Current Youth Activities CM -- Ask me anything!

[DisenyDarley]

Can u please tell me what profiles is on edge

 

[Monorail Bob's dd]

Hello! We are sailing on the Fantasy on August 23rd in 2014. My oldest dd will be 16 and my middle dd will be 13.5 as of August 8th. Will it be possible for her go join her big sister in the Vibe? The girls would prefer to be together. Thank you for your time!

 

[mama2mickeyfans]

Hi there,
Great thread! We are on the Fantasy Nov 16 and my head is spinning as I review navigators with all the fun activities listed! A couple specific questions for either the Youth CM or an experienced cruiser:
1. what is Playhouse D lounge? It says interactive for the youngest cruisers. Is it possibly something for my 18 month old or...?
2. is sloppy science where flubber is made or is that something different?
3. Is the midship detective agency something we can do whenever? I see it listed in the schedule at certain times so I'm a bit confused.
Thanks!

 

[starch139]

Hi there,
Great thread! We are on the Fantasy Nov 16 and my head is spinning as I review navigators with all the fun activities listed! A couple specific questions for either the Youth CM or an experienced cruiser:
1. what is Playhouse D lounge? It says interactive for the youngest cruisers. Is it possibly something for my 18 month old or...?
2. is sloppy science where flubber is made or is that something different?
3. Is the midship detective agency something we can do whenever? I see it listed in the schedule at certain times so I'm a bit confused.
Thanks!

Not a CM here but I may be some help, my girls were 5 and 2 years old last year.
1. In D lounge they did a wake up with playhouse Disney at 0900 on sea days. We had a CM and Pluto come and dance with the kids to Playhouse songs. A lot of fun for all ages!
2. Unsure about sloppy science
3. Midship is done most of the times except when they have something going on or at night ( quiet time)

 

[CMontheseas]

Thanks! A one-sentence description of each would be sufficient.
Crusin' with Crush
Big Top Fun Time
Picture This
Mickey's Puzzle Playtime
Memory Wall
Treasure Hunt (Scuttle's Cove)

Cruisin' with Crush - similar to Turtle Talk with Crush, he comes in to visit the kids one night (on screen) and they get to have some pretty adorable banter! We usually crack up laughing at the kids' questions, even Crush has a hard time keeping it together sometimes.

Big Top Fun Time - it tends to vary depending on the Counselors/ship running this, in my experience we did carnival-themed games and face paint (possibly!)

Picture This - A Disney character is invited into our space for the kids to take pictures with. Counselors then print out the photos (if they turn out well/if the kids are doing appropriate things in them!) and you get to take them for free! Not enough parents are aware of this!

Mickey's Puzzle Playtime - Takes place in the the Club, aimed at the younger set where the kids solve puzzles together on screen

Memory Wall -Sometimes done in gameshow-style, the kids take turns trying to match Disney characters hidden behind panels to win prizes!

Treasure Hunt (Scuttle's Cove) -Kids work as a team (hopefully) to find clues hidden and buried all over Scuttles cove, with each one finally leading up to some buried "treasure".


Hope that helps!

 

[FrogandToad]

Thank you so much!

 

[CMontheseas]

Oo ooh oo....I have a non kiddo related question.

How is the "ranking" ordered as far as CM's go for rooms?

This isn't anything secret really, so no worries! The ranking system goes all the way from the Captain, to their Steering Committee (heads of departments) in a ranking system of stripes and white uniforms down officer ranks all the way down.

Officers that you see around the ship in white have their own dining room, can eat in guest dining areas, can use all amenities and the guest gym, conduct cabin inspections, and are generally our managers who can hand down disciplinary action. The more stripes you have, the more likely you'll have a room to yourself, and/or unlimited room service. They also tend to be incredibly happy!

Since Youth Activities falls under the Entertainment Dept alongside characters, performers, cruise staff, we're all technically Officers - petty officers officially - which allows us essentially all guest privileges (shopping, watching shows/movies, swimming, excursions). We also tend to bunk with one other person at all times (except for the top-tier mainstage performers who get private rooms!) Except we eat in the common crew mess and though technically within our privileges, cannot eat in guest areas without express permission. We used to be able to, but that changed! For the most part, Petty Officers tend to come from primarily english-speaking countries (USA, Canada, UK, Australia, South Africa), but not as a rule

Below petty officers is essentially the majority of the ship - galley workers, housekeepers, dining attendants, room stewards, bartenders. Most of the crew members that fall into this category are in tippable positions and come from more international countries - Indonesia, Philippines, Caribbean, Croatia, Colombia, India. They aren't allowed to be up on deck unless for work-related duties and therefore can't see the shows or interact with guests or go shopping except at special crew-only functions. They also tend to have less ability to go on excursions or do the things we'd get to do.


