Has anyone else had issues with the new Oceaneer's club/lab policies?

I have been following this and I agree it is crazy. I am okay with a daily open house at one of the club/lab for all those helicopter parents in the world, but I think it should be 7-9 or 8-10AM alternating days between the club and the lab. The clubs were designed for KIDS not their parents who can't cut the cord already! This really changes the experience for the kids in the clubs, especially those on the edges of the age range, the preschoolers and 9/10 year olds and IMO, that isn't right.

I agree. They do a daily open house (or they did last March) in the Edge so that other ages could see/experience that area during an off-peak time for the preteen age group that the space was designed for. Why not have a standard 2 hour time slot in the mornings for open house in the various clubs on alternating days? Open Houses should be SHORT periods of time.

I'm just glad that my kids will be in the Edge and Vibe on our next cruise, because I think what they are doing in the Club/Lab now is ridiculous.
 
I just looked at the scanned Navigators from the MR cruise that were posted.

Seriously why does there need to be up to 5.5 hours PER DAY of open house time when parents HAVE to be present? Was there really that much demand from parents that they have to be glued to their child's side at all times? And please no flames... we cherish our time with our DD, but don't feel the need to hover over her 24/7. We have plenty of other things we do together on the ship as a family and she considers her club/lab time HER time!!

I hope DCL does some serious rethinking to this...
 
I have been following this and I agree it is crazy. I am okay with a daily open house at one of the club/lab for all those helicopter parents in the world, but I think it should be 7-9 or 8-10AM alternating days between the club and the lab. The clubs were designed for KIDS not their parents who can't cut the cord already! This really changes the experience for the kids in the clubs, especially those on the edges of the age range, the preschoolers and 9/10 year olds and IMO, that isn't right.

Yikes, this thread and general topic is really getting nasty. I never would have thought a group of Disney cruisers could feel such anger towards other fellow Dis parents. Wanting to spend time with my kids on vacation does not make me a "helicopter parent who can't cut the cord." I love my kids, went through a lot of crap to have them and am happy to take advantage of the chance to watch them play in their element if Disney is going to offer it.
 
Yikes, this thread and general topic is really getting nasty. I never would have thought a group of Disney cruisers could feel such anger towards other fellow Dis parents. Wanting to spend time with my kids on vacation does not make me a "helicopter parent who can't cut the cord." I love my kids, went through a lot of crap to have them and am happy to take advantage of the chance to watch them play in their element if Disney is going to offer it.

But do you really need 4-6 hours EVERY DAY to do that? I cannot see how anyone would want to. THAT is my problem. Not that they are offering open house, but that they are doing so much of it and doing it during times when secured programming is likely to be at peak usage. It should be done for short periods dur ing off peak times.
 

But do you really need 4-6 hours EVERY DAY to do that? I cannot see how anyone would want to. THAT is my problem. Not that they are offering open house, but that they are doing so much of it and doing it during times when secured programming is likely to be at peak usage. It should be done for short periods dur ing off peak times.

Agree

Yikes, this thread and general topic is really getting nasty. I never would have thought a group of Disney cruisers could feel such anger towards other fellow Dis parents. Wanting to spend time with my kids on vacation does not make me a "helicopter parent who can't cut the cord." I love my kids, went through a lot of crap to have them and am happy to take advantage of the chance to watch them play in their element if Disney is going to offer it.

I don't mind if u want to spend 24/7 with your kids but then do it in the gazillion other areas on the ship that were designed for families. This area was designed for the kids.
It seems to me that they need to make a separate play area for families to use that is not part of the kids club. Just a small room would be fine. I suggested that back in 2009 when I sailed with my then 18m old. On my comment card I told them we wouldn't be sailing with toddlers under 3 anymore b/c of the lack of things for them to do. The splash area just didn't cut it for us. We did use the corner of the club a time or two where the soft climbing eqpt was. If they could just put that eqpt in an area that was always accessible that would be helpful.
 
