Kids not wanting to stay in programs

[tlens]

All I've ever read is that kids LOVE the programs that are run. Has this been everyone's experience? Is the program really that good? Who has had children that didn't wish to stay?

We are taking the Disney Wonder next May with my 3 year old. We love cruising but are wanting one where my daughter would have something to do too. If she doesn't want to stay in the programs. that's fine with us but am curious as to other people's experiences....
She's not a shy kid and gereally doesn't have issues staying in group settings.

Any comments?

 

[Michelle]

Sure, there are kids that don't want to say in the programming. I just don't happen to have one of them! Mine is one we'd have to drag out of there, she loved it, which was fine with us. We did have plenty of family time too, but her favorite part of the vacation is spending time in the clubs.

 

[wovenwonder]

My school aged son chose not to use the organized programs very often [we gave him that choice]. I think that he just gets so bogged down with the structure of life in general -- school, homework, sports, etc that he liked having a week of un-scheduled do whatever FUN! I look forward to that on vacation also.

 

[outahere]

When we went on the Wonder at the beginning of this month, my DS8 had just finished 8 weeks of summer day camp where they do a LOT (arts, crafts, tennis, boating, fishing, kayaking, etc). I think he was a little bored with the program because of that. He did go a few times, and participated in the kid's show, but since we have such hectic schedules, and don't spend as much family time as we would like, he was happy to be with us. It was a great vacation for all of us and he talks about the ship every day.

 

[westjones]

I have twins and just got back from the 7 day cruise. One twin would hardly ever leave the club, she loved it. The other twin wanted to be with us most of the time. Not because she didn't like the club, but because she is more of a 'home body' and likes being with Mom and Dad. The other twins likes being with lots of kids.

Children have all different personalities and not all of them will like the same thing. The same with adults. But there is something for EVERYONE on the cruise. The twin that hung with DH and I loved the movies and going to the shows and the Mickey Pool. The other twins loves all the activities and games in the club. When we were in Key West, one twin stayed on board and one twin came with us. They both had a wonderful vacation. They just wanted to do different things!

I think that is one of the great parts of the cruise. You can find something that will delight everyone!
DJ

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

We took our twins on DCL for their 3rd birthday's, when they were 3 1/2 and again when they were 4. DS is shyer than DD. DS didn't want to stay in the clubs for the first 2 cruises-our kids aren't in daycare and are only occasionally watched by my MIL. For us it wasn't a big deal (except we had to cancel Palo's brunch and dinner 3 times!!!), it was still easier to have 1 tagging along rather than the usual 2. Our thrid cruise DS stayed in the clubs and even went a few times when DD didn't want to go. I would go with the understanding that if they stay great if not that's great too.

 

[ZebraStripes]

My daughter was 5 on our first cruise on the Wonder. At first she couldn't wait to get into the club. However, once she was there, she was overwelmed with the new faces and new surroundings, and wanted out. I call her my "velcro kid'. She did survive a couple of hours while my DH and I walked around in Nassau. When we picked her up, she looked like she was having fun. She was more thrilled to be able to watch the Disney Toon channel in the room. We did finds lots of other things to do together. Some kids love the club, some kids can do without them.

 

[prymsu]

my ten year old didn't care for the lab, but I think that is because on past cruises, the groups were smaller, and there weren't so many kids in the groups...just his feelings...

 

[CamColt]

My son was 3.5 when we cruised and wouldnt go into the club. Since this was a family vacation, we didnt force the issue. The ironic thing is we are now considering a cruise on another cruise line. While the clubs there look great, Im not counting on my kids going and since there arent many other things geared for kids, we probably wont go, while the rest of my family does.

 

[FantasticDisFamily]

On our past two cruises DS could hardly be dragged from the Lab, while DD was more interested in hanging out with us. Could be because she is younger and had our undivided attention. On our next cruise both will be teen-agers and given how little DD was home this past summer I have a hunch she will be "in the program" more.
Deb

 

[kfahygc]

My dd9 discovered the disney toon channel also and after that it was hard to get her to go to the lab.

