Hi MaryEllen,
I'm so excited to hear that you've chosen a Disney cruise for your 5 year old grandson! Disney Cruise Line is amazing....they want all of their Guests happy, especially their littlest ones. Your grandson will have an incredible time and so will you. The Disney Dream is a gorgeous ship, and you'll be amazed at how much there is to see and do for Guests of all ages.
You can register your grandson for his youth club either online before you sail or on your day of embarkation. It's a very simple process. Their security measures make even the most concerned parent (that would be me) feel assured that their child will be very well taken care of, and I can tell you from experience that they are. Your grandson will be part of the
Oceaneer Club and
Oceaneer Lab. There are no additional charges for anything associated with the clubs.
There are many Disney characters onboard! You'll have to check your Personal Navigator, DCL's daily newsletter to find out where and when you can meet them, but the meet and greets are held every day, throughout the day.
I hope this helps. Please let me know if there is anything else that I can assist you with. Thanks for visiting the Moms Panel. Bon voyage MaryEllen!