Hi there, Rochell!
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! I am so excited that you stopped by with your question about setting sail with Captain Mickey! A Disney Cruise Line vacation is a MAGICal and WONDERful adventure where all your DREAMs can come true while exploring the most FANTAStic destinations!
There are so many great things about a Disney Cruise Line vacation but one of the main things that keeps my family coming back voyage after voyage are the onboard
Youth Clubs. Not only are they
included with your reservation (although the nursery does have a nominal fee for the littlest cruisers), but they are so much fun! Being able to drop our boys off at the Oceaneer Club and Lab where I know that they will have so much fun and be so well taken care of is such a great amenity! We often struggle to get our boys to leave because they are simply having such a great time! They love the games, they love the activities, they love the new friends they make, and they love the counselors who are just so great and make each little one feel welcome!
The Oceaneer Club and Lab are extremely secure during secured programming. To check in, they will scan their Oceaneer Band (similar to a MagicBand at Walt Disney World Resort) that will check them into the space which is closed off by an electronic passage gate that the counselors must open for them to pass through. Then when you come to pick them up you will have to not only show your Key to the World card (which they will scan) but also provide a secret word that will allow your child to be checked out to you – or anyone else that you have provided authorization when you complete their registration and the secret word to. Additionally, there are sensors throughout the space that allows them to inform you where they are in the space so they can always be aware of where they are at any time. We will often stop by to ensure that our boys aren’t glued to the televisions or video games, and they can easily inform us based on their location in the space.
There are also scheduled Open House hours in each of the spaces and during these times the spaces are open for anyone to enjoy and children do not need to be checked in or out to visit. We always like going with our boys so they can show us their favorite activities and we get to play alongside them! Open House hours will be listed on the
Navigator app so be sure to look for them…it’s also fun to visit the older kids’ Youth Clubs during their Open House hours too!
Rochell, safety is of the upmost importance to Disney Cruise Line and I can guarantee you that they take every measure to ensure children are secured in the space when they are in their care. I have never once questioned my boys’ safety while they are in there and hope that this information helps reassure you as well!
Happy Sailing!
Stephanie