9 yr old in 10-12 yr old Oceaneer Club??

[3MinnieMom]

We will be going next Fall on our 1st Disney Cruise. Our 2 oldest dds will be 10-1/2 yrs and 9-1/2 yrs old. Our 9-1/2 yr old dd will have just entered 4th grade, and has always kept-up with her older sister and her older sister's friends.
Will they allow her to be "bumped-up" to the 10-12 yr old Oceaneer Club? We've checked sample activities on *****************, and it appears that she will have no problems in this group. Anyone have a similar experience ???:confused:

[ducklite]

The rule of thumb seems to be that they will allow the younger ones to bump up only if they are within a month of the minimum age for that group. Your older daughter may bump downthough.

Anne

[DisneyDarwin]

A lady I work with just returned from a 4 day Wonder trip. She had almost the exact same situation. She talked with the supervisor in the Lab and the younger sibling (7 months from his birthday) was allowed to move up. This is contrary to anything I've ever seen on the boards, but I can assure you it is true. She said the supervisor was very nice and said that they would try it, and if the younger boy had any problems keeping up or fitting in, they'd have to move him back down. He hangs with his brother all the time, so he had no trouble fitting in and ran with the 10-12 group the whole trip.

I think this is one of those cases where if you press DCL, you'll get the party line. And, if you demand or insist, you'll get the party line. And, if you have a one-on-one conversation with a CM, you might get exactly what you want. I think the outcome could vary based on who you talk to, what their mood is, the length of the cruise, how many kids are in each group, and who knows what else. You probably need to be prepared for it turning out either way.

[Mjasp]

We were on the 5/11 Western with 2 10 yr olds and a 9 yr old who turned 9 on the cruise. They are all friends and they bumped her up to 10-12 with no problem. They even OK'd bumping my 6 yr old up to 8-9 yr olds with her other 6 yr old friend for the same reason. They are always hanging with the 10 yr olds, so they can keep up. She found the night time in the 5-7 yr old club very as she put it "Pre-schoolish" We didn't wind up bumping the little ones up as they were with us most of the time.

[Otisp]

Our DS6 and DD8 are also very close and generally do a lot together and with each other's friends. We had planned on trying to get the 6-year bumped up to be with his sister in the 8-9s, but decided that after a few days at WDW they had spent TOO MUCH time together and needed to have some time on their own. Turns out they had a great time in their separate groups. The 5-7s actually spent more time in the Lab than the Club (except as Mjasp noted, late at night the 5-7s spend their "quiet time" in the Club with the 3-4s). The moral: Don't sweat it if you can't move 'em up.

[Karel]

My almost eight year old - her birthday was right after the cruise - had a great time in the 5-7 group, even though her older brothers were in the lab. With my three kids, there's only a three year age differance between the oldest and the youngest, so they are very close and 'share' a lot of friends.

My youngest enjoyed being the big kid of the group, instead of being the little kid of the older group. Also, I think it's good for younger kids to escape the shadow of older siblings. It gives them confidence to be on their own, take care of themselves, learn how to make their own friends.

I thought Disney did a great job at making things age appropriate for the different groups and I'm sure, with all the kids going through, they're skilled at allowing for all different abilities and skill levels in each group. Plus I'm not sure I would want my six year old hanging out with 12 year olds in the lab.

[WebmasterAlex]

The problem is that ever since the begining DCL has shown inconsistency here. We have seen plenty of cases where children have not been allowed to move up no matter who you talked too and how much yelling and screaming anyone did. The exceptions do happen. To go on the cruise EXPECTING that the exception will be made would be a big mistake IMHO. I think it is far better to go with the attitude that it isn't going to happen, prepare the children for that and then ask.. and if it happens fine.

[cindy_k]

My son will be 9 1/2 when we go in October. However he is a year a head in school (Going into 5th grade this year). So his school mates and friends are all 10 and up.

Keeping up for him will not be a problem, the activities for the 10-12 will be his norm.

I hope they will make an exception for him.

Can't wait to go on the cruise.

Cindy in NY.

[Mjasp]

Karel...They wouldn't bump up a 6 old to the 10-12 age group, that is too big a jump. But they said they would bump our 6 yr olds up to the 8 yr old group.

Cindy...They will bump him up to the 10 yr old group. Our friends DD turned 9 on the cruise and they bumped her up so she could be with my 10 yr old. Enjoy your trip. Where on LI are you?

Joanna

[Karel]

Originally posted by Mjasp
Karel...They wouldn't bump up a 6 old to the 10-12 age group, that is too big a jump. But they said they would bump our 6 yr olds up to the 8 yr old group.

Joanna


Actually, I was refering to the fact that the 8-9 group and the 10-12 group will spend time in the lab together. So there will be times when the six year old might be elbow to elbow with an 12 year old. And being 12, on the verge of junior high, is a lot older than than a 6 year old, just out of kindergarten. 12 year olds can be loud, obnoxious, rough and bossy, even if they don't mean to be. Would the six year old even have a chance for the computer, or the video game and what movies are they showing?

[Otisp]

Karel, I would share your concern, but as I recall (I'm too lazy to dig out our kids' Navigators), the only times that the 5-7s were in the lab were during organized activities for their own age group (while the 8-9s were also engaged in organized activities with their group). It seems to me (yet another disclaimer) that all of free time for the 5-7s was in the Club.