What If We Don't Use the Kids Club?

[DLgal]

One of my sons won't go to the club due to a bad experience the first time we left him there on day ONE of our first cruise. He has spend another 7 nights cruising with DCL and never stepped foot into the club. He had a great time. The club is one part of the experience, not the whole experience.

 

[Anisum]

Are the activities for the club listed on the navigator? That would be perfect for him to attend a few special activities...and hopefully the same kids at a few of them.

Yes, they will be in the navigator and the navigator app when things are happening so you can pick and choose the activities he may want to be there for in advance.

 

[DHSbutcher]

I was fortunate to sail on DCL as a kid, and now as an adult as well, and I never used the clubs as a kid. I used the time to spend with my parents doing many of the millions of activities! We traveled a lot when I was a kid, and very few places we went even had kids clubs. Vacation was a time where I spent time with my parents since they both were gone for work a lot.

 

[Naterfan]

We never planned for our son, 8yrs, to go into the club, but we left it up to him. I would say that he spent about 40% of his time in the kid's club. He loved every minute of it and also the independence of going to and from the club on his own.

 

[cruisehopeful]

I think you'll have plenty of fun family activities to do together. I've seen plenty of adults spending their vacation time with their kids on board.

 

[bumbershoot]

My 7 year old did not enjoy the Kid's Clubs the way I thought he would. He went once on the first day for an hour...and never wanted to go back. He said it was just a bunch of kids fighting over the video games.

That can be an aspect to it.

But there are activities through the day (and I can only speak specifically about Dream here) that are listed in the Navigator (though they never do have explanations LOL), and so DS goes for the specific things he knows he likes. We all go through the Navigator when we get it (you get it the night before the day listed, except for that first day) OR using the onboard free-wifi app (lists out all Navigators!), and we pick what things we want to do as a group or individually. then we make that happen.

We haven't yet given DS freedom on a cruiseship (though December he'll have it as he'll have aged out of the *kid* club on Royal Caribbean), so we drop him off and pick him up for those things.

My reasons are pretty selfish- I'm the sole parent and I have a very hectic schedule...as does my son. While on vacations I try to pack in as much QT as possible. I don't know how many years I have left of being considered his 'favorite person to hang out with' lol.

And that does make sense.

Some single parents do find that a cruise (Disney or other lines) are ALSO perfect times to get time for *themselves* while the kids are having terrific times doing what they want to do. Like you're going to Palo and participating in the 5K (it's on-island for that...at Scuttle's Cove...he'll come off the ship with you and you'll drop him at Scuttle's on the way).

Are the activities for the club listed on the navigator? That would be perfect for him to attend a few special activities...and hopefully the same kids at a few of them.

Yes, and on the app as well. I highly recommend the Navigator app just to get access to ALL Navigators from the first day! Helps with scheduling.

 

[hubbard53]

my son, 5, lives for kids club! It's really the only reason we still cruise with DCL - it's HIS vacation; we just get the added benefit of enjoying the adult activities.

 

[Kimberly9701]

That can be an aspect to it.

But there are activities through the day (and I can only speak specifically about Dream here) that are listed in the Navigator (though they never do have explanations LOL), and so DS goes for the specific things he knows he likes. We all go through the Navigator when we get it (you get it the night before the day listed, except for that first day) OR using the onboard free-wifi app (lists out all Navigators!), and we pick what things we want to do as a group or individually. then we make that happen.

We haven't yet given DS freedom on a cruiseship (though December he'll have it as he'll have aged out of the *kid* club on Royal Caribbean), so we drop him off and pick him up for those things.



And that does make sense.

Some single parents do find that a cruise (Disney or other lines) are ALSO perfect times to get time for *themselves* while the kids are having terrific times doing what they want to do. Like you're going to Palo and participating in the 5K (it's on-island for that...at Scuttle's Cove...he'll come off the ship with you and you'll drop him at Scuttle's on the way).



Yes, and on the app as well. I highly recommend the Navigator app just to get access to ALL Navigators from the first day! Helps with scheduling.