Agree



I don't mind if u want to spend 24/7 with your kids but then do it in the gazillion other areas on the ship that were designed for families. This area was designed for the kids.
It seems to me that they need to make a separate play area for families to use that is not part of the kids club. Just a small room would be fine. I suggested that back in 2009 when I sailed with my then 18m old. On my comment card I told them we wouldn't be sailing with toddlers under 3 anymore b/c of the lack of things for them to do. The splash area just didn't cut it for us. We did use the corner of the club a time or two where the soft climbing eqpt was. If they could just put that eqpt in an area that was always accessible that would be helpful.

I don't need to spend 24/7 with them. There will be times when DH and I will try to have some adult time provided they cooperate and go into the club or lab and nursery. Still I'm excited to spend time with them in the kids clubs too. Yes there are many areas designed for families but the bulk of them aren't aimed at families with young kids. The open house will give my daughter time to show us what she's been up to and my 1-year-old son a chance to play and participate. I look forward to it and I still fail to see how it won't be anything but a positive addition for most families once they find a good balance between open house hours and secured hours.
 
But do you really need 4-6 hours EVERY DAY to do that? I cannot see how anyone would want to. THAT is my problem. Not that they are offering open house, but that they are doing so much of it and doing it during times when secured programming is likely to be at peak usage. It should be done for short periods dur ing off peak times.

I am sure the same families won't be using it for 4-6 hours everyday. Some days those parents might have spa appts, Palo reservations, or wine tastings. So they can't participate in the open house hours at those times/on those days. I'm guessing that's why there is a large range, to accommodate a large number of people.



Here's the thing, this isn't just to accommodate people who "can't cut the cord." I have zero issues with dropping my kids and running, zero. But what about disabled kids? Or super shy kids? Those kids might love to participate in club activities but can't for some reason, physically or emotionally. By saying "no adults in the clubs" with this new policy, which I totally, 100% agree with, they are limiting things for those kids.

There are other family activities on board, yes, I know that. We always do the Mickey 200, various trivia games, and last cruise did an Amazing Race thing that was super fun. But those aren't always an option. No one knows when Mickey 200 will be in advance, so you can't plan Palo around it. Or even if you plan to attend, we've gone before and were shut out cause there were too many people. And we were there before it started, but there were already a ton of people, plus people who stayed after bingo so we couldn't make a car. The Amazing Race thing, TBH, if you had a physical handicap you were at a serious disadvantage. You needed to be able to run up and down the stairs to win (which I know, because my team won, and we were literally running anywhere it was safe to do so). And even with that, I was 45 minutes late to Palo brunch cause it ran late. My husband just sat there alone waiting for me (he had a massage prior so he didn't do the race with us).

So for those people who can't take advantage of this stuff, I am glad they have open house times. We met a family at Amazing Race who teamed up with us and their 7yo daughter hit it off with mine. Her mother was so, so happy cause she said her kid wouldn't use the clubs thus far on the cruise but after meeting my daughter they both went happily to the Lab after the race. They hung out together the rest of the cruise. Now, my daughter had been in the clubs nonstop before that anyway, but that's her personality. So with the open houses, maybe some families will meet up like we did and their kids will make friends and feel better going off to the clubs. Or maybe for the kids who can't go alone due to various disabilities, they will get the chance to have fun and act like normal kids. If my kid has to "tolerate" going to the "less fun" club/lab so that a disabled kid can make flubber with mom and dad, then so be it. It's not just about me enjoying my cruise but about everyone on the ship being able to enjoy theirs as well.
 
/
I am sure this worked just fine when it was a couple of 3 year olds wanting the activity, but with a 12:1 ratio and ALL the kids for Ed into the lab, there simply wont be enough CM's to assist all of the y ounger kids one on one.

But not every 3yo in the club will want to do the activity. And who's to say that there will even be tons of them in the club at that time? We have no idea and it will vary cruise by cruise.

It isnt just a couple hours though. In many cases it's up to a six hour blocks of time EVERY DAY that a child would be either "stuck" or with mom and dad when they would rather be in the club. That IMO is excessive and there is no reason it is necessary. I think Hippie has it right. This whole thing is as much about money as safety.

