Here's a clarification I need to really seal the deal - kids programs

[castlegazer]

The Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab are open each evening from 5:30 - 6:30 pm (except for embarkation evening) for the entire family to enjoy the space together.

Parents or guardians may accompany their child to the Oceaneer Club and Lab programs and activities at any time throughout the cruise.

My son will be two when I am thinking of cruising. He is not old enought to patricipate in the Oceaneers Club. We are trying to decide between a Princess Cruise or a DCL cruise (this is only because of is age - were he older it would be Disney all the way). Our ability to bring him into the children's area with us by his side the whole time is very important to us to give him something new to experience or see.

On other cruise lines, we may accompany him into the children's areas and he can then play in there and use the toys and equipment and swim in the kiddie pools -just not without his parents by his side. Does the above quote mean he can also do this on DCL or is it referring to children 3 and older who qualify for the programs only?

Thanks for your help.

 

[vikingfans]

Here is something I found on the cruiseline website. Maybe this will help you make up your mind. I don't want to deter you from the cruise, but here are the guidelines you might want to consider.


Children's Programming participation guidelines
and special requests

Physical and Social Interaction
Children's programming is open to all children* ages 3-12, who are:
- Completely potty trained
- Able to interact comfortably within our counselor-to-child ratio groups of 1-15 (ages 3-4) 1-25 (ages 5-12)
- Able to interact comfortably with peers of their own physical size and within our established age groupings of 3-4, 5-7, 8-9 and 10-12
(A child may participate in an older age group, if they are within one month of the minimum age for that group. Example would be a 7-year-old who wishes to join the 8-9 group and is within a month of turning 8.)
*Exceptions that may prevent participation:
- A child who shows symptoms of fever, vomiting, diarrhea, unexplained skin rash, discharge from the nose or eyes or has any other contagious disease or illness
- A child who becomes disruptive within the group. (Should this occur, it may result in the child not being able to participate in Programming, without a parent or guardian)

Special Requests that we are unable to accommodate
- A child who requires one-on-one care
- A child or adult who wishes to participate in an age group much younger/smaller than their physical age/size. (Example would be a 10-year-old wanting to be with the 5-7 age group)
- A child who needs the attention of a counselor with special training
- A child who needs counselor-assisted medical attention

Family Interaction
If you child's needs cannot be accommodated, there are a multitude of events and activities throughout the ship, which the entire family can enjoy.
- Main Stage shows
- Family game shows
- First run movies
- Deck parties and events
- Selected shore excursions
- Castaway Cay

The Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab are open each evening from 5:30 - 6:30 pm (except for embarkation evening) for the entire family to enjoy the space together.

Parents or guardians may accompany their child to the Oceaneer Club and Lab programs and activities at any time throughout the cruise.

Parents may make a request for modified programming for a limited period during the cruise. Disney Cruise Lines® ability to fulfill the request will depend upon the child's needs, the availability of counselors, program participation, and other applicable considerations. Disney Cruise Lines cannot guarantee that special requests will be accommodated. Such requests must be made prior to sailing, through the Disney Cruise Line Special Reservations coordinator.

For 3-and 4-year olds, who are not potty trained or who may prefer a smaller adult-to-child ratio (1-6), parents may request that the child be accommodated in Flounder's Reef Nursery, the infant and toddler group babysitting area. The fee for this service is $6 per hour, per child and is based on availability. For more information on the facility, please see Group Babysitting section.

For further assistance, please contact the Disney Cruise Line Special Reservations coordinator.

Flounder's Reef Nursery Group Babysitting participation details
Participation details
- Babysitting is not available in guest staterooms.
- This service is available for children ages 12 weeks to 3 years*.
- Reservations are taken on embarkation day from 1:30-3:30p. Space is limited; available on a first come first serve basis, based on sitter availability
(In order to accommodate as many families as possible, we may limit the number of multiple requests per family)
- The fee is $6 per child per hour, $5 per additional child per hour, 2-hour minimum required
- Nursery is open each evening and selected times during each day
*Exceptions that may prevent participation:
- A child who shows symptoms of fever, vomiting, diarrhea, unexplained skin rash, discharge from the nose or eyes or has any other contagious disease or illness

Special Requests that we are unable to accommodate
- A child who requires one on-one-care.
- A child who needs babysitter assisted medical attention.
- For any further assistance, please contact the Disney Cruise Line Special Reservations coordinator.

 

[castlegazer]

Thank you Vikingfans, but that wasn't what I needed clarification on. I am already familiar with their giudelines for participation.

