What's with all of the "adults only" stuff on the DISNEY cruises?

[ilovetexas]

I don't get it... I'm going with my KIDS on a DISNEY cruise... why are there so many adult sections and restaurants on the ship? My kids want to spend the whole time with us and I feel like it cuts off part of the boat for us...

Am I the only one who is confused by this? If you want adults-only why don't you go on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

Ethan

Because most people are not attached at the hip to their kids 24/7; the kids don't like it and neither do the adults. Disney ships are designed for families but they have spaces reserved not only just for adults, but just for kids as well. This is no different from CCL, RCCL, or NCL (I'm guessing, never been on NCL).

I'm not sure why you think RCCL is an adults-only cruise line. Do you think RCCL put Dreamworks or Barbie on their ships to appeal to adults?

http://www.royalcaribbean.com/contentSitelet.do?cS=NAVBAR&pnav=1&snav=14&pagename=dreamworks_main
http://www.royalcaribbean.com/statichtmlpage.do?pagename=barbie
http://www.royalcaribbean.com/contentSitelet.do?cS=NAVBAR&pnav=1&snav=4&pagename=main_family

Plus, DH and I just celebrated our anniversary on the Fantasy last year...and left our kids at home. A lot of people travel DCL without children.

Even when we do cruise with our kids, they go one way and we go another. Occasionally we meet up for activities during the day (not all of them at once, they each do whatever they want), always for dinner at night and shore excursions. OUR idea of a family vacation is everyone getting to relax and have a good time. My children deserve to have a vacation, too, and their idea of fun is not hanging around with us all the time. This is something cruise lines do a fantastic job of, providing a vacation for everyone.

If you want families-only, perhaps you should take a land vacation and design our own outings and control your surroundings. That way, seeing other people enjoy spaces reserved for "adults only" or "kids only" won't bother you or your children.

 

[Lobofan5]

We did our first family Disney cruise when our kids were 11 and 14. They loved the kids activities so much we pretty much saw them at dinner.

My 11 year old liked the kids clubs so much he didn't even get off the ship when we docked in Costa Maya. My kids enjoyed the freedom to come and go as they pleased and we all agree it was the best family vacation we ever took!

As long as they followed Mom's only rule, "Stay away from the railings" I had 100 percent confidence that they were safe and happy at all times.

 

[lucyem]

Not only that, there are times when our kids have been doing things in the kid's club. Free time for mom and dad.

Like you, we spend alot of time together as a family, there are times when we like to get away for date night or some adult conversation.

This. We do not have a babysitter or nearby grandparents and for us to be able to go out for dinner alone is just We have not had a date night outside of a kids club in over 2 years.

 

[rcchello]

Independent of what we like as a couple with grown up kids, Disney has to appeal to adult couples or not run longer cruises. As the length of the cruises increase the percentage of families with kids decrease.

The transatlantic cruises are mostly people without kids.

Even when my kids were little, we always spent a couple of days at Disney without them. One vacation a year with the kids and a short one without them.

Also, if you look closely as Disney advertising, there are multiple focuses and one is always Disney for lovers ( weddings, honeymoons, and couples). Disney makes tons of money on childless vacations!

 

[AlexandNessa]

I don't get it... I'm going with my KIDS on a DISNEY cruise... why are there so many adult sections and restaurants on the ship? My kids want to spend the whole time with us and I feel like it cuts off part of the boat for us...

Am I the only one who is confused by this? If you want adults-only why don't you go on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

Ethan

So many? There are vey few. Hardly a hardship to have a few kid-free zones. Disney is for families. Not all families have children.

 

[JustTJ]

We've cruised 6 cruises thus far with DCL. My youngest is now 9yrs old. He always LOVED the kids clubs, but our most recent cruise last month, he preferred the "out of the clubs" activities which meant he was mostly with either my DH or myself or both of us, doing and going to various activities. In all of the 7 days of this cruise, he spent a total of about 2 hours in the club. I don't know why he wasn't into it this time around, but he had a ball on this cruise none the less, with us! I never did get to the adult only events this time and really didn't feel like I missed anything either

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

No I was referring more to the "maybe it's not right for us" because it sounds like a lot of the kids activities involve us dropping them off... i just want to make sure there are enough family activities for people like us who like to stay together.

