Current Youth Activities CM -- Ask me anything!

[renesmom]

Thank you!

 

[slcmom]

Hi. Thanks for this magnificent thread full of great info! I expect the fact that we haven't heard from you for 10 days means that you're feeling well, again, and are back to working many many hours every day. Congratulations, I guess?

My ds, age 23, has Down syndrome. He attends a day program with other mentally handicapped adults which is a lifesaver for him (and me). He's too compulsive and low-end for supported employment. Anyway, we are madly fund-raising trying to get enough money for the group to do a cruise on the Magic. We'd take along staff or parents to be 1-to-1 with the clients.

My dh (also disabled), ds and I did a Disney cruise a few years ago, and it was tremendous (Disney does SO WELL with disabled people) except that me taking care of the 2 of them was too much. We're structuring this trip to avoid that so everyone has adequate staff, and the staff has adequate respite time, too.

Anyway, here's where I want to pick your brain. Ideally we'd love to have some special perks (who wouldn't?). We don't intend to disembark at any of the ports except Castaway Cay, so port days would be real possible for us. I'm hoping we can get access to the Kids' areas (NOT clubs, I have learned that from your thread!) maybe for a modified open house, or something, on port days, to experience Cruisin' with Crush, Picture This, Ratatouille Cooking School, Memory Wall, and Avengers’ Academy. We'd also love extra karaoke sessions, extra meet and greet with characters, private session on the AquaDuck, group mingle and dance party, and a private muster drill for our group.

I have no idea who to approach, either stateside or actually on the ship, with these requests. Do you have any suggestions? Any cm on the Magic that might be particularly interested in helping? I really appreciate any ideas you have about this. Thanks a million,
Ann

 

[Jk125]

Hi
Thanks for taking our questions / concerns. here's mine my dd is autistic, she is fully potty trained and verbal, but she can be a screamer if something goes wrong. she is not violent. Will she be ok in kids club?

I figure best to know now incase she is not then we won't even go to the open house. she can get a little concentrate on the things she like.

 

[lbgraves]

...I have no idea who to approach, either stateside or actually on the ship, with these requests. Do you have any suggestions? Any cm on the Magic that might be particularly interested in helping? I really appreciate any ideas you have about this. Thanks a million,
Ann

You would need to contact Special Services at the main DCL number to get in touch with anyone who could discuss anything related to special needs. You can reserve space onboard at a cost for a private group function, but that only includes the bar areas and lounges. The kid areas are the clubs, including most of the specific activities you listed. Anyone can go there during the open house times but they aren't closed off to kids during the regular hours even when the ship is in port.

 

[joycsk]

Hi. Thanks for this magnificent thread full of great info!

My ds, age 23, has Down syndrome. He attends a day program with other mentally handicapped adults which is a lifesaver for him (and me). He's too c

private session on the AquaDuck, group mingle and dance party, and a private muster drill for our group.

I interested in helping? I really appreciate any ideas you have about this. Thanks a million,
Ann

Hi, Ann. I see you are looking to cruise on the Magic. I encourage you to check out youtube videos of the AQUADUNK. The slide that was installed on the Magic last fall is not in any way, shape or form like the AquaDuck. I have the suspicion that the AquaDunk will not be a good fit for your group. You begin by standing. The tube is sealed and then the floor drops out from underneath you and you end up in a slide. It is scary for some adults and children. Riders must go one at a time. The slide is both fast and short.

Please know that I only want you to be informed. I apologize if the tone of this message appears off in any way. I am in awe of what you are trying to accomplish, and I would hate for you to arrive on the boat and discover that things were not as you had believed.

 

[joycsk]

HI! I remember your saying that the Crew Members were starved for fruit. Was thinking that my Costco sells packets (like small packets of potato chips) with dehydrated apples, bananas and strawberries. I'd be happy to bring some in the summer if they'd be desired. I _know_ they aren't real fruit, but I also know that I can't bring real fruit onboard.

Secondly, like those trying to bring mickey bars at closing, would some fruit from the buffet be a good idea?

Thank you!

