Changed my mind about the Lab and the Club

[yazee1]

I was inclined to register my almost 8 year old son in the Oceaneer's Club because I thought he'd be overwhelmed by the older kids in the Lab. After reading what the experienced cruisers have had to say, I'm definitely registering my younger son in the Lab. The pivotal issue for me was when someone pointed out that the Club tends to have a lot more structured activities and less "down" time to play on the computer and such. It wasn't me who asked for the info on the Club and the Lab, but I appreciate that it was posted. I'm thinking now, it would have been a mistake to group my son with the younger kids.

 

[disneylover5]

You have made the exact right decision. My 8 year old would have hated the Club.....several who cruised with us changed their kids mid cruise.
Good Luck and have fun.
Lisa

 

[kellimomo3]

Good call!!

It was actually me that made the comments you are referring to. The Lab is much less structured, your child will be happy!

Kelli

 

[cwf1028]

We've decided to try and move ours up as well. She'll have 4 months to go before 8, but we are going to try. She loves video and computer games and anything "scientific".

 

[kcashner]

I would always suggest starting your child in the "age appropriate" area. If this isn't working for some reason, you can talk with the counsellors and move the child to a younger group (space available). You cannot bounce between groups, but can make one move.

Disney is very used to working with children of all sorts of backgrounds, personalities, etc. Let them try their standard "magic" first. Do realize that the counsellors are there to be sure that both kids and parents have a great time, so.....they want to help.

 

[cwf1028]

I understand what you are saying, however in a situation where in a matter of months the child would be placed in a higher group anyways, I think that sometimes going ahead and moving them up may be appropriate depending on the child. My other daughter will actually be closer to making the cut off for the 5-7 group, but I would not dream of moving her out of the 3-4 as she has the maturity of a 3-4 year old and would not do well in a group of children older than her. The 7 year old on the other hand is mature beyond her years and no matter how much Disney does, she just wouldn't be as happy with a bunch of kids who just turned 5. She's in second grade (her birthdate just makes the cut off) and is in class with 8 year olds.

 

[Memaw2Wm]

My then not-quite 8 y.o. granddaughter LOVED the club when we sailed in Sept '04... in fact she's horribly disappointed that she can't go back to the club when we sailed in December '05 (she'll be 9).

 

[scrapperjill]

The less structured activites that the lab had was one reason my dd didn't care for it....There just wasn't enough planned things to do...She can play on the computer and on PS2 at home just about any time...so she just wasn't intrested in doing it while on the cruise ship...she wanted new diffrent activites that she couldn't just do at home. More lab experments or other structed things...but not so much free down time. Of course she is alot older than 8...so that could have been part of it also.