Current Youth Activities CM -- Ask me anything!

[Angelliss]

Hi! Echoing my thx! I've only gotten through 12/60 pages so forgive me if I'm repeating the question:
A little while ago I read about an instance where a little girl's band was removed and replaced with one meant for another little girl. Is there any policy, procedure to prevent this mistake happening again.
Then, since it's been bothering me since I read about your earning structure, if waiters, room stewards etc are in tipping positions does that mean they earn even less?! xx

 

[100AcreWood]

thanks so much for all your insight. I know you talked about magazines and candy. can the CM's use gift card to places like walmart or Target.( Or Phone cards to call home? )are you able to make calls? Do you ever get time to go far off the ship to run out and get things? Are they near by? or is that no good?

I'd like to add on to that question - how many CMs are in the kids club during a cruise? I would feel bad not having something for every CM.

 

[doggles]

I've tired to read through most of this so I apologize in advance if I'm duplicating a question.

I have 5 1/2 year old twins and one of them has developmental delays. He's toilet trained but needs to be brought to the toilet to go. If I put him in the club, is there any issue if I pop down to take him to the washroom? He's quite social and his twin sister will be there but he's not at peer level.

 

[lanejudy]

I've tired to read through most of this so I apologize in advance if I'm duplicating a question.

I have 5 1/2 year old twins and one of them has developmental delays. He's toilet trained but needs to be brought to the toilet to go. If I put him in the club, is there any issue if I pop down to take him to the washroom? He's quite social and his twin sister will be there but he's not at peer level.

That should work fine. The Club staff cannot take him to the restroom, but you certainly may stop in to take him as you feel necessary. DD has a kidney issue and on drs orders must use the restroom every 2 hours, so that's what we do, though she isn't usually there longer than that at one time anyway.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Clarkcj]

I know this may be a silly question but do they ever offer any tours of the ship like of the onstage and offstage areas. Like they have the Keys to the Kingdom tour at Magic Kingdom. As such in my opinion it would be awesome to see how the ships operate. And learn about all of the work that the CM's and officers do for our trip to make it a magical experience.

 

[Docvaden]

That should work fine. The Club staff cannot take him to the restroom, but you certainly may stop in to take him as you feel necessary. DD has a kidney issue and on drs orders must use the restroom every 2 hours, so that's what we do, though she isn't usually there longer than that at one time anyway. Enjoy your cruise!

My DD is 5 and dev delay with mild cp and had some kidney issues as well .. She's potty trained and will go on her on, but she still struggles with the wiping and since they can't help with that ( understandably) I'm just going to pop by and check on her

 

[natmom]

Question: I know that there are CM that pick up the children at the dining room, is that the same for edge club or is it assumed they are old enough to go up to the club on their own? My daughter will have just turned 11 at the time. Just curious.
Also, will my daughter will be able to go to edge and oceaneers lab? What about my son (13?)
Thank you for all of your help answering our questions!

 

[KerriL]

Question: I know that there are CM that pick up the children at the dining room, is that the same for edge club or is it assumed they are old enough to go up to the club on their own? My daughter will have just turned 11 at the time. Just curious.
Also, will my daughter will be able to go to edge and oceaneers lab? What about my son (13?)
Thank you for all of your help answering our questions!

I am not sure, but I don't believe they get the children from the dining room for Edge. My daughter will be 12 when we sail and she only plans on going to Edge when there is an activity. So, I hope she can go to Oceaneer Lab as well. Your son will not be able to go to Oceaneer Lab as the cut off age is 12.

 

[lbgraves]

.... if waiters, room stewards etc are in tipping positions does that mean they earn even less?! xx

Those positions basically earn a small stipend and room/board. It has been reported to amount to $50.00 a month.

Question: I know that there are CM that pick up the children at the dining room, is that the same for edge club or is it assumed they are old enough to go up to the club on their own? ...

No, the Edge/Vibe kids are on their own.

 

[adisneymama]

I have a child that will be 12 when we cruise on the dream in August. I have concern with her being able to sign herself out. She has seizures (non convulsive) and a few disabilities. Nothing that prevents her from participating in the club. I just don't feel safe with her wandering the ship alone. Can this restriction be placed?

 

[Tinknalli]

I have a child that will be 12 when we cruise on the dream in August. I have concern with her being able to sign herself out. She has seizures (non convulsive) and a few disabilities. Nothing that prevents her from participating in the club. I just don't feel safe with her wandering the ship alone. Can this restriction be placed?

The permission to sign out can be taken away at the Lab.

 

[Rack on]

We just returned from the New Year's Eve cruise on the Fantasy...our 12 y.o. Son was in Edge and our 9 y.o. son in the lab.

The 12 y.o. LOVED the Edge. He relished the freedom and independence of self check in/out, the wave phone, the scavenger activities, and with all the running up and down stairs he lost weight on the cruise...despite the unlimited ice cream, soda and pizza! He cannot wait for our next cruise.

The 9 y.o. made a friend via facetime before the cruise...and they were inseparable! On the last night of the cruise, the two were in one of the porthole seating areas between the lab and club crying because they were not seeing each other the next day. It made my son's vacation much more magical. We gave him self check in permission half way through the cruise, but not check out...but we did let the two 9 yr old boys do the detective agency activity on their own, with phones....

