Customized Disney Cruise Keeps Kids Content

There are a few phrases that once uttered from a child’s mouth can take you from total relaxation to full Mommy-mode in seconds.  “I’m Bored!” is one of those phrases.  Through an entirely new approach, kids can sail away with their imaginations by customizing their own experience on board Disney Cruise Lines. 

New youth activities and dedicated children’s spaces are available now on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder and will be in place by the January 2011 maiden voyage of Disney Dream.  Selecting their own adventures and immersive experiences young cruisers can truly personalize an on board vacation.

Although the Oceaneer Club and Oceaneer Lab are open to kids age 3 to 12 on the Wonder and age 3 to 10 on the Magic, and recommended maturity levels will be suggested for all programs, all children regardless of age can participate in any activity. Children and their parents will choose programs based on interests of each child to create a very fun and unique cruise. Best of all, siblings, extended family and friends can participate in youth activities together throughout the cruise and not separated solely by age.

Specific program information is available to guests on the day of check-in at the terminal building, Youth Activities registration deskor at the Oceaneer Club or Lab once on board.  The majority of children’s events take place within dedicated youth spaces on ship and at Castaway Cay(map), and are supervised by specially trained counselors. 

Kids can have the time of their life, while their parents relax knowing they are in good hands.  Here is a sampling of some of the available experiences:

• Cinderella’s Royal Ball – turning young guests into royalty, Cinderella teaches how to be a prince or princess
• Looking for a little more adventure?  So You Want to be a Pirate -  tells tales of the high seas, offers pirate training complete with swashbuckling and even a surprise appearance by Captain Hook
• Corporal Green of Toy Story fame will lead young recruits during Toy Story Boot Camp
• For hands-on fun there is Ratatouille Cooking School or Flubber where along with Professor Goo, kids concoct a version of the magical green stuff
• Animal Tracking Series will teach not only about animal conservation, but during a stop at Castaway Cay, kids will use animal tracking devices to discover the elusive (plush) tamarin monkeys
• Preschoolers can enjoy Mouseketeer Training and Little Einsteins
• Feel up for a challenge? Then perhaps Detective School with Goofy or Kim Possible: Cruise Control is more your speed

Disney is known to run the longest operating hours for children’s activities among any of the cruise lines.  A new Dine and Play program allows families to eat together at the second seating of the evening and then children enrolled in the evening youth activities will be escorted away by youth counselors to play while parents can relax and enjoy the rest of their meal.

For booking information, visit online or call 888/DCL-2500.

With additional items like Disney stage productions, poolside movies, films in digital 3-D, family activities and deck parties, I don’t think you will ever hear “I’m bored!”, but perhaps “Do we have to go home?”!

 Photo Selections: Disney Cruis Line