Are you planning a Disney Cruise vacation? My kids loved the Disney Dream Kids Club and we are sharing all the things parents need to know about the Disney Cruise kids clubs.
The Disney Cruise Kid’s Clubs are amazing youth clubs for kids of all ages aboard the Disney Cruise line ships.
If you are taking a Disney Cruise line vacation aboard any of the Disney ships, Disney Fantasy, Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, and Disney Wish, expect to find special kid friendly areas divided by age group.
We spent time on the Disney Dream and although there are so many great activities on the Disney Dream for families, Disney’s Oceaneer Club was one of our favorites.
The Disney Cruise lines do an amazing job at creating different areas themed to your favorite characters as well as incorporating all things Disney into the activities.
From the littlest kids to the tweens and teens, the kids club on a Disney Cruise have something for everyone.
As a mom I had a lot of questions about the kid’s clubs. I was concerned about the safety of my kids and if they would even enjoy it.
I did a lot of research and was happy to discover how much I really enjoyed the Disney Dream Kids Club as an option aboard the Disney Dream.
All About the Disney Dream Kids Clubs
The Disney Dream Kids Club includes “it’s a Small World” nursery, the Disney’s Oceaneer Club, Disney’s Oceaneer Lab, Edge and Vibe. Each area is age specific and tailored to meet the needs of the kids.
Disney Cruise Kids Club Ages
To visit each of the clubs kids must be within the required years of age for that specific spot.
- “it’s a Small World” nursery (Ages 6 months to 3 years) This is the only kids club on the Disney Cruise not included with your price of the cruise. You must make reservations and there is an hourly rate. Learn more here.
- Oceaneer Club & Oceaneer Lab (Ages 3-12) The Oceaneer Club and Lab are connected to each other but at times during the cruise one, or the other, may be closed. This is included in your cruise.
- Edge (Ages 11-14) Edge is great for tweens and at this age they can visit the Oceaneer Club and participate in the Edge activities.
- Vibe (Ages 14-17) Vibe is a teen only area that even has their own pool!
All About “it’s a Small World” Nursery on the Disney Dream
Even though “it’s a Small World” nursery on the Disney Dream is not included in your cruise cost, you may want to make reservations for a special parents night out.
The Disney counselors are trained to work with young children and there are cribs for nap time.
Disney Dream Kids Club: Disney Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab
The Disney Dream kids club for ages 3-12 is called the Oceaneer Club & Oceaneer Lab. It is an amazing and immersive play and activity center.
The Oceanner Club and Oceaneer Lab are for children in the age group of 3 through 12. Each ship has a slightly different set up and activities. We cruised on the Disney Dream and the kids club was one of our favorite things!
The Oceaneer Club and the Oceaneer Lab do not have many difference except for the theme. There are board games, video games, planned games by the cast members, dance floor, and many more activities.
During our stay there were times when the Oceaneer Club had open house hours and the Oceaneer Lab was open for drop off.
Open house hours are when parents can tour the clubs. During those times you do not check your child in. You can explore the areas together.
Typically on embarkation day there is an open house at the kids club where the parents can walk through the clubs with their children. This is a great way to familiarize yourself with the area.
On the Disney Dream you receive a daily activity sheet called the Navigator. The Navigator tells you what time and where activities will be taking place.
My kids loved looking over the schedule each night to see what they wanted to participate in the next day. Most days the hours of the club started at 9:00am and went until 12:00am.
They will also serve your kids lunch or dinner if you want to plan an adult only meal.
My kids participated in making Flubber, Game Challenges, and a game of Gaga Ball. They also played on their own. On the Disney Dream the themed spaces are so cool.
Each Disney cruise kids club has different themeing. The themed areas on the Disney Dream are:
- Andy’s Room: Colorful play area themed to Toy Story
- Pixie Hollow: Tinker Bell themed area with craft and art stations.
- Disney Infinity Game Room: Video game area featuring Disney themed games.
- Star Wars Millennium Falcon: Arts and crafts, design a starship, pilot the ship.
- Character meet and greets and special activities happen continuously throughout kids club.
- The Oceaneer Lab has daily science experiments and special activities and games.
The kids liked the Disney Infinity game room, the Milennium Falcon, and the Oceaneer Lab for hands-on activities.
Disney Cruise Tween Club: Edge
This was our first year having a child that could go in the Disney Cruise Tween club. My daughter could visit Edge and the Oceaneer Club.
Kids going to Edge can check themselves in and out of the club, which we approved. Edge does not have a sign-in/sign-out procedure. The kids can come and go as they want.
