Youth Activities Counselor

Role overview

Disney Cruise Line is seeking a Youth Activities Counselor to create fun, safe, and memorable experiences for children and families across its ships and island destinations. This role is part of a diverse, supportive onboard team that values professionalism, responsibility, guest care, and a strong commitment to safety.

In this position, you will supervise and engage children ages 3 to 17, support entertainment programming, and help deliver smooth daily operations in youth spaces. You will need to stay flexible with changing schedules, tasks, and work locations, and work closely with the Entertainment Host team to help the department achieve its goals.

You will report to the Youth Activities Manager.

Core duties

• Supervise and interact with children participating in Youth Activities programs, covering ages 3 through 17.
• Assist with the setup and wrap-up of organized activities, including checking audio and lighting needs.
• Keep youth areas clean and sanitized before, during, and after opening hours, and maintain tidiness throughout operations.
• Handle guest registration, check-in, and check-out in children’s spaces onboard and at Disney Castaway Cay / Disney Lookout Cay, using multiple computer systems.
• Prepare food trays for children during meal and snack periods.
• Lead small-scale activities on your own or alongside other Youth Counselors.
• Welcome children and parents on embarkation day in Oceaneer’s Club and Oceaneer’s Lab, including facility tours, program overviews, and registration support.
• Support adult and family programming as scheduled, such as welcome lines, game shows, crowd management, lounge hosting, bingo, Port Adventures dispatch, and related duties.
• Assist with recreational activities at Disney Castaway Cay / Disney Lookout Cay, including boat rental, snorkel rental, and snorkel instruction where applicable.

Required background

• At least 12 months of recent experience working with children in a fast-moving, high-volume setting such as recreation, resorts, daycare, classrooms, or before/after-school care; or
• 3 or more seasons of day camp experience, with each season lasting 2 to 3 months; or
• 2 or more seasons of overnight camp experience, with each season lasting 2 to 3 months.
• Strong interest in creating engaging activities for children.
• Good spoken and written English; applicants must score 80% or higher on the Marlins English skills test.
• Comfortable using computers and multiple software tools.
• Ability to stay proactive and entertain large groups of energetic children even when planned activities are unavailable.
• Strong collaboration, organization, attention to detail, and the ability to multitask with urgency.
• Adaptable and comfortable working in a changing environment.
• Understanding of health and sanitation practices and the importance of following them closely.

Preferred background

• Study in recreation, education, or a youth-focused related field is preferred.
• Knowing more than one language is an advantage.
• Prior microphone experience is preferred.
• Experience supporting children with special needs is an advantage.

Shipboard and compliance requirements

This is a shipboard position. You must be genuinely interested in working at sea and willing to live and work aboard a Disney Cruise Line vessel. You will also need to take on safety duties and emergency responsibilities as outlined in the ship Assembly Plan, and follow all safety management responsibilities in the areas you oversee.

If required, you must be willing to share a small cabin with other crew members and work in a multicultural environment with strict rules and regulations.

Additional onboarding and compliance requirements include a valid passport, a C1/D Seaman’s visa documentation package provided by Disney Cruise Line, a pre-employment medical examination, a criminal background check, and approved work shoes.

Disney Cruise Line maintains a drug-free workplace. All new hires must complete drug and alcohol testing within the first week onboard and again throughout their contracts. Failure to pass testing can lead to immediate termination.

Work environment

This role requires flexibility in schedule, duties, and work locations across ship and island operations. The position is based in the United States and is performed onboard ships and at Disney’s island locations.