Thanks! I wasn't even planning on doing Palo..but after reading so much about it here it seems like a must do!
I'm nervous though...I love a good champagne brunch, and we had a lot of great options in South Florida.. I can't think of a Sunday pre kid when we weren't at one.lol. So hopefully it will be as good as everyone says! Either way I'm sure will be fine..it's been awhile for me.

 

[Kimberly9701]

my son, 5, lives for kids club! It's really the only reason we still cruise with DCL - it's HIS vacation; we just get the added benefit of enjoying the adult activities.

The only reason I am planning this entire trip is for my son. If it was my way we would be at Beaches St Lucia lol

 

[tonga]

We just did our first cruise with DCL. It was only a 3 night cruise, way too short, and my 7 year old son spent an hour or two in the kids club each day. He loved it! With such a short cruise, we wanted family time, and he wanted to be at the pool, riding the AquaDuck, doing the mid ship detective agency, up on the sports deck etc. He enjoyed his time in the club, and also enjoyed his time doing lots of other things.

Another thing we appreciated with DCL was the thought put into dinner seating arrangements. We have an only child DS, and they paired us with another family with an only child DS one month older than ours. It was perfect! DS had a buddy to talk to at dinner, and they convinced us to hit the sports deck for mini putt together every evening after dinner.

I actually recommend doing WDW after the cruise. We did a few days at WDW before the cruise, and a few more days after the cruise. Getting off that beautiful ship and going straight home would have been way too depressing for us. I could barely make myself disembark to go to WDW!

Edited to add that my son loves going to WDW, but is absolutely begging to go on another Disney cruise. If he had to choose between them, he would choose the cruise.

 

[hubbard53]

The only reason I am planning this entire trip is for my son. If it was my way we would be at Beaches St Lucia lol

im with you My wife and I enjoyed Sandals St. Lucia pre-child. We vowed that when we had a child we would make sure they can travel with us, eat with us, and just be a part of OUR life rather than vice versa. Of course we've had to compromise, but we've still been able to enjoy adult activities even when he's with us. DCL kids club is awesome and I believe it made our son open to ALL kid's clubs (even the Hilton Puerta Vallarta where he was the ONLY kid ). Since he's so easy, we feel comfortable branching out into other options.

 

[Kimberly9701]

I was fortunate to sail on DCL as a kid, and now as an adult as well, and I never used the clubs as a kid. I used the time to spend with my parents doing many of the millions of activities! We traveled a lot when I was a kid, and very few places we went even had kids clubs. Vacation was a time where I spent time with my parents since they both were gone for work a lot.

Thanks we travel as much as possible thru the year. Usually just weekends within a 5 hour radius.. And then about 15-16 nights of a "big" vacation. There's plenty of times on our trips where I'm still "working" a bit..but on the cruise I will be completely unavailable!!! Looking forward to that!

We just did our first cruise with DCL. It was only a 3 night cruise, way too short, and my 7 year old son spent an hour or two in the kids club each day. He loved it! With such a short cruise, we wanted family time, and he wanted to be at the pool, riding the AquaDuck, doing the mid ship detective agency, up on the sports deck etc. He enjoyed his time in the club, and also enjoyed his time doing lots of other things.

Another thing we appreciated with DCL was the thought put into dinner seating arrangements. We have an only child DS, and they paired us with another family with an only child DS one month older than ours. It was perfect! DS had a buddy to talk to at dinner, and they convinced us to hit the sports deck for mini putt together every evening after dinner.

I actually recommend doing WDW after the cruise. We did a few days at WDW before the cruise, and a few more days after the cruise. Getting off that beautiful ship and going straight home would have been way too depressing for us. I could barely make myself disembark to go to WDW!

Edited to add that my son loves going to WDW, but is absolutely begging to go on another Disney cruise. If he had to choose between them, he would choose the cruise.

Oh I'm so happy to read this!!! The WDW portion is going to be a total surprise for him. Santa is leaving a gift in our stateroom on the last morning.. It will contain our magic bands.

