structured activities in the kids club?

[luxlvr]

The last Disney Cruise we went on our 3 kids didn’t love the club like I was hoping they would. They felt overwhelmed and lost for the two hours we left them. There weren’t any structured activities and I’m wondering if I missed something. Is there a way to sign them up beforehand for structured activities in the club? Ie: drawing or cooking class?
Thanks!

 

[_auroraborealis_]

No. When there are structured activities they are announced and it's on them to join. And even the "structured" activities aren't super-structured.

 

[luxlvr]

No. When there are structured activities they are announced and it's on them to join. And even the "structured" activities aren't super-structured.

Thanks! I thought I missed something!

 

[keaster]

Personally, I think they had more structured & organized activities when they had the split age groups (younger kids in the Club, older kids in the Lab). Combining the age groups made this more difficult. But I understand why they made the change as parents wanted their kids to stay together.

 

[luxlvr]

Personally, I think they had more structured & organized activities when they had the split age groups (younger kids in the Club, older kids in the Lab). Combining the age groups made this more difficult. But I understand why they made the change as parents wanted their kids to stay together.

I’d love for my kids to want to go into the kids club too. The chaos of it all was too much for my sensory kid and my shy youngest was overwhelmed.

 

[DisneyPiPhi]

We would have DD pick structured activities listed on the Navigator, and drop her off shortly before they started. We would mention to a cast member, "She's here for storytime with Sofia," or "She's hoping to participate in the slime activity." Any time we did this, she ended up participating. I'm not sure if a CM ever specifically asked her to join in, or if she was just listening for the activity to be started, or whatever. Then she would always want to stay past the activity because she was into whatever independent thing she decided to do next.

 

[Sunshine2U]

Our next cruise we will have two boys. One is a 9 year old who has a hard time processing things (visual, auditory - don't know if his parents have it diagnosed or even recognize it) so he holds back or is completely unaware. The second is a 5 year old who loves to participate, dance, sing, etc. I'm actually concerned the 9yo will hold the 5yo back. I have decided we will spend a good bit of time with the Navigators so they can know in advance what they would like to do. I am wondering if we tell counselors at check-in what activities the boys would like if they would help direct. Would love some feedback as these are family but not our kids.

 

[lilsonicfan]

I found I had to tell my kids to listen for that specific activity and I would drop them off not too far in advance (or else they would get distracted by the iPads). It was hit or miss but we had better success with this.

My kids loved kids club but that is because they don’t get a ton of screen time at home, so in the clubs it was unlimited :/ and they did also enjoy being together. However I admit that I prefer more structure as we have experienced on other lines.

 

[luxlvr]

We would have DD pick structured activities listed on the Navigator, and drop her off shortly before they started. We would mention to a cast member, "She's here for storytime with Sofia," or "She's hoping to participate in the slime activity." Any time we did this, she ended up participating. I'm not sure if a CM ever specifically asked her to join in, or if she was just listening for the activity to be started, or whatever. Then she would always want to stay past the activity because she was into whatever independent thing she decided to do next.

This is a great idea!

 

[luxlvr]

I found I had to tell my kids to listen for that specific activity and I would drop them off not too far in advance (or else they would get distracted by the iPads). It was hit or miss but we had better success with this.

My kids loved kids club but that is because they don’t get a ton of screen time at home, so in the clubs it was unlimited :/ and they did also enjoy being together. However I admit that I prefer more structure as we have experienced on other lines.

I wish we could sign them up for specific activities and know that they would be going for that activity. I think this would make my kids a little more apt to go. We will try the drop them off before idea though. That sounds like a great idea for us.

 

[tlprice]

I have to say my daughter has done better with the structured activities on the Wonder and Magic. The kids clubs didn't seem as crowded and crazy on those ships and it seemed easier to find the activity she wanted to do. It seemed like on the Dream and Fantasy, there are a lot more kids and it seemed a little harder to find where the activities she wanted to do were happening. Her favorite place in all of the kids clubs though is the Infinity room on the Dream. Now that she's 11, she bounces back and forth between the Oceaneers and Edge depending on what they have going on that she wants to do. So, she is gone pretty much all day and late into the night and I don't see her much.