And the last night of the cruise, I brought a dozen Mickey bars to the club, late, for the CMs, along with some magazines...hoping they were eaten up! The CMs were amazing! Kind, efficient, and they let the independent and well behaved kids just be themselves. What a great opportunity for these kids to experience independence and the exhilaration of freedom.

 

[Jessica Sloan]

We just got off the Fantasy yesterday. We were on the 7 day Eastern Caribbean. My boys were in the Oceaneer club, their names were Charlie and Max. I hope they met you! We loved the ship and were sad to leave.

 

[scrapbookmomma74]

I just wanted to say THANK YOU for the suggestion to bring Mickey bars to the Oceaneer Lab staff. My 10 year old dd remembered me reading that awhile back, so on our recent Magic NYE cruise, she reminded me that she wanted to do that. I gave her the mission to go to the club and find out how many crew members were there. She came back to the room and informed me that there were 13. So, about 40 minutes before the clubs closed, we called room service and ordered the bars (we did it with 2 rooms, each ordering 6 or 7). Then, once they arrived, we delivered them to the CMs there. They were so surprised! Their manager took them to put in the freezer until the club was actually closed, there were about 10 minutes left.
My DD was beaming, she was so proud to have given those to the CMs. Also, we brought a huge bag of candy to them.

 

[100AcreWood]

I just wanted to say THANK YOU for the suggestion to bring Mickey bars to the Oceaneer Lab staff. My 10 year old dd remembered me reading that awhile back, so on our recent Magic NYE cruise, she reminded me that she wanted to do that. I gave her the mission to go to the club and find out how many crew members were there. She came back to the room and informed me that there were 13. So, about 40 minutes before the clubs closed, we called room service and ordered the bars (we did it with 2 rooms, each ordering 6 or 7). Then, once they arrived, we delivered them to the CMs there. They were so surprised! Their manager took them to put in the freezer until the club was actually closed, there were about 10 minutes left.
My DD was beaming, she was so proud to have given those to the CMs. Also, we brought a huge bag of candy to them.

That was really nice of you!

 

[DisneYE]

I just wanted to say THANK YOU for the suggestion to bring Mickey bars to the Oceaneer Lab staff. My 10 year old dd remembered me reading that awhile back, so on our recent Magic NYE cruise, she reminded me that she wanted to do that. I gave her the mission to go to the club and find out how many crew members were there. She came back to the room and informed me that there were 13. So, about 40 minutes before the clubs closed, we called room service and ordered the bars (we did it with 2 rooms, each ordering 6 or 7). Then, once they arrived, we delivered them to the CMs there. They were so surprised! Their manager took them to put in the freezer until the club was actually closed, there were about 10 minutes left.
My DD was beaming, she was so proud to have given those to the CMs. Also, we brought a huge bag of candy to them.

That's so thoughtful...People like you are awesome..kudos for doing it.
We will be bringing 20+ large chocolate bars unique to Canada (and the UK)
http://www.cadbury.co.uk/products/Winter-Wonderland-4607?p=4607

To give out to CMs at the Lab/Club, etc...
This is the result of reading all the wonderful suggestions on here to show appreciation to DCL employees
I love the DIS....

 

[ForTheLoveOfDCL]

That's so thoughtful...People like you are awesome..kudos for doing it.
We will be bringing 20+ large chocolate bars unique to Canada (and the UK)
http://www.cadbury.co.uk/products/Winter-Wonderland-4607?p=4607

To give out to CMs at the Lab/Club, etc...
This is the result of reading all the wonderful suggestions on here to show appreciation to DCL employees
I love the DIS....

On our Christmas cruise we brought a huge bag of candy canes and then I made key fobs and gave them each one. I love sharing with the youth activities areas as they are part of what makes my kids cruise magical. And keeps them wanting to only sail Disney!!!!

 

[DisneYE]

On our Christmas cruise we brought a huge bag of candy canes and then I made key fobs and gave them each one. I love sharing with the youth activities areas as they are part of what makes my kids cruise magical. And keeps them wanting to only sail Disney!!!!

very cool of you...

 

[renesmom]

We are going on our first cruise in 45 days.

DM DH DS (17) DS (14)

We were originally going on the Magic a couple of weeks later but my DS would be 18 by then and we wanted them to be able to hang out together. We chose the Dream because of the bigger VIBE and advise from DISboards that it would be better for teenagers. Do they have activities for the 14-17 age group or is it more hanging out?

 

[lanejudy]

We are going on our first cruise in 45 days.

DM DH DS (17) DS (14)

We were originally going on the Magic a couple of weeks later but my DS would be 18 by then and we wanted them to be able to hang out together. We chose the Dream because of the bigger VIBE and advise from DISboards that it would be better for teenagers. Do they have activities for the 14-17 age group or is it more hanging out?

There are activities. Check out the Navigators for ideas of what is offered at Vibe; some may be physically at Vibe and others maybe be on the sports deck, arcade, etc. My understanding is that it's important for the kids to go on the first night for the "Plan your cruise" activity or whatever it's called (usually around 10pm).

Enjoy your cruise!