea (club) face painting, coloring sheets and crafts, lots of fun with an under the sea theme
4:45-5:45 club time
6-6:30 dinner at beach blanket buffet
6:45-7:30 games, drawing, computers, and of course FUN in the lab
7:30-8:15 picture this (lab) make a special picture frame to display your magical memory.
8:30-9:15 activity time in the club
then nightly movie time until 1:00 am
day 4 (this was our CC day)
ON THE ISLAND:
9-10:30 fun, sun and sand castles
10:45-11:30 holiday crafts (it was just before Christmas)
11:30-12 lunch on the island
12:15-1 dig at Monstro Point--dig for whale bones
1:15-2:30 winter wonderland water olympics --get set to get wet!
2:30-3 sand castle building and cool down time
3-3:45 programming is closed while the counsellors get everything back to the ship
3:45-4:25 rehearsal for the discover the magic show
4:45-5:00 the kids are featured on stage in the walt disney theater for the discover the magic show.
5:15-6 getting ready for dinner
6:15-7 dinner at beach blanket buffet
7:15-8:15 Professor Goo's Magical Experiments--Flubber again!
8:40-9:15 Sebastian's junkaroo end-of-cruise party in studio sea
then nightly movie time until midnight.
HTH!