Does the kid really *need* to be in the club then? All that time? I mean, mine have stayed in there all day, so I don't mean anything is wrong with that. I mean that if the kid is unhappy, there's really nothing else they can do on the ship besides sit miserably in a club? The pool? Arcade? All the family activities that people are raving about? None of that would be acceptable?

I'm saying it only affects kids a couple of hours because that's how long a parent would *need* to be gone for Palo/Remy/Spa/Tastings/etc. I can't think of anything that would require I hole my kid in the club for 6 hours when they don't want to be there.
 
Agree



I don't mind if u want to spend 24/7 with your kids but then do it in the gazillion other areas on the ship that were designed for families. This area was designed for the kids.
It seems to me that they need to make a separate play area for families to use that is not part of the kids club. Just a small room would be fine. I suggested that back in 2009 when I sailed with my then 18m old. On my comment card I told them we wouldn't be sailing with toddlers under 3 anymore b/c of the lack of things for them to do. The splash area just didn't cut it for us. We did use the corner of the club a time or two where the soft climbing eqpt was. If they could just put that eqpt in an area that was always accessible that would be helpful.

I don't need to spend 24/7 with them. There will be times when DH and I will try to have some adult time provided they cooperate and go into the club or lab and nursery. Still I'm excited to spend time with them in the kids clubs too. Yes there are many areas designed for families but the bulk of them aren't aimed at families with young kids. The open house will give my daughter time to show us what she's been up to and my 1-year-old son a chance to play and participate. I look forward to it and I still fail to see how it won't be anything but a positive addition for most families once they find a good balance between open house hours and secured hours.
 
I don't need to spend 24/7 with them. There will be times when DH and I will try to have some adult time provided they cooperate and go into the club or lab and nursery. Still I'm excited to spend time with them in the kids clubs too. Yes there are many areas designed for families but the bulk of them aren't aimed at families with young kids. The open house will give my daughter time to show us what she's been up to and my 1-year-old son a chance to play and participate. I look forward to it and I still fail to see how it won't be anything but a positive addition for most families once they find a good balance between open house hours and secured hours.

Right- which is why I suggested 7-9AM. This allows people with young toddlers (myself included) to experience these areas or people who have kids who are too shy, scared, attached, etc without dramatically impacting the purpose of the area. My toddler is up by 6AM every day, so 7-9 would work for us just fine! To have one half of the club closed during dinner/late evening when most parents are going to want it open is not right. And, for the poster who asked about sticking your child there for 6 hours if they don't want to be there, I wouldn't force my kid to go for 2 hours if they were miserable. I might make them try it for an hour, just to get a real feel for it, but after that, okay. I guess we have to play in other areas. There are a million things for families to do on the ship. The kids clubs are for kids, just as the adult areas are for adults. Should they allow kids in Palo or the Quiet Cove for 40% of the cruise so they can check it out with their parents?
 
Right- which is why I suggested 7-9AM. This allows people with young toddlers (myself included) to experience these areas or people who have kids who are too shy, scared, attached, etc without dramatically impacting the purpose of the area. My toddler is up by 6AM every day, so 7-9 would work for us just fine! To have one half of the club closed during dinner/late evening when most parents are going to want it open is not right. And, for the poster who asked about sticking your child there for 6 hours if they don't want to be there, I wouldn't force my kid to go for 2 hours if they were miserable. I might make them try it for an hour, just to get a real feel for it, but after that, okay. I guess we have to play in other areas. There are a million things for families to do on the ship. The kids clubs are for kids, just as the adult areas are for adults. Should they allow kids in Palo or the Quiet Cove for 40% of the cruise so they can check it out with their parents?

Per having kids in the adult areas - not a great argument as it's not the same thing at all. Also 7-9 would not work for us. That would be 5-7 our home time so way too early for our little ones. We don't even wake up until 9 or later on a cruise. We aren't morning people. We also like to take our time and enjoy breakfast.
 
Per having kids in the adult areas - not a great argument as it's not the same thing at all. Also 7-9 would not work for us. That would be 5-7 our home time so way too early for our little ones. We don't even wake up until 9 or later on a cruise. We aren't morning people. We also like to take our time and enjoy breakfast.

I don't really see how it is different. Disney advertises their cruises as having great kids only activities at all times and having adult only activities at all times. Sure, there is still one club open at all times, but to me, that is the same as saying "Tonight is family night at Palo. Adults only- go to Remy. Hey, we are offering something." Or kids are allowed from 12-4PM in the rainforest room, but the massage areas are all still kid free at that time.

But, what if the proposed time doesn't work for me? Is your (general your, not meaning to sound attacking) time more valuable than mine? 8-10AM is okay for me too, even 9-11 but something predictable and yes, not PEAK times. That is the idea. If people are really hell bent on participating with their children, they can make it work, or skip it. That is life. If I want to go to Bingo and it is at 8AM, well, I can either get up early, or opt out.
 
It's not the same thing at all. I highly doubt there are a lot of kids out there who are dying to experience Remy or Palo or any of the other adult offerings. They will remain adult exclusive as they should. Evidently, however, there are a lot of parents who do want to spend time with their kids in the clubs or else Disney wouldn't be offering these open houses. I agree that if the time doesn't work for me so be it. If Disney decided the best time to allocate for this is early morning I would miss out without complaint. I booked our cruise before open houses existed knowing full well that my kids might not set foot in there at all. Still, I couldn't be happier that the newly scheduled open houses change that. I'll be happy to take advantage of the opportunity as long as it's available at a time that suits us. There are a lot of families who will be happy about this for whatever reason. Calling us "helicopter parents who can't cut the cord" was offensive to me and prompted me to comment. I think it might be prudent for everyone to just take a deep breath and remember that we're all here because we love DCL and are privileged enough to be anticipating a vacation on the happiest place at sea.
 
Wow - I just looked at some of the navigators posted, and I am shocked! When I first read about open houses, I thought it would be like open houses used to be - open for a hour or so for kids and parents to come in and play. I can't believe that if my child wants to partcipate in a certain activity now that I have to go or they can't do it. That sucks!
 
It's not the same thing at all. I highly doubt there are a lot of kids out there who are dying to experience Remy or Palo or any of the other adult offerings. They will remain adult exclusive as they should. Evidently, however, there are a lot of parents who do want to spend time with their kids in the clubs or else Disney wouldn't be offering these open houses. I agree that if the time doesn't work for me so be it. If Disney decided the best time to allocate for this is early morning I would miss out without complaint. I booked our cruise before open houses existed knowing full well that my kids might not set foot in there at all. Still, I couldn't be happier that the newly scheduled open houses change that. I'll be happy to take advantage of the opportunity as long as it's available at a time that suits us. There are a lot of families who will be happy about this for whatever reason. Calling us "helicopter parents who can't cut the cord" was offensive to me and prompted me to comment. I think it might be prudent for everyone to just take a deep breath and remember that we're all here because we love DCL and are privileged enough to be anticipating a vacation on the happiest place at sea.
My DD8 is a bit of a foodie and enjoys going to nice restaurants with us. She would LOVE both Remy and Palo, but I would never demand that they let her in just becuase we are going. Disney is doing open houses largely in response to parents doing the same thing in kids only spaces. And, lets be honest here: It reall IS the paretns who cannot cut the cord that this program is in response to. Those who make a stink about leaving thier kids in the clubs and in the same breath say its not fair thier kids are denied access. THOSE are the parents that perpetuated this change, although they may not be the only ones to benefit. Why is it so obviously ridiculous to everyone to demand that a child be accomodated in an adults only space, but that the reverse is completely reasonable?? The KIDS clubs are designed for KIDS ONLY. The whole point is to give the kids a space free from adults just as the adults only spaces are designed to give adults a space free from kids. If there are going to be exceptions, they should be few and far between as they are contrary to the main purpose of the space.

