Totally surprised...Disney closing kids' clubs

[eastendlights]

as

I've had several people, not here, take me to task for leaving my child at the Neverland Club. Dear heaven...she was 8!!! She had a ball....probably a better time then she had had with us in the parks! Our traveling companions were a bit nervous about leaving their 8 y/o dd there though! My dd texted me yesterday, to tell me of the closings. She was so disappointed to hear it. Yes, she's 24 now, and works at US. But she has very fond memories of the times she spent at Neverland Club! And feels badly for the kids that won't get that chance now.
I adored spending time with my dd....I'm actually struggling with empty nest at the moment and wish I could go back to those days. But, I would still give her the chance to stay at the club if I could go back in time. As a parent, I realize that my kids need time away from me, and that my dh and I need time away from our kids. We don't always need to be right there, and that sometimes we have to trust others to care for them.

Ours also loved it when they were that age. Having a choice between 2+ hours sitting at California Grill/ Yachtsman's/Artist Point, etc. or having a blast at Lilo's or Sandcastle-they preferred the kids clubs hands down. Our 21 year old just got back from doing the Disney college program a few days ago and I told her about this and she was disappointed also.

 

[Etch]

This is really disappointing. The boys (5,9) went to Simba's Clubhouse when we ate a Jiko last February. They had a fantastic time and was one of the highlights of the trip for them.

I was planning to hopefully take my wife to Victoria and Albert's for her 40th birthday the next time we are there and have the kids go to one of the clubhouses like last time.

I would have to assume that Disney would replace this with some type of offering? I thought is was great.

 

[OKW Lover]

When our grandson was young (he's 15 now) we would plan on one night during a typical 5-7 night stay for an adult meal. Over the course of several years we used just about all of them. He loved them and one of his questions when a new trip was announced would be what club he was going to visit that time.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

How about the one at WL? Is that still open?

Closed during the redevelopment for Copper Creek, and was announced a while back no intent to reopen.

 

[DLgal]

I am surprised because we have also been on a number of Disney Cruises, and the Kids Clubs are packed to the gills. So if parents have concerns about leaving kids in the kids club, how come they are doing it in cruises but not at WDW? Staff is very similar, young friendly, lots of them,, they all do activities and they both have the goal of giving parents a night off. Seems strange to me that it would be popular in one context, but losing popularity on another.

You don't have to pay extra to send your kids to the club on the ship. I bet that has a huge psychological effect. If these WDW centers were "free", they'd be packed to the gills every night. Similar thing happens at Aulani...their kids club is "free" and it's always at capacity.

Also, on the ship, you are never more than 5 minutes away from the club if there is a problem. Not so at WDW unless you eat at a restaurant onsite.

 

[Scooter2376]

We’re another set of a parents who should be the target demographic for using the kids’ clubs but don’t. I don’t have any problem leaving my kid with others and have no judgment at all for parents who do use the kids’ clubs, but we’re happier having a glass of wine on the balcony after the kid goes to sleep than going out to an adults only fancy dinner after a long day in the parks. I applaud those of you with more energy than us though!

 

[Dis703]

We love the idea of these clubs, but the hours weren't what we were looking for. If anything we'd use them for a few hours in the middle of the day not the evening when we usually have dining reservations and plans to catch the firework shows.

 

[amy-bee-0]

We've used the one at AKL twice and will again at the end of the month. It was my 8 year old's only request when we asked what he wanted to do at disney (besides swimming). He's an only child and liked the chance to play with another kid(s) or have the staff's undivided attention unlike his exhausted from the park parents. Sad to see these close.

 

[Surgie2]

I did not realize that Lilo’s was opening during the day. Do you happen to know the hours?

@Surgie2 - Are you sure that the “Lilo’s open during the day” thing is still going on? I thought that was a short-lived offering from earlier in 2017 that wasn’t still happening, but maybe I’m wrong?

You were correct @GADisneyDad14 ...I heard back from DSS promptly and they said that Lilo's Playhouse is only open for childcare beginning at 4:30. Previously beginning last July they opened it from 10:30-4:00 for kids and parents to go together for crafts etc. but that was really short-lived.

 

[garada3]

You were correct @GADisneyDad14 ...I heard back from DSS promptly and they said that Lilo's Playhouse is only open for childcare beginning at 4:30. Previously beginning last July they opened it from 10:30-4:00 for kids and parents to go together for crafts etc. but that was really short-lived.

