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

[mommykeg]

But the point is that there are ALREADY activities and spaces on the ship for family time. THESE spaces were set up for KIDS, while the adult spaces are set up for ADULTS. There was space for everyone individually AND together as a family. These changes are taking away significant chunks of time for availability for KIDS in the KIDS spaces.

 

[develizweb]

If there is secured programming in the alternate club during open houses what is the main issue? crowding? your young ones not wanting to go to lab and older ones not wanting to go to club? I have read most of this thread and am confused why people think this is going to affect them so greatly

 

[princessmom29]

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.

There are PLENTY of spaces on board for family fun. These spaces are designed as KIDS ONLY secure porgramming spaces, just like adults only and teens only spaces. I don't see families demanding to use the Vibe or the adult pool for family fun time. Why should the kids clubs be open for this for half the day when there are so many other areas open for all ages?? Why can't family fun take place outside thre secure area, and why is it ok to do this in the kids clubs, but not the vibe, edege, or adults only areas?? The obvious answer is becuase there aren't parents demanding it happen. It is a result of parnet who cannot or do not want ot leave thier kids, and think they and their childrne should be allowed in anyway.

 

[princessmom29]

If there is secured programming in the alternate club during open houses what is the main issue? crowding? your young ones not wanting to go to lab and older ones not wanting to go to club? I have read most of this thread and am confused why people think this is going to affect them so greatly

The secure progamming being offered in the other space is often not age appropiate, nad the spaces will become VERY crowded at peak times like after dinner hours when thier space is cut in half. Lack of space+ lack of appropiate activities+ 3-10 year olds in the same space= disaster

 

[bledsoedoc]

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.

Exactly my thoughts!!!

 

[bledsoedoc]

There are PLENTY of spaces on board for family fun. These spaces are designed as KIDS ONLY secure porgramming spaces, just like adults only and teens only spaces. I don't see families demanding to use the Vibe or the adult pool for family fun time. Why should the kids clubs be open for this for half the day when there are so many other areas open for all ages?? Why can't family fun take place outside thre secure area, and why is it ok to do this in the kids clubs, but not the vibe, edege, or adults only areas?? The obvious answer is becuase there aren't parents demanding it happen. It is a result of parnet who cannot or do not want ot leave thier kids, and think they and their childrne should be allowed in anyway.

Maybe we/he actually want to do the activities in the clubs. Maybe he wants to share with us what he does in the club. Maybe there are a hundred reasons. We dont operate like your family and that is OK.
Jeez people. Relax. Families operate differently. And perhaps the families like mine have been upset for years that they couldn't do activities together, perhaps due to security issues they took this time to listen to all the suggestion cards they have received asking for time in the club with their kid.
And looking throgh past threads, people on these boards have gotten really ticked
Off over multiple other changes. And call parents that parent differently any name that makes them feel good.
Disney is smart...that is why they are so good. The programming I have seen has shown age appropriate activities at all times. And read your contracts. Disney can and does change things from cruise to cruise anyways, depending on the numbers and ages on board.

 

[isitnaptime]

Posted the Open House hours from our 1/8 MR Wonder trip that we just got back from: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2861803 HTH!

 

[princessmom29]

Maybe we/he actually want to do the activities in the clubs. Maybe he wants to share with us what he does in the club. Maybe there are a hundred reasons. We dont operate like your family and that is OK.
Jeez people. Relax. Families operate differently. And perhaps the families like mine have been upset for years that they couldn't do activities together, perhaps due to security issues they took this time to listen to all the suggestion cards they have received asking for time in the club with their kid.
And looking throgh past threads, people on these boards have gotten really ticked
Off over multiple other changes. And call parents that parent differently any name that makes them feel good.
Disney is smart...that is why they are so good. The programming I have seen has shown age appropriate activities at all times. And read your contracts. Disney can and does change things from cruis to cruise anyways, depending on the numbers and ages on board.

Well, I would LOVE to have the opportunity to experience Palo and Remy with my DD. maybe we should have an "open house" for half the time it is open and confine adults to half the dining room so that we can experience it as a family. Is that fair to others on then cruise who would not then be able to get a ressie? Nope, and everyone would be up in arms about it because kids dont belong in those spaces. Kids are going to be missing out on activities designed just for them because parents want to invade the kids only spaces, and I don't think that is any more fair.

 

[justhat]

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?

All of my kids are up by 6:30am daily, so great for me. But what about people whose kids sleep in? Or time differences. So why not let it rotate so all can make use of the time? Inconvenient for you, convenient for others.

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.