For anyone else who reads this - I still need clarification on the my above quote taken from DCL's web site. I know that my son can not participate in the Oceaneers Progams. What I am asking is whether or not I can accompany him into the Club and let him play there with me by his side. Does the quote refer to only children who meet the guidlines?

There is another post on another thread that states that someone was able to with their child. I just wanted to make sure that this is the case and was not a rare occurence or an exception.

 

[vikingfans]

I'm sorry I must not have read your question correctly. I understand what you mean now and I'm sorry I don't have an answer for you.

 

[traycie2201]

I'm sorry i don't have the answer but did you e mail / call DCL yet , they would be able to give you a definate answer and are normally pretty quick to respond.

 

[NYDisneyMom]

Originally posted by castlegazer
Thank you Vikingfans, but that wasn't what I needed clarification on. I am already familiar with their giudelines for participation.

For anyone else who reads this - I still need clarification on the my above quote taken from DCL's web site. I know that my son can not participate in the Oceaneers Progams. What I am asking is whether or not I can accompany him into the Club and let him play there with me by his side. Does the quote refer to only children who meet the guidlines?

There is another post on another thread that states that someone was able to with their child. I just wanted to make sure that this is the case and was not a rare occurence or an exception.

I understand your question. I think the child would have to be registered in the Club or Lab to even get into them. It's not just an open area, you do have to pass through the front desk area where the kids are signed in and out. You may only get an definitive answer though by calling DCL direct. Wish I could be more help!

 

[traycie2201]

I just read this on a post a little further down and think it answers the question. it looks like you can stay with them and play.


Taken from another post :

I brought my DS, who was 6 weeks shy of 3rd birthday (but not potty trained), into the club to play. The counselors told me he was welcome to stay and play as long as I stayed with him. He had a great time. We also checked him into Flounder's Nursery one night. One of the counselors held him and rocked him while he watched a video, until he fell asleep (we checked him in at 10 PM). It was very sweet.

Good luck!


__________________

 

[wdwdclfan]

I had a 2 1/2 year old and a 3 1/3 year old on our last cruise. The CM let me bring the younger one in the club as long as I stayed with her, and she was not disruptive to the other kids.

She fit in just fine, there were some older kids having trouble behaving, but she was fine. I just sat at the wall and watched, she loved it. she got to do every thing!!

They even let her do the show on the last night with all the kids.

 

[jel0511]

During Family time 5:30 - 6:30, any child of ANY age can come into Oceaneer's Club. The children who are registered into the clubs are at dinner at that time, and the clubs are empty and open for any child escorted by a parent to play on the equipment. Now, I don't know if you could bring your 2YO in and participate in any of the other scheduled activities, but that one hour per day would be allowed.

 

[lbgraves]

You CAN take your child into the Club ANY time during the day & stay with them. There were several 2 yos who were accompanied by adults on our cruise. I went with my 3 yo DD to help her get use to the club during the become a mousekateer activity. As long as the child will participate in the activity going on at the time they will be fine. The large climbing ship is roped off when the kids are doing something else but there are smaller fish & other climbing things off to the left side as you walk in that the little ones could play on. The one night I left DD at the club she didn't want to sit with the group & the counselors said that if she was happy quietly climbing on the fish they would keep an eye on her there. You can also go to any activity and take pictures. They will NOT stop for posed photos but you can click away off to the side or behind the kids. I was able to get some great shots of the kids that way & plan to do the same thing on our next cruise since DD will be participating more.

 

[castlegazer]

Thanks everyone. I did just get official word from a CM that we can do this. Thank you again for your responses. It really does tip the scales because we want our son to have as much fun as possible and we love seeing him have fun so for us, being in the Oceaneers Club with him is FUN!

 

[kennancat]

Originally posted by jel0511
During Family time 5:30 - 6:30, any child of ANY age can come into Oceaneer's Club. The children who are registered into the clubs are at dinner at that time, and the clubs are empty and open for any child escorted by a parent to play on the equipment.

What about us much bigger children, i.e. 29 YO? Will they ever let us in to play? I only ask because I've hear that there's a really neat video game system in there that I'll bet DH would love to take a crack at

 

[TootyJane]

Originally posted by kennancat
What about us much bigger children, i.e. 29 YO? Will they ever let us in to play? I only ask because I've hear that there's a really neat video game system in there that I'll bet DH would love to take a crack at

Forget the video game system. I want to go on the Mickey slide!!!!