 

[annacali]

Another single parent here. We went on our first Disney cruise on the Fantasy last summer. My kids spent no time in the kids clubs all week, other than a brief "check it out" walk through on embarkation day. My girls were 10 and 12 at the time and both felt too old for the club/lab but the Edge was full that week so my 10 yo was not allowed in. So they skipped it entirely. I don't think we missed it---we had a wonderful time on the cruise without the clubs! I didn't do any of the "adults only stuff" but I figure I can do that when they are grown

 

[Kimberly9701]

We just did our first cruise with DCL. It was only a 3 night cruise, way too short, and my 7 year old son spent an hour or two in the kids club each day. He loved it! With such a short cruise, we wanted family time, and he wanted to be at the pool, riding the AquaDuck, doing the mid ship detective agency, up on the sports deck etc. He enjoyed his time in the club, and also enjoyed his time doing lots of other things.

Another thing we appreciated with DCL was the thought put into dinner seating arrangements. We have an only child DS, and they paired us with another family with an only child DS one month older than ours. It was perfect! DS had a buddy to talk to at dinner, and they convinced us to hit the sports deck for mini putt together every evening after dinner.

I actually recommend doing WDW after the cruise. We did a few days at WDW before the cruise, and a few more days after the cruise. Getting off that beautiful ship and going straight home would have been way too depressing for us. I could barely make myself disembark to go to WDW!

Edited to add that my son loves going to WDW, but is absolutely begging to go on another Disney cruise. If he had to choose between them, he would choose the cruise.

I'm hoping the same will happen with me on the seating arrangements!

 

[yelnad]

My girls were 5 & 7 last year and we had to drag them away from the kids club every time. "Come back in another hour, Mom." They went for a few hours every day...their choice. It was actually the first vacation with kids that we have gone on that we actually felt like we had been on vacation when we returned. So much that we are going back in 2 weeks!

 

[Snowwhyt]

I read a few comments yesterday that have been making me think, which is never a good thing

Here's the question-
I am not planning on my son using the kids club more than twice on our 7night Fantasy Western Caribbean.
Once while I do a Palo brunch and a little spa time.
And again when I run the 5k.

So the discussion was if DCL or WDW is a better vacay for kids. We are doing 4 nights at the contemporary after our cruise (I know people say you shouldn't go to WDW post cruise, but I don't want the Thanksgiving crowds of the pre cruise week). In said discussion were statements that if your kids don't frequent the clubs then DCL is a waste.
The thing is-- the entire reason we chose DCL is because of the family entertainment outside of the kids clubs. If that wasn't the case we would be doing an entirely different itinerary on another line.

Experienced DCL travelers- will there still be enough for a 6 year old to enjoy?

So nice on DCL it's a a great family vacation. Have you had a chance to look at a navigator? That will give you a glimpse at things that happen all day in the clubs and all day for family activities. You won't regret ANYTHING. Be sure to bring 2 color highers or he won't be able to get everything in that he wants to do.
Find a navigator it's going to help you relax so much. They have them posted on DISboard.

 

[tlprice]

I am also a single parent and took my daughter(8) on our first cruise last December. The whole trip was a surprise. We did 3 days at Universal, then a 4 night cruise, then 6 days at WDW. The cruise was the only place we really were able to relax. She loved the kids club, but we spent a lot of time together too. Our only problem with our cruise in December was that it was too short. There is SO much to do! We are going on a 7 day cruise in October. Can't wait!

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[summerrluvv]

I don't know why you wouldn't want to use the club. We didn't use it as a "babysitting" service, but more of an extension of the fun. Last Summer my daughter attended a bunch of great stuff in there on our 5 night. Circus training, soap bar car racing on a track, flubber making, Pajama party with Pluto (complete with a free Pluto's PJ Party pillowcase", hula dancing with Stitch, cooking events, etc. So much fun in there!! We often go in together for the family open houses to play also.

 

[butterfly71076]

My son loved the kids club! Ever since we booked our next cruise, he's been talking about going back. He loved all the different activities. Super sloppy science was his favorite. He loved going after dinner, he thought it was so cool that the CM's came just to get him (and the other kids too!) We spent a lot of time as a family, but, it is his vacation too and I want him to do some things that he wants. And he wanted to go play in the kids club!

 

[darnheather]

Use the club! Even if it's just to have an hour to yourself after breakfast it is so nice. I went to the gym or swam laps in the adult pool.