Current Youth Activities CM -- Ask me anything!

[silkie8]

CM --- You Rock!! To spend your "spare time" to share your knowledge / insights on this thread is beyond generous.

Hope you feel better soon.

One question.....what is a "Magical Moment" certificate??

 

[lorourke11]

To echo everyone else, thanks for all the information! And I hope you are feeling better soon!

This will be our second cruise with Disney, but our first was on our honeymoon over 13 years ago, so I am pretty much looking at this one as our first since there are now 3 of us!

Couple of questions:

1. Are we as parents able to track where the kids are on the ship, or are the Mickey bands mainly for the CM's to locate where the kids are?

2. Am I correct that the WAVE phones have texting ability? You have referenced messaging parents. Can parents message back, or do they have to call?

3. I know you have not been on the new Magic yet, but do you know anything about the Avengers Academy? My 8-year-old son is really looking forward to it!

Thanks for all the time you put into answering these questions!

 

[CMontheseas]

CM --- You Rock!! To spend your "spare time" to share your knowledge / insights on this thread is beyond generous.

Hope you feel better soon.

One question.....what is a "Magical Moment" certificate??

It looks like this:
I'd put the image here but it was way too gigantic!


In this case a Merch CM took one and attached special pins to it....we normally can't do that at all . But we'll issue an official certificate with their name on it and everything, and if we're feeling extra special, have it delivered to your stateroom!

 

[lorimay]

Sorry you are under the weather, feel better soon.

We will be sailing with you on the Feb. 15th western cruise.
My grandchildren will be spending tons of time with you.
Its all they talk about "Big Mickey boat this and that".

Do you by any chance know what day the Royal Court Princess Tea is held on the western cruises?

Thank you!
Lori

 

[AbsyBabsy]

But wait, there's more!


I'm so glad to hear all kinds of appreciation from everyone! The thing is, we don't quite hear it at work - at the end of every cruise the Cruise Director tends to come out at the end of the last show and ask everyone to thank all of your CMs on board with a big round of applause. Sadly, none of us ever really hear that applause. The first time I was off work and got to see the show on my own and hear everyone clapping - for us - I could've cried in my seat!


What we REALLY value most -or rather, what our supervisors/managers value - beyond sweet treats and things, are those Comment Cards. Yep, innocuous little things with a little area to scribble "Who made your trip enjoyable".
Please, please try your best to remember our names. And write our names down.

These count for so much more than you'll ever know. Maybe it's a dinner in a guest dining room, maybe it's a voucher in the merchandise shop, maybe it's an excursion, maybe it's just for that feeling of pride you get when your manager reads it out at the team meeting at the end of every cruise.
(annnd if you're going to use that space to thank a Disney character, also make sure to remember what day/time it was - so that we know ...who to recognize, if you catch my drift)

Keep those questions comin, everyone! They're great!

I am glad you like the comment cards. During each cruise, my daughter makes notes about the kids clubs and the CM names. The last night she writes a letter (usually takes a quite a few pages of stationary from the room) and writes thank you notes to the CM's and we attach them to the comment cards and put them in the box. We have been on 13 cruises since she was 6 and she still does it -even though she is 13. She loves getting the thank you card in the mail after we return! She absolutely loves the kids clubs and it will be a sad day when she turns 18. But when she is 21 - she can apply to work for DCL (she wants to work in entertainment- and when she does the talent shows on the 7 night cruise they always tell her to apply when she turns 21 and she can do most of the princess voices perfectly now)

We are going on the Fantasy in May and she can't wait to go to the club - she wants to see/hear the ghost again!

Thanks for making our vacations so special for my daughter - it is made even more special because my daughter is so very painfully shy - until she gets on the cruise - then she opens up and I know it is because of the CM's in the kids clubs. THANK YOU!

 

[ready2 cruise]

I read tons of posts but skipped a few pages so maybe this has been asked...sorry. I am a germ freak How clean and how much sanitizing goes on at the kids club?
What is the sick policy, do you turn kids away/call parents if they seem sick? I have yet to register my child for kids club, but I assume there is no vaccination requirement? Does the Wonder have those cool hand washing machines the Dream does?