It's essentially the same with other cruise ships in the industry!
Hope that helps!

 

[CMontheseas]

Can u please tell me what profiles is on edge

This is where you will be completing a mini-profile about yourself, who your favorite character is, where you're from, how old you are, hobbies and interests, and take a picture to be put on our wall of tweens/teens for the cruise!

Hello! We are sailing on the Fantasy on August 23rd in 2014. My oldest dd will be 16 and my middle dd will be 13.5 as of August 8th. Will it be possible for her go join her big sister in the Vibe? The girls would prefer to be together. Thank you for your time!

Hi! This is entirely based on what the Edge/Vibe counselors say on board during the cruise, they will probably want her to try out Edge at first and demonstrate that she is mature enough to be moved up into Vibe/isn't integrating in well with the Edge teens.

 

[KerriL]

This isn't anything secret really, so no worries! The ranking system goes all the way from the Captain, to their Steering Committee (heads of departments) in a ranking system of stripes and white uniforms down officer ranks all the way down.

Officers that you see around the ship in white have their own dining room, can eat in guest dining areas, can use all amenities and the guest gym, conduct cabin inspections, and are generally our managers who can hand down disciplinary action. The more stripes you have, the more likely you'll have a room to yourself, and/or unlimited room service. They also tend to be incredibly happy!

Since Youth Activities falls under the Entertainment Dept alongside characters, performers, cruise staff, we're all technically Officers - petty officers officially - which allows us essentially all guest privileges (shopping, watching shows/movies, swimming, excursions). We also tend to bunk with one other person at all times (except for the top-tier mainstage performers who get private rooms!) Except we eat in the common crew mess and though technically within our privileges, cannot eat in guest areas without express permission. We used to be able to, but that changed! For the most part, Petty Officers tend to come from primarily english-speaking countries (USA, Canada, UK, Australia, South Africa), but not as a rule

Below petty officers is essentially the majority of the ship - galley workers, housekeepers, dining attendants, room stewards, bartenders. Most of the crew members that fall into this category are in tippable positions and come from more international countries - Indonesia, Philippines, Caribbean, Croatia, Colombia, India. They aren't allowed to be up on deck unless for work-related duties and therefore can't see the shows or interact with guests or go shopping except at special crew-only functions. They also tend to have less ability to go on excursions or do the things we'd get to do.


It's essentially the same with other cruise ships in the industry!
Hope that helps!

Sounds pretty close to what my daughter has experienced on Holland America Line as a Youth Counselor. She did her first contract this past summer in Alaska and will start a 2nd contract next week for the winter Caribbean season. She is allowed to eat in the Lido Cafe which is their buffet restaurant. And they only have about 3-4 counselors on board at any time...even less on their longer voyages. They can order room service, have their laundry done and housekeeping cleans their room!! Now I know why she can't wait to get back on the ship!
I wish we were able to sail with her on HAL, but a Disney cruise with the little ones won out over a HAL cruise! But as she well knows by sailing on DCL many times as a child, not many lines can compete with DCL's excellent children's programming!

 

[CMontheseas]

Hi there,
Great thread! We are on the Fantasy Nov 16 and my head is spinning as I review navigators with all the fun activities listed! A couple specific questions for either the Youth CM or an experienced cruiser:
1. what is Playhouse D lounge? It says interactive for the youngest cruisers. Is it possibly something for my 18 month old or...?
2. is sloppy science where flubber is made or is that something different?
3. Is the midship detective agency something we can do whenever? I see it listed in the schedule at certain times so I'm a bit confused.
Thanks!

1. Hello! Playhouse D-Lounge is Disney Junior themed activities for Nursery-aged kids and toddlers. It also helps alleviate the spaces on packed Sea Day mornings that might be overwhelming for our younger (3-5) oceaneers!

2. Sloppy Science tends to be explosions - think volcanos and gases with one of our Professors.

3. It sure is! The times might be when we have someone scheduled to help out with it specifically, we don't run it at night/after hours really.

 

[CMontheseas]

Sounds pretty close to what my daughter has experienced on Holland America Line as a Youth Counselor. She did her first contract this past summer in Alaska and will start a 2nd contract next week for the winter Caribbean season. She is allowed to eat in the Lido Cafe which is their buffet restaurant. And they only have about 3-4 counselors on board at any time...even less on their longer voyages. They can order room service, have their laundry done and housekeeping cleans their room!! Now I know why she can't wait to get back on the ship!

You're kidding! Not that I don't love it on Disney , but we hear our counterparts on other ships do tend to have more relaxing living arrangement!