 

[lanejudy]

...... Anyway, here's where I want to pick your brain. Ideally we'd love to have some special perks (who wouldn't?). We don't intend to disembark at any of the ports except Castaway Cay, so port days would be real possible for us. I'm hoping we can get access to the Kids' areas (NOT clubs, I have learned that from your thread!) maybe for a modified open house, or something, on port days, to experience Cruisin' with Crush, Picture This, Ratatouille Cooking School, Memory Wall, and Avengers’ Academy. We'd also love extra karaoke sessions, extra meet and greet with characters, private session on the AquaDuck, group mingle and dance party, and a private muster drill for our group. ...

I'm not sure what "kids areas (NOT clubs...)" you have in mind. But if DCL is very strict about ages in the restricted kids spaces -- particularly anyone older not allowed into space restricted for younger kids. But you would definitely be able to take anyone (child or adult, regardless of age) to the posted Open House times.

Definitely contact the Special Needs department at DCL. I believe they'll be able to help with some of these suggestions, though whether it can be truly "private" without additional expense to the families involved would be a question. I have definitely heard of accommodations offered for Muster Drill.

Good luck and enjoy your cruise!

 

[csidisney]

Subscribing!

We are going on the Wonder in March. If you know any CMs on that ship, if they need/want anything specific - please let me know! The CMs really make the trip for us

Has anyone gotten any strange reactions to the Mickey Bars arriving at the clubs? Certainly management must be catching on by now?

 

[DisneYE]

Subscribing!

We are going on the Wonder in March. If you know any CMs on that ship, if they need/want anything specific - please let me know! The CMs really make the trip for us

Same here...
I'm bringing big canadian chocolate bars and like 10 $5 long distance cards to give out to CMs not on tippable positions..would like to hear what else they'd like to get...

 

[slcmom]

thanks to Joy, lbgraves, and judy. Joy, you certainly weren't offensive. I get confused about which aqua thing is which, and I'd already noticed that the one on the Magic looks pretty intense. I was happy that they have that other option that seems to be available for adults.

Thanks for your suggestions. Any more out there? CMontheseas?

 

[wajones2]

Hi. Thanks for this magnificent thread full of great info! I expect the fact that we haven't heard from you for 10 days means that you're feeling well, again, and are back to working many many hours every day. Congratulations, I guess?

My ds, age 23, has Down syndrome. He attends a day program with other mentally handicapped adults which is a lifesaver for him (and me). He's too compulsive and low-end for supported employment. Anyway, we are madly fund-raising trying to get enough money for the group to do a cruise on the Magic. We'd take along staff or parents to be 1-to-1 with the clients.

My dh (also disabled), ds and I did a Disney cruise a few years ago, and it was tremendous (Disney does SO WELL with disabled people) except that me taking care of the 2 of them was too much. We're structuring this trip to avoid that so everyone has adequate staff, and the staff has adequate respite time, too.

Anyway, here's where I want to pick your brain. Ideally we'd love to have some special perks (who wouldn't?). We don't intend to disembark at any of the ports except Castaway Cay, so port days would be real possible for us. I'm hoping we can get access to the Kids' areas (NOT clubs, I have learned that from your thread!) maybe for a modified open house, or something, on port days, to experience Cruisin' with Crush, Picture This, Ratatouille Cooking School, Memory Wall, and Avengers’ Academy. We'd also love extra karaoke sessions, extra meet and greet with characters, private session on the AquaDuck, group mingle and dance party, and a private muster drill for our group.

I have no idea who to approach, either stateside or actually on the ship, with these requests. Do you have any suggestions? Any cm on the Magic that might be particularly interested in helping? I really appreciate any ideas you have about this. Thanks a million,
Ann

I don't know the answer to your questions, but wanted to suggest sailing one of the smaller classic ships & off season (fewer kids). Our first Magic cruise, we typically were the only family participating in the Oceaneer Lab or Club Open Houses - DD got full attention from all CMs and she loved it. Our 2nd cruise was in May and a lot more kids were in the open house times. We are sailing again in November and hope to hit the off season crowds again.

 

[pouncingpluto]

I read all 63 pages!!!!!!!

To throw my own questions out there:

1. You mention the Wonder being an especially happy place for the CMs. Are you able to elaborate on that at all? Does it translate into an especially happy experience for the kids too? (Hoping so-- we will be on the Wonder in October!)

2. Can you talk a little more about 3-year-olds in the Club? Like, what proportion of them would you say can/can't handle it? My daughter is very outgoing and independent-minded, but on the other hand she's hardly spent any time without an adult family member -- my mother watches her during the work week. By the time we cruise, though, she'll have been in two-day-per-week preschool for about five weeks, so hopefully that will help. I'm also hoping to have her do some other independent activities (mostly gymnastics classes without me) this spring and summer.

 

[jkluttrell]

I am only on page 14 of reading this thread so I apologize if this has already been asked.

We are going on the Wonder in October, my kids will be 11 and 14. My son (11 yr old) wanted to know if he was ready to leave how would I know to come and get him (I don't think I will give him check out abilities but am unsure yet). I told him that he could tell the counselors that he was ready to leave and they would buzz me (meaning call or text the wave phone). Is this true?

 

[ChristyBrown]

I am only on page 14 of reading this thread so I apologize if this has already been asked. We are going on the Wonder in October, my kids will be 11 and 14. My son (11 yr old) wanted to know if he was ready to leave how would I know to come and get him (I don't think I will give him check out abilities but am unsure yet). I told him that he could tell the counselors that he was ready to leave and they would buzz me (meaning call or text the wave phone). Is this true?

Yes, that is true.

 

[lanejudy]

I am only on page 14 of reading this thread so I apologize if this has already been asked.

We are going on the Wonder in October, my kids will be 11 and 14. My son (11 yr old) wanted to know if he was ready to leave how would I know to come and get him (I don't think I will give him check out abilities but am unsure yet). I told him that he could tell the counselors that he was ready to leave and they would buzz me (meaning call or text the wave phone). Is this true?

That's correct...assuming he is at the Oceaneer Club/Lab. As an 11-yr-old, he will have the option of the Club/Lab or Edge (and your 14-yr-old will have the option of Edge or Vibe). But if you refuse his self-check-out privileges, he will be restricted to the Club/Lab. Kids must have self-check-out privileges to attend Edge. If he prefers the tween space, you may have to decide whether he could abide by some "family rules" regarding leaving Edge and then revoke the privilege if he's not responsible.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[loveysbydesign]

Just wondering what things kids can do for the avengers academy and when is it usually offered on the magic for 7 night cruise.. Thanks!

 

[mizzoufinal4]

CMontheseas SEA you on Saturday!!!!! I'll be the one with the mizzou hat on

 

[jkluttrell]

That's correct...assuming he is at the Oceaneer Club/Lab. As an 11-yr-old, he will have the option of the Club/Lab or Edge (and your 14-yr-old will have the option of Edge or Vibe). But if you refuse his self-check-out privileges, he will be restricted to the Club/Lab. Kids must have self-check-out privileges to attend Edge. If he prefers the tween space, you may have to decide whether he could abide by some "family rules" regarding leaving Edge and then revoke the privilege if he's not responsible.

Enjoy your cruise!

Thank you, that will definitely make a difference. I am looking forward to them being able to "double dip" and be able to go in both areas. I did not know that about the checking out and the edge area. He will be fine to have self check out privileges, I just didn't want him to leave the club but not know where I was. I'm sure we will figure something out.

 

[jedijill]

CMontheseas SEA you on Saturday!!!!! I'll be the one with the mizzou hat on

Go Tigers!

M-I-Z

Z-O-U!

Jill in CO

 

[slcmom]

I don't know the answer to your questions, but wanted to suggest sailing one of the smaller classic ships & off season (fewer kids). Our first Magic cruise, we typically were the only family participating in the Oceaneer Lab or Club Open Houses - DD got full attention from all CMs and she loved it. Our 2nd cruise was in May and a lot more kids were in the open house times. We are sailing again in November and hope to hit the off season crowds again.

That's exactly out plan - both because of the money we'll save by going during hurricane season, and because the other cruise I went on was ebta and I was spoiled by not having the ship full!