Oceaneer Club

[RLP66]

We're still in the researching phase of planning a Disney cruise. I wanted to know how well the kids clubs are supervised on Disney? Do they have a decent amount of staff for the kids in the clubs? My main concern is that they let the kids switch back and forth between the two age groups. The age range is 3 - 12 from what I understand. Our son will be six when we go next year and I really was hoping he would be in a group with kids closer to his age. I would love to hear about other's experiences with the kids club.

[Loonbeam]

3-12 is the overall age range for the Oceaneer Program, but when we saw them they were in smaller groups by age, each with a counselor (we had a teen with us). How they break up the groups may depend a lot on the number of kids on board in each age range. If there are a lot of 6 year olds, they may be one group, but if he is one of just a few I could see them being matched up in a 5-8 group for example.

 

We're still in the researching phase of planning a Disney cruise. I wanted to know how well the kids clubs are supervised on Disney? Do they have a decent amount of staff for the kids in the clubs? My main concern is that they let the kids switch back and forth between the two age groups. The age range is 3 - 12 from what I understand. Our son will be six when we go next year and I really was hoping he would be in a group with kids closer to his age. I would love to hear about other's experiences with the kids club.

[moki'smommy]

While the age group in the space is 3-12, there are activities with much smaller "suggested" age ranges. In addition, there is an overlap in the spaces so that the Edge is for 11-14s and the Vibe is for 14-17s. Thus, an 11 or 12 year old can make a decision (with parental consent) as to which space is better suited to that child.

 

The problem is that no matter where DCL drew the line, there were always unhappy families who felt that their child had to be with a sibling/cousin/friend or that their child was much more developmentally advanced than the others in the group. DCL tried several different divisions between the OC and the Lab before finally doing the big age spread. While there may be 12 year olds in the Club area, they are unlikely to choose an activity geared to 3-5 year olds.

 

And yes, the kids are WELL supervised with staff usually exceeding DCL's requirements.

[jrm9999]

Our 3, 6, and 8 year old are always in the same areas and able to roam where they want in the club. Sometimes they do activities together, sometimes not. There is a ton of staff around supervising everything. Your kids will love it and have a blast. They will not have an issue with other ages or the age mix.

[jrm9999]

I should clarify this is on the Dream and Fantasy. I can't speak for the clubs on the magic or wonder as our kids were too small to go there last time we sailed on them.

[RLP66]

Thank you everyone for your replies. I feel much better about the idea of him going to the kids clubs.

[Bowie MeMe]

We're still in the researching phase of planning a Disney cruise. I wanted to know how well the kids clubs are supervised on Disney? Do they have a decent amount of staff for the kids in the clubs? My main concern is that they let the kids switch back and forth between the two age groups. The age range is 3 - 12 from what I understand. Our son will be six when we go next year and I really was hoping he would be in a group with kids closer to his age. I would love to hear about other's experiences with the kids club.

 

We got off the Dream on Thursday August 8, 2013. We traveled as a party of 8 with two grandchildren a boy 4 years old and a girl 11 years old. The children's centers were over about 3/4 of a deck. There were rooms that looked to me (I'm and ES teacher Headstart to 5th grade) to be appropriate for preschoolers -- especially Andy's Room with a giant climbable race car, piggybank, dog slinky climbing toy, and Mr Potato Heads large and small. this was a great place for 4 yo especially when it was "open house" times and Mommy could accompany the child. Secure times are when staff has planned activities and children are checked in and out by the bracelets on their wrist. Once DGD wanted to take DGS to the science lab for Professor Make a mess and when we dropped off the 4 yo they went on the computer and located the 11 yo and a staff member went and found her and brought her to the desk (GPS?). I felt that both kids were very secure and they both liked the rooms and activities very much. Mostly they wanted to be with the big family group doing character meets and AquaDuck and the 4 yo still did naps. The shows were great and dinners took about 2 hours total so the days are packed -- no boredom only picking which of many activities to do.

 

This was without a doubt the very best family vacation ever and one of the best cruises (I've been over 200 days on cruise ships) too! You and your child will have so much to do and so many neat experiences your only worry will be the possibility of exhaustion. Being the first week of August, there were just about the maximum number of kids possible on the ship and there were some huge groups within families but I did not see much of pushy people and very few obnoxious kids or adults. Everyone having a ball and wanting everybody else to be happy too! Disney magical vacation:D

[drb116]

Just to be clear, on the Fantasy and Dream, the kids can go back and forth between the club and lab on their own, but on the Wonder and Magic, the connecting hallway is off limits for kids.

[kurukthemal]

We just got off the Dream last week with three girls - 8, 6 and 5. They all did great and went back and forth several times. The staffing is wonderful and our girls never wanted to leave.

[dcollette]

Our experience with the club in the past is that there is a terrific staff, plenty of them and you will have a hard time getting your kids OUT of the club--they will have that much fun! We've had kids from tots to teens and they all had a blast. The reason Disney allows the 3-12 to be technically together is so that siblings and relatives/friends can play together when needed. Most other cruise lines have very rigid rules regarding age groups.

[wildcatlh]

Just to be clear, on the Fantasy and Dream, the kids can go back and forth between the club and lab on their own, but on the Wonder and Magic, the connecting hallway is off limits for kids.

 

The kids were allowed to use the connecting hallway when we went on the Wonder this past February...

[awaywego0000]

The kids were allowed to use the connecting hallway when we went on the Wonder this past February...

 

Kids were allowed to use the connecting hallway on Magic last summer but I believe they were escorted by staff.

[moki'smommy]

Kids were allowed to use the connecting hallway on Magic last summer but I believe they were escorted by staff.

 

This was our most recent experience also (staff escort). And none of us knows how the Magic will be working after the September dry dock. THere are major changes planned for the kid areas.

[coldflame]

We're still in the researching phase of planning a Disney cruise. I wanted to know how well the kids clubs are supervised on Disney? Do they have a decent amount of staff for the kids in the clubs? My main concern is that they let the kids switch back and forth between the two age groups. The age range is 3 - 12 from what I understand. Our son will be six when we go next year and I really was hoping he would be in a group with kids closer to his age. I would love to hear about other's experiences with the kids club.

 

OC and OL are fantastic. Our oldest (8) absolutely loves it. They have all sorts of GUIDED entertainment there for them. They have mini theater plays, how-to-cook, character interaction, crafts and so forth. They have abundant supervision and they are extremelly strict who can check your kid in and out. Trust me, your kid will have a ball there -- all kids do.

[Gardeneroflove]

DD was only 14 months, so we just did open house with the club/lab. That said, the staff was GREAT! Once she's older, we likely will allow her to go, if she asks (and meets our requirements). I was impressed. They had no issues with us playing with her or with her running around. I'm hoping the staff is as great on the Wonder.