Ah, you’ve booked a cruise. You’re thinking of relaxing poolside, tasty beverages adorned with little umbrellas, exotic destinations, and child care.

Wait, what? Child care? Why would child care thoughts pop up in a cruise daydream?  Well, when you’re booking a Disney Cruise, why wouldn’t world-class child care be one of your top vacation fantasies?

The name and brand of Disney has proven itself time and time again when it comes to family-friendly entertainment and family-friendly vacations, and on a Disney Cruise, these two concepts merge into a synergetic force, giving your family a vacation tailor-made for each individual as well as your whole family unit.

That’s a big brag. Ok, let’s back it up by looking at the child care and kid’s clubs aboard the Disney Cruise Line ships to see what all they offer, and why your kids may never want to leave these custom-designed areas on the ships!

The Disney Cruise Line fleet is comprised of five world-class ships: the Disney Magic, the Disney Wonder, the Disney Dream, the Disney Fantasy, and the newest ship in the fleet: the Disney Wish. The fleet will be joined by the Disney Treasure in 2024, and Disney Cruise Line has also recently purchased the Global Dream cruise ship. Each ship has a classic cruise line theme from the glory days of those turn of the (20th) century transatlantic luxury cruiseliners, but with modern twists and amenities.

All of the cruise ships provide youth and teen clubs to keep the kids entertained during the cruise. There’s even a nursery for those wee ones (for an extra fee). Each youth club is tailored to a different age range and includes different entertainment elements. And each ship has its own unique take on each space.

“it’s a small world” Nursery (Ages 6 months to 3 years)

Yes, there’s even a spot for your baby! So, if you’re looking to book a massage or enjoy a nice dinner with your partner, or even take a nap (because we know you’d love an undisturbed 3-hour nap), you can take your tyke to the nursery.

Once you get that spot secured, you can rest assured that your little one will have a fun, safe, and Disney-riffic time. This nursery spot is different than the kids clubs for the older children, there is a per-hour charge with a minimum of 1 hour. For additional children in the same family, the charge is a little less per hour for an additional child. And cancellation fees do apply if you cancel your arrangements without at least 4 hours notice.

There are two main rooms in the nursery. An activity room filled with perfect items for tiny hands, like horns to honk, wheels to spin, and buttons to push. The second room has the lights turned down for a calm setting, perfect for naptime.

The reservations are set for a capacity of four infants (those not yet walking) and 16 toddlers, depending on the number of counselors on hand. Parents are required to provide their own diapers, baby wipes, extra clothing/pajamas, pre-made bottles of milk/formula, baby food in jars, sippy cups, and security items such as blankets, pacifiers, or a favorite toy, and everything should be labeled with the child’s name — just like any daycare or child care facility at home. The nursery counselors use the chat feature in the DCL app to communicate any needs or situations to parents.

To book your child’s time in the nursery, you’ll want to make a reservation as soon as you can, since space is so limited. Depending on your Stateroom or your Castaway Club status, you can start booking his option between 75-120 days out. Or, check on Embarkation Day for any availability. Daily operating hours may vary, so check the Disney Cruise Line Navigator mobile app while on board the ship.

Disney’s Oceaneer Club (Ages 3 to 12):  

When kids are checked into the Oceaneer Club, they enter a common hub area and other themed activity rooms split off from this main room.  A stage in the main area provides a platform for kids to express their creativity and storytelling, and is the centerpiece of the Club when Disney characters stop by to visit! There are large-screen TV showing movies that may feature a surprise Disney character interaction from time to time!

In the different rooms that split off from the main hub, kids can play in Andy’s Room (Wonder, Magic, Fantasy, Dream), Star Wars: Command Post (Fantasy), Marvel Superhero Academy (Wish, Wonder, Magic, Fantasy ), Pixie Hollow (Magic, Fantasy, Dream), Disney Infinity Game Room (Dream), Star Wars: Millennium Falcon (Dream), Disney Junior (Wonder, Magic), Frozen Adventures (Wonder), Fairytale Hall (Wish), Walt Disney Imagineering Lab (Wish), Mickey & Minnie’s Captain’s Deck (Wish), or Star Wars: Cargo Bay (Wish).

