Let's share info about kids clubs

[Wishing on a star]

I too just posted on the thread where the recent cruiser said that their kids did not really like the Lab...

Here is a copy of my post...
I too am interested in the deal on the kids clubs. I have heard both ways. Recently emailed a very distant relative on my Husbands side who took a cruise on the Wonder with their kids... I know that the youngest is eight, so I am assuming that the kids were all in the 8 - 12 group? Anyhow, I do not think that this person is here on the DIS. And I regard her opinions as highly objective and mainstream. She said her kids LOVED the kids club, and she had to drag them outa there! PS: They had a great cruise, and highly recommend it!

Now, something here is clicking in this old brain of mine... I am thinking that many of the people who mention that their kids did not like the club had checked it out the first day, and didn't go back. If I can assume that this means Embarkation day, then isn't it true that there are no real planned activities? It is more of a 'check out the club' and get aquainted type situation. Where the parents and the whole family stop by? Hhhhmmmm????

I think we need a good thread on the kids clubs!!! What the kids liked, didn't like, good experiences (and bad?). I wouldn't want this to become any kind of debate. But, we need some good information here! Seems like restaurants, cabins, seating times, etc.... are all discussed to death...

Anyone care to begin a whole new thread about the kids, and the kids clubs?

So, now I think I will start a more general thread... with a really positive subject line... Perhaps "Let's share info about kids clubs." I think this could benefit many future cruisers!

 

[hydster]

and most of the time they left it. We didnt send them the first night as we were still trying to get our bearings on the ship, eat dinner and deal with a cranky 3 year old. On Monday we wanted to eat lunch at Tritons so we MADE all 3 of them go very hesitantly. We promised them only for an hour while we ate (they had eaten with the inlaws earlier on deck while hubby and I were *pretending* to scuba dive) and we wanted a nice non-buffet lunch so they went. I hated checking them in and out. It took FOREVER to get them in and out which to me was a huge hassle. I felt like I was trying to enlist a prisoner in the army. Once I got them all 3 into their clubs (which trying to find where they are sometimes is a JOKE and having to check them in AFTER they get to the next activity is a pain as well) I went to lunch. We ate and then had to go get the kids for our stupid excursion in Nassau of the glass bottom boat. I am not kidding it took me almost 30 min to get 3 kids out of the kids club due to the "repositioning" that they were doing and I had to wait until they got all the way to the tables in Animators before I could grab my son and go and they were trying to check kids IN and OUT at the same time and it was a real pain in the neck. The kids werent overly impressed with the clubs and only my 3 year old went back for 1 more time while we were eating at Tritons because he couldnt be "nice" at the table but he paged us as we were eating dessert so I guess it wasnt that great of an experience for him as well. I think they need to have the kids check in at the club no matter where their class is and THEN have a counselor take the kids to the activity. That way you wouldnt have 15 parents trying to sign kids in and out and confusion and chaos! My kids hated that they were only at an activity for 30-45 min and then had to change. My 9 year old hated the fact that she got to an activity late (which is NOT Disney's fault) but then they moved right after she got there and then they moved again before I could get to her to come back with us. I also hated that my kids who are 16 months in age and my son was 2 months away from being 8 were NOT able to be together and I could NOT move my daughter down. They said it was too confusing to move her down with my son although I did see others doing it so who knows. I didnt plan on them being in the clubs much so I didnt push it but if we were on a 7 day you can bet I would have pushed it. They play together all day long and having them apart was hard on them. My 3 year old hated the structure and that they only let them play for about 10 min and then it seemed it was constantly story time story time story time. He hates sitting still for story time even at preschool or home so to him that was torture. When I dropped him off they were telling stories and they were still doing it an hour later. Toddlers dont have that kind of attention span. Most of them want to run and be crazy for awhile not sit and listen to even more Disney stories!
I was somewhat disappointed in the clubs and really disappointed in the checkin checkout procedures. Anyone could have heard your password and checked your child out and it took forever! I think when we go again our youngest will be almost 6 and that will help alot but our 3 kids didnt like it and we werent overly impressed with it either. I did like that the counselors were very nice and kind to us even when we didnt know what we were doing!

Heidi

 

[WebmasterAlex]

This argument has been raging for as long as Disney Cruise Lines has been around. The problem, IMHO is that there isn't a real answer. Every kid is different and every kids reaction is different. Some kids take to the club like ducks to water and other kids are never really happy there. It's very difficult to know in advance. A friend of mine recently cruised thinking her child would love the clubs and he was not happy.
My DD on the other hand would live there if we let her. The only time our pager goes off is when they are closing.
My personal opinion is the clubs are very well done, of course I feel that way because my daughter loves it!
My daughter does go the first nite, usually right after dinner.

 

[SC Minnie]

Our DD8 enjoyed the lab better than the club. When she was in the club she was one of the older kids so I think she may have been a little bored at times in there. She picked and chose the activities she wanted to do everyday. She didn't want to stay in there a lot but we didn't have to force her to go either. She liked playing on the computer and doing the creative stuff.

