Disney Cruise Lines - Activities for Kids

by Tracy Woods | More from this Blogger

26 Nov 2006 12:19 AM

Hello Disney blog readers! My name is Tracy, and I will be joining you all here as a blogger. I work for the Mouse now, at the Cruise Line, so my intention is to provide you with tips, tricks, and news regarding Disney Cruise Lines mostly, but also interesting facts and history about the Man, The Mouse, and the company. I love this company, and I always have loved everything Disney. I really am one of the "Big Kids" as we call them. Put me in the middle of the Magic Kingdom, and I swear I am five years old again, on my very first trip to Walt Disney World, in 1985, for my birthday with my mother and sister. My mom still has my first set of ears I think.

So let me kick things off with a few interesting bits of information about Disney Cruise Lines, regarding activities on board-what to do with kids if you want time to yourself, or want to maximize their fun! The youth activities on board are for all ages...they have separate groups for kids of all ages.

Flounder's Nursery is for the littlest ones. No, this isn't just a room where a bunch of frowning teens sit and watch your kids and just make sure they aren't hurt. This nursery is really nice, and Disney employs Cast Members that really love kids, and know how to interact with them on their level. For kids a little older, aged 3 to 7, there's the Oceaneer Club, with lots of activities for kids to enjoy. There are frequent character appearances, an indoor playground area, arts, crafts, fun, games, and learning activities. They do short shows for the kids, and on 7-night cruises there's even a pajama party!

The Oceaneer Lab is designed with kids ages 8 to 12 in mind. In the Oceaneer lab, there are video games, interactive learning activities, soap-bar races, and a chance to make your very own FLUBBER! For the older kids of this group, there are activities where they can learn how Disney animations are created, and then they can make their very own animation cell! This lab is really fun for all! Of course, counselors are always there to supervise, to guide, and to promote FUN!

Ocean Quest is a really unique youth activity area, where kids ages 10 to 14 can kick back and hang out, and can "steer" the cruise! This area is a replica of the ship's bridge, with LCD screen windows where kids can sit in the captain's chair and steer the ship with interactive software! They can also watch age appropriate family shows and movies, hang out and play games with other kids their age, play family friendly video games, and do arts and crafts!

Then there's the teens. Disney hasn't forgotten about them! Aloft and The Stack are teen only (13-17) "hangout" areas, designed to look and feel like a teen's dorm room and loft apartment mixed. Teens can watch TV, hangout, play games, watch movies, sing and dance, and there's even an internet café. Counselors are carefully selected so that teens feel at ease and comfortable around them, and feel that they can be themselves, instead of feeling as though they are being babysat. Teens also have their own club on board. There are teen only pool parties and celebrations on board as well.

With all youth activities, parents can feel at ease knowing their kids are safe. Teens can be given their parents' permission to come and go as they please, as can older kids. Parents are given pagers with their own numbers so they can be contacted at any time, and kids are given wrist bands. Parents can also set up a password, as an extra measure of security when they go to pick up the kids.

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Valorie Delp (49340) 26 Nov 2006 05:20 AM

Great blog Tracy! While I can certainly appreciate having activities for the kids so you can get them out of your hair a bit. . .I hope that you will do another blog on things people can do as a family! Specifically--a really large family! ;-) Welcome to families.com! (And if you really run out of things to blog about. . .we are visiting disneyworld in March and I would love ideas!)

Tracy Woods (772) 27 Nov 2006 08:38 AM

Valorie, I will certainly do a blog on what to do as a family, and one for just the adults to do as well! I will also blow on Disney World! You picked a great time of year...the weather in FL is usually very nice in March...not chilly, but not too hot either!

I love the ideas, and anyone who has any "requests" is more than welcome! I really want to write about what YOU, the readers want to know!