Disney Cruise Line Kids’ Clubs are Not Just for Littles

NOTE: EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 21, 2023, THE NEW DCL YOUTH CLUB AGE RANGES ARE – OCEANEER CLUB/LAB AGES 3-10, EDGE AGES 11-14, VIBE AGES 14-17.

The key reason many parents choose to book a Disney Cruise Line sailing is access to the kids’ clubs for their children. The DCL Clubs (Oceaneer Club & Lab for ages 3-12; Edge for tweens; and Vibe for teens) are the gold standard for children’s entertainment at sea, with large, vibrant spaces brimming engaging activities.

But did you know that these spaces are available to adults as well?

If you’d like to spend some time in the Disney Cruise Line kids’ clubs, take a look at the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app (a must have for any Disney Cruise trip) when you’re on board the ship.

Any time the app lists “Open House” for one of the kids’ club time slots, adults are welcome to enjoy the area.

Open house time is typically available on embarkation day from the first boarding time (usually around noon) until just after the mandatory muster drill (usually around 5:00 p.m.). There are also morning hours on most port days and scattered other times during every sailing – check the app for specifics.

In addition to general Open House hours on all the Disney Cruise Line ships, the Disney Wish has some nuances to the way they run things, making the kids area particularly accessible to adults. The Wish holds many of its character photo opportunities in the Clubs. Marvel characters will greet guests in the Marvel room of the Oceaneer Club and Star Wars characters will greet in the Star Wars room, making for particularly fun pictures. Bonus points if you bring costumes. Look at the app for character photos located on Deck 2.

Additionally, the Wish will periodically make individual portions of the clubs open to adults.

So why exactly would an adult want to be in a children’s area? Some reasons might be:

• Photos. In addition to the character photos that happen on the Wish, the other ships have themed set pieces that make for fun pictures. The Star Wars chess table on the Dream is a particular favorite photo spot of mine.
• Video games. Guest game consoles are not allowed on the ship, but if you need a fix there are lots of game opportunities available in the clubs.
• Your child won’t go to a club alone. While many children LOVE being dropped off in the clubs, other may not want to separate due to anxiety, medical or developmental issues, or other issues. If you find yourself in this situation, you’re welcome to be in the clubs together with your child during Open House hours.
• You want to have family time. Some families choose not to leave their kids alone in the clubs because their main reason for sailing is family togetherness time.
• You want to practice an instrument. Guests are not allowed to bring musical instruments on the ship. However, there may be a ukulele or guitar in the teen club. You’re welcome to use it during Open House.
• You want to play a board game with other adults. Pre-pandemic there was a stash of board games available in many of the adult lounges. These were taken away during the immediate return to sailing, but they still exist in the kids’ clubs. Each ship and club have a different selection.
• You’re interested in learning more about ship design. All sorts of folks like interior designers, teachers, architects and more can get ideas from exploring Disney’s design choices.

If you’re thinking about a DCL sailing, now is the perfect time to book. If you need help or have any questions, the fabulous agents at TouringPlans Travel would love to help you out. And a great companion to any DCL sailing is copy of the Unofficial Guide to Disney Cruise Line.