Disney cruise with 11 & 13yr old?

[kchiumento]

We are thinking of taking a Disney cruise next year. I'm worried that there don't be enough activities for them. We have a 6 yr old too and we know that won't be the issue, but on our other cruises I felt the older "kids" were left out. I know Disney does well with the little ones. What do they do for the Tweens?

[Ex techie]

We are thinking of taking a Disney cruise next year. I'm worried that there don't be enough activities for them. We have a 6 yr old too and we know that won't be the issue, but on our other cruises I felt the older "kids" were left out. I know Disney does well with the little ones. What do they do for the Tweens?

 

Have you looked at the DCL website here?

 

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/ships-activities/onboard-activities/youth-clubs/

 

ex techie

[kchiumento]

I didn't get as far as the actual Disney website. I probably should have started there. But with our recent cruise they proclaimed a 10-12 program too. However, they were grouped in with the 6-9 yr olds and most of the activities were geared toward the younger kids. I was hoping I could get some first hand knowledge of how it actually worked.

[Ex techie]

I didn't get as far as the actual Disney website. I probably should have started there. But with our recent cruise they proclaimed a 10-12 program too. However, they were grouped in with the 6-9 yr olds and most of the activities were geared toward the younger kids. I was hoping I could get some first hand knowledge of how it actually worked.

 

Ah gotcha now. Too baby'ish.

 

The DCL website shows the tween spaces, EDGE on all of the ships that are completely separate from the Lab and the Club.

 

Why didn't the 11 yr old take advantage of the EDGE club on your recent cruise?

 

ex techie

[Loonbeam]

If it was just the 11 and 13 year olds I might lean towards RCCL because they have more active spaces on some of the ships. But with the 6 year old, Disney will be a fine choice. The 11 year old will still be in the Oceaneers area (based on the age groups we saw on the Dream) and the 13 year old will be in the young teen area, which looked to have a decent program.

 

We took our 14 year old nephew on the Magic last year and the only time we saw him was boarding and the last breakfast...

[Ex techie]

The DCL website must be inaccurate (again!) as it does say 11-14 for the EDGE club.

 

They are so inconsistent and I wish they could get a YAC to proof read the description and activities before the shoreside people post it online!

 

ex techie

[Ex techie]

Good call tho Loonbeam about RCI.

 

At 12 or 13 I would prefer to be on a RCI ship with a rock climbing wall and a flow rider (and zip line on some) rather than just a lame lazy river tube slide or a 20 second shoot drop.

 

ex techie

[kchiumento]

We just got back last week from an NCL cruise and while we had a great time, my only complaint was the kids club. The young kids were great, it was the 10-12 yr old that got left out. I'll check with RCI too. When we go on the next cruise the 6 yr old won't be 6 anymore :0. So maybe RCI would be a better choice.

 

 

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[moki'smommy]

The DCL kid programming is designed with age overlaps so the parent and child can decide where they will fit best.

 

Oceaneer's Club/Lab 3-12 (activities are for much smaller age groups, but the large range shares the 2 spaces)

 

Edge 11-14

Vibe 14-17.

 

SO, 11s and 12s can decide whether to be with the younger kids or the tween group. 14s can be with the tweens or teens. The only problem comes in when the CMs allow younger kids in (like 10s in the Edge). Then the correct age kids decide it is for "babies" and don't want to be there!

[bzkdz]

My teen kids LOVE sailing on Disney! Maybe we're just all Disney nuts, or maybe we're just happy to be on a ship, I don't know (truthfully it's BOTH lol). But I don't see much of my teens other than at dinner. My ds15 was 12 and in Edge the first time we sailed and he had a great time.

[Loonbeam]

Exactly. Edge might do some programming in the OC but they also have their own lounge. Vibe just uses their own lounge and the general ship facilities.

 

The DCL kid programming is designed with age overlaps so the parent and child can decide where they will fit best.

 

Oceaneer's Club/Lab 3-12 (activities are for much smaller age groups' date=' but the large range shares the 2 spaces)

 

Edge 11-14

Vibe 14-17.

 

SO, 11s and 12s can decide whether to be with the younger kids or the tween group. 14s can be with the tweens or teens. The only problem comes in when the CMs allow younger kids in (like 10s in the Edge). Then the correct age kids decide it is for "babies" and don't want to be there![/quote']

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

All I know is that at 31, we wanted to clone ourselves over and over again based on the Navigator activities, and we didn't even get to go to the clubs! Not once! I can't imagine anyone being bored on these cruises. Seriously. (Ok, maybe the 18-20 group might have a slightly tougher time depending on their interests but otherwise, its like a whirlwind or at least it was to us!)

[Scraptraci]

We are thinking of taking a Disney cruise next year. I'm worried that there don't be enough activities for them. We have a 6 yr old too and we know that won't be the issue, but on our other cruises I felt the older "kids" were left out. I know Disney does well with the little ones. What do they do for the Tweens?

