current age breakdown in kid's club?

[snoopy5386]

Just got off a carnival cruise with my 2 and 6 year olds and my 2 year old was very unhappy with the fact that she and her sister were not in the same area of the kid's club to the point where she threw a fit every time we tried to take her there. The 2 girls turn 3 and 7 in a month and are 4 yrs and 8 days apart. Planning a disney cruise next and I am wondering if they would be in the same club on the a DCL ship?

 

[lanejudy]

Sorry your little one had a difficult time. Next year they'll both be in the Club/Lab, but keep in mind that there is a big difference between a 3-yr-old and a 7-yr-old (or 4 and 8, etc.) as far as interest and abilities, and DCL does gear programming somewhat by age even within the Club/Lab.

Nursery = under age 3
Oceaneers Club/Lab = ages 3 - 12 (must be fully potty trained)
Edge = 11-14
Vibe = 14-17

 

[lbgraves]

They wouldn't have been in the same clubs on DCL either. You are dealing with mostly non PTd 2 yos and PTd kids. CMs in the club are not permitted to change diapers, other than the nursery. The breakdown is that 0-3 and not PTd go to the nursery. PTd 3 yos can go to the club. Basically the club and lab are mixed since open houses in one puts all of the kids for secured programing into the other. So you have kids 3-12 in that group. Kids 11-14 are in the Edge for tweens and 14-17 are in the teen Vibe.

So if your 3 yo is PTd completely independently then she can be in the same club as your older DD.

 

[peachygreen]

Just got off a carnival cruise with my 2 and 6 year olds and my 2 year old was very unhappy with the fact that she and her sister were not in the same area of the kid's club to the point where she threw a fit every time we tried to take her there. The 2 girls turn 3 and 7 in a month and are 4 yrs and 8 days apart. Planning a disney cruise next and I am wondering if they would be in the same club on the a DCL ship?

Yes at 3 and 7 they would be in the same club. My girls are almost the exact same again spacing (4 years and 1 month apart) and I agree the youngest was not happy on our last cruise when she was 2 to not get to go to the Oceaneers Club with her big sister.

The Oceaneers Club/Lab is open for kids ages 3-12. The Edge is for 11-14 year old and the Vibe for 14-17 year olds.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Just got off a carnival cruise with my 2 and 6 year olds and my 2 year old was very unhappy with the fact that she and her sister were not in the same area of the kid's club to the point where she threw a fit every time we tried to take her there. The 2 girls turn 3 and 7 in a month and are 4 yrs and 8 days apart. Planning a disney cruise next and I am wondering if they would be in the same club on the a DCL ship?

As PP noted, as long as your 3 year old is fully potty trained, she will be in Oceaneer's Club/Lab with her sister.

FYI, fully potty trained on DCL means able to recognize that she must use toilet, undress, use the toilet, redress, and wash hands without assistance. CMs are not able to assist in any way.

 

[snoopy5386]

They wouldn't have been in the same clubs on DCL either. You are dealing with mostly non PTd 2 yos and PTd kids. CMs in the club are not permitted to change diapers, other than the nursery. The breakdown is that 0-3 and not PTd go to the nursery. PTd 3 yos can go to the club. Basically the club and lab are mixed since open houses in one puts all of the kids for secured programing into the other. So you have kids 3-12 in that group. Kids 11-14 are in the Edge for tweens and 14-17 are in the teen Vibe.

So if your 3 yo is PTd completely independently then she can be in the same club as your older DD.

She is completely potty trained (she is miss I can do it myself) and I know they wouldn't have been in the same club at age 2 & 6, but as I said they will turn 3 & 7 in the next month and I am planning for a future cruise.

 

[snoopy5386]

Thanks for the info. Can someone explain to me the overlap of the oceaneers lab vs the edge for 11-12 year olds? Are they able to go back and forth between these areas or do they have to choose one at the beginning of the cruise?

Do they divide the programming up for the 3-12 year old set? Are kids free to do whichever program they want that is happening in the club/lab? IE the younger one could do stuff with the older one or the older one could do stuff with the younger one?

We are most likely planning a cruise in a few years when they are a little older, but not sure yet. Just want to explore all my options.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks for the info. Can someone explain to me the overlap of the oceaneers lab vs the edge for 11-12 year olds? Are they able to go back and forth between these areas or do they have to choose one at the beginning of the cruise?

Do they divide the programming up for the 3-12 year old set? Are kids free to do whichever program they want that is happening in the club/lab? IE the younger one could do stuff with the older one or the older one could do stuff with the younger one?

We are most likely planning a cruise in a few years when they are a little older, but not sure yet. Just want to explore all my options.

The Club/Lab is separated into (roughly) 2 areas. The Club area has activies aimed for the 3-7 group, and the Lab has activities aimed at the 8-12 group. That being said, the whole area is open to all kids in the the Club/Lab. The CMs will try to direct kids to the appropriate age activities, but any child in there can participate in whatever activities appeal to them, regardless of age.

For the most part, an 11 or 12 year old must select one group and stay with it. They will allow a one time switch from one to the other, but then must stay there. On random cruises, depending on how full the two clubs are, they may allow back and forth privilges, but it's not guaranteed.

 

[Beach Mouse]

Thanks for the info. Can someone explain to me the overlap of the oceaneers lab vs the edge for 11-12 year olds? Are they able to go back and forth between these areas or do they have to choose one at the beginning of the cruise?

Do they divide the programming up for the 3-12 year old set? Are kids free to do whichever program they want that is happening in the club/lab? IE the younger one could do stuff with the older one or the older one could do stuff with the younger one?

We are most likely planning a cruise in a few years when they are a little older, but not sure yet. Just want to explore all my options.

I have only done one DCL. Someone correct me if I am wrong.
Between the club and the lab, the kids are allowed to move back and forth between them. The CMs escort them between the two. There were several times that my son had moved to the other one when we came to pick them up. The CM will be able to verify on the computer were they are currently. If they are over 8 years old, you can give your child authorization to check themselves in and out without a parent. This basically gives them free run of the ship. Your decision. I believe this is how you would allow your child to go between the club/lab/edge. You do not have to specify one. They just have to be in the age range.
The club is more of a play structure and roll play activities. The lab has computer games, games, crafts, and organized activities (cooking, building...).

 

[lