Current Youth Activities CM -- Ask me anything!

[CMontheseas]

My 6 year old loves Toy Story. Can you tell me about Toy Story Boot camp?
Thank you!

Having done Toy Story Boot Camp so often that I can hear the music in my head, I'll give you a rundown as best as I can:

A life-size green army soldier character named Corporal Green organizes the children into 2-4 "platoons". These groups each have a mascot like Woody/Buzz/Rex/Potato Head and the kids first learn how to respond with a "Sir, Yes Sir!"

Then the groups disperse into several stations where they put on green/black/brown face paint, or learn how to pose like tiny toy plastic soldiers, or play with a big green parachute. Rotations end with a big march around the room with the kids repeating a (fairly difficult) rhyming couplet.

In the end, they generally get a chance to take a picture with the Green Army solider and keep the photo afterwards - for free!

Have a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PT-fQbnoWw

Thank you so much for taking your time to do this!!
I was wondering what the most popular kids club activities. I have a 7 and 4 year old girls.
Thank you!!!

The most popular ones by far in the Club and Lab would be:

Pluto's Pyjama Party
Do-Si-Do with Snow White
The Royal Ball
Ratatouille Cooking School
Flubber
Piston Cup

 

[disprincess4ever]

Oh goodness, you're right about being guarded. I will say right off the bat that as an American used to labour laws and minimum wage, and having worked at a day care and summer camps before - this is something you gotta reaaaally really love sailing/Disney to do. To put it honestly and transparently - we make 6$/hour, and work 9-10 hours a day. Every single day for months.


The application wasn't hard - just a long, long process. With medical checks and police background checks and passports and Skype interviews and real-life interviews and actually waiting for a sailing date - it took me a year! Americans in our department tend to get management positions. Knowing everything in hindsight, I would've applied to Cruise Staff!

Cruise Staff team is my #1 onboard pick if I worked onboard! I just really love the details of that job and it fits my personality! I've looked on the DCL website, but can't find any of the prerequisites. Do you know what they would be/ what experience I should have for if I wanted to do cruise staff team in the future? I'll take any info on that field that you might know in general!

Yes! I did notice a lot more Brit employees on my cruise! Do you know why Disney seems to be hiring more Brits than Americans?

Feel free not to answer stuff. I know you're getting a lot of questions and it must take time to think of "Disney approved" answer! It's just that people like you inspire me, cause I want to be in your shoes some day!

 

[CMontheseas]

Cruise Staff team is my #1 onboard pick if I worked onboard! I just really love the details of that job and it fits my personality! I've looked on the DCL website, but can't find any of the prerequisites. Do you know what they would be/ what experience I should have for if I wanted to do cruise staff team in the future? I'll take any info on that field that you might know in general!

Yes! I did notice a lot more Brit employees on my cruise! Do you know why Disney seems to be hiring more Brits than Americans?

Feel free not to answer stuff. I know you're getting a lot of questions and it must take time to think of "Disney approved" answer! It's just that people like you inspire me, cause I want to be in your shoes some day!

To be part of the Cruise Staff - you're best off having had a LOT of microphone performance, whether on stage, emceeing at weddings or galas or fundraisers, DJing events. You need to be exceptionally charming with every single person that you speak to, and know how to keep up a conversation with random strangers. A big part of the job is "swanning" - that's an hour scheduled to just walk around and talk to the guests about random topics, what they did today, did their child see their favorite character today, etc. Bonus points if you can remember every conversation. Also, be able to follow a series of 8-count dance choreography and learn it on the fly. Just have lots of stage presence-type experience and you'll be great (also note Cruise Staff teams are tiny across 4 ships, so be prepared to have impeccable timing or wait a while for a position!)


And as for Brits.....someone one told me it was because we don't recruit quite as extensively in the States. Which seems to be true because every American seems to ask- "How did you find out about this job?" The company tends to recruit super heavily from: South Africa, the UK, Australia, Canada, Brazil, and Mexico. I think it might just be easier to conduct background checks/Visas for them.

 

[mgothel]

We will be on the fantasy in a couple weeks, what are some of the best, not to miss activities? During what activities do characters appear in the club?

 

[michellekcm]

We were just on the Wonder in August, and my 4yo daughter absolutely adored the kids club, and the counsellors. She even asked about 5 of them to sign her Disney autograph book, took pictures with them, and drew them farewell cards. (Yes, I did name these individuals on the comment card, and we handed over Australian chocolate!)

I just wanted to say thanks for all you guys do to make the cruise so magical for the kids.

 

[disneyfreak0407]

Hi, we cruise on the Fantasy in November. I have one question, I will be 14 and in vibe my friend who Im going with will be 13 but.... she turns 14 on the 3rd or 4th day on our cruise. Will she be able to come to Vibe with me? I know we could both go to edge but our younger sisters would be in there.
Thanks

 

[CMontheseas]

Hi, we cruise on the Fantasy in November. I have one question, I will be 14 and in vibe my friend who Im going with will be 13 but.... she turns 14 on the 3rd or 4th day on our cruise. Will she be able to come to Vibe with me? I know we could both go to edge but our younger sisters would be in there.
Thanks

Most of the time, that wouldn't be a big issue - if you spoke to both the Vibe and Edge counselors about it, it should be ok! What they'd recommend you do first is try out Edge for the first day and then talk to them again if you really think it's not right for you!

