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

[princessmom29]

It is not a bait and switch. They changed the policy based on an occurrence where they had problems with an adult harassing a teenager in the teen club space (possibly with other situations as well, but that one for sure woke them up as to the possible liability of allowing adults into spaces intended for minors who are unsupervised by their parents)

Bait and switch appears to allege fraud - they let you book knowing full well they were going to change the policy. If I were affected by this policy I would let DCL know via phone call or email that not knowing when or where you can drop your kids off at the clubs does not assist you in planning adult activities.

Disney does appear to be booking this so that there is always a space for parents to drop kids off (except for embarkation day when both clubs have open house), that will be secure with no outside adults permitted. The problems most posters seem to be having is 1) they are afraid there will be too many kids in this space and 2) they are afraid there will not be age-appropriate activities for the group that was meant to be in the space that is currently not secured.

Currently I think they're doing the best they can to split between the parents who want to go to the clubs with the kids and the parents who want to drop their kids off, but they could make it more clear to the parents how it's going to work. It was my impression that since the clubs were originally meant for parents to drop their kids off, that there would be few open houses, but apparently they are trying to accommodate parents who won't or can't allow their children to go to the clubs without them.

I am not trying to allege fraud at all. That would be silly. Perhaps bait and switch was a bad choice of words, but they were all I could come up with to describe the situation. I have definitely let DCL know my feelings on the matter, and I realize that is all I can do at this point. I feel that what we are now getting is NOT what we booked and paid for. There is significantly less time where there are age appropiate activites for all children in the kids clubs. When I booked, I wastold there would be age appropiate programming the entire time the clubs are open. I am seriously going to have to reevaluate my plans, and I cannot do that until we board and find out what the schedule for the culbs will be. It shouldn't be that way. I should know in advance when age appropiate porgramming will be offered for my child so I can plan accordingly.

 

[itutorfortravel]

Why don't they just increase the number of family activities offered around the ship rather than change the way the clubs are set up? My DD will have just turned 10 when we sail next, but being an only child I was really looking forward to having her with other kids her age...she is not going to be excited about being dropped off with 3 year olds (anymore than I'm sure a parent of a 3 year old is going to like having their children mixed with older ones...) On our prior cruises we didn't use the clubs more than a few hours per day, but it was nice to have the flexibility to drop off DD in an area that was age appropriate whenever DH and I found something we wanted to do.

 

[princessmom29]

A friend was just telling me how inconvenient it was on her recent Carnival cruise that there were very limited hours of childcare. I told her Disney was much better in that regard, but apparently not anymore. Some of you will think I'm an awful parent, but I am a SAHM, one of the biggest perks of a Disney cruise for me is being able to take a break and let someone else watch my children for a while - and know that my kids are having a fantastic time. There are plenty of activities to spend time with your children on the ship - play in the pool, play mini golf, go to a show, go to a movie, learn how to play shuffle board....why in the world should the kids' clubs have to be open so every Tom, Dick, and Mary can watch their kid play dress-up? What's next - open "unsecured" hours in the nursery so we can all sit on the floor and play peek-a-boo with our babies? Save your money and do it at home. Oh, and I would LOVE to know what Vibe is like, the advertising makes it seem so cool. Can we have open hours in there too? I'm sure my 4 year old would love it.

ITA!!!

 

[princessmom29]

Why don't they just increase the number of family activities offered around the ship rather than change the way the clubs are set up? My DD will have just turned 10 when we sail next, but being an only child I was really looking forward to having her with other kids her age...she is not going to be excited about being dropped off with 3 year olds (anymore than I'm sure a parent of a 3 year old is going to like having their children mixed with older ones...) On our prior cruises we didn't use the clubs more than a few hours per day, but it was nice to have the flexibility to drop off DD in an area that was age appropriate whenever DH and I found something we wanted to do.

Why? Entitlement syndrome. Some people feel they should be able to do exactly what they want, and no one should be telling them they cannot. Some parents who won't leave their kids feel they should be allowed to stay, and some parents who want to leave their kids don't want the other pasrents in there. They are vocal about it andthrow thier weight around until they get thier way. Disney is trying to make everybody happy here, and in the process making a lot of us not so happy.

 

[itutorfortravel]

P.S. With this new kids' club format, do they even do Dine and Play anymore? We LOVED that!!!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

P.S. With this new kids' club format, do they even do Dine and Play anymore? We LOVED that!!!

Yes, Dine & Play is still at the late dinner.

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

that is hardly the same situation as Disney suddenly changing things a month before we sail so that there is no appropiate place to leave them. If your kid is prone to meltdowns you would certianly know that was the case when you booked. I have never once had to pick up my child from ANYWHERE do to a "meltdown" so no, I would not expect it on a cruise, but, as I am her parent I would deal with it. At 8 years old it shouldn't happen, but again if it did, it would be my responsibility. That is on ME, but Disney changing its offerings without notice is on THEM. It would be like showing up to drop your 3 year old off at daycare and being told that her room is closed, but she can join the 6-8 year old class for 4 hours. I don't see how that is OK???

My understanding is that even under the old system, there was nothing in place from stopping the 3-10 year olds crossing paths in either area. A 10 year old could go to the club, a 3 year old could wander into the lab.

 

[itutorfortravel]

Why? Entitlement syndrome. Some people feel they should be able to do exactly what they want, and no one should be telling them they cannot. Some parents who won't leave their kids feel they should be allowed to stay, and some parents who want to leave their kids don't want the other pasrents in there. They are vocal about it andthrow thier weight around until they get thier way. Disney is trying to make everybody happy here, and in the process making a lot of us not so happy.

