Disney Cruise Line Kids Programs – Cool Stuff For Kids

Author: Randy

You can read more about this topic, as well as many other family cruising topics, in our new book–Cruising With Kids: A Guide To The Perfect Family Cruise Vacation. Visit our dedicated Cruising With Kids website for more details.

Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab, serving kids aged 3-12 has to be one of the most comprehensive programs at sea. With few exceptions, there are activities from 9AM until Midnight each day and there are even activities when you’re out at Castaway Cay. With a nursery program for infants and toddlers under 3 years of age (they change diapers) and a teen program for the rest of the family, you’re likely to please just about everyone.

Recently, Disney announced the elimination of age groups in its Oceaneer program. From what I saw, this was a smart move. Kids aged 3-12 are welcomed in both clubs and therefore have a wider range of activities available to them. Parents can also accompany their kids to any activity. On top of that, the wee ones under 3 can also take advantage of these activities so long as they are supervised by an adult. Those features simply are not available on other cruise lines. Disney also accepts infants at 12 weeks old, again, not available on most cruise lines.

The Oceaneer Club is equipped with an arts and crafts room that also serves as the computer center for the younger kids. In the main area, there is a huge pirate slide, a stage with dance floor (also used for activities) and an area to the side with a smaller slide and other toys to climb on. Even the bathrooms are cool – pint sized sinks and toilets make kids feel more welcomed. There is lots of space to play, so if your child feels comfortable in a more confined environment, this may make them a bit nervous.

The Oceaneer Lab is high tech with more computers, lab workstations for the various experiments that they perform (like Flubber and making cookies) and plenty of activity space to hook up with friends. Off of the main area there are interactive video games with plenty of seating for spectators.

For the older kids there is Aloft, a cool nightclub type hangout in the funnel above Deck 10 and a video game arcade. For the youngest of sailors, there is Flounder’s Reef Nursery. With lots of ride-on and age appropriate (safe) toys to play with in addition to a napping area, Disney provides a fun and safe place for just $6/hr. Each family is limited to 10 hours in Flounder’s Nursery for a 3 day cruise.

You can register your kids in advance online, then pickup their high-tech bracelet and pager in the terminal or onboard. Flounder’s Reef also allows advanced reservation and they are highly recommended (you may adjust times once onboard). Security is tight, so your child will be scanned at each check-in and you’ll have to provide your cruise card and password at check-out. The clubs are well staffed, so individual attention is possible if you have a child with special needs. Amazingly, our 4 year-old son finally was able to remain in the Oceaneer Club alone on the third day of the cruise. This is a pretty big accomplishment and would not have been possible without the Disney staff.

In addition to the programs described above, Disney also gears many of its activities toward families too. The nightly shows are all kid friendly, there are also special family activities such as a dance party, game shows and family bingo. If you want to vacation on a cruise as a family, with family activities and a huge variety of kids activities, Disney is definitely the place.

You can read more about this topic, as well as many other family cruising topics, in our new book–Cruising With Kids: A Guide To The Perfect Family Cruise Vacation. Visit our dedicated Cruising With Kids website for more details.