No one's time is more valuable. That's why differing hours work so well. Everyone can be accommodated.

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!

You don't. It has been posted that all activities are offered twice. Or at least popular ones. So you can do it during secured or unsecured times.

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.

You can enjoy Palo with your child. Book a Cat 1/2 suite and you can order whatever you want from Palo. We ordered chocolate souffles for our kids 3 nights of our last cruise.

Family time in the club isn't contrary to the purpose of the space as kids are still included. If they said "no kids, only adults" then I would see the point. But kids are still the focus in the club.

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

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!

See above. Our kids loved them and we got them several times. My daughter has also been getting the princess spa package which includes mani/ped/hand/foot massage since she was 4yo.

Also, at Palo, they will pack you up a plate of desserts or whatever you want. So you can share them int he room with your kid. We have never asked, just received a plate from several servers when they asked if we had kids.

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.

I agree and I don't even plan to use the open hours much!

If there is secured programming in the alternate club during open houses what is the main issue? crowding? your young ones not wanting to go to lab and older ones not wanting to go to club? I have read most of this thread and am confused why people think this is going to affect them so greatly

I have been asking that for pages!!! I don't get it. There is still always a secured club, no kids have been turned away, activities are still offered. I don't get it.

There are PLENTY of spaces on board for family fun. These spaces are designed as KIDS ONLY secure porgramming spaces, just like adults only and teens only spaces. I don't see families demanding to use the Vibe or the adult pool for family fun time. Why should the kids clubs be open for this for half the day when there are so many other areas open for all ages?? Why can't family fun take place outside thre secure area, and why is it ok to do this in the kids clubs, but not the vibe, edege, or adults only areas?? The obvious answer is becuase there aren't parents demanding it happen. It is a result of parnet who cannot or do not want ot leave thier kids, and think they and their childrne should be allowed in anyway.

It isn't happening in edge or vibe because teens/tweens would not want to do activities with their parents. Many kids in the under 10 crowd, however, would do activities with their parents.

The secure progamming being offered in the other space is often not age appropiate, nad the spaces will become VERY crowded at peak times like after dinner hours when thier space is cut in half. Lack of space+ lack of appropiate activities+ 3-10 year olds in the same space= disaster

So far, no reports of disaster.

Maybe we/he actually want to do the activities in the clubs. Maybe he wants to share with us what he does in the club. Maybe there are a hundred reasons. We dont operate like your family and that is OK.
Jeez people. Relax. Families operate differently. And perhaps the families like mine have been upset for years that they couldn't do activities together, perhaps due to security issues they took this time to listen to all the suggestion cards they have received asking for time in the club with their kid.
And looking throgh past threads, people on these boards have gotten really ticked
Off over multiple other changes. And call parents that parent differently any name that makes them feel good.
Disney is smart...that is why they are so good. The programming I have seen has shown age appropriate activities at all times. And read your contracts. Disney can and does change things from cruise to cruise anyways, depending on the numbers and ages on board.

Exactly. I don't get the "it doesn't work for *me*" attitude at all.



ETA: Regarding kids in Palo, they could very, very easily open it up for brunch/lunch on port days to include kids. Haven't done it cause there probably aren't a lot of people asking for it. Many people don't really care to take their kids there as they'd have to pay per person, when the kids could eat free anywhere else on the ship. On other lines, kids are in fact allowed in their specialty restaurants. They are few and far between and the restaurants aren't nearly as packed as Palo generally is. We never had issues getting in on Princess, Celebrity, or RCCL. And we brought our kids with us as their clubs were generally closed during the times we ate.

 

[tinkerbellandeeyor]

I am in agreement I don't have kids but I work with them enough to have a feeling for what they are like and I am sure they are not happy about the extended open house hrs to take over the cruise. They where put in place so parents could relax, and I just got figured printed to do my job locally, and I am assuming that Disney has much higher standards, so yes I am fully confident that those who work in the kids clubs know what they are doing with out the parents help. Yes I know it is scary to leave your kid with a complete stranger however you are only 5 to 10 min away at the most.

 

[Wadekind]

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.

You have the WHOLE ship. Leave the kids clubs for the kids. Having an exclusive club just for kids is what appeals to the children in our family.

 

[bledsoedoc]

You have the WHOLE ship. Leave the kids clubs for the kids. Having an exclusive club just for kids is what appeals to the children in our family.

So you and your family have at least one club all day and me and my family, a few hours a day, get to share one. That is called compromise.