My kids are older now (13 and 10), but they have been cruising DCL and other lines since they were 7 and 4. They have never enjoyed the kids' clubs very much, and we generally spend the vacation together. On our Dream cruise last month, DH and I enjoyed the adult-only area for about an hour while our DDs got pedicures at the Teen Spa - it was the first time we have done any adult-only things on a cruise (except cruises we took before the kids were born). We enjoy our time with them on vacation, and we still enjoy time together by the pool while the kids are swimming or riding the aquaduck.

There are tons of things to do together. You can use the clubs as a family during open house times, go swimming, see the shows, play mini-golf (on the newer ships), ride the aquaduck together (newer ships), see characters, explore the ship, do the Midship Detective Agency (newer ships), and explore the ports. We have always had a great time with our kids on the ships.

 

[tink too]

Independence is a good thing and it's certainly a fun thing on a Disney cruise. IMO, if you don't take your kids to try out the clubs, they are missing out. If they don't enjoy the club, pick them up and keep them with you.

Lots of activities for kids, adults and families. You will not be bored.

I totally agree with this. Perhaps if you are unsure if your kids would enjoy the club, why not visit one of the open house times with them. If they like it, offer them the chance to go without you when it is "kids only" time (you would of course be taking them there and picking them up again).

If they are not having fun or are anxious, they can ask the CM's to contact you and advise that they wish to be picked up.

Our DD loves the clubs, but she also likes to hang out at the pool with us or take part in the family activities - bingo with her dad, animation class with me and likes to have her meals with us as a whole family.

In 3 (longer) cruises, we've been to the bar at night once, been to 1 "adult only" show and have visited the spa 3 times. DH has used the "adult only" pool area a few times while we've been off doing princess themed activities. We've never visited any of the adult only dining choices.

There is plenty to do without visiting the adult areas - and I have not missed using them even though we have had the opportunity to do so.

I would say go on your cruise, relax, maybe try some new things and I'm sure you'll all have fun - no matter if you're always together or if you do some things as individuals.

 

[EPCOTatNight]

So many? There are vey few. Hardly a hardship to have a few kid-free zones. Disney is for families. Not all families have children.

Perhaps the OP confused a multitude of threads with a multitude of adult areas. There aren't that many. On another note, I am an overprotective parent and don't leave my son with ANYONE, not even family. I would never goann ANY vaction without him. I had the same mentality as the OP before my 1st cruise. NOT ANYMORE. My DS is an only child and spends a lot of time with us. I was surprised at how comfortable I felt with the clubs and the CM's and had no problem leaving him there. And he REALLY enjoyed it. My wife and I rarely had any alone time together before then. Now we relish it. Op, consider the fact that your kids might actually enjoy being away from you, even if it's for just an hour or 2.

 

[com_op_2000]

Having been on seven DCLs and only one of those with a DGC (teen), I can say my DW and I absolutly love having adult only areas of the ship.
We do not mind the kids being around, you hear them:
in the halls
at meals
at shows/movies
next door in their room
etc.
We like that we can get away and hear ourselves talking.
All this being said, next trip we are taking our DGC (2), will spend the whole trip in the kids areas, and are excited to do so.

 

[KarenMP59]

We have cruised on DCL both with and without our kids. When we went on our first cruise our kids were 7-16. They found that they didn't like the kids' clubs as much as they liked hanging with us and their siblings. Having four kids means they can't all go to the same clubs with each other. We were fine with that. We found plenty to do with them as a family and didn't miss the adult areas at all. We did 4 cruises over the years with some or all of the kids. Now that they are all grown up, we still go on DCL without them. We have a totally different type of cruise and we love it just as much (ok more...) than we did with the kids. We love to walk by the family pool and then keep on going!!!

 

[lbgraves]

... As far as night time activities, how can we do that with a 5/7 year old? We can't just leave them in the room alone while they sleep.

