Kid's Club [Oceaneer Lab]

[Makeupmania]

Hi Everyone!

We will be taking our first Cruise on December 18th...the 7 day Western. I was wondering [from you experienced cruisers with children...specifically age 8]...do the kids stay in the lab all day OR do the counselors to other parts of the ship? Do they get any kind of physical activity? I read the navigators...maybe I'm reading it wrong...but it seems like it's a lot of movies and crafts...Am I wrong? Can someone who recently had their child in the kids club tell me exactly what kinds of things they do? The reason I ask is because my son is VERY active and is constantly on the go [maybe some of you can relate to this...]....I was just wondering if they keep them busy enough with different activities to keep their interest...

Thank you in advance for your help...

 

[Little Twin Stars]

Most of the time they stay in the Club/Lab although there do go to Deck 10 for some activities.

If you like, the kids can also stay for lunch and dinner. The Counsellors will take them to the restaurants.

 

[DCLADDICT]

THEY MOVE THE KIDS AROUND TO DIFFERENT AREAS FOR ALL KINDS OF GREAT ACTIVITIES. YOU WILL GET A NAVIGATOR THAT WILL GIVE YOU A SCHEDULE FOR THAT DAY. IT WILL ALSO TELL YOU WHEN YOU CANNOT CHECK YOUR CHILD OUT- THIS WILL BE DUE TO TRANSITION TIME FROM ONE LOCATION OF THE SHIP TO ANOTHER, SO IT IS FOR SECURITY AND SAFETY REASONS. WE HAD TO DRAG OUR CHILD OUT EVERY NIGHT, AND HE DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO EAT DINNER WITH US! THE CHILDREN CAN EAT TOGETHER WHILE IN THE CLUB AT ONE OF THE BREAKFAST/LUNCH BUFFET REST. THAT ARE CLOSED FOR DINNER. THEY MAKE ARTS AND CRAFTS, DANCE, KARAOKE, SCIENCE EXPERIMENTS, COMPUTER GAMES, AND IT GOES ON AND ON. I NEVER SAW A CHILD CRYING WHEN THEY WERE DROPPED OFF, BUT A LOT OF CRYING WHEN THEY WERE PICKED UP. OUR CHILD IS DEVELOPMENTALLY DELAYED AND FUNCTIONS SEVERAL YEARS YOUNGER THAN HIS AGE, AND THEY WERE VERY HELPFUL IN PLACING HIM WITH THE YOUNGER AGE GROUP(AT THE CUTTOFF AGE FOR THE 2 GROUPS). THEY DO NOT JUST BABY-SIT, THAT IS FOR SURE. IT IS FUN TO SOMETIMES SNEAK UP AND WATCH WHAT ALL THEY ARE DOING, THEN WHEN YOU SEE HOW MUCH FUN YOUR CHILD IS HAVING, YOU CAN FEEL GOOD THAT THEY TOO ARE ENJOYING THEIR CRUISE. HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A GREAT TIME, AND I KNOW YOU WILL!

 

[tkd lisa]

First of all, are you really on the 12/18 Magic? That's the 10 day Christmas cruise. If so, please join our thread on the meet board (we're REALLY nice people!), but I'm guessing you're really on the 12/28 western. I'm sure it will be a great cruise, but you might find my fingernails embedded into a railing from where they kicked me off the ship!

On to your question!

The kids are really busy in the labs. They went to the Deck 10 sports area at least 3 or 4 times that I recall during the week, they do many games and active things in places like Studio Seas (usually karoake) or one of the bars (when it's closed). They have a big area with legos and k'nex and have a running contest which is judged at the end of the week. There are computers and video games. One time, I remember the kids getting into groups and making short videos which they played for the parents. The boys stuff had lots of action in it!

On Castaway Cay day, nearly all the club activities at Scuttles Cove are very active. They have a scavenger hunt, sandcastle contest, do a dig at the Monstro skelelton, etc.

There is usually one craft type thing each day, and they do a movie each evening, but the rest of the time, they're pretty busy.

 

[Makeupmania]

Thank you all for responding...you really helped me out a lot! This will be my very first cruise of any kind and from the sounds of everyone in here...sounds like it will be a great time....

Anyone else going on the December 28th....7 day Western?

Thanks again everyone!

 

[Masonpips]

Hi! We're on the 7 day Western leaving 12/28 and there is a thread going on the Cruise Meets boards; please come join us!

I have a DS who will be 7 when we cruise and he LOVES the clubs - his favorite times are actually when they leave the clubs to go to Deck 10 for the sports activities and they take them to movies. It's all in the navigator so you know what's going on.

With your child at 8, he'll spend even more time out of the club doing activities; I think he will love it!

The thread on the other board has "New Year's cruise" in the title - one of the group is starting a list of who's cruising with us and we might be able to link some of the kids up together beforehand, we've done that on our last 2 cruises and it worked out well - the kids feel like they know someone else when they go to the clubs - yet another DIS board plus!

 

[yodasdabomb]

I am interviewing for a youth counselor position soon. I wanted to know from people who have had children in the Oceaner Club what to expect. I am SOOO excited about this position and am praying I get it. I would love to get a perspective from parents who have used this program! I am a huge Disney Fan and a former camp counselor. I have done tons of research but I can't get enough. Please fill me in!
Future Castmember
I hope !!!

 

[Makeupmania]

I hope you get the position! First of all, I've never been on a cruise and December 28th will be my first one. As a parent of a 7 year old active boy....what I would expect/hope of the club would be:
-That he be safe!
-That he would have FUN!!!
- That if there were any confrontations with the other kids, that it would be under control {I mean...i wouldn't expect other kids to bite, hit, etc...or harm him in any way}

- I would also hope that he would form some friendships with the other kids.

- Also...being a Disney cruise...I would also hope that the counselors would make him feel special!

Anyone else?

 

[floridaminnie]

Barb has the Kid's Club navigator's on her website www.castawayclub.com to give you an idea where they go and what the do on the ship.

 

[BuzzBoyMom]

To yodasdabomb - you can definately expect lots of excited children!!! Our DSs both loved the club. I loved how organized and friendly the staff was. Check-in/check-out was very secure. I never minded waiting in the lines. I loved how the CMs spent time during the initial sign-up to make sure that they knew our kids and we knew the expectations of the club.

I think the hardest part of the clubs is trying to please everyone all the time - absolutely impossible. And if parents and CMs both understand that - it is easier to help the kids adjust. For example - my DSs often wanted to play on the tree-house climber. But if it wasn't free time play, they had to wait, participate in the organized activity and then get some free time.

I wish you best of luck in getting the job. It sure looked like a fun job. Let us know how it works out!!!

oh - the other part of the clubs I LOVED!!!! was the sanity issues - a child didn't come into that place without cleaning their hands! BRAVO!!! BRAVO!!!!