Out and About program

[mommykeg]

Can someone who has experience with kids in this program give me a description of how the Out and About program works? It is listed in the Navigators as a program for children with check-in/out privileges. Does this mean kids 8 and up can participate if they can check themselves in/out? Do kids in this program wear wristbands? Are they also allowed to participate in the lab activities, since this program is listed as a series in the youth programming?

Any details you can give me about the program would be appreciated. I have a 9 year old DS and a 13 year old DD, and we will be cruising in March. Disney has told me that the Edge on the Wonder debuted in December 2010, but reports by December cruisers do not indicate that the Edge is opened. If it is not completed by the time our cruise rolls around, I will have to decide if my DD13 is ready to be with 17 year olds in Aloft, or if I'd prefer that she participate in Out and About. I want to have as much info as I can to make that decision. Also, DS9 will have check-in/check-out privileges, so I want to know if he is "eligible" for Out and About as well.

TIA for any insight you can give me!

 

[minniemamax2]

I would like to find out details about this also. We are booked on the Wonder in March. My DD is 10 and has friends that are going that are 11-13. I emailed Disney but their response was very vague. Pretty much said talk to someone when you check in. Things would go a lot smoother if I could warn her ahead of time if she will not be with her friends.

 

[LKFan]

Can someone who has experience with kids in this program give me a description of how the Out and About program works? It is listed in the Navigators as a program for children with check-in/out privileges. Does this mean kids 8 and up can participate if they can check themselves in/out? Do kids in this program wear wristbands? Are they also allowed to participate in the lab activities, since this program is listed as a series in the youth programming?

Any details you can give me about the program would be appreciated. I have a 9 year old DS and a 13 year old DD, and we will be cruising in March. Disney has told me that the Edge on the Wonder debuted in December 2010, but reports by December cruisers do not indicate that the Edge is opened. If it is not completed by the time our cruise rolls around, I will have to decide if my DD13 is ready to be with 17 year olds in Aloft, or if I'd prefer that she participate in Out and About. I want to have as much info as I can to make that decision. Also, DS9 will have check-in/check-out privileges, so I want to know if he is "eligible" for Out and About as well.

TIA for any insight you can give me!

We were on the Wonder in June with an 11 year old and 8 year old both of whom had sign/out privledges.The 8 year old only had it because his sister did. Both kids wore bracelets and didn't question it or feel self conscious.

They could participate in the lab if they wanted but my 11 year old tween daughter looked down her nose at that.

The biggest inconvenience was that the Out and About activites are not all day long. They will have an activity for an hour (ex pizza making) and then no activities for 1-2 hrs and then another hour long activity. There is no central hub to drop them off or pick them up, it just lists (on the Navigator) to meet at AP or at the teen club (which they visited when the teens weren't there). Their reasoning is, of course, that the kids have in/out privledges so can go do something else on the ship but, as a parent, I think it would be nicer if they had longer blocks of time to entertain the kids.

 

[mommykeg]

We were on the Wonder in June with an 11 year old and 8 year old both of whom had sign/out privledges.The 8 year old only had it because his sister did. Both kids wore bracelets and didn't question it or feel self conscious.

They could participate in the lab if they wanted but my 11 year old tween daughter looked down her nose at that.

The biggest inconvenience was that the Out and About activites are not all day long. They will have an activity for an hour (ex pizza making) and then no activities for 1-2 hrs and then another hour long activity. There is no central hub to drop them off or pick them up, it just lists (on the Navigator) to meet at AP or at the teen club (which they visited when the teens weren't there). Their reasoning is, of course, that the kids have in/out privledges so can go do something else on the ship but, as a parent, I think it would be nicer if they had longer blocks of time to entertain the kids.

So were BOTH of your kids able to participate in the Out and About activities? And did they have to sign in/out at the Out and About activities, or only when they went to the Lab?

 

[smb6]

So were BOTH of your kids able to participate in the Out and About activities? And did they have to sign in/out at the Out and About activities, or only when they went to the Lab?

I would like to know this as well..... I'm under the impression that Out and About is specifically for 10-12 or 11-12, but would like to know for sure.... Were sailing on the Wonder this May (still holding out hope for the tween group to open). I (will) have a 13, 12,10,8, and 5 yr old. So, some of my kids are borderline.... I have already decided that I will ask (and I've been told this should be fine) for my 13 yr old to stick with the younger kids- because I know he does not belong with kids as old as 17/18!

 

[NAB]

Can someone who has experience with kids in this program give me a description of how the Out and About program works? It is listed in the Navigators as a program for children with check-in/out privileges. Does this mean kids 8 and up can participate if they can check themselves in/out? Do kids in this program wear wristbands? Are they also allowed to participate in the lab activities, since this program is listed as a series in the youth programming?

Any details you can give me about the program would be appreciated. I have a 9 year old DS and a 13 year old DD, and we will be cruising in March. Disney has told me that the Edge on the Wonder debuted in December 2010, but reports by December cruisers do not indicate that the Edge is opened. If it is not completed by the time our cruise rolls around, I will have to decide if my DD13 is ready to be with 17 year olds in Aloft, or if I'd prefer that she participate in Out and About. I want to have as much info as I can to make that decision. Also, DS9 will have check-in/check-out privileges, so I want to know if he is "eligible" for Out and About as well.