Well, I understand about parents not feeling comfortable about other parents being in the clubs when their kids are in there. I'm paranoid enough to not like that idea either...

But I thought they were KIDS clubs...what happened?!

 

[Conservative Hippie]

My understanding is that even under the old system, there was nothing in place from stopping the 3-10 year olds crossing paths in either area. A 10 year old could go to the club, a 3 year old could wander into the lab.

Yes, on our first cruise my DD was 3 and when we went to pick her up at least once she was on the lab side.

 

[princessmom29]

Well, I understand about parents not feeling comfortable about other parents being in the clubs when their kids are in there. I'm paranoid enough to not like that idea either...

But I thought they were KIDS clubs...what happened?!

I am not advocating this position, just calling it like I see it. This policy is the result of Disney trying to please entitled parents who think they should be able to do exactly as they please.

 

[itutorfortravel]

My understanding is that even under the old system, there was nothing in place from stopping the 3-10 year olds crossing paths in either area. A 10 year old could go to the club, a 3 year old could wander into the lab.

Yes, that is true and that is how it worked on our last cruise in December 2010. But, it was a choice as to where you went and it seemed like kids gravitated towards the more appropriate aged club more often than not. It will not work like that now (if I understand all of this correctly). Children will have to go to the secured club with mix of all ages.

 

[itutorfortravel]

Yes, Dine & Play is still at the late dinner.

Whew!

 

[princessmom29]

My understanding is that even under the old system, there was nothing in place from stopping the 3-10 year olds crossing paths in either area. A 10 year old could go to the club, a 3 year old could wander into the lab.

yes, but there was seperate porgramming going on. There was something appropiate for each age group happeneing all the time. Kids COULD cross over, but most kids will gravitate toward the more age appropiate activity. That doesn't seem to be the case anymore, according to some who have cruised in the last month.

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

Yes, that is true and that is how it worked on our last cruise in December 2010. But, it was a choice as to where you went and it seemed like kids gravitated towards the more appropriate aged club more often than not. It will not work like that now (if I understand all of this correctly). Children will have to go to the secured club with mix of all ages.

I totally get how most kids will gravitate towards what appeals to them most. Hopefully the programming run by the YAC's that happens on either side will help compensate for whatever physical structure that might be missing.

They seem to have plenty of computers, tv's and art stations in either the lab or the club.

Is there an interactive floor on each side? It looked that way in some of the pictures I have seen.

 

[itutorfortravel]

I totally get how most kids will gravitate towards what appeals to them most. Hopefully the programming run by the YAC's that happens on either side will help compensate for whatever physical structure that might be missing.

They seem to have plenty of computers, tv's and art stations in either the lab or the club.

Is there an interactive floor on each side? It looked that way in some of the pictures I have seen.

We have only been on the Magic so I'm not sure about the set up in terms of equipment on the Dream or Fantasy.

A PP just mentioned that there are no structured activities for the separate age groups when they are all clumped in one secured area together. Is that really true? What the heck are the kids doing all that time then?!

 

[Snow What]

But I thought they were KIDS clubs...what happened?!

Exactly! keep the kids clubs for kids. These are pretty big ships, families can 'play together' elsewhere.....
i know there are shy kids & outgoing kids. parents can opt to use the kids' clubs or not. these sound more like family clubs......

 

[Stinkerbe11]

Ok, call me lazy but I liked having one less thing to worry about or schedule on vacation. Now I have to compare what I/DH want to do with the kids' programming schedule. Plus, I can't see how any child would want to spend more than 30 minutes crammed in either of those spaces (on the older ships) with tons of other kids. My kids get bored easily, so it was great for them to switch back and forth between the clubs, now they won't get that option like before.

I am a homeschooling mom and though it is a blessing to be with my kids 24/7, I cherish alone time with DH. The clubs were one place where my kids had a blast and we could spend much needed time together. Now, I can see them getting bored very quickly (couldn't blame them) and not wanting to go in anymore

 

[Yokelridesagain]

I am not advocating this position, just calling it like I see it. This policy is the result of Disney trying to please entitled parents who think they should be able to do exactly as they please.

This is DCL trying not to lose the business of people with toddlers and children with special needs who have no place to play on the ship as they're no longer allowing parents to watch their own kids.

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

We have only been on the Magic so I'm not sure about the set up in terms of equipment on the Dream or Fantasy.

A PP just mentioned that there are no structured activities for the separate age groups when they are all clumped in one secured area together. Is that really true? What the heck are the kids doing all that time then?!

The schedule that someone was kind enough to post only showed what on what days and times the club and the labs had secured programing or open houses.

The programing would still be found in the navigator which as of now has not been posted.

Even under the old system, I was lead to believe that the programing was loosely structured and was at will. Maybe this lead to the perception it wasn't being offered?

 

[Niebz]

I am not advocating this position, just calling it like I see it. This policy is the result of Disney trying to please entitled parents who think they should be able to do exactly as they please.

How are the parents who want to spend time with their kids in the club acting any more entitled than the parents who want to drop their kids off? While not totally ideal for everyone I think the new policy is the best compromise possible. I have a 1-year-old and a 4-year-old and I for one am very excited for the open house times. I love watching my kids play together and I'm looking forward to experiencing the club and lab together as a family. It's not like Disney is no longer providing childcare at all, they're just moving the kids around. I'll be emailing Disney a thank-you for considering families with younger ones who want to experience the club and lab too.