Kids Club Problems

[TumFamily]

I was told today that sometimes space availability can be an issue on the Boat?

Has anyone ever had there children shutout of the kids programs for this reason?? Thanks -- Deb

 

[smilingmouse]

I don't think you need to worry. As far as I know, Disney has quotas for each age group to ensure that there will room for all kids in the clubs....

 

[lbgraves]

There was one time on a cruise that was stopping overnight in one of the ports, maybe Cozumel, where so many people took their kids in the club so they could get off the ship to party I think the club did reach capacity. That is extremely rare though. During the day there are always kids going in & out so the number stays pretty constant. On two cruises so far that had over 750 kids 3-12 we have not had a problem checking the kids into the club. They went for some of the very popular activities too. I think that the craziest time was the last night before the kid's show. They must not have any limits then since alot of the kids show up at that one time to be in the show.

 

[DrCavin]

I have read of one incident about the club being full and it was only for a few hours. Disney only books a certain amount of kids on a cruise, have seen people not able to get a reservation who have kids, but people without could. Flounders is where most people have trouble getting dates/times they need.

 

[ratfam]

We were on a capacity vacation week (Easter) cruise three years ago and never had a problem, even with popular events like the pajama parties.

 

[crisi]

I suspect the one incident we have heard of may have had other factors....if they weren't expecting a lot of kids, they may have not been staffed for that many. If one of the CMs was ill and quarentined, they'd have one less CM....

 

[DrCavin]

I suspect the one incident we have heard of may have had other factors....if they weren't expecting a lot of kids, they may have not been staffed for that many. If one of the CMs was ill and quarentined, they'd have one less CM....

I agree, some other circumstances were involved. I did read a recent post from someone saying they could not get any Flounders reservations, but something did not sound right about that one either.

 

[DonaldFan70]

There have been very rare occasions were children had to be turned away due to staffing or if they were in the Buena Vista Theatre seating issues. The ratio that the department works on is 1 to 15 in the 3-4 and 1 to 20 in the 5-7, 8-9,and 10-12's. Teens do not have a ratio but a counselor is never left alone in the space with just one teen. During my time there I could count on one hand the number of times we had to stop checking in children due to ratio. We will stop for transition times and role calls.
Flounders Reef can fill to capacity at certain times but I do no remember a time when every single session was booked.

 

[kcashner]

There is always a space for your child to be registered into the kid programming at their age appropriate level. DCL deals with this by closing reservations for children of a particular age when they reach their capacity for that program level.

However, it is possible to take your child to the club or lab and be denied admission for a brief period (till another child checks out or till they can get another counsellor) because they do have to keep their child/adult ratios appropriate. This rarely happens (we've cruised 12 times on the Magic and encountered this once...and then only for a short time). Rather than waiting till someone checks out, they suggest you try back in a couple hours...but you can always check back sooner.