 

[princessmom29]

All of my kids are up by 6:30am daily, so great for me. But what about people whose kids sleep in? Or time differences. So why not let it rotate so all can make use of the time? Inconvenient for you, convenient for others.



No one's time is more valuable. That's why differing hours work so well. Everyone can be accommodated.
No, not really. Everyone ends up missing out on something, especially on the shorter cruises.


You don't. It has been posted that all activities are offered twice. Or at least popular ones. So you can do it during secured or unsecured times.

Not according to the navigators I have seen from the shorter cruises. They are only doing that on 7 day.

You can enjoy Palo with your child. Book a Cat 1/2 suite and you can order whatever you want from Palo. We ordered chocolate souffles for our kids 3 nights of our last cruise.
It isn't the same thing without the dining room experience. Mabye kids club offerings should be done for suite families in suite instead of offering open houses. You want it, book a suite.
Family time in the club isn't contrary to the purpose of the space as kids are still included. If they said "no kids, only adults" then I would see the point. But kids are still the focus in the club.
Adults would still be the focus in Palo, just with kids there. I still don't think it will fly.


See above. Our kids loved them and we got them several times. My daughter has also been getting the princess spa package which includes mani/ped/hand/foot massage since she was 4yo.
Again, not the same in your room.
Also, at Palo, they will pack you up a plate of desserts or whatever you want. So you can share them int he room with your kid. We have never asked, just received a plate from several servers when they asked if we had kids.
My kid could care less about dessert, and boxed up leftovers aern't the same as eating in the dining room. If it were, everyone would just be taking it to go.


I agree and I don't even plan to use the open hours much!



I have been asking that for pages!!! I don't get it. There is still always a secured club, no kids have been turned away, activities are still offered. I don't get it.
Agian, some activited are only being offered during open house times on the shorter cruises. In order for our kids to do them, we will have ot be there. I also think offering open house during after dinner hours is beyond foolish. Pick a time when volume is lower.



It isn't happening in edge or vibe because teens/tweens would not want to do activities with their parents. Many kids in the under 10 crowd, however, would do activities with their parents.
But what about the parents that don't want to leave thier tween?? Don't they deserve the same consideration? I imagine most poeple don't think so because they should be able to cut the strings.


So far, no reports of disaster.
As you said, so far. I will wait to see on a sold out cruise with a high volume of small children, like my Mardi Gras cruise. I still think there is a high probability that a small child is going to get hurt.


Exactly. I don't get the "it doesn't work for *me*" attitude at all.
That attitide seems to be pervasive on BOTH sides, and I think it is good. We need to be telling Disney that this DOES NOT work for us. They need to know they have the potential to lose customers if the kids programming simply isn't working for us.


ETA: Regarding kids in Palo, they could very, very easily open it up for brunch/lunch on port days to include kids. Haven't done it cause there probably aren't a lot of people asking for it. Many people don't really care to take their kids there as they'd have to pay per person, when the kids could eat free anywhere else on the ship. On other lines, kids are in fact allowed in their specialty restaurants. They are few and far between and the restaurants aren't nearly as packed as Palo generally is. We never had issues getting in on Princess, Celebrity, or RCCL. And we brought our kids with us as their clubs were generally closed during the times we ate.
And you really think adults would be ok with kids stealing thier precious Palo ressies??? I think not.

.

 

[justhat]

You have the WHOLE ship. Leave the kids clubs for the kids. Having an exclusive club just for kids is what appeals to the children in our family.

They still have one! I don't get this cause prior to this policy they often had one club closed for hours at a time anyway. Never the uproar there is now.

And peak hours, I still think they are afternoons on sea days. Not so much after dinner. People eat at different seatings, some kids go to bed early, not the same demand as 4pm on a sea day when the kids are tired of the pool and hanging out with mom and dad.

 

[princessmom29]

So you and your family have at least one club all day and me and my family, a few hours a day, get to share one. That is called compromise.

The clubs were never intended to be a family space. Most of the rest of the ship was. There is proportionally very little space reserved for kids only. Mabye one pool should be reserved for the kids club, half the spots deck, a dining room, and half the theater. Would that be more "fair"??

 

[justhat]

.

Hard to respond without the points in front of me, but I'll try.

First, with Palo, I have had to get it to go because of a fussy, refluxy 5 month old and they delivered it hot and fresh to my room. Also had a dairy allergy to contend with and they were excellent. So it can be done without a significant lack of experience. For kids, not too many care about the experience so they wouldn't care if it's in the room or not. No, not all kids, but not enough to warrant a change, as there hasn't been a change. And for the port days, adults can't book Palo brunch port days, so kids wouldn't be taking anything away from them. It's something they aren't getting now anyway.