There is nothing wrong with wanting open house time or being glsd it is offered, but I think the amount of time being offered and the times being chosen are inappropiate. Disney needs to find abalance between parents who can't or won't leave thyier kids, toddlers who would liek to visit, and those who choose to use the secure programming. I don't thin 6 hours of open house to include after dinner time effectively does that.
 
It's not the same thing at all. I highly doubt there are a lot of kids out there who are dying to experience Remy or Palo or any of the other adult offerings. They will remain adult exclusive as they should. Evidently, however, there are a lot of parents who do want to spend time with their kids in the clubs or else Disney wouldn't be offering these open houses. I agree that if the time doesn't work for me so be it. If Disney decided the best time to allocate for this is early morning I would miss out without complaint. I booked our cruise before open houses existed knowing full well that my kids might not set foot in there at all. Still, I couldn't be happier that the newly scheduled open houses change that. I'll be happy to take advantage of the opportunity as long as it's available at a time that suits us. There are a lot of families who will be happy about this for whatever reason. Calling us "helicopter parents who can't cut the cord" was offensive to me and prompted me to comment. I think it might be prudent for everyone to just take a deep breath and remember that we're all here because we love DCL and are privileged enough to be anticipating a vacation on the happiest place at sea.

I DO think it's the same thing. There are lots of 16-17 year olds who would love to take advantage of open house times in the Adult's only areas...pool, spa, Palo, Remy. Those aren't offered because everyone thinks it would be ridiculous...no kids in the adult areas! I don't think that they should have access to those areas any more than adults should be in the kids areas.
 
I DO think it's the same thing. There are lots of 16-17 year olds who would love to take advantage of open house times in the Adult's only areas...pool, spa, Palo, Remy. Those aren't offered because everyone thinks it would be ridiculous...no kids in the adult areas! I don't think that they should have access to those areas any more than adults should be in the kids areas.

I agree, my 12 year old would *love* to have a spa treatment as well as dinner, brunch, or even tea, at Palo. :love:

My 9 year old wouldn't care for the spa treatment or the meals but would put up with whatever he had to in order to get Palo's chocolate souffle! :rotfl:
 
I agree that it is the same thing. My children love to eat in "fancy" restaurants and are not picky eaters. They would enjoy Palo and having an extra pool to play in.

Adult areas were designed for adults only and the kids clubs were designed the same.

Now, I cruised with my son when he was one (he turned 2 on the cruise). I also had a 5 year old in the club. The cruise was so hard with the two year old. As much as I would have loved the open house times for him, I still would have been upset because my daughter loved the club and it was designed for her age group.


My kids are pretty go with the flow and they are older now, so I do not think this will ruin the cruise for them. I do feel that I am not getting what I paid for, but Disney chose to do this, just like I can choose not to give them my money next time.
 
I too got uniform email from DCL as a response on my concern about kids open house hours. I winder if they even read them or at least count them how many they've got in last week or so.

Thank you for contacting us regarding your upcoming sailing.

On behalf of the entire Disney Cruise Line team, I hope you will accept
my sincere regret for any disappointment with your upcoming cruise
vacation. I was truly disheartened to read about your concerns with the
'Open House' experiences in our Youth Activities areas.

We strive to meet the needs of all of our Guests and have added several
open times where families can interact together in new ways, while still
providing a space for secured activities to occur continuously
throughout the day. As hours for 'Open House' opportunities can change,
we would recommend reviewing your Personal Navigator once onboard.

However, I appreciate your constructive comments and have been certain
to share them with the appropriate shipboard and shoreside managers.
Your comments will be evaluated along with those from our other Guests
to determine where future changes may be needed.

Thank you again for contacting us. We look forward to welcoming you and
your family onboard soon.

Sincerely,

JD
Reservations Department
Disney Cruise Line
 
I find it offensive that many people here are assuming that Disney made these changes because of parents who cant cut the strings. We are a close family. We actually want to do things together. My son would be fine there without us but he enjoys sharing his activities with us. It is after all, a family vacation. Just because we operate differently than you does not make us bad parents. I think my family is fun and am glad he still wants us around. He will do time alone there as well, but this change is a great way to have more family time.
 

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