On the 7 day she stayed in there much less than I expected. She goes to daycare after school and in the summer so she is used to structured activities. She wanted to hang out with us most of the time- which was fine. If I wanted to do something that was adults only I 'made' her go to the club/lab. She didn't put up a fight and she was always having fun when I went to sign her out. A few times she didn't want to leave.

I didn't have the issues with signing in/out that hydster had. We signed signed her up after lunch on embarkation day and that went very quickly. Signing her in/out during the day took all of 30 seconds. It took longer for me to drag her away from whatever she was doing.

 

[OurDogCisco]

She really LOVED the pool with slide. We just went in August on the 3 day cruise. She mainly ate dinner with the club and spent a couple hours there in the evening. She had a blast when she got to meet Snow White and the 7 Drawfs. My dd loves playing with other kids so, there doesn't really have to be any other planned activities as long as there are kids to play with. She was 4 years and 9 months old at the time of the trip. Once, she picked the club over a movie to see Lilo & Stitch. I think, the clubs did a great job. Of course, they would have activities the kids may or may not enjoy so, it probably really depends on the kids interest. I thought, my dd might be bored since, she was at the end of the age range for her group but that wasn't the case. Now, would she spend all day at the club probably not unless we asked her to. She loves spending time with her parents too. We'd definitely use their club again.

Recently, we went on a 4 day RCI cruise and she liked the club there too. They had hardly any planned activities. Disney definitely did a better job at it. Also, their club was only open part of the day not all day like Disney's. My dd enjoyed the club because it gave her a chance to hang out with kids her own age.

Sorry your family had a bad experience with the club. You should probably give it a second chance on your next cruise.
HTH!

 

[Gina]

My DS (was almost 6 for our first cruise last year) is like Alex's DD - he would have been thrilled if I had been able to drop him off that first night, and pick him back up before debarkation a week later. Some DIS'ers we ran into as we were getting off the ship at Castaway Cay were teasing me when they saw DS with me -- "Wow, you really *do* have a son!!" LOL This time around, I informed my son that he will be at least coming to dinner with me, but I had to promise him that I would let him go right back to the OC after dinner. And believe me, every time the subject comes up, he reminds about that promise.

As for the actual kids' club stuff, I was very very happy with everything. Whatever was listed on the navigator was exactly what they were doing at that time. Check in and check out, while crowded at times, was always smooth and efficient. I liked all the security surrounding the process. The counselors all seemed so nice, and DS was *thrilled* to hear that (as of now, at least) Cameron is still there. He just really took an instant liking to him, and stuck to him like glue all week.

When I asked DS recently what his favorite things about the OC were, he told me "playing on the computers, playing in the Captain's Closet (with the costumes,) and playing games up on the sports deck."

Sometimes this kid actually digs out his plastic OC name tag with all the little stars on it, and wears it around the house. And being a single mom with pretty much no life at all for the other 51 weeks out of the year, I am thrilled that he loves the club so much -- I get to live like a grownup for a whole blissful week.

-gina-

 

[WebmasterAlex]

LOL on the dinner thing Gina, that's always a battle between DW and DD!
And don't you hate the nites where the club closes at midnight instead of 1 am?

 

[Gina]

Originally posted by WebmasterAlex
LOL on the dinner thing Gina, that's always a battle between DW and DD!
And don't you hate the nites where the club closes at midnight instead of 1 am?

Yes!! I wish they would stay open until 1am every night... I hated having to leave at midnight those nights, deserting new friends I made, like I was about to turn into a pumpkin or something.

But we always used the extra well, since we were both used to staying up later already.. we just ate and drank even more late-night cookies and chocolate milk on the veranda. *grin*

-gina-

 

[floridaminnie]

My DD 3 yr old loved the club. I literally had to drag her out. By the end of our seven day cruise, she didn't even want to eat dinner with us.

 

[TnRobin]

I understand on the dinner thing. I make Matt go to formal night dinner and one dinner of his choosing (usually AP) other than that he wants to dine with "his friends" in the club.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Gina, thanks for mentioning that what was listed in the Kids Navigator is exactly what was going on at the time... I have printed out sample navigators, and I thought the schedule of events looked really good! Only noticed only one scheduled story-time, for the younger kids... I suspect that they are using what has been called story-times as a 'bumper', to round up the kids, get them to sit for a few minutes, calmed down a bit, and rest, and reorganize, perhaps telling the story that prepares them for the immediately upcoming activity? I know that my DS is one of those who, especially when younger, really NEEDED those breaks of downtime... otherwise he would very quickly become one over-tired, overstimulated, and out of control little guy!

I think that timing is key here as well.. I would definately avoid trying to check my son in or out during the middle of meal time or in-transit time... I think that is a good tip for all cruisers!

I am wondering about meal times... my son still requires a bit of assistance at mealtime. And, do they all get a pre-fab kiddie plate, or are they given choices? (if anyone knows for sure....) I am leaning towards making sure that DS is fed, either on-deck, or in the restaurant, instead of having him eat with all the kids with the club. Any input on this, anyone?

