Oceaneers Club/Lab open houses totally out of hand

[krr126]

The open houses drove us a little crazy on our cruise last month. It seemed every time our 5 yo was in the mood to actually go to the Club or the Lab on her own, it was open house in that location. Ah well.

 

[princess pooh]

My two complaints with the open house are:
1. I don't mind the age spread when both areas are secured because the kids mostly self select and a few 10 year olds participating in a younger activity or a few 4 year olds coming to the lab space doesn't really disrupt the play and can easily be accommodated; BUT when those ages are forced together in one small club it gets unbearable. My son (older) complains that the younger kids are on all the computers but don't know what they are doing and the younger kids get a little run over (not literally but you know). Before it worked because the kids normally stayed apart due to their interests.

2. This is the one that kills me- the secure space gets MOBBED. The clubs can be crowded on a good day but when spread between the 2 areas it works. Open houses push all the kids into one space making it miserable and the spaces are clearly to full for the kids to play. The really aggravating thing for me was that on my cruise we'd get a call to pickup because it was kid soup and he wasn't having fun. Then we'd peak into te open house and there would be 2 maybe 3 families in there. So 300 kids crammed together on one side for 5 kids to play in open house.

I totally understand the need and desire for open houses, especially to accommodate the kids that cannot play alone, BUT the hours have become a real problem. BETTER YET why doesn't Disney design a smaller family play area that's inside and has similar activities that's meant for open family play (without age restrictions for the toddlers). Win win the kids get their space back and families that want or need open play can have that too.

I agree with you 100% The secure side of the club was just too chaotic when the open houses were going on and my kids didn't enjoy themselves at all. I can understand an open house for maybe an hour a day for each club, but what's going on now is leaving a lot of people frustrated.

 

[squirk]

can't believe for a minute the intent is to save on staffing.

I have to agree with that. I think it would be more DCL's speed to just jack up the fares vs. cutting back on staff.

 

[keaster]

I personally liked it when they had the age groups separated when we started sailing in 2009. Oceaneer Club was 3-7, the Lab was 8-10, Ocean Quest was 11-13 and the Stack was for teens. I know they initiated change to merge groups together because families wanted siblings to stay together. Since we had an only child, we found the separation in ages worked well because it allowed our child to feel comfortable in a smaller group without feeling "overrun" by too many kids.

DCL is damned if they do, damned if they don't as they can't please everyone all the time no matter how they structure the clubs.

 

[KashasMom]

Ok, but there are constant posts about wanting kiss together on Royal boards. No one can win.

Well, we're talking about Disney here. ALL of the other cruise lines have tighter age ranges and are very strict about it from what I have seen. The parents complain because they want siblings together. If you want your kids together don't put them in the clubs. I wouldn't want my 3,4,5 year old with 12 year olds so I wouldn't put her in the Disney clubs. Tired of passengers thinking it's all about them.

 

[bumbershoot]

Well, we're talking about Disney here. ALL of the other cruise lines have tighter age ranges and are very strict about it from what I have seen. The parents complain because they want siblings together. If you want your kids together don't put them in the clubs. I wouldn't want my 3,4,5 year old with 12 year olds so I wouldn't put her in the Disney clubs. Tired of passengers thinking it's all about them.

I know we are talking about Disney?

The point is that one group wants them together and one group wants them apart and no one seems to book the line that's appropriate for their wishes.

 

[KashasMom]

I know we are talking about Disney?

The point is that one group wants them together and one group wants them apart and no one seems to book the line that's appropriate for their wishes.

You referenced the Royal boards.

It's possible some people can't afford or won't pay Disney prices or maybe people didn't read the details of the clubs before they book or....it's possible they just think they can go and complain and they'll put their kids together. Who knows?

 

[ashley0139]

I completely agree. There are many kids who want to play in the clubs and participate in activities there, but don't feel comfortable being without their parents or siblings. I think this is a great compromise.

Also, when I was a kid on the Disney cruise (YEARS ago...lol) I didn't get to hang out with my brother -who's 3 years younger than me - because I was too old. It made for a really boring, frustrating and lonely cruise for me. The system they use now would be perfect for us!