 

[bumbershoot]

2. is sloppy science where flubber is made or is that something different?
3. Is the midship detective agency something we can do whenever? I see it listed in the schedule at certain times so I'm a bit confused.
Thanks!

DS's recent experience with SSS was "making" a volcano (the CM did the work, the kids watched) and making flubber. DS says "flubber is way cooler".

The Detective Agency is basically a "do whenever" thing, but the kiosk does close late late at night. And since some of the things you interact with are near staterooms (and are noisy) I think they turn off as well.


*****************

My main questions are mainly for the people who run the program of the club/lab on the Dream. After some chats I realized that these things are frustrating for the CMs as well.

WHY can't they just have signs telling you where to go for pickup and dropoff?
WHY did the architect make the outside of the club/lab so incredibly awkward and difficult especially for us short people who can't see who is open and who isn't? It also messes with sightlines of the CMs who can't always see who might be waiting for them in line!
WHY, when there's a CM telling you where to go, do they not stop the people behind you from cutting in front of you while you talk with the CM just like they are supposed to do?
WHY do the CMs act like "this is the way it's always done" when it's very much not, and the pickup/dropoff changes from day to day? Can't they acknowledge that it changes and that it's confusing for some guests?

After two days of frustration I just had DH do the dropoff/pickup duties. He's taller and bigger and people were less likely to cut in front of him AND he could better see the next available CM.


None of it was frustrating for DS, he loved it there. It was just a bother for me. Maybe next time we'll feel comfy with self-check (he'll be 10 by then) and I won't have to deal with it. Or maybe I'll wear platform heels.


And big props to the CM who magically delivered flubber to my son when someone else had taken his.

 

[mama2mickeyfans]

Thanks so much!

 

[CMontheseas]

*****************

My main questions are mainly for the people who run the program of the club/lab on the Dream. After some chats I realized that these things are frustrating for the CMs as well.

WHY can't they just have signs telling you where to go for pickup and dropoff?
WHY did the architect make the outside of the club/lab so incredibly awkward and difficult especially for us short people who can't see who is open and who isn't? It also messes with sightlines of the CMs who can't always see who might be waiting for them in line!
WHY, when there's a CM telling you where to go, do they not stop the people behind you from cutting in front of you while you talk with the CM just like they are supposed to do?
WHY do the CMs act like "this is the way it's always done" when it's very much not, and the pickup/dropoff changes from day to day? Can't they acknowledge that it changes and that it's confusing for some guests?

After two days of frustration I just had DH do the dropoff/pickup duties. He's taller and bigger and people were less likely to cut in front of him AND he could better see the next available CM.


None of it was frustrating for DS, he loved it there. It was just a bother for me. Maybe next time we'll feel comfy with self-check (he'll be 10 by then) and I won't have to deal with it. Or maybe I'll wear platform heels.


And big props to the CM who magically delivered flubber to my son when someone else had taken his.

Well said! Believe me, these are all things that we keep voicing but you can imagine that change isn't something that is.....so easy for higher ups to approve.

Even though signs can help Disney safety, courtesy, and efficiency by leaps and bounds! For both guests and CMs alike, we were told that it isn't good "show". Imagine how much easier it would be for everyone if we had:
"Please line up here."
"Please remove Crocs before going on the slide."
"Please have your Key to the World Card ready."
"Please make sure all members of your party know your secret word"
"Even though you come from a culture that does not respect a line system, please do so for the sake of everyone else on board!"

But sadly, we can't have them...yet! Hopefully some of these have been addressed on the Magic now.


What will work is if enough guests have an issue with the system, then change tends to happen sooner; you all seem to have a bit more leverage than us CMs would!

(So please make yourselves heard to our management - and not to the poor CM apologetically trying to deal with frustrated parents and rude line-cutting guests!)

 

[shandrananette]

This has been so helpful! I'm going to go change our nursery reservations so we can take DD to the Playhouse Disney on sea days. We'll work out afterward

One question/clarification - about both the Lab/Club and the nursery, if you know...up above you suggested with a shy child walking them in and dropping them off near a stationed counselor. Is that doable? I was under the impression if it wasn't open house hours I was stuck on the outside and had to send them in on their own. This would be a huge benefit if we could walk the four year old in - he's a little shy at first and might need some help getting oriented and I know it would be helpful for the baby in the nursery.

Also, in the nursery (again, if you know - if not, not worries!), is there any way to nurse before you go and maybe even get a little one to sleep?

 

[jessic2422]

I have a daughter who will be almost 3 on our dec sailing (bday is feb) she would be bored in the nursery do you think they will let her in with the 3 year olds and do you think this is a good idea. She goes to daycare, is potty trained, and acts 15

 

[MissDaisyofTexas]

Thanks for posting all of this helpful information!