It worked out well for the suriel bath - she just watched cartoons

No matter what you will all have a great time.

Kathleen

 

[imgoingtodisney]

When DS10.5 is not with us he will have his choice of staying in the room, going to the movies or to the Oceaneer Lab. Our room is on deck 5 (secret porthole) so Im not concerned about him on that deck - not sure yet if I want him wandering the ship.
When DH & I want the room we will have him either at the movies or at the Lab. And at Castaway Cay we may spend either the morn or afternoon w/him and spend the other 1/2 at the Adult Beach so he would be in the kids club then.

 

[bartoscowabunga]

2 years ago when we did the Disney Cruise, my daughter was 8, my niece 6. They went to the program for one hour and did not like it. The CM's were yelling at the kids. We are going again this year, and my daughter says she will not go back, which is fine with me.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Re: The cm's were yelling at the kids....

Oh my goodness!! Haven't heard this a lot, but I did hear one other person say something similar. (there has been so much positive raving about the kids clubs!!!) Do you have any idea exactly what type of yelling this was? Was it perhaps directed at a certain kid(s) that may have been acting-up? Was it perhaps aimed at restoring some order during an otherwise un-structured time in the Lab? I can understand young children who may not want to go as they have not really been exposed to pre-school, etc... And, I can understand older kids, for their own personal preferences.... But I just can't begin to imagine CM's yelling at the kids!! My son is becoming very social, has been in preshool, etc.... But boy ONE strange adult yelling at the kids, he would just fall apart!

Please, somebody tell me this is just sooooo very rare!

Westjones - you mention having dropped in on the programming for photos, etc.... I would love to hear more of your thoughts!!

 

[Woobie]

Our DS was only "eligible" to participate on our most recent cruise. He's 3.5, and we signed him up so we could go to dinner at Palo. He's only been watched by family, and hadn't started pre-school yet. Leaving him was rough (he didn't want us to leave), but I think he enjoyed it once he got into it. As a matter of fact, we were paged for both kids (other DS was at Flounder's). Flounder's was more personable, using DS's name in the page. Oceaneer's said "Your 3-4 year old would like to see you in the Oceaneer's Club). When we got there, he was playing fine. DH asked if DS needed us, and the CM told him to go ahead in. Well if we go in & he's fine, that's the end of it. We think we were paged by mistake - that they meant to page another kid's parents. We ended up getting bothe kids out of the programs early (there was no getting DS1.5 back into Flounder's). DS3.5 didn't want to go into the club any other time during the trip, and we didn't push it. I'm hoping for more participation on their part on the next cruise so DH & I can spend some alone time.

Woobie

 

[bartoscowabunga]

I imagine the yelling incident is a rare thing. I was pretty surprised and mentioned it on the comment card at the end of the cruise. I really was hoping my daughter would enjoy it and I wish she would have had us paged since she was upset. Her and my niece are both very sweet and well behaved. You would have to hear my daughter tell you what happened because she gets the tone of voice across. Now that she is a little older, I'll see if she wants to check it out again, just for fun, but we really stick together on vacations because it is a family vacation and it seems you're so busy on the cruise there isn't necessarily time for your kids to go to the program, unless the adults are doing something on their own.

 

[bartoscowabunga]

I imagine the yelling incident is a rare thing. I was pretty surprised and mentioned it on the comment card at the end of the cruise. I really was hoping my daughter would enjoy it and I wish she would have had us paged since she was upset. Her and my niece are both very sweet and well behaved. You would have to hear my daughter tell you what happened because she gets the tone of voice across. Now that she is a little older, I'll see if she wants to check it out again, just for fun, but we really stick together on vacations because it is a family vacation and it seems you're so busy on the cruise there isn't necessarily time for your kids to go to the program, unless the adults are doing something on their own. We are only doing the three day.