Small kids can get hurt in the club at any time. My son got a permanent bruise in the Club (not Lab) as a 3yo. He was walking, according to the CM who saw it, tripped, fell, hit his forehead on the corner of a wooden crate that is used as a computer stool. He looked like a unicorn and they had us take him to the medical bay free of charge. He's 5.5yo, dent still there. Accidents happen. I don't think we'll see a big rise in injuries now as I think the kids will separate pretty much on their own.

Tweens, I think the issue would still be present with disabled kids, but maybe they are somehow accommodating that. Even disabled kids though, at that age, don't necessarily want their parents hanging around. Most 8yos still like to show their parents stuff and do stuff with them. Most, not all.

So same with tweens. Most would NOT want a parent around so there doesn't need to be that time allotted. It would be catering to a small group. The open house hours in the club/lab will serve a much larger group.


And yes, no disaster yet, so why think there will be? Why not assume it will continue as is, disaster-free?


We sailed Mardi Gras week once and the cruise was sold out, but more older kids than young ones (I would say ages 8+). Ours were 3yo and 6 months old. The nursery was practically empty. We could walk in and drop the kids off at literally any time we tried. They only had 30 under 3s on board the ship. And the 3-4 group in the club was small too, though I forget the numbers.

 

[bledsoedoc]

This thread loves their assumptions and drama. No compromise. Kids and families are different and want different things. disney responded to that. I am done and leave you all to your anger that in it of itself will ruin your vacation. I plan to have fun, roll with what is offered and have a great family vacation together as a family.

 

[SoCaOC-Mom]

The clubs were never intended to be a family space. Most of the rest of the ship was. There is proportionally very little space reserved for kids only. Mabye one pool should be reserved for the kids club, half the spots deck, a dining room, and half the theater. Would that be more "fair"??

Before they restated the policy, parents were allowed in the club. Just because YOU didn't intend to use them as a family space doesn't mean someone else didn't.

Talking about making Palo and Remy a family dining restaurant, the quiet cove area only comes across as argumentative and does nothing to cure the 'dilemma' that you insist additional open houses is creating, despite never having experienced it.

Do you really want your kid to dine in Palo? Write a letter asking them to create a family dining time. Maybe enough people feel the same that it will be considered.

If you really feel that strongly about it- why not start a thread?

I might come back from my cruise and list 238948 things wrong with the kids programing. I might come back and list 84754 things that worked.

 

[justhat]

This thread loves their assumptions and drama. No compromise. Kids and families are different and want different things. disney responded to that. I am done and leave you all to your anger that in it of itself will ruin your vacation. I plan to have fun, roll with what is offered and have a great family vacation together as a family.

SO true. If you go into the trip with anger and irritation, you won't have a good time no matter what.

Before they restated the policy, parents were allowed in the club. Just because YOU didn't intend to use them as a family space doesn't mean someone else didn't.

Talking about making Palo and Remy a family dining restaurant, the quiet cove area only comes across as argumentative and does nothing to cure the 'dilemma' that you insist additional open houses is creating, despite never having experienced it.

Do you really want your kid to dine in Palo? Write a letter asking them to create a family dining time. Maybe enough people feel the same that it will be considered.

If you really feel that strongly about it- why not start a thread?

I might come back from my cruise and list 238948 things wrong with the kids programing. I might come back and list 84754 things that worked.

I agree completely.

 

[princessmom29]

Before they restated the policy, parents were allowed in the club. Just because YOU didn't intend to use them as a family space doesn't mean someone else didn't.

Talking about making Palo and Remy a family dining restaurant, the quiet cove area only comes across as argumentative and does nothing to cure the 'dilemma' that you insist additional open houses is creating, despite never having experienced it.

Do you really want your kid to dine in Palo? Write a letter asking them to create a family dining time. Maybe enough people feel the same that it will be considered.

If you really feel that strongly about it- why not start a thread?

I might come back from my cruise and list 238948 things wrong with the kids programing. I might come back and list 84754 things that worked.

Just because they let parents stay, doesn't mean that was he intent of the space. It is a KIDS club. NOT a family club. We all know it is intended to be a space for kids seperate from adults. that is what it is billed and the intent of the space. Dosney has allowed parents to override that in the past.

Why is talking about adult spaces being accessible to all any more argumentative t Han talking about the same for kuds spaces? Isn't that a double standard?? My point is that the same people who think open house at the club is such a great idea wouldn't feel the same way if it was their adult time being compromised. Why is ok to do it to kids but not adults?