TIA for any insight you can give me!

I was under the impression the the Quest just changed names to the Edge. So that all the ships have the same names for the youth clubs.

So it should be open. We are going on the Magic at the end of the month.

I just remember the Out and About was listed on the white board at the Quest last time were were on. My son was 11 then (2 years ago). They do not wear bands and do not keep track of where you kids , but could tell you if they were in there since they get to know the regulars. So I would go there and the CM's would say he was here and left with so and so.....They get to know this age group 11-13 because really it is the only place for them to go. I thought the out and about was for this age group, just like the lab takes the kids out , this is what the Quest does for their kids.

The Quest had time for families too. To play the board games or use the simulator that let you steer the ship.

 

[son3disfan]

I was under the impression the the Quest just changed names to the Edge. So that all the ships have the same names for the youth clubs.

So it should be open. We are going on the Magic at the end of the month.

I just remember the Out and About was listed on the white board at the Quest last time were were on. My son was 11 then (2 years ago). They do not wear bands and do not keep track of where you kids , but could tell you if they were in there since they get to know the regulars. So I would go there and the CM's would say he was here and left with so and so.....They get to know this age group 11-13 because really it is the only place for them to go. I thought the out and about was for this age group, just like the lab takes the kids out , this is what the Quest does for their kids.

The Quest had time for families too. To play the board games or use the

simulator that let you steer the ship.

Ocean quest was never on the Wonder. That space on deck two on the wonder is a conference center. Out and about was only available on the Wonder for kids 10 to 12 with sign out priviledges. The teen club is for thirteen year olds. You need to be 14 on the Magic for the teen club.
The wonder was supposed to be converting that area on deck two to a tween
club as will be on the new ships. The magic was just changing the name of the club and maybe adding some new things??? Not sure about that

 

[LKFan]

I'll have to pull out our old Navigators but the wording doesn't limit "Out and About" to 10-12 year olds. It was worded to say something like "tweens" with "sign in and out privledges." The wording implies that it is for Jr High kids but it doesn't say it outright. There are quite a few younger kids (8-10) at activities like pizza making.

My 8 year old is a pill and didn't want to do any of the kids' activities. Since Out and About would last for an hour and then be over, my 8 year old would wait in the room until my 11 year old returned and then they would go swimming, watch a movie or do something else together on the ship.

ETA: I found the Navigators....
It says:
Out and About Series - For Children with sign out privlege, the Out and About activities are for them! Join your counselors on teh Sports Deck, Studio Sea, Castaway Cay and around the ship for some fun and great time with friends! Please refer to your personal navitaor for time and location.

Note that it doesn't mention age at all.

 

[kcashner]

I could be wrong, but my understanding is that Out and About will end as soon as the space on deck 2 is fully remodeled into "The Edge." That was supposed to be completed in December, but reports here indicate that it's not done yet.

 

[LKFan]

When we were on the ship in June, cast members said that there wouldn't be any changes until after the next dry dock (after Alaska). Someone else on this board, e-mailed DCL and, the same week we were told that it would be after dry dock, they were told that it would be ready in time for MR cruises. Recently, someone else posted that a CM told them that it wouldn't be ready until after dry dock. So it seems that CM on the ship are saying one thing and DCL e-mails are saying something else.

I suppose there should be a way to see if there are any conferences booked during on the ship from Jan - August. If so then that means they aren't making changes yet.

 

[kcashner]

When we were on the ship in June, cast members said that there wouldn't be any changes until after the next dry dock (after Alaska). Someone else on this board, e-mailed DCL and, the same week we were told that it would be after dry dock, they were told that it would be ready in time for MR cruises. Recently, someone else posted that a CM told them that it wouldn't be ready until after dry dock. So it seems that CM on the ship are saying on thing and DCL e-mails are saying something else.

I suppose there should be a way to see if there are any conferences booked during on the ship from Jan - August. If so then that means they aren't making changes yet.

Oh good. Yet another example of shoreside having absolutely no idea of what happens on the ships. Gotta love em.

I was totally amazed when speaking with a DCL CM at WDW who had never been on either of the ships. SORRY, but Disney makes it very cheap for them to sail; it ought to be a mandatory part of the job. (guess it would have to be free then.) She had done a one hour tour of the Wonder as part of her orientation. Until they go thru the whole process, the same way a guest would, these CMs aren't going to understand the system.

Sorry...most of them are wonderful and it's often not their fault that the info they can pull up on their computer screens isn't accurate. However, it gets frustrating.

After that rant, I should go to bed!

 

[mommykeg]

ETA: I found the Navigators....
It says:
Out and About Series - For Children with sign out privlege, the Out and About activities are for them! Join your counselors on teh Sports Deck, Studio Sea, Castaway Cay and around the ship for some fun and great time with friends! Please refer to your personal navitaor for time and location.

Note that it doesn't mention age at all.

