Disney Cruise Kids Clubs
It took a long time for me to warm up to the idea of kids clubs. The whole point of a family vacation is to spend time together, right? Perhaps I was scarred from seeing two miserable kids half-heartedly make sandcastles with a bored Mexican teenager while on my honeymoon. I was certain I’d never dump MY kids off while on vacation.
Once my daughter started nursery school (and would pretend not to see me when I’d come to pick her up) I knew that kids clubs would be a part of our lives. That’s usually the first place she asks to go to when we go anywhere… insert Marge Simpson grumble here…
Disney Does It Right
Kids clubs and children’s activities at resorts and on cruises differ wildly in quality and sometimes cost extra. Disney cruise kids club experiences are very highly regarded. The Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab on the Disney Fantasy is probably the most awesome I’ve seen for kids 3-12. My daughter concurs. Access is included in your cruise fare.
Oceaneer Club + Oceaneer Lab
Located on Deck 5, the Oceaneer Club and Lab are side by side, and supervise children from ages 3-12. This is a pretty big span but the supervisors group the kids according to ages and abilities. In a nutshell, Oceaneer Lab offers more structured programs. According to the (lovely) Cast Members that operate the Oceaneer’s facilities, typically younger kids prefer the Club, and older kids like the Lab.
My (then) 6yo. daughter agreed. All kids, including the three-year-olds, need to be potty-trained. However, they will make exceptions for younger siblings if they want to stay with big brother or big sister, you have to promise to stop by and check every hour to see if they need changing. Luckily Bub was happy to go to the It’s A Small World Nursery, so our daughter got to immerse herself in the Oceaneer fun without little brother cramping her style 😉
Disney Cruise Kids Clubs: Getting Started
On the first day, register your children at the club and they are wristbanded. The wristband stays on for the duration of your cruise (it is sand and waterproof). For your convenience, you can pre-register your kids online. Check under “My Cruise Plans” in your online cruise profile for the option for registering.
Children with special needs can be accommodated at the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab. Notify the staff and they will make special arrangements as best they can. Children can move back and forth between the Club and the Lab, and the staff will direct appropriate activities for all.
Security
There are special “open house” times where parents and other family members can come in and participate with the kids and check out what they’re doing. Outside of those times the Club and Lab are secure environments. Adults are not permitted inside.
Consult The Navigator (your daily e-newsletter) for Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab hours of operation and schedules. If you (or they) prefer, kids can have lunch and dinner there too.
The Spaces
On the Oceaner Club side, you’ll find Andy’s Room, Monster’s Academy, Pixie Hollow, and Disney’s Explorer Pod. There is a reading area, computer banks, a small stage for games, multiple televisions, play structures, colouring, dress-up costumes, and a giant (and I do mean giant) TV screen.
Over on the Oceaneer Lab side, there’s a media room with bean bag chairs and so kids can watch movies, play video games or read, a working animation studio where kids can create original art or learn to sketch their favorite Disney characters, a tech space with numerous computers and large, high-definition LCD screens, a sound studio to create music, and a craft area (my daughter’s favourite!) with the biggest supply of crafty-type materials I’ve ever seen.
Scuttle’s Cove, on Castaway Cay, is the island’s extension of the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab. The staff transfer over to the island for those days at port, and you can enroll your kids there if you’d prefer some grown up time on the beach.
I was highly impressed by the Disney Cruise kids club offerings on the Disney Fantasy. The rooms were spotless, the staff amazing, and the activities and amenities impressive. It’s all included in the fare.
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See Also:
- Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Fantasy Cruise
- It’s a Small World Disney Cruise Baby Club
- Character Dining with Toddlers
- Disney World Tips & Tricks for Visiting with Three Young Kids
- Tips for Disney with Toddlers
- Can You Enjoy Walt Disney World If You Hate Theme Parks?
- Best Walt Disney World Rides for Babies & Toddlers
- A Complete Guide to Canada’s Wonderland with a Baby or Toddler
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