The kid clubs operate until at least midnight, and while my kids did have an earlier bedtime at home, on the ship they are on vacation also. As long as DS woke up in a decent mood in the morning when we had to get up for an excursion, he was able to stay in the club until closing.

We started cruising when the kids were 3 & 5. DS5 loved the club but DD3 didn't care for it. DH traveled for work and she wanted to spend time with him, which was fine with us because we did pick DCL for the family. DS even begged to stay in the club when we wanted to walk around the port area one day, and after thinking about it a while we let him. Why make him go shopping in the heat with all the fun stuff to do there? That cruise DD was with at least one of us the entire time. We didn't run out of activities, even on the classic ship. I went on a galley tour that first cruise, but besides that never saw any adult only areas. Now that the kids are 12 & 14 we have started being able to go to the nightclub for the adult show and even spend a little time at the adult pool. I am determined to actually see Serenity Bay next month!!! It will be our 10th stop at CC, but I have enjoyed every single previous one even though we stayed at the family beach with the kids and friends. I don't feel that we missed out on anything the many cruises we go anywhere but Palo without at least one of the kids.

No I was referring more to the "maybe it's not right for us" because it sounds like a lot of the kids activities involve us dropping them off... i just want to make sure there are enough family activities for people like us who like to stay together.

You can check out the navigators to see what is planned during the day. http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/cruise-new/cr-stateroom-navigator.htm Enjoy the almost empty pools on port days if you return to the ship in the morning, or delay getting off the ship. DD loved being at the pool and had it to herself many mornings. When we needed to get her out of the sun, there were activities in the atrium, Studio Sea and even the movies. We have also had a lot of fun watching the kids attempt to play shuffleboard over the years. On the new ships there is the detective agency game, which is interactive.

Coming up is our 4th DCL cruise with DS's family. DS, DDiL do not just let the kids go off on their own. There are times they were with the kids in a club. Maybe this has changed?

The policy has changed. A little over a year ago DCL stopped allowing adults into the secured kids programming. They have open house times designated each day when adults can take their children, but kids have to be with an adult to even enter the area during that time.

 

[maria-fan-22]

What's with all the kids spaces on board?

Disney cruises are not just for kids, so they offer exclusive spaces for each age group as well as spaces for the whole family. And the adult lounges are only adults only after 6pm or so. They use those lounges for events during the day.

 

[meajuly5]

No I was referring more to the "maybe it's not right for us" because it sounds like a lot of the kids activities involve us dropping them off... i just want to make sure there are enough family activities for people like us who like to stay together.

There is lots to do together. The way the ships are set up affords plenty of flexibility. You can enjoy the kids areas with your children during open house hours. See the shows together. Enjoy some if the areas that are adult only at night during the day. Use the family areas. Explore the ports together. I didn't see the adult only areas other than the spa fir two hours on my first cruise and had more than enough to do with movies, trivia, characters, shows, pools etc.

 

[GrammyGee]

We were on the Dream in January with our daughter, son-in-law and two granddaughters 5 and 7. My husband and I sailed on the Dream last January and loved all the adult only areas but knew that this would be a fun family trip. The 5 year old was worried about going because she thought "mommy would have to stay in the adult areas and I would have to stay in the kids areas and we would never see each other". Once her mommy assured her that they would stay together, she was fine. We had a wonderful trip - we checked out Oceaneers Club at the Open House before sailing but it had too many computer areas and that would be too tempting for the 7 year old. We found so many great activities for all of us to do together - character meet and greets, movies,Midship Detective Agency, stage shows, AquaDuck, the dance party with the characters on the day at sea, fireworks....it was an incredible trip. But it's also nice to know that when my husband and I want a Disney quality cruise (we have sailed other cruise lines but nobody does it like Disney) we can have areas where we can be away from tons of kids and have a quiet experience. Debbie

 

[neg58]

DCL makes a lot of money from the adult only areas - spa, clubs, cove cafe, palos, remys. By providing a club for adults only, guests are more likely to go there and order a drink. Or six.

