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There’s even a kids’ version, filled with fun activities, places to record memories, and spots for autographs. Perfect for keeping little ones busy while travelling or waiting to meet characters.
You can grab yours using the link below – and Magical Adventures Club members get an exclusive discount.
Table Of Contents
Why Disney Cruise Kids Clubs Are So Special
Unlike typical holiday kids clubs, the ones on a Disney cruise are next-level. The spaces are beautifully themed, the staff (or ‘counsellors’) are absolutely lovely, and the activities are beyond exciting. Every time we’ve sailed, my children have named the kids clubs as one of their favourite parts of the whole cruise.
And if you’re like me and have children with autism, you might be a bit nervous about how they’ll cope. I was too at first. But Disney have really thought of everything—from handwashing stations that are fun to use, to staff trained to deal with additional needs. I’ll walk you through all of it.
The Four Disney Kids Clubs: Age Groups & Details
‘It’s a Small World’ Nursery (Ages 6 months – 3 years)
This is the only club with an additional charge and must be pre-booked. It offers a soft play area, quiet sleep zones and trained staff to look after your little ones while you enjoy adult-only spaces on the ship. We’ve never personally used it, but I’d love to hear in the comments if you have!
Oceaneer Club & Oceaneer Lab (Ages 3 – 10)
These clubs are interconnected on Deck 5 of the Dream and Fantasy, and kids can move freely between them when both are open. Themes vary by ship, but you might find Marvel, Star Wars, Toy Story or Disney Princess rooms. The activities include crafts, experiments, drawing and character visits—check your Navigator app so you don’t miss your child’s dream event!
Edge (Ages 11 – 14)
This is a more relaxed hangout zone with video games, photo booths and structured activities. It used to overlap with Oceaneer, but the cut-off is now age 10. When we sailed on the Dream, Edge was in the funnel, but it’s since been moved below (that funnel is now an amazing suite). Edge and Vibe now share a space, and we suspect the same will happen on the Fantasy during her dry dock after summer 2025.
Vibe (Ages 14 – 17)
Vibe is the teen club and it looks incredible. Smoothies, foosball, a private pool area and loads of space to just hang out. Teens can come and go as they please once checked in. My eldest loved Vibe when we sailed on the Magic.
Open Houses
On embarkation day and during the cruise, open houses are scheduled so kids and parents can explore the clubs together. This is a brilliant way to help nervous children (and parents!) feel more confident about drop-off later.
Disney Cruise Club Safety & Check-In Procedures
Safety is one of the reasons I feel so confident letting my children use these clubs. Here’s how it all works:
- During online check-in, you’ll upload a headshot of your child and any adults allowed to collect them.
- You’ll choose a secret password that has to be shared to collect your child.
- Children are issued a MagicBand-style wristband which is used to check them in and out.
- The wristband has a coloured lock to indicate any allergies.
- Your child’s photo and their approved pickup adults’ photos appear on-screen during collection.
- Only the people you approve—and who know the password—can collect your child.
If your child has allergies or autism, you can note that during check-in and also speak directly with the club counsellors. They’re brilliant and really do go above and beyond to help our children feel safe and included.
One amazing safety feature I love is that any lost children on the ship are taken straight to the Oceaneer Club, where staff scan their MagicBand and contact parents through the Navigator app. Absolute peace of mind.
MagicBands vs MagicBand+
Children in the clubs will get a regular MagicBand for free, which must be returned or you’ll be charged. If your child already has a MagicBand+ (like we did from Walt Disney World), you can bring it—they also work on the ship for things like opening doors and lighting up with the fireworks. But they aren’t essential.
A Note on Edge Independence
Once your child turns 11 and is in Edge, there’s no longer a controlled check-out process. They can come and go freely, and while some 11-year-olds may be ready for this, others might not. We gave our son a device and used the onboard messaging via the Navigator app to coordinate check-ins, which worked well for us.
Final Thoughts
I wasn’t sure if my children would enjoy kids clubs before we cruised, but honestly, they’ve ended up being some of their favourite parts of every trip. The venues are magical, the staff are lovely, and the whole thing is incredibly safe and well-organised.
If you’d like to explore the adult-only areas while your kids enjoy the clubs (and they will want to go!), check out my post on that next. And if you’re a Disney and travel-loving parent, come hang out with me inside the Magical Adventures Club – there’s even a forever free tier to get you started!
See you onboard soon!
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✔ Travel planning printables & resources 📒
Magical Cruise Planner
Want help planning your cruise in order to make the most of the magic? Either grab a pen and paper and make nites of everything said in there video, or check out my Magical Cruise Planners, available in digital (printable or to be filled out on a tablet), coil bound or perfect bound book versions.
Disney Dream 2024 Cruise Vlog Series
Disney Dream 2023 Cruise Vlog Series
Monzo Card For Spending Abroad & On The Ships Without Fees
All spending on board is in dollars, so by using a Monzo card we avoid currency conversion fees.
Use the link below to get your free Monzo account. Get £5 added to your account when you make your first purchase (and I’ll get £5 too).
AirTags & Straps