Thanks for checking in to that and posting what you learned. I appreciate it!

 

[Alicenwonderment]

I wonder if part of the problem was that it wasn't well advertised? I know I found out about Lilo's Playhouse from here and told DW. We reserved it at the same time we reserved BBB for our trip last year because we were afraid to miss reservations. DD loved it, one of her favorite memories from the trip. But nobody else I know had really heard of it.

This was my thoughts too. Yes, people on the Disboards will know about these places but most people don't even read papers from check in or left in the rooms. If a family is not staying in the resorts that have the clubs are they receiving any ad for those services? It sort of reminds me of the day camps for kids that Disney offered through The Disney Institute. Since many of the guests staying at the Institute attended conferences Disney designed camps on different topics for the kids. They would go to the parks with tour guides while their parents attended their conferences at the Institute. Disney got rid of that type of programming (And all Institute classes)when they went into "restructuring" in summer 2000. I wonder had their been more advertisement into the camp programs and all the Institute classes if they would still be offered at Disney.

 

[tcufrog]

The last time we went we left the kids at the AKL while we went to Jikos. The kids had a blast and we got an adult night out. I wonder how it's going to affect bookings at places like Edison's that don't welcome kids. Our local mixed use development has drop in childcare near the movie theater. We've used it for date night when our sitter wasn't free and the kids really like it. I've been very pleased with the quality of the staff there, the activities they do such as crafts and science experiments and the head girls always remembers my kids. She's even able to get along with my socially awkward kid who has Aspergers. It's open all day into the evening and you can pay for the kids to eat lunch or dinner there. They get it catered by local restaurants in the shopping center. It's a chain called KidsPark. Perhaps they should put one in at DS.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I thought the Edison only went adult after 10PM, so I doubt it has any impact. There are also enough adult groups at Disney and locally it should not be an issue. V&A do just fine, as does Trader Sam's after 8 and Jellyrolls. If demand were linked, the kid clubs would have been much more crowded.

 

[cruiser21]

Couldn't even begin to guess why the disparity. But it is a very big one.

Kids clubs on the ships are included in the price, and at the resorts it's not. Maybe people just don't want to spend the extra money. The last time I put the kids in the kids club at BC was about 5 years ago. The price of going to WDW has gone up significantly since then.

 

[smiths02]

We’re another set of a parents who should be the target demographic for using the kids’ clubs but don’t. I don’t have any problem leaving my kid with others and have no judgment at all for parents who do use the kids’ clubs, but we’re happier having a glass of wine on the balcony after the kid goes to sleep than going out to an adults only fancy dinner after a long day in the parks. I applaud those of you with more energy than us though!

Ha!
We took a 3 night trip in-between two family trips rather than have date nights on the other two trips!

But we have the right age kids, and we have put our kids in daycare, so it's not like we are opposed. We are just too busy and tired at WDW to worry about a date night.

 

[smiths02]

This is really disappointing. The boys (5,9) went to Simba's Clubhouse when we ate a Jiko last February. They had a fantastic time and was one of the highlights of the trip for them.

I was planning to hopefully take my wife to Victoria and Albert's for her 40th birthday the next time we are there and have the kids go to one of the clubhouses like last time.

I would have to assume that Disney would replace this with some type of offering? I thought is was great.

I think they will just keep their contract/relationship with the in-room babysitting service.

 

[tee11]

Super bummed to hear this. Was so much looking forward to this when my youngest makes the cut off - next year. And read so many good reviews!
I wish they would just heavily advertise it/ revamp it, but NOT close it. Is there a petition or something?

 

[polyqueen]

We had to pry our son away from the Neverland Club, its activities and "delicious" food!
He's kept every one of his membership cards!

 

[SwanVT2]

This is a shame. I actually hung out with DD at BWV kid's activity area and it was so fun with the crafts and stuff. Is all of this gone with it?

 

[Sandiz08]

This is disappointing as my son really enjoyed the clubs on our last trip. We have used them for date night and also to have a night alone with the oldest child riding the bigger rides. We’ll have to try out camp dolphin as I’m not sure kids night out is the same thing. My kids are very social and loved the aspect of meeting new kids who were also on vacation.