I love the idea of brining candy and gum! Do we just drop it off at the front with the registering CM or have the kids pass it around? Thanks!

 

[CMontheseas]

To echo everyone else, thanks for all the information! And I hope you are feeling better soon!

This will be our second cruise with Disney, but our first was on our honeymoon over 13 years ago, so I am pretty much looking at this one as our first since there are now 3 of us!

Couple of questions:

1. Are we as parents able to track where the kids are on the ship, or are the Mickey bands mainly for the CM's to locate where the kids are?
The Mickey bands (now Oceaneer bands) are just for CM tracking only, and even then they will just respond to designated areas on the ship like the youth spaces only while the kids have been scanned in. If the kids aren't checked in with us, it won't work!

2. Am I correct that the WAVE phones have texting ability? You have referenced messaging parents. Can parents message back, or do they have to call?
The primary use of the WAVE phones is text message, and is the standard method of contacting people on the ship unless urgent. A big part of why we don't actually call anymore is for Disney Efficiency, and also Disney Show - they didn't want people talking often during movies/performances/lectures/in the Spa. As far as I know you can text message other WAVE phones, but you won't be able to message the youth spaces back, so just call us back!

3. I know you have not been on the new Magic yet, but do you know anything about the Avengers Academy? My 8-year-old son is really looking forward to it!
From what I know there will be a member of S.H.I.E.L.D. there to help train the new young superheroes in Avengers Academy. It starts with a special message from Captain America, takes place over the course of more than one day, and then Captain America himself will pop in near the end of it. From what I hear, it's apparently very good and entertaining to watch the kids - they supposedly get WAY more speechless and shy in Captain America's presence than the princesses or Mickey himself!

Thanks for all the time you put into answering these questions!

 

[CMontheseas]

Sorry you are under the weather, feel better soon.

We will be sailing with you on the Feb. 15th western cruise.
My grandchildren will be spending tons of time with you.
Its all they talk about "Big Mickey boat this and that".

Do you by any chance know what day the Royal Court Princess Tea is held on the western cruises?

Thank you!
Lori

I could be very wrong, (we sadly don't have anything to do with it upstairs in Youth Activities!) but depending on the cruise it's either on Sea Day 1 or Costa Maya!

I read tons of posts but skipped a few pages so maybe this has been asked...sorry. I am a germ freak How clean and how much sanitizing goes on at the kids club?
What is the sick policy, do you turn kids away/call parents if they seem sick? I have yet to register my child for kids club, but I assume there is no vaccination requirement? Does the Wonder have those cool hand washing machines the Dream does?

I love the idea of brining candy and gum! Do we just drop it off at the front with the registering CM or have the kids pass it around? Thanks!

Ahhh sanitization. Our dear, dear Youth Activities friend.
If you could only smell the hands of the CMS at any given time it will smell of bleach and hand sanitizer!

We're very strict on keeping things clean and sanitized, especially considering that the ship considers us one of the most prone departments to illnesses and infections from guests! We're expected to sanitize surfaces with a bleach solution during the day, and with a stronger solution every evening. If you see a CM walking around with a spray bottle, that means we've been scheduled to do so several times over the course of the day. We actually have checklists to sign off on to prove that we've done it!

On our ship the Fantasy, the Dream and the Magic they have our lovely hand-washing machines, on the Wonder they still have to give kids soap at the front desk and direct them to the restrooms to wash their hands at the other end of the room. (Silly they didn't Imagineer those handwashers there from the start!)

The policy is that kids who demonstrate illnesses or sicknesses will be asked to go to the medical center and gain clearance before being allowed into the space. The management and shipboard policy is VERY strict on the spread of disease, especially since the kids touch and lick everything in our space! No vaccination requirement that I know of.


We would hope that parents whose children have head lice would tell us about it instead of hiding it....but it's happened sadly. Ugh how horrible.