 

[Ashley24]

I know that my dd said that they put a tray full of lots of food in front of you up in Beach blanket Buffet and you eat what you want. The food was kid friendly.
My dd who was 7 at the time, loved the club! We only ate one meal with her and she refused to leave the club to see Disney Dreams with us. We are cruising again in a few weeks and this time I will insist since I now know how great that show is. But anyway, my dd loved all the scheduled activities such as making flubber and making raisins dance. It was hard to get her out of the club!
Ann

 

[SC Minnie]

They are given choices at meal time. They are taken to the buffet in Topsiders(Magic) or Beach Blanket(Wonder) and can choose what they want. When we sign DD up on the first day the CM asked that we not try yo sign her out while they are intransit to dinner or another activity outside of the lab. It makes it harder for them to keep track of the kids.

 

[Dancind]

My DD age 11 enjoyed the Lab, and wanted to go there at every opportunity. That's because she found some friends. We talked about our expectations before the cruise, and she was really good about it until the last night. She willingly joined us for meals, excursions, movies, shows, and pin trading, and one Bingo game. The rest of the time she was in the Lab (except for sleep!). The last night she checked herself out of the Lab without paging us, and I found her on Deck 8 playing with friends. I didn't know she had the option of not paging us, so next time will be a little clearer on the rules! We didn't find it difficult to keep track of where she needed to be checked in and out, just checked the navigator. Now, with three kids of differing ages and different activities, it could be tough! Diana

 

[WebmasterAlex]

The younger kids, at least 3-5 and maybe 5-7 are give pre-plated trays. They older ones go down the buffet line. We always looked at the kids club navigator before picking up and I thought it was fairly accurate.

 

[reveric]

Just to confirm what WebmasterAlex has said, the 3-5 year olds are given their food on trays already prepared for them.

During our October Wonder cruise I was trying to get them out of the clubs during all meals so we could eat together. The second day I was late to pick them up and they were already eating lunch at Animators Palate. When I saw what was on their trays I realized they were eating a more balanced meal in the Kids Club than they were with me! My kids were eating a little bit of everything off their tray, including the vegetables. I think that seeing the other kids eat everything made them think they needed to eat everything also.

Our experience with the club (we had 2 children in the 3-5 group) was totally positive. My kids aren't in any school or day care program so I think for them it was a nice break from me and DH.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Thanks Alex and reveric. This will help me feel better if we do find that we need to let DS have a meal or two with the club!

 

[cruisnfamily]

Originally posted by Gina
My DS (was almost 6 for our first cruise last year) is like Alex's DD - he would have been thrilled if I had been able to drop him off that first night, and pick him back up before debarkation a week later.
-gina-

This describes my kids to a T! They absolutely LOVED everything about the club/lab. I had no problems with anything either. DD10 made lots of friends in the lab which made it even more fun for her but she would have loved it anyway. DS loved the club! On Nassau day, I kept trying to pick him up to swim/hang out with us and he kept saying "I want to go with you Mom but this is too fun! Come back later!"

I guess it just depends on the kids as to whether they like/dislike the club but I can say without any hesitation that mine loved it and we were completely satisfyed with everything they did.

 

[Wishing on a star]

Thanks everyone!

I am wondering about some of the activities that they have. Especially for the 5-7 year olds. Are there any that some of your kids liked and talked about? Any duds?

Flubber sounds like a winner! And so does Sebastian's Junkanoo Jam! Be a Pirate - not sure. Escape from Hook - not sure. Gases in Action does not sound like my 5 year old would get into it, maybe over his head? Same with Animation Antics - a little too advanced? (especially for my DS right now) How about To Infinity and beyond with Buzz Lightyear?

One other question... DS may be completetely beyond this by the time we cruise, but I would like for him to Dance with Snow White. I think he would love it!!! This is for the 3-4 year olds. Anybody know if it would be too babyish for him?

PS: I know this sounds like overplanning! But really, I am not doing that - isn't possible to plan this stuff, as the navigators may be different for any sailing.... DS will be spending most of the time with us. But I really would like make some effort that he enjoys the activities that are great for him, while skipping the ones he may find frustrating, boring, or simply to his dislike.

I do think that finding a friend can make a big difference. DS is turning into more of a social butterfly, so I have my fingers crossed!

 

[JoanneTK]

My ds (7) was very excited about going to the club. He has always been in day care, camp, and other structured activities and he seems to enjoy them. He was very excited about going to the club on the first night on the Magic. He went back again for a few hours on Sunday and then refused to return to the club. He did not want to go back because another boy was punching him and calling him names. I notified guest services and they had the manager call me. The manager assured me that this would not happen again. They would put a message in the computer about the incident and he would be watched closely. This is good, but it should have been done before anything happened. I encouraged my son to try the club again on Monday, but he refused. He did not go back to the club until Thursday and only because they were making flubber. That was a better experience and he then went back again later in the day. He even decided to try the club at Castaway Cay on Friday, which he enjoyed very much. Prior to and at the beginning of the cruise, I was sure that my son would want to spend a lot of time in the club. But looking back, I am glad he didn't because we got to spend a lot of quality time together as a family.