Kids Clubs

[dewla]

I have some questions abou the kids' clubs. I know Disney is supposed to be the best for kids. I have seen some posts on various boards where the children didn't like the clubs and felt like it was just "babysitting". My children are 7 and 10 and fairly outgoing. They LOVED the kids' clubs on the Voayager. Does anyone have any comments with children in the same age range? Any suggestions to help the kids enjoy the camps?
Thanks.

 

[PeachyK]

We just returned from the 5/3 Eastern cruise. My DD 10 and DS 7 had two different experiences. They both are also friendly and outgoing kids. My DD loved it! This was her favorite of the whole cruising experience, she happened to hook up via our cruise thread with another 10yo girl and the two e-mailed in the weeks prior so it was very easy already having a friend. She also loved the freedom of checking herself in and out and I was very proud of how she handled it, and followed all of our ground rules.

My DS just turned 7 but because he always wants to do what his sister does he was not as crazy about the Oceaneer club. He felt the 5-7 group were a bit young, he thought the Lab was much cooler and loved it when they brought the 5-7 goup in there. He enjoyed the specific activities, PJ party, learn to be a pirate, flubber etc. When I went to check on him in the pj party he even told me "thanks for bringing me on the cruise, Mom". But, every night they transition to "quiet time" where the whole group 3,4,5-7 are together and they lay on mats and watch movies, that is when he wanted out. It worked fine for us, because we had early dinner so it gave DH and I time for a walk or a drink after dinner and then we were all ready to turn in by 10:00 anyway.

Since my kids are the same ages as your I thought our experience might be helpful. I'm planning another trip in 2005, that way they will both be in the Lab it should work out great!

 

[cruisnfamily]

Well, my kids are 7 & 10 and were 6 & 9 on our last cruise. They were 4 & 7 on the cruise before that.

Each and every time whether they were in the club or the lab, they absolutely loved, loved, loved the club/lab. This is definitely the highlight of the cruise for them! We did family things during the day and they went in the evening after dinner to the club/lab. One night my daughter begged to eat with lab and we did let her. On another occasion, both children begged to eat lunch with the club/lab and spend some afternoon time there. We agreed. If you ask my kids what's so great about the Disney Cruise they will without a doubt tell you it's the club/lab that makes the cruise for them!

Of course we enjoyed plenty of family time as well and did excursions and almost every single meal together but they really enjoyed every moment in the clubs/labs as well if not better than the stuff we did together.

 

[Mjasp]

Peachy...My 2 DD's had the same experience. My then 10 yr old Loved the lab and my then 6 yr old liked the club but at night when they had quiet time, she asked to be picked up and I can't blame her. She is outgoing also, she said quiet time was like pre school and wanted out then. It was also OK with me, we picked her up and she hung with us then. We cruise again in March and they will both be in the lab and she is already excited about that.

Edited to add...They didn't go to the club in the day, only in the evening after dinner. My older daughter said next time she wants to go in the day so she could do some of the activities. Ok with us if thats what she wants. A happy child makes a happy parent.




Joanna

 

[BethA]

This will be my son's 3rd time with the 5-7 group. He has enjoyed it in the past, but I was wondering if all the activities were still the same. After doing them twice he may not want to go again. do they ever change the kids club activities? They were the same the 2 years we have been on hte cruise. Thanks. Beth

 

[dewla]

What time do the 5-7 year old's do the "mat thing" in the evening? Do they ever let kids move to the older group? My daughter will be 8 in Oct.(cruising in May) and is tall for her age...

 

[dizmomof2]

My DDs were in the 5-7 yr old group on our last cruise. When it came time for the movie they were given the option of watching or going into the pirate ship and playing games and on the computer. The older DD told me that only the 3-4 yr olds HAD to watch the movie. My kids loved the time to play board games with the councellors in the evening and we were never paged during the entire cruise!

 

[dewla]

Thanks for all the responses. I am relieved DD will get a choice to watch movies or play in the Pirate ship. She does like movies, but having choices is much better!

 

[floridaminnie]

The Pirate ship is closed during the movie at night. They do have the option of playing on the computers, etc., but the ship is out during the night.

 

[dewla]

What time is the movie?

 

[PeachyK]

The Movies started right at 10:00 and they would show two of them. I know someone else said they had an option but I was with my son the first night when quiet time started and I never saw or heard them mention any other options as far as computer games, and I never saw anyone in there after 10pm. Maybe we just needed to ask, but he was ready for bed by 10 anyway.