-As for bringing us goodies! The best thing to do would be to bundle it up and attach a note "For the Counselors, Thank you from the Ready2Cruise Family." and give it to the front desk. We won't allow the kids to have candy/give them out on their own while in the space (for allergy reasons)!

 

[alagille]

Hi, is there a way to tell a CM in the youth clubs apart from the supervisors?

 

[rentayenta]

In Edge it's a lot of scavenger hunts, contests and competitions, themed nights, dance parties, karaoke, the homecoming dance, a hunt on Castaway, sports like dodge ball up on the sports deck and tons and tons and tons of video gaming. Day events are almost always scavenger-hunt type things, in the evening is often a bigger party or event where more of the 11-14 year olds show up.

Late Dining/Shows almost never contradict with the schedule since we know half of the ship will be eating at that time anyway, but don't be surprised if he really wants to rush and leave the meal early to get ready for whatever we're doing that night!


We do A LOT in Edge. Just make sure he comes on the first night for Icebreakers!

This is excellent, thank you! We have late seating, will he miss icebreakers that first night? I don't mind him rushing out of dinner. He's really friendly, outgoing, smart; I think he's going to love this.

So we find out the events at the Edge during the arrival time, before the muster drill?

 

[plannermom]

I can't believe I finally made it to the end of this thread! I was only up till one last night reading.

Just wanted to say thanks so much for all your interesting and informative information. I am looking at first time cruising with DS13 and DS11, and am leaning towards the Fantasy or Dream for the vast amount of things for them to do (and the warm weather!) Just a little afraid they will want to spend TOO much time in Edge and I will miss them!

I hope your current cruise is going well and wish you luck in moving up!

 

[Jessica Sloan]

Ooooo, I hope the new bands are on the ship for next cruise on the 11th!!!!

 

[CMontheseas]

This is excellent, thank you! We have late seating, will he miss icebreakers that first night? I don't mind him rushing out of dinner. He's really friendly, outgoing, smart; I think he's going to love this.

So we find out the events at the Edge during the arrival time, before the muster drill?

We usually have our Icebreakers at 7:15 or 9:30 so it would be plenty of opportunity! You'll see the activities listed in your personal Navigator before you board, but you will also see a more detailed list when you come visit Edge before and after the emergency drill

Hi, is there a way to tell a CM in the youth clubs apart from the supervisors?

The CMs will be wearing yellow (with the exception of Vibe, who have different outfits). The supervising managers will either be dressed in Officer whites with stripe lapels, with their assistant managers in navy blue blazers or pants.

 

[Mrs Homedisney]

Thank you for all of the great information!!!! We will be on the May 2014 Panama Canal cruise aboard the Wonder. This is only our second cruise, and our last one was 9 years ago. We have a 10 year old daughter who will be just a few weeks shy of her 11th birthday. She is really hoping that she will be allowed to do some of the Scavenger hunts with the Edge group. She wanted me to ask you if there are any super fun activities that you recommend for 10, almost 11 year olds. She is into musical theater, and usually loves trying lots of new things.

 

[disprincess4ever]

We cruises last May/June and Yo Yo was one of the counselors in the Vibe. My kids loved him!!! Is is still there? We will be cursing May 31st and they hope to see him.

Heard from a friend that YoYo was onboard before Christmas on the Fantasy. Don't know what his contract is, but he's still working on the Fantasy if that helps.

 

[ksagan]

What's the best way to help make sure my kids (ages 4 & 6) will want to hang out in the youth clubs? I've heard other people say that their kids refused and the parents weren't able to have much needed adult time sine their kids wouldn't hang out in the kids areas. Any advice? Don't get me wrong -- I love my kids and look forward to spending time with them, but I also want them to take full advantage of all the activities onboard as well as give us adults some grown-up time too.

 

[Spunkyminky]

Been reading this thread here and there, thank you for taking your time to give us lots of information! Sorry you are under the weather.