I'm not a big drinker and don't usually drink when my kids are around (because I never drive after I've been drinking and when my kids are around, I'm ALWAYS driving). If I were with a group of just adults, in the clubs, I'd order a drink. I'm taking my mother and an older cousin on a cruise soon and I'm already planning on doing several tastings, going to palos, hanging out in the rainforest.

Disney has to play the percentages. When I cruised with just my 17 year old, Disney would have made more money off me if they let her in Palos, in the spa, even in the clubs. But the majority of the guests don't want anyone under 18 in those areas so Disney goes with what the majority wants and I saved my money and we did the family things. When she's 18, things will change a little on how we spend our on-board dollars. She was okay with the clubs but spent little time there and will enjoy the adult activities more.

Nancy

 

[McDonald5]

For us, it works out perfectly because my DH works 6 days a week and only gets 1 week of vacation a year. We don't have much money for vacations so this will be a VERY big deal for us (will be our first and prob only disney cruise we'll ever be able to afford). We have family and friends that get the opportunity to take weekend trips that are adults only and then they take vacations with their kids too, which is great, but we just don't have that option.

We adore our kids and every year we go to the outer banks for vacation and spend every minute with them. It's awesome and we all have so much fun. But, I am a SAHM and have spent the last 8 years doing nothing but take care of their every need and spend every waking minute with them (even the two that are in school can't get rid of me b/c I volunteer in their classes every week). I think that when we pay thousands of dollars for a vacation, my DH and I have earned a couple hours of peace and quiet and relaxation where we aren't worrying that someone will drown or having to listen to the whining and fighting, or having to rinse sand out of someones eyes, etc. I'm really looking forward to getting a couple hours at the adult pool and hopefully even a couple hours on the adult beach. We might even try to check out a bar after dinner one night if there isn't a show/movie we all want to see. We aren't the kind that will have them in there all day and night long but to have a little break (for everyone!) will definitely be nice.

Not to mention, our kids are really looking forward to going to the kids club areas. They look at the pics online and drool. I dare say, they will have more fun in the clubs than with their boring parents or in the over-crowded pools. BUT with that being said, if by some chance they hate it, we'll be more than happy to just spend that time with them.

 

[jo_de_vil]

We are going on our 1st Disney Cruise in Oct Me DH DS8, the reason we are going is DS want to go to the kids only area so much, Which makes me a little sad but hey I can't keep him forever!!! We tend to do everything as a family and I think it maybe us at a lose, But I love the idea select areas and maybe we expect a lot from him we like to dine at the signature restaurants at WDW and we know he will act appropriately. So I will be able to relax more knowing when DS is playing and having fun in either the Kids area or Family area we won't be spoiling things for the Adults only, because if kids are playing and having fun (I don't mean being naughty) then adults can't get upset you can go to you own area and get out of ours, LOL. But its only 221 days away!!! TTFN Jo

 

[mom2jcg]

I don't get it... I'm going with my KIDS on a DISNEY cruise... why are there so many adult sections and restaurants on the ship? My kids want to spend the whole time with us and I feel like it cuts off part of the boat for us...

Am I the only one who is confused by this? If you want adults-only why don't you go on a Royal Caribbean cruise?

Ethan

I get where you're coming from. There have been several threads on this board lately where adults are really upset by kids being in adults only areas, which makes it seem if there are many. We have only been on one cruise (on the Dream) and we are one of those families that really enjoys being together. We feel like we run in so many directions in the real world, we WANT to be together on vacation. And that's perfectly fine, just as it's perfectly fine if you need a break from the kids. I can tell you that the ship was so huge, we didn't feel as if we missed out on anything. We had an absolute blast spending most of our time together as a family. That being said, our kids did enjoy going to the clubs without us, but they never stayed long.

I think hearing so much complaining about kids in adult areas makes it seem like there are more restricted areas than there actually are. I can't speak for the classic ships, but we barely even noticed it on the Dream. You can go, spend the whole time with your kids, and not feel like you're missing a thing. The adult areas are very much geared to adults, and I believe your kids would find them boring anyway.

 

[Started With a Mouse]

LOL, my daughter can't wait to be separated from me; she would forgo meals/sleep/pool for the kids clubs if I would let her.

Yep, mine too.