Cruisin' kids.. and my dilemma!!!

[Sandiebean]

Can you tell I'm starting to feel like the crunch is on?

My son is 9. He's 24 kilograms (I think that's 53 pounds?) of quiet and .. ok.. kinda snobby... so I'm not sure if he'll be quick to make friends. I'm still trying to figure out if it's snobby.. or if he's a bit shy. He loves an audience.. so I'm hesitant on calling it shy. (of course... it's not every mother's dream to call it snobby either) He's NEVER a trouble maker, so I'm trying not to worry.

I wonder if he'll use the kid's club. He loves all the characters and thinks they're real. He hates science and experimenting. All he likes is riding the rides... and being with the characters. My dilemma? He's seen some of the navigators.. and it doesn't impress him. He says that the younger kids seem to have all of the fun. (in his eyes). They had the show where they perform. They have Goofy reading them a story. They have the pirate ship.. more character interaction... and very little science.

Anybody experience this? Any advice for me? How did you handle it? Did you think your kids would be one way.. and they ended up being another?

Thanks everyone. You guys are awesome.

Sandie

 

[mouseclick1]

We have cruised twice with 2 boys. The first time, I really thought they would love the kids club. They did not. At that time, they were in 2 different age groups, and they just don't like to mix with other kids. I think it's just uncomfortable for them. They went one night and never wanted to go back.

On our second cruise, I thought they might like the clubs more because they fell into the same age grouping. At the same time, I was prepared for them not to like the clubs again. Once again, they went to the clubs one night, and never went back.

It didn't really matter to us that they didn't like the clubs. No, we didn't do Palo's or any of the adult only clubs. We did find lots of activites to do as a family, though. We had a blast and the boys had a great time.


I don't know if I have been very helpful, but the bottom line is you will still probably have a wonderful time, even if your child never sets foot in the club. Or maybe he will try out the club and love it! If you keep your plans flexible, chances are you will have an awesome cruise no matter what he decides! Have fun!!

 

[Sandiebean]

Thanks. Yes.. we're the kind of family that does everything together anyway. I did want him to experience this part of the trip though, and push him a bit beyond his comfort zone. (a growth thing).. but no.. if he doesn't like it.. he certainly doesn't have to go. I don't need him to be elsewhere.

I do want to be prepared though. (it's just my way). Also.. if I have an idea from others.. how it went.. what they expected, and what they recieved.. I'm thinking that it might help me to ease him into the situation by talking certain things up a bit. (or.. to have alternatives built up)

 

[mouseclick1]

I do know what you mean. I had to give my kids a push to go to the club on our 2nd trip. I told them to give it a try, they might meet someone and have a great time. If they never went, they might miss out on something great and not even know it. They did willingly go, but just said they would rather do things with us than go back to the clubs. My boys were 9 & 11 the first time around, 10 & 12 on the 2nd cruise. I have also read of parents that could barely get their kids OUT of the clubs because they were having so much fun! I hope everything falls into place for you and that you all have a great cruise!

 

[Sandiebean]

So... if you don't mind my asking... why didn't they like it? Was it the new kids? Was it too crowded? Too boring? Were they doing things that didn't interest them? Do they not make friends easily?

Too many questions?

Sandie

 

[BeanoC]

Our experience was very much the same as mouseclick - Our kids went to the club once, and were in no hurry to return. They had much more fun on the waterslides and in the pools! There wasn't enough to hold their attention in the club, and the things they did want to do were quickly domintated by other kids! One example is the "Playstation" video games. My son never got to play, not even once, the entire time he was there. All frustration and no fun. Heck with that!

We had a great cruise, spent our time together as a family, and it wouldn't have mattered in the least if the clubs weren't even there. We cruise again in Oct., and I don't necessarily expect that our kids will ever check into the club. There is plenty of other activity to keep them going 100 miles an hour all week!


'Beano'

 

[Sandiebean]

Ah Beano... that's exactly what I was wondering about... how the CM's handle those kids who are very pushy.. and who hog everything. My son's just not like that.. and will just step back. Unfortunately, he sometimes misses out on things because of it. Many places handle it quite nicely.. but others.. just don't get involved.