We'll be sailing 5 nights Western Caribbean on Wonder on Feb 2. My 6 year old son is looking forward to doing science experiments at the Lab. What are some types of 'lab' activities do they normally have?

I'll be bringing the CMs delicious candies from Japan as treats. Something little different, so I hope they'll enjoy them.

 

[pbendock]

Hiiii -believe me, we get asked this question a lot. A lot. A lot a lot alot!

What I've personally experienced first-hand, is that 10 year olds prior to their vacation tend to see mostly pictures of the Oceaneer Club (yay kiddie whale slide! Yay blocks!) And that obviously, looks super babyish. Heck if I was her age, a slide and a mini-kitchen playset wouldn't be selling points to be in a kids club.

But then they all end up in the Oceaneer Lab and hunker down there for the rest of the cruise. Make sure she goes there on the first evening to get oriented and meet people her age. Ask the counselors if there are any other 10 year olds in the space (we can easily check our computer screens). You can even call us via wavephone to ask us to check the current age demographic in the room before she goes. 10-11 year olds pretty much dominate our crafts, cooking school, and science programs. What we found is key is giving them Self-Check privileges so they feel independent and not like a "baby"



NOTE: That doesn't mean we haven't had some verrrry pushy guests demand that their child be in Edge (with the tweens). Hate to say it, but with anything really, make enough of a stink and bring it to the Cruise Director, then they start making exceptions. The managers will never offer this to you outright, and it would have to be after continued proof that your child tried to like the Lab/Club for more than an hour and had zero fun. Sad to say, but making a big scene and screaming at our gate in front of other parents also tends to do the trick. And then you have these 10 year olds at the homecoming dance sitting in the corner. Happens quite often!

There is so much for kids to do on the ship other than clubs. If a kid or parent throws a fit to get into an older club that show me they should NOT be allowed in it because they are not acting mature enough. We went on the Dream almost 2 years ago and my daughter was 9. She didn't go into the club much because of all the little kids. She has 2 older sisters that are 12 and 18 years older than she is so she is used to being around older people more than younger and she is in the gifted program at her school. She did go in the kids clubs a few times when they did science experiments or when a new friend she me was in there. She is looking forward to our cruise this year as an 11 year old with older kids. She is bringing her best friend who is 13. I understand there needs to be an age limit and everyone should follow it. Everyone thinks their child is more mature than others but really most are just average. I do think Disney should close one of the clubs for maybe an hour or two each day and let just the older half in while the younger half stay in the other club. This would give the 7-10 year olds some time without the younger ones.

 

[DisFan01908]

We will be on the Fantasy soon and my daughter who is 12.5 wants to do parasailing in Castaway. She is 5'6 and looks 15 unfortunately not 12... any way, the point is she doesn't meet the 13 cutoff but will they make an exception and let her parasail without us? In our group there are 6 teenagers that want to parasail and she wants to do it with them.

I don't know what ports you are going to, but my son was 12 when we were in Cozumel & he went parasailing there, not through DCL. It was much less expensive (as are all non-Disney excursions, even for the exact same thing) & he had a blast!

 

[mootmoot]

We do A LOT in Edge. Just make sure he comes on the first night for Icebreakers!

My daughter will be 10 on our next cruise, so we know it will be a toss up if she will be allowed into Edge (fingers crossed!!). If she is told "wait and see", will she be able to participate in the icebreakers on the first night? It seems like that would be a really good opportunity to see if it's a good fit, etc.

Also, just wondering - is the Family Talent Show a really big thing (do the slots fill up within hours of check in), and is there a big turnout? Are there single performer acts, or does it have to be the whole family performing? Are there any other "talent show" style activities offered in Edge? My DD and her BFF would love to choreograph and prepare a dance, but I'm not sure if they should bother or not.

THANK YOU for this thread!! I spent days reading through it and it has given me so much info and appreciation for the YA counselors and the rest of the CMs and staff! We will DEFINITELY bring in goodies to share and extra paper for the comment cards next time.