From what I know, they made this change exactly for those two reasons - siblings and children who won't go without their parents. There are still lots of CMs in there during OH hours, so I don't see how this has to do with cutting down on CMs. There's always one club that's secured, so I just think it's a good compromise, from my personal experience.

I'm not a parent, but I was a kid on many, many cruises and I just don't understand this. Why did you have to be with your brother to have a good time? Isn't the point of being in the kids club to make new friends? I was a shy kid, and I still never hung with my brother on cruises (we're close in age). We each made different groups of friends. I guess I just don't understand why parents think their kids need to stay together. It's good to meet new people.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Well, we're talking about Disney here. ALL of the other cruise lines have tighter age ranges and are very strict about it from what I have seen. The parents complain because they want siblings together. If you want your kids together don't put them in the clubs. I wouldn't want my 3,4,5 year old with 12 year olds so I wouldn't put her in the Disney clubs. Tired of passengers thinking it's all about them.

I think the way Princess handles it is great. If two children of different ages (that would be in separate clubs) want to be together, the older one must "age down". Yeah, not too many older siblings want to do that, so it's effective.

This "my child is so mature for her age" attitude means that Disney allows some kids to "age up" to an "older" group. Then that group is inundated with "little kids" (from the perspective of the kids that are the proper age) and they, in turn, want to go up a level.

I think the age divisions should go back to what they were (3-7; 8-10; 11-13; and 14-17) and stick to it. But I would allow a child who may be changing ages/groups during the cruise to choose one or the other (but no back & forth).

I also like the idea of a smaller, family group room, for those families/kids that can't separate (for whatever reason). While it would cut into the club space, it wouldn't require any additional staffing from DCL.

 

[cruisingtwins]

I think a third family room/ play room is the ideal solution but unless the redesign the ships it's not going to happen I hope they are taking this into consideration for future ships. We are one of the families whose kids won't go to the club by themselves so the open houses is the only chance they get to experience the clubs.

 

[Weedy]

I think a third family room/ play room is the ideal solution but unless the redesign the ships it's not going to happen I hope they are taking this into consideration for future ships. We are one of the families whose kids won't go to the club by themselves so the open houses is the only chance they get to experience the clubs.

This is being asked in a nice way How old are your kids and why don't they like to go to the club without a parent?
If Disney could figure out why some kids have this issue it could help.
I know some kids with special needs can't go without a parent but there are others that just won't go.

 

[bbel]

I have to agree with that. I think it would be more DCL's speed to just jack up the fares vs. cutting back on staff.

It's not necessarily cutting back on staff if anything (at least on the classic ships) it's kinda the opposite. They've added in concierge lounges, new technologies, slides, new characters, because that's what people want, but that all requires more crew members. But crew berthing was already full, so where do you put them? Youth Activities is one of the biggest teams on the ship (apart from dining and housekeeping, but you can't easily cut people from there) so you take out a couple of crew members from there to make it up somewhere else...

 

[bbel]

If your child has check in/check out privileges (can start at 8 I believe) they do not need a parent present. Only children requiring secured programming -under 8, and between 8-12 that parents have registered as secured) need a parent. The way it worked on our most recent cruise was all kids were moved to secure and then my son and his friend self checked out of secure and walked back to the open house lab and they were checked to make sure they had check in privileges and were allowed in.

Technically no child has to be accompanied by an adult in open house. It's just strongly advised. There's no supervision and crew members/ disney aren't responsible for what goes on (within reason). Also remember that it's open for anyone and everyone on the ship to come and go as they please. If you want to leave you're four year old (and yes I've seen it happen) then go ahead, but remember the CMs can't stop them from leaving if they decide to leave. And there is no record of who's in there and when chidren check in or out like in secured programming.
If they are left in OH messages can still be sent and phone calls can still be made if requested.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

But crew berthing was already full, so where do you put them?

Hey, here's a thought - how about reducing the number of passengers onboard? I really don't like this "how many passengers can we cram onboard" feeling of the new, BIGGER ships. I'm old school, I guess. I like the concept of a nice, leisurely cruise with smaller ships, and less people.