Disney’s Oceaneer Lab (Ages 3 to 12):  

Is another spot for when your young crew is feeling creative. Your junior Imagineers can create in Animator’s Studio (Dream, Fantasy, Magic), Craft Studio (Dream, Fantasy, Magic), Media Room (Dream, Fantasy, Wonder), Playmation (Dream), The Wheelhouse (Dream, Fantasy), Sound Studio (Fantasy), Captain’s Workshop (Magic), Navigation Game Station (Magic), Marvel Avenger Academy (Wonder), Andy’s Room (Wonder), Frozen Adventures (Wonder).

The Club and Lab are connected with a secure, kids-only hallway, so children can go between the two areas freely. Be sure to pre-register your kids (through the Disney Cruise Line website) for access to these kids clubs before your cruise, so they can be that much closer to experiencing these fun spaces!

Edge (Ages 11-14)

Tweens have their own space aboard Disney ships. Located in different nooks and secret spots around the ships, these tween clubs provide kids with a chance to hang out with others their age, play games, have dance or karaoke parties, and engage in counselor-led activities, or just hang out and play video games. Their own little mini vacation within a vacation.

This tweens-only space is open from 9AM – midnight daily. Disney GETS how much the kids love technology and there is no shortage of it here! Tweens can play video games, sing karaoke, watch TV, and use the computer lab. The space is filled with couches for hanging out, arts and crafts tables, and flat-screen TVs. Counselors will keep the kids busy until midnight with activities, so you may never see your kid the whole cruise long!

Vibe (Ages 14-17)

While designated as a teens-only hangout, Vibe is chaperoned by some of the coolest counselors at sea, in a laid-back way that allows teens to feel as unrestricted and comfortable as they can possibly be.

This is a club built with teens in mind, where technology and social media reign supreme. Giant screens (complete with surround sound) for watching their favorite films or even concerts, plus so many fantastic selfie backgrounds!

And it wouldn’t be a full club if it didn’t have refreshments like the adult night-clubs do (just non-alcoholic versions, like soda, coffee, and smoothies).

If you’re cruising on the Dream or Fantasy, Vibe extends to a private deck area outside! Poolside deck chairs and loungers offer sunbathing, and access to two wading pools, fountains, jets, and misters. Competitive teens can try their hands at ping pong and foosball.

Additional Spaces

You could argue that the whole ship offers something for everyone, but there are even more spaces beyond just designated kids clubs that are tailored for each unique demographic.

On the Disney Wish, tweens and teens can enjoy Hideaway, a unique “third teen/tween space” adjacent to Vibe. It’s a sort of flex space that can be opened to the teen club or closed off for tween-only events.

There is also Hero Zone on the Disney Wish, which isn’t kid-exclusive (it’s a great event space for the whole family), but it is conveniently close to the Vibe, which is a not-so-mini indoor sports hub. Kids can challenge each other in friendly competition with basketball, soccer, and a variety of table-top games, including Ping-Pong, air hockey, foosball, and shuffleboard.

Chill Spa for Teens is located inside Senses Spa onboard the Disney Dream, Fantasy, and Magic, exclusive for cruisers ages 13 – 17.  This spa-within-a-spa has a unique space with treatment rooms, showers, and a separate seating area just for the teen clientele. There is also a menu of services tailor-made for their relaxation and pampering needs, including facials, massages, body treatments, manicures, and pedicures.

The Chill Spa does cost extra, so make sure your kiddos save up their allowances for this treatment!

Adults who want to stop by these locations just to get a peek at what the fun is all about can stop by during open house days/hours. The kids clubs on Disney Cruise Line are pretty amazing, so you’ll want to stop by those open houses, even if you’re just a big kid at heart.

What is the Best Age for a Disney Cruise?

Have your kids utilized the child care or kids clubs on the Disney Cruise Line? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!