How do meals work in the club/lab? Do counselors walk around asking who wants to eat? Is there any announcement made so that kids who are hungry can stop playing to eat? Is it the same procedure for lunch vs. dinner?

 

[CMontheseas]

Thanks for posting all of this helpful information!

How do meals work in the club/lab? Do counselors walk around asking who wants to eat? Is there any announcement made so that kids who are hungry can stop playing to eat? Is it the same procedure for lunch vs. dinner?

For all meals, what we do is make an announcement (some counselors like to shout, I liked to sweetly announce this over the microphone) for all of the kids to first wash their hands and meet us in the main area for instructions. We then ask the kids who would like to eat to join us and have a seat. Usually while this happens, things like the slide/big group games are put on hold and we normally just put on a movie.

Any kids who don't feel like eating can resume playing. A lot of children who become very invested in their video games usually don't end up eating despite us asking them!

I have a daughter who will be almost 3 on our dec sailing (bday is feb) she would be bored in the nursery do you think they will let her in with the 3 year olds and do you think this is a good idea. She goes to daycare, is potty trained, and acts 15

Haha! Do you mean she's one of our especially talkative 2 year olds who are fiercely independent and can fend for themselves without a care in the world? Then yes, very much more likely for them to consider her - especially with the potty training.

What we look for when we deny requests for under-3s to be in the Club is:
1) Potty training (do they wear pull ups or diapers even occasionally?)
2) Do they cry a lot? Are they crying right now? Do they seem like they don't want to leave/let go of their grown ups or are they excited about the Club?
3) Are they able to communicate? Do they look at us when we address them? Are they able to comprehend instructions and be kind to other children?

Children who are used to daycare tend to shine in these categories. While we know not all kids mature at the same speed - it's really usually some in the 2 months til 3 yrs that tend to possess these qualities!

One question/clarification - about both the Lab/Club and the nursery, if you know...up above you suggested with a shy child walking them in and dropping them off near a stationed counselor. Is that doable? I was under the impression if it wasn't open house hours I was stuck on the outside and had to send them in on their own. This would be a huge benefit if we could walk the four year old in - he's a little shy at first and might need some help getting oriented and I know it would be helpful for the baby in the nursery.

Also, in the nursery (again, if you know - if not, not worries!), is there any way to nurse before you go and maybe even get a little one to sleep?

Yep! You'll notice that during secure programming, any adult we let into the space will be given a "pick-up" lanyard to wear around the neck to identify them as someone authorized by us to be in there. We'll normally give you about 5 minutes tops to help pick up your child, or acclimatise them, or check in on them. If a child is especially upset, we don't make it a habit to forcibly rush parents out of the area - but like anywhere you work there might be that overzealous Counselor who will tail you while in our space and make you feel guilty about lingering. (That said, our adult access rules are notably strict for their safety!) There are sometimes parents who end up sitting down with their child and try to play for longer than they're intended - if our managers see this, we all get into trouble!


Best to ask the nursery staff who are on duty at the time what they think, some will welcome the idea!

 

[bzkds]

I just wanted to take a second to tell you Thank you! We were on the Fantasy in June, our Ds was a very young 3. He had a GREAT time in the club and loved all the CMs! Even after getting hurt.. he was still eager to go back the next day. I really appreciate everything everyone working in there did.
Beth

 

[twindaddy]

CM, a few questions if I may:

There have been many members of the staff I wanted to thank who are not in tip positions. One, of all people, was the guy at the future cruise desk on The Wonder (I still remember him, Tai from Australia). He was soooo friendly and helpful, spent forever with us talking about cabins, and was just a cool guy.

At the end of cruise, I brought him some girl scout cookies I had to hand out as gifts. He was over the moon, I dont think anyone ever recognizes them.

so I ask you.

1. What are some of the most unappreciated positions on the ship, but that guests still might see? (like guest services, ECT). I realize there is nothing I can do to help the laundry staff or the engine room guys)

2. If you were walking from the club to another part of the ship, in a guest area, would that be a good time to hand you mickey bar?

3. I saw my server in Cabo, she was on the patio of a bar, hanging with some other crew members (I think). She was obviously trying to be incognito, hat pulled down with big sunglasses. I left her alone, I was going to buy her a drink (not hit on her, just buy her a drink a leave her alone) Could she have let me? Or am I, as someone she has to serve every night, the last person she wants to see or interact with during her limited time off. I told her that night I saw her in town but didnt bug her, she swore she would have been happy to chat with me. I figure you get four hours off a week, the last thing you want to do is talk to a guest. True?

4. While keeping the thread Disney clean...I must ask, how much...um...crew coupling goes on. I have read several of Brian Bruns books about his time with Carnival, and he indicated quite a bit. (hey, you said ask you anything)