 

[bbel]

Hey, here's a thought - how about reducing the number of passengers onboard? I really don't like this "how many passengers can we cram onboard" feeling of the new, BIGGER ships. I'm old school, I guess. I like the concept of a nice, leisurely cruise with smaller ships, and less people.

That's why I've only ever requested to be on the classic ships and that's all I can comment on. Even on the magic and wonder, a number of guest cabins are now crew, so I suppose that's kinda happened.

 

[bumbershoot]

You referenced the Royal boards.

Yes. To show that there is a large group of people who are UNhappy with the idea of kids being split into age groups.

Why did you have to be with your brother to have a good time?

Seriously. In the oldest of 5 (though the youngest didn't exist when I was still a minor) and omg get me away from the youngers! Gets really old, being the one in charge...

Of course we never cruised, but still. Last thing I would have wanted to do would be with the sibs

I think the age divisions should go back to what they were (3-7; 8-10; 11-12; and 14-17)

Poor forgotten 13 year olds.

I also like the idea of a smaller, family group room, for those families/kids that can't separate (for whatever reason). While it would cut into the club space,

That is a brilliant idea. Dang, Shmoo. I like it.

Technically no child has to be accompanied by an adult in open house. It's just strongly advised.

Um...no, they literally would not let us drop off my son during open house hours. Absolutely refused. Parents *had to* be there. And he was 9 (without permission to enter and exit on his own). That's not "strongly advised"; that's a solid rule that they would not bend.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Poor forgotten 13 year olds.

Fixed it, thanks.

Yea, 13 is sort of a "lost" age group. They really want to be teenagers, but most are not in high school yet. But they hate to be grouped with the 11 & 12 year olds (even though that's where they should be).

 

[bbel]

m...no, they literally would not let us drop off my son during open house hours. Absolutely refused. Parents *had to* be there. And he was 9 (without permission to enter and exit on his own). That's not "strongly advised"; that's a solid rule that they would not bend

That's unfortunate. Like I've said. I can only comment on the ships that I've worked on and the times that I've worked there. But in three+ years in youth activities I've never not let a parent leave their kid in OH, and I've also never seen it happen. On a recent longer cruise we had a group of 6 boys aged between 7 and 11 who came to the club every OH for the whole of OH. I couldnt tell you what one of their parents looked like...

 

[tee11]

[2. This is the one that kills me- the secure space gets MOBBED. The clubs can be crowded on a good day but when spread between the 2 areas it works. Open houses push all the kids into one space making it miserable and the spaces are clearly to full for the kids to play. The really aggravating thing for me was that on my cruise we'd get a call to pickup because it was kid soup and he wasn't having fun. Then we'd peak into te open house and there would be 2 maybe 3 families in there. So 300 kids crammed together on one side for 5 kids to play in open house.

I totally understand the need and desire for open houses, especially to accommodate the kids that cannot play alone, BUT the hours have become a real problem. BETTER YET why doesn't Disney design a smaller family play area that's inside and has similar activities that's meant for open family play (without age restrictions for the toddlers). Win win the kids get their space back and families that want or need open play can have that too./QUOTE].

This X 1000!

I couldn't agree more!
On our last cruise they had open house for up to four hours twice a day - it was crazy!
Why?
Because it was EMPTY!!!
There were maybe 3 kids and 6 adults in the space the entire time (plus CMs).
The other side (the secured side) had well over 100 kids crammed in on all of those occasions.

If it was fairly evenly visited it would be a different story, but it is not! Not once. Not by a long shot. Way too many hours for 3-5 children to play in the big space of the club!

And yes, I put that on the comment card. And told the CMs, and the managers.
For this little demand maybe they could have a separate "family" play space and end the extensive open house hours.

 

[gotomu212]

Um...no, they literally would not let us drop off my son during open house hours. Absolutely refused. Parents *had to* be there. And he was 9 (without permission to enter and exit on his own). That's not "strongly advised"; that's a solid rule that they would not bend.

That's even more annoying if they are inconsistent with the application. A month and a half ago our experience was kids with self check in/out privelages were free to be in open houses without a parent. Our son did that every time they switched to an open house in the lab.