Oceaneer Club Time vs. Family Time

[WiseMan]

This is my first DCL and I want to strike a balance between how long my daughter spends in the Oceaneer Club and with my Wife and me.

How long have your younger children (Ages 4-5) visited the Oceaneer's Club? My daughter currently attends preschool so I think she will enjoy being at the club.

I'm just curious how much time Parents have scheduled for themselves.

<Script language='Javascript'>var rndNum = Math.floor(Math.random() * 10000);eval("var CDTDate" + rndNum + " = 'April 18, 2004 1:00:00 PM EST';");document.writeln("<form name='CDTform" + rndNum + "' action='Javascript:void(0);'>");document.writeln('<font size=2 color=darkblue> Countdown To Our Very First Disney Cruise </font><br>');document.writeln("<input type=text value='' size=40 name='WrittenByJamesMVenglarikII'>");document.writeln("</form>");if (theFunction) theFunction += "var d = new Date();";else var theFunction = "var d = new Date();";theFunction += "var c = new Date('" + eval("CDTDate" + rndNum) + "');";theFunction += "var diff = (c - d)/1000;";theFunction += "var days = Math.floor(diff / 86400);";theFunction += "var rem = diff - (days * 86400);";theFunction += "var hours = Math.floor(rem / 3600);";theFunction += "rem = rem - (hours * 3600);";theFunction += "var minutes = Math.floor(rem / 60);";theFunction += "rem = rem - (minutes * 60);";theFunction += "var seconds = Math.floor(rem);";theFunction += "if ((days < 0) | (hours < 0) | (minutes < 0) | (seconds < 0)) ";theFunction += "var out = 'And Away We Go!!!!';";theFunction += "else ";theFunction += "var out = ' ' + days + ' days ' + hours + ' hrs. ' + minutes + ' mins. ' + seconds + ' secs.';";theFunction += "document.forms.CDTform" + rndNum + ".elements.WrittenByJamesMVenglarikII.value = out;";setInterval(theFunction, 1000);</Script>

 

[jwann]

We've been on a 3-day and a 4-day. Each time, the kids (4, 5, 7, 8) have spend ALOT of time in the kids clubs/labs. Hey - it's their vacation, too! The Castaway Cay day is usually a family affair (if you can talk them out of going to scuttle's cove). I say, be sure your kids visit the FIRST night - that's when friendships are made - and then play it by ear. If we'd have forced "family time" instead of just letting it happen naturally, then the kids wouldn't have had so much fun. ALL the kids say that besides playing on the beach, the kids club/lab are their favorite part of the cruise!

 

[val2001]

This will be my first time, too. I'm actually hoping my kids do spend a lot of time in the clubs so dh and I can have some much needed adult time. My girls are 4 & 7, but we are also traveling with family in that same age group.

My question is do you think they'll need to go the first night for "making friends". They'll already have cousins and friends traveling with them.

 

[SandraLee]

We've been on the Magic 2 times and the first night thing was never an issue -- maybe that is important on the 3 or 4 nighters. For us, it seemed the club/lab was very crowded on the first night and we like to 'explore the ship' together as a family.

That said, they did go for a bit. But, I wouldnt' stress over getting them there the first night. Especially if you are travelling with same age kids.

 

[jrabbit]

THere are lots of activities for families on board along with the clubs. If the kids love the clubs it may be hard to get them out. We insisted we have dinner as a family, other than that it was what everyone wanted to do (together or apart).

The times I liked my kids in the clubs was in the evenings. They stayed with us for the "Disney" shows in the theater (Hercules, Dreams) and skiped the variety shows. We then went to the adult clubs and they went to the kids clubs. They spent time there during the days too.

I would suggest you spend some time at Castaway Cay with them (probably first thing in the morning). Have fun with them playing in the water and on the beach. I would encourgage them to go to the club in the afternoon so you could slip off to Serenity Bay. It's a great big, beautiful beach that is nice and quiet.

Have fun. Don't worry about your kids having fun in the clubs.

 

[denise5374]

We also had the kids eat dinner with us but other than that they were free to do their thing. Sometimes my DD would hang out with the club and sometimes her and new friends would hang out by the pool. I didn't get too concerned because they couldn't get too far...It worked out well.

You know your kids best. Do what makes you all comfortable

 

[BABYJOSIE98]

My DD is 5 and we have been on two 4 day cruises. I feel bad if I took her to the club very long. It is so dark in there. The main time I took her was while I did the spa and the night we went to Palo. She did go for a couple hours while on Castaway Cay so that I could check out Serenity bay. Other than that she hung out with us. I could lay out by the Mickey Pool and she would play in the water with the other kids. She also would go get her own ice cream cones. We had a great time.

I could not believe when one day I checked her in while I had my Spa Appt about 10:00am and I heard people saying they were getting off the ship and would pick the kids up around 5:00! I could never do that.

DD enjoyed the clubs,but I always looked for things she would like and planned around that.. One time Cinderella was reading a storty to the kids and when we went to Palo she went to the lab to make Flubber. She did enjoy her time,but definetly like being with us more.

I was thankful for what club time we did have for a few adult moments. You will know what is best for you and your family once you step on board.

It is a blast!

 

[alexandrew]

my DS,7 goes to the club whenever he desires-typically from 11am - 11pm....he knows that he can page us anytime he wants, and we'll get him....

 

[makaylee]

We asked our daughter 6 if she would mind going to the club while we went to Palo and while we went snorkling on St. Thomas for a few hours. She agreed with no problem. Other than these few times we didnt prompt her to go, we just waited for her to ask us to go. She did this about twice I think. It's really up to you and your children, how much they like being at the club and how much you are willing to let them be there. But dont stress too much it will all work out.

 

[Skuba2]

Our kids--then 5 and 7--spent the better part of the day in the clubs. We would check in on them periodically and find out if they still wanted to stay or not. They always said yes. We took them out for dinners and made Castaway Cay and one other afternoon at sea family time. We ended up picking them up at 11 pm. They would beg us to stay but fall asleep 5 minutes after being in bed. I printed out the navigators from Dave's site and they are both excited to move up an age group and do some new and some old things. They are already telling me they want to spend the whole day there. I let it be their choice with a little guidance from us.

You'll see some real excitement in their faces if you let them have a greater than normal input into the decision. And, it may make family times that much more fun for them.

DG

 

[awatt]

Mostly our girls went after dinner for about two and a half hours. and it worked out great. On one at sea day it was too chilly to swim so they went for 2 hours in the morning also. Have fun!

 

[CAMICKEY]

Our DS6 was 5 last year when we took our last cruise and he did not want to leave the club as he was having such a wonderful time. We did spend family time at Castaway Key and also at Dinner time. Other than that, my wife and I were trying to figure out what to do with our time without him(Really were not use to time together without DS6). I'm sure each parent has their own comfort level as to how much time should be spent in the club as opposed to "family time". "Play it by ear" and I'm sure you will have an enjoyable time.

CAMICKEY - May8th 2004 Western - Can not WAIT.