 

[DMMarla07860]

Would it be weird for a adult with no kids to check out the club on the first day during the hours when it seems like it's a open house? Going on the Magic and I want to check out the new areas. Got to go into the clubs on the Fantasy since I did the ship tour and it was open house at that time

 

[CMontheseas]

Would it be weird for a adult with no kids to check out the club on the first day during the hours when it seems like it's a open house? Going on the Magic and I want to check out the new areas. Got to go into the clubs on the Fantasy since I did the ship tour and it was open house at that time

Not weird at all! That's part of why the Open Houses exist - so feel free to come in, take pictures, play our video games, etc. Just maybe stay out of our restrooms. Also, they're teeny tiny!

 

[twindaddy]

Sadly I've been moved around the ships quite a bit! Do you remember his name? It's funny, we like to think that we get away with a lot more infractions of "Disney Look" on the ships than they would in the parks. But I'm not surprised management asked him to!


Also sadly, sometimes mail doesn't quite reach us the way we'd hope. Unless it's verrrry specifically addressed 100% correctly to the tee that the company expects it, it takes ages. Or it shows up on another ship. Or it hangs around the mail storage facility and by the time it reaches your ship, you're already home! (This results in slightly disappointing holidays and birthdays that we get used to )

She never wrote back to me, so I am going to assume she did not get it. I sent her some stamps too. Ce la vie!

The guys name was JD, a tall (now bald) African American guy. One of the coolest people I met on the cruise, second maybe to Fiona on the cruise staff. I think JD is on the cruise staff on the Wonder now, but I am not sure.

I brought a case of girl scout cookies to the club the last night of my last Wonder cruise, that was well received. I actually left my KTTW card on the desk, and when I came back to get in ten minutes later, the CM's were gathered around saying "yeah, some guy just brought these for us." and they were pretty excited.

I loved your post about the counselors in the edge and vibe getting kids to bring them food. What if I showed up to the club with a giant tray of chicken strips and ranch? Would they get eaten, or would a supervisor make you toss them out? Or would it be better to bring them around closing time?

I did get some food to-go from Palo last cruise that I did not finish, and I saw my cabin steward in the hall and gave it to him. I seriously think he thought I was undercover or something and a boss was going to jump out of the shadows to bust him. He then said he needed to "check on my bathroom", aka he snuck in there to chow down.

 

[KnightRail]

Would it be weird for a adult with no kids to check out the club on the first day during the hours when it seems like it's a open house? Going on the Magic and I want to check out the new areas. Got to go into the clubs on the Fantasy since I did the ship tour and it was open house at that time

Myself (25), my mom and dad did this when we were on the dream just to take pics (but mainly get our hands nice and clean....love those machines on the Dream!) we didn't feel out of place in the least bit!

 

[CMontheseas]

What if I showed up to the club with a giant tray of chicken strips and ranch? Would they get eaten, or would a supervisor make you toss them out? Or would it be better to bring them around closing time?
:

You are brilliant! Definite cruise ship karma points . Yep, sadly a manager would officially make us toss it in the trash (or worse, eat it themselves!). Bringing it around closing time would probably work out better, and by that point even a zealous one might ask us to "toss it in the trash" - I.e: eat this out my sight and I won't discipline you

 

[neg58]

Hey Heather,

Not trying to plug the blog, but there is a post on there with a printable addition to the comment card. This came about because I ALWAYS mention names (restroom attendants, gift shop folks, kids club CMs, etc.) & that little two-line space doesn't cut it! I print out a few, cut in half, and then take them with us and attach them to the comment card. Last cruise, we got a post card thanking us for our kind words.

Emily

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

I just used the stationery in the desk drawer and folded it into the comment card. I know they got it because I got a postcard thanking me for the detailed comments.

Nancy

 

[Feisty Fairy]

Not weird at all! That's part of why the Open Houses exist - so feel free to come in, take pictures, play our video games, etc. Just maybe stay out of our restrooms. Also, they're teeny tiny!

Awesome me and my Husband wanted to see the Magic's new areas and get some pics but have no kids.

 

[Mayakad]

What happened to "out and about" programs, my 9 years old loved being able to joined them as the club/lab not offer any outing.
What are the options!

 

[byejou]

How many counselors are in the club (edge/lab) in the late evening. Say for snacks!!!!!

 

[CMontheseas]

What happened to "out and about" programs, my 9 years old loved being able to joined them as the club/lab not offer any outing.
What are the options!

Some still exist on the rare occasion, but a lot of the old programming disappeared with our heightened security. Now, with our system we can't really bring the kids "Out and About" like we used to! (Goodbye hunting the ship for heffalumps!) If it's any indication, we don't have any more of the themed patches for Out and About activities, but occasionally you might seen one for unsecured programming like Dodgeball, for example.

 

[CMontheseas]

How many counselors are in the club (edge/lab) in the late evening. Say for snacks!!!!!

About....10-15 generally!

 

[Ofinn]

When is DCL going to realize that 9 and 10 year olds are playing more advanced computer games than what they offer in the labs. My kids hate the lab. They went to the Edge for the open house and loved it. The Edge has the games most kids are playing X box, Wii, plants and zombies etc.

 

[byejou]

About....10-15 generally!

Would room service say anything if I order say 15 mickey bars or trays of snack foods, ie. wings, chicken strips, warm cookies