 

I think you can google Disney personal navigator or look on mouse ears.net to see some examples of actual navigators that should give you an idea of the scheduled activities for each age group. On the Dream and Fantasy the Oceaneers club and Lab is one giant space and I know they have lots of video and animation type stations. Specifically they have screens where the kids can simulate driving/docking the ship and subs. Also the aqua duck is popular as is the mini golf. My ds is 10 and cannot wait for our trip at spring break which will be his 7 th dcl cruise.

[dexddd]

We just got back last week from an NCL cruise and while we had a great time, my only complaint was the kids club. The young kids were great, it was the 10-12 yr old that got left out. I'll check with RCI too. When we go on the next cruise the 6 yr old won't be 6 anymore :0. So maybe RCI would be a better choice.

 

 

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I saw your post on the CC NCL board for your recent trip. On sailings with fewer kids NCL tends to group the kids from our experience when there aren't many kids on board. In some ways that can be good or bad.

 

DCL will have more kids year round even in the off seasons so the kids clubs will run pretty much the same year round. It also depends which ship you are looking at, what itinerary, etc as far as things to keep busy. If you stop at Castaway Cay, that day you can pretty much plan to spend the whole day as a family doing things.

 

We last went when kids were 12 & 9 and they always have a great time. Next year we are going and our DD who will be 15 might be a bit bored so we are taking one of her friends so they can do things together.

Edited November 4, 2013 by dexddd

[mominva]

We took our 12 year old and 14 and 15 year olds on the Fantasy in the summer of 2012. My 12 year old went to the Edge and had a blast. One night, this age group took over the Oceaneers Club (this is a place for younger kids). The kids in this age group were elsewhere. They had fun exploring it. Another night, they took them to the arcade and they got to play the video games for free. Another time, they went to the basketball court and played gaga ball or dodge ball. They had a blast. Another night, a Disney character came to visit them. They took pictures with the character and gave them the poloroids for free. Another night, they painted nails and put jewels on their faces. Another night, someone told scary stories.There was always something to look forward to do.

Outside of the Edge: There are 2 scavenger hunts that she did with her siblings. She enjoyed the shows at before dinner (Aladin, a hypnotist, 3 other shows where Disney characters appear). At dinner, in one restaurant, everyone draws a character which then shows up on all of the screens in the restaurant. As you can see, no one will be bored on the Fantasy!

[cruisingfor5]

We are going on our first Disney cruise this May. My children will be 13, 10 and 7 when we go. I am not worried about them not having enough to do. They went on another cruise and between going off the ship, meals, swimming and exploring the ship there was tons to do. I am hoping they will let my 10 and 13 year old be together though.

[MoreMouse]

We are thinking of taking a Disney cruise next year. I'm worried that there don't be enough activities for them. We have a 6 yr old too and we know that won't be the issue, but on our other cruises I felt the older "kids" were left out. I know Disney does well with the little ones. What do they do for the Tweens?

 

My son was 11 on our first DCL and 13 on the next. He seemed to have a better time at 11, but he made friends and was "MIA" for both cruises. He's a Disney nut too, so it could just be our family. LOL ;)

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I'm just amazed at the topic of this thread. It just seems to obvious to me. If your 11 and 13 yr olds would have a good time at WDW, than they should have a perfectly fabulous time on a Disney cruise.

[cruisingfor5]

TwinPrincessMermaids I was wondering if the mermaids in may on your countdown is something you just put on there or a real thing? Thanks :)

[theshowmestate]

We're sailing agin next March :) and our DDs will be 15 and 17 at the time and they can't wait. They love the ships. We feel that DCL does a balance of things for us to do as a family, for DH & I to do on our own and things for our DDs to do on their own without the choices being to overwhelming or too many. We all enjoy the shows and I feel I can let our DDs have a little independence on the ships because it's more of a true family atmosphere and no casinos. Granted, we haven't sailed any other line, yet, but for the reasons I've stated we don't feel the need to.

[Keith1010]

It will be great for your entire family.

 

Keith

[carolwoodpr]

My son is 11 and we just got back two weeks ago from our first cruise. We had no idea what to expect. And took tours of the kids clubs after muster. We determined when we met a tween on her 9th cruise who showed us how to get to the Edge. He loved it from then on out. He was there any time he could be, and stayed until midnight when they closed. We are going on cruise 2 in October and he can't wait Togo to the Edge.

 

 

 

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[vacation_junkie]

We are thinking of taking a Disney cruise next year. I'm worried that there don't be enough activities for them. We have a 6 yr old too and we know that won't be the issue, but on our other cruises I felt the older "kids" were left out. I know Disney does well with the little ones. What do they do for the Tweens?

 

We have a 13 yr old. He is an only child. No others to keep him busy on a ship. We cruise alot and on various different lines. I've never once heard him say he was board or needed something to do! When he's on a ship he's out cold before we can turn the lights off!

The kids no matter their age will always find something to do!

[cruisewiththekids]

We've sailed a couple other lines and found the tween activities to be really lacking. No comparison to the Edge. And for me as a parent, the Wave phone is the icing on the cake.

[BullDawg91]

One thing we've done with our upcoming cruise is join a FB meet group and a msg board group for out cruise and we have connected our girls (8 & 11) with other kids on the cruise. By the time we cruise in April, hopefully they will be looking forward to meeting their new friends in person.