There are a couple ways to contact your kids when they are at Edge. If they have their own device, have them upload the Disney Cruise Line app before you board the ship.
There is a chat that you can do on the app to stay in contact.
There are also wave phones in your room. These “cell” phones can be used on the ship only. They are a bit bulky but a good option to communicate if you don’t have access to your own electronics.
They can also contact you by calling your stateroom phone from Edge. My daughter really enjoyed all the activities at Edge and they did a great job creating fun activities for the kids.
Some of her favorites were gaga ball, crafts, and other games.
All About Disney Cruise Teen Club: Vibe
Vibe is the Disney Cruise teen club and has the same sign-in/sign-out privileges at Edge. They also have their own pool and lounge.
There are counselors on hand for questions and to help lead group activities.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Disney Dream Kids Club
Is the Oceaneer Club Safe for My Family?
As a parent my biggest concern was for my kids safety when they visited the Disney Dream kids clubs.
I knew the entertainment would be incredible and that they would love it, but I wasn’t sure how I would feel about dropping the kids off.
I was really happy to discover that safety was a top concern. The Oceaneer Club and Lab make your kids safety a priority by:
- No adults are allowed in the club except during open house hours and when picking up your child.
- Each child is fitted with a magic band that is kept on them through the duration of the cruise. They use a clip to secure the band.
- This band is scanned and has a picture of your child and the adults that have permission to pick them up or drop them off.
- You will set up a secret word that will be used to pick up your kids and take them out of the club. This is a word that only you and the adults responsible for your kids should know.
- Each band is also equipped with GPS on the ship. At pick-up they will tell you exactly where the kids are playing inside the club. This is also great if for any reason you get separated while on the cruise ship.
How Do They Keep the Oceaneer Club Clean?
The hand washing process was part of the fun when you enter the Oceaneer Club. Each person(kids & adults) who enter the Oceaneer Club or Lab must stop at the hand washing station.
You can use a hand sanitizing wipe or put your hands in the hand washing machine.
It might seem like a little too much excitement to talk about a hand washing machine, but it was impressive.
It is like a 12 second mini-spa for your hands and it was always my kids choice for hand washing as we entered and exited the clubs.
What do the Kids Love about the Oceaneer Club?
There is so much for the kids to love about the Oceaneer Club. It is designed for kids and has so many different activities to keep them entertained.
The cast members that work with your kids are fun and keep them busy during their stay. My kids really enjoyed playing Disney Infinity and the group games led by the cast members.
Do we need to pay for the Disney Cruise Kids Club
No the kids club on the Disney Cruise is included in your vacation package with the exception of the nursery that requires payment.
Parents also need to pre-register for the kids club before you leave for the cruise or on the day you board. Sign in to your reservation to register.
Disney Kids Club on Castaway Cay
Castaway Cay is the Disney Cruise Line’s private island that you visit during a Caribbean cruise. The best part is the kids club comes with you onto the island offering fun activities for the kids.
Learn more about Castaway Cay and What We Regretted on Our Visit.
What Parents Need to Know?
The one thing I wish I would have known about the Disney Dream kids club is that my kids would want to spend so much time there.
This was tough for me because we couldn’t participate with the kids during their time other then during the open house hours.
My husband and I did enjoy a lunch date while the kids played, but we were excited to do more stuff as a family.
As a family you should decide what works best for you. Do you want to have adult-only meals? Are you going to visit the adult-only pools and activities?
What activities do your kids want to participate in? Spend time as a family deciding what works best for all of you and plan your day based on that.
Overall I was pleasantly surprised with how much we all enjoyed the Disney Cruise kids clubs. I knew my kids would love it, but my concern of safety was my first priority.
I was very happy that I felt comfortable knowing my kids were safe and having an amazing time at the Disney Dream Kids Clubs.
Read Next: Is a Disney Cruise Worth It? (Disney Cruise Pros and Cons)
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Leah has been traveling with her family of 5 since 2012 and sharing her expertise on planning family vacations and visiting theme parks since 2016. Leah has been featured in Visit Rochester, Undercover Tourist, and Home Publications. She has worked with brands like Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, Hersheypark, Toyota, and various Tourism boards and destinations. Leah creates family travel itineraries based on real trip experiences with her family. Her guides and tips help others plan great family vacations. Learn more about Leah and Five for the Road.
we are cruising soon (not disney) and this morning we were watching videos about our ship! i love finding posts like these to research what i want to know about a ship!
We love watching videos and researching before we visit. It creates excitement for the trip and helps us stay prepared!