 

[mouseclick1]

My kids really don't make new friends that easily. They said that some other kids were hogging some of the games, but I know my kids won't say anything to the counselors. My son said it was the same kids playing the games when they arrived at the lab that were playing when they left. They are just happier doing things with us than hanging out with other kids that they don't know. I really don't think there is anything wrong with the clubs, and I think it's great that there are so many options for families.

 

[wovenwonder]

On our past two trips my son (10 and 12) chose not to go to the kids clubs. He just wanted to hang out at the pools, with us, and do whatever. It wasn't that the clubs were'nt great -- he just wanted a total unstructured week. It worked out fine with us and I enjoyed the time as a family. This year he is 13 -- and actually looking forward to common grounds.

 

[NewtoWDW]

Sandiebean, which cruise are you going on in April? We are going on the 21st Wonder and I also have a 9 year old boy. Maybe if he knew someone a little, that would help him want to explore the kids club more?

 

[Sandiebean]

That would be awesome!!! However.. we're on the April 25th Wonder. How great would it have been, eh!

Sandie

 

[dbcruise]

It is my understanding your son can try the younger age group of kids club if you ask . If he finds it too young then then he can move up they allow 1 change .No matter if he likes the club or not you will have a great time . Good luck .

 

[tkd lisa]

I don't think your son would be able to move down as was suggested here. I think he's too old. The next age group down is 7 and under, and he's 2 years over that. I do plan to move my daughter down, as she turned 10 in March (we're cruising in May), and I checked on the ability to do that. They did say that she could move down.

I can't really help you with any actual experience, because this will be our first cruise, but I've decided not to worry about it too much. If the kids don't like the clubs, we'll just stick with the family type things.

 

[Mjasp]

Really they said you could do that??? I'm 10 and when I asked my mom if I could move down into the 8 to 9 group she said I couldn't because you only get 1 month each way and I'm past that.

Just Wondering,

inkbounc

 

[cruisnfamily]

My daughter will be 3 weeks shy of 10 on our cruise and has opted to go with the 10-12 year olds.....Why do you want to move down?

 

[Mjasp]

In May and because my friend is coming with us she's in the 8 to 9 group I asked if I could move down or if she could move up also I was just wondering. I'd like to stay in the 10 to 12 group though.

When are you cruising?

inkbounc

 

[cruisnfamily]

We are cruising in Sept...too bad.

I believe you can move down. I think you can only move up if within 1 month of the next group but I believe you can move down. Someone correct me if I am wrong. Just to the 8-9s though. You wouldn't be able to go to the 5-7's but I don't think you would want to anyway.

 

[westjones]

I have twins and we have been on 2 cruises. One daughter loves the Kids Club, the other prefers to be with us.

We go through the navigators with them and let them pick out what they want to do and they just go for those things. The days go by so fast and they just love Mickey's Pool, so they were never bored at all.

It is a wonderful trip for families, and he will enjoy it so much. There were a couple times that only one of my daughters was in the Kids Club while the other one was with us. I think they liked having choices and picking what they wanted to do.
Debra

 

[liza]

My 7-year-old son LOVED the club. He woke up each morning asking how soon he could go to the club. He was just two months away from turning 8 and vacillated between the Club and the Lab, and finally went with the Club, knowing they would be spending time in the Lab. My three-year-old daughter didn't love it as much as her brother, but did spend time in there each day. Only once did she ask not to go there. We were with four other children, and found that the 3 and 4 year olds (3 total) enjoyed the club less than their older siblings did.

If your 9-year-old son doesn't like the Lab he may enjoy going to movies in the theater. It's a pretty safe environment to let them try a little independence -- we let our son go to the theater by himself, watch a movie, and return to the stateroom all on his own, something we would NEVER to off of the ship! He loved his "independence" (we secretly checked on him, but he didn't see us so never knew). You will have a great trip!