This is what I read as well, which would mean that all children with sign out privileges, which includes 8 and 9 year olds, would be able to do Out and About activities, right?

 

[LKFan]

This is what I read as well, which would mean that all children with sign out privileges, which includes 8 and 9 year olds, would be able to do Out and About activities, right?

Yes.

 

[unrdisney]

The edge is open on both ships. I was on the magic in October and it was fully open and opperating.

 

[mommykeg]

The edge is open on both ships. I was on the magic in October and it was fully open and opperating.

The Edge (formerly called Ocean Quest) has been open and operating for years on the Magic. The question is whether or not it is open and operating on the Wonder.
As of December, cruisers were reporting that the space for the Edge on the Wonder is STILL conference rooms, and they were told by ship CMs that it wouldn't be transformed into the Edge until after dry dock. Reps on the phones for DCL, though, are saying it is in place as of December 2010. Those of us sailing on the Wonder to the Mexican Riviera between Jan. and May are anxiously awaiting accurate information!

 

[son3disfan]

When we were on the ship in June, cast members said that there wouldn't be any changes until after the next dry dock (after Alaska). Someone else on this board, e-mailed DCL and, the same week we were told that it would be after dry dock, they were told that it would be ready in time for MR cruises. Recently, someone else posted that a CM told them that it wouldn't be ready until after dry dock. So it seems that CM on the ship are saying one thing and DCL e-mails are saying something else.

I suppose there should be a way to see if there are any conferences booked during on the ship from Jan - August. If so then that means they aren't making changes yet.

Hi Lkfan. I was the poster with the email from CS stating it would be ready in Dec.
I am trying to remain optimistic that it will be done soon.
My 12 year old does not want to be hanging out with little kids for the week. He has been in the quest for the last three cruises and enjoyed it so much. Even my 10 year old did not enjoy the lab last time we cruised. It was over run by 6 and 7 year olds . Kids at these different age groups play so differently. 6 is pretty young to be left with 12 year olds, as we found the councillors really needed to focus their attention on the younger ones. That was our experience anyway.

 

[NAB]

Hi Lkfan. I was the poster with the email from CS stating it would be ready in Dec.
I am trying to remain optimistic that it will be done soon.
My 12 year old does not want to be hanging out with little kids for the week. He has been in the quest for the last three cruises and enjoyed it so much. Even my 10 year old did not enjoy the lab last time we cruised. It was over run by 6 and 7 year olds . Kids at these different age groups play so differently. 6 is pretty young to be left with 12 year olds, as we found the councillors really needed to focus their attention on the younger ones. That was our experience anyway.

See I agree with this. The Tweens really don't have a place all there own, like I said the Quest/Edge let families in to play games too at certain times and don't think the little kids should be mixed with the big one. It would be fair to the big or little ones. The tweens can't go to the teen club so why let the smaller one in on the tweens.

 

[smb6]

Sounds like no one know the for sure answer....... *frustrating*..... As much as I hope and pray that the tween club is up and running before we cruise in May- it really does sound more realistic that they would get this set up during dry dock My 12 and 13 yr olds are kinda too big too be hanging out in the lab/club with kids as young as 3 and they are definately too young to be hanging out with kids as old as 17/18!! We will just have to take full advantage of the out and about activities.....

 

[smb6]

I just called DCL and I was un-impressed with their information. They said that the Edge was scheduled to have opened in December, there were delays and that it would definately be open before we sailed in May. I asked when exactly it would open, and she just said "easily by May".
I then asked for more information on Out & About- telling her that I wanted this information just incase the Edge was not open in May and she said "well, if you don't believe the information I just gave you- that it will be open in May, you should just call back closer to your cruise to verify".
Seriously?!?

She was super nice and friendly; but the call was a waste of time- because she simply didn't know any more than I do...... And at the end she asked- do you need any more information? I was thinking- Hello!?- I asked about Out and About and you gave me zero info! Oh well......

 

[LKFan]

Hi Lkfan. I was the poster with the email from CS stating it would be ready in Dec.
I am trying to remain optimistic that it will be done soon.
My 12 year old does not want to be hanging out with little kids for the week. He has been in the quest for the last three cruises and enjoyed it so much. Even my 10 year old did not enjoy the lab last time we cruised. It was over run by 6 and 7 year olds . Kids at these different age groups play so differently. 6 is pretty young to be left with 12 year olds, as we found the councillors really needed to focus their attention on the younger ones. That was our experience anyway.

Thanks. I couldn't put the name with the e-mail but I know, everytime the subject gets brought up, the two of us have both been watching for updates.

My 11 year old didn't want to be with the little kids. She likes playing with small kids at family functions etc but she wants to "hang" with other Jr. High kids on the ship. When she would go to the Out & About activities, there were 11-13 year olds but there were also a decent amount of 8-10 year olds and, although they may have been independent, they weren't where the11-13 years were at socially. Also, the CM had to tailor the activities down to accomodate the younger kids (so the 8 year olds could play basketball with 13 year olds).

After a couple activities, she stopped going and just explored the ship and island with her younger brother. If she was going to hang out with an 8 year old, it might as well be someone that she knows.