 

[cheshie6]

I hope OP doesn’t mind a mini-hijacking. DS will be 2 going on 3 for our next cruise. We know he won’t be allowed in either club/lab on his own. What are open houses like? Do they sometimes do those fun activities during those?

 

[tlprice]

I hope OP doesn’t mind a mini-hijacking. DS will be 2 going on 3 for our next cruise. We know he won’t be allowed in either club/lab on his own. What are open houses like? Do they sometimes do those fun activities during those?

Yes they do. We made cookies during open house together. I'm sure there are other activities too, that's just the only one my daughter invited me to attend with her. Usually that's HER space!

 

[eeyoreandtink]

My DD was 7 on our first cruise and just never really cared for the kids clubs. Too much chaos and the structured activities were geared toward the younger set, no matter if they were club or lab activities. She never wanted to stay. Once she got to edge, that changed and she was there ALL the time.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I have to say my daughter has done better with the structured activities on the Wonder and Magic. The kids clubs didn't seem as crowded and crazy on those ships and it seemed easier to find the activity she wanted to do. It seemed like on the Dream and Fantasy, there are a lot more kids and it seemed a little harder to find where the activities she wanted to do were happening. Her favorite place in all of the kids clubs though is the Infinity room on the Dream. Now that she's 11, she bounces back and forth between the Oceaneers and Edge depending on what they have going on that she wants to do. So, she is gone pretty much all day and late into the night and I don't see her much.

Yes, this. We did a B2B on the Magic a few years ago and DS loved the kids club. This was one of the Norwegian cruises and though there were a lot of kids, the clubs were not chaotic at all. We just did the Fantasy in March and it was mayhem. DS and I went to one open house to do a Marvel activity and then he went on his own for 2 hours one evening so DH and I could go to Remy and that was it. He had zero interest in going back to the kids club on the Fantasy.

 

[luxlvr]

Yes, this. We did a B2B on the Magic a few years ago and DS loved the kids club. This was one of the Norwegian cruises and though there were a lot of kids, the clubs were not chaotic at all. We just did the Fantasy in March and it was mayhem. DS and I went to one open house to do a Marvel activity and then he went on his own for 2 hours one evening so DH and I could go to Remy and that was it. He had zero interest in going back to the kids club on the Fantasy.

This exactly! My kids don’t like the chaos. They are on the quieter side and love structured activities. I was really hoping there were some that I was missing.

 

[conandrob240]

Personally, I think they had more structured & organized activities when they had the split age groups (younger kids in the Club, older kids in the Lab). Combining the age groups made this more difficult. But I understand why they made the change as parents wanted their kids to stay together.

I totally agree. The clubs were a million times better when they were split by age group. If you have a very shy child or one that doesn’t pay attention to a lot of,detail, they aren’t going to engage themselves to join the activity. My nephew loved it before it changed over and honestly we haven’t done a Disney Cruise in over 6 years because of it. Parents that insisted on kids staying together should have been told no. Period. Most Kids thrive when faced with new social situations and don’t always need to cling to a sibling.

How is Edge these days for a very shy ( bordering on socially anxious) tween girl?

 

[conandrob240]

I agree with others here that NCL and RCCL do a much better job with kids these days, even though the space itself doesn’t look as cool as on DCL

 

[Weedy]

My kids grew up on the Disney Cruises back when they were strict on the ages. They always loved going.
I think a great idea for the new ships (or maybe added to the old) is a club we’re the 3-12 can be together but then the Oceaners club and Lab go back to age breakdown and the Open House happens in the 3-12 club.
I think it would really show how many kids really stay together.

 

[Shanti]

Parents that insisted on kids staying together should have been told no. Period. Most Kids thrive when faced with new social situations...

I can say from my observations as a parent and schoolteacher that while that is true for plenty of kids, it isn't true for "most kids". There are plenty (not just a small minority) who would have a hard time in an environment like the Club & Lab without a sibling or parent there to smooth the way.

The DCL clubs are nothing like school, in which consistently structured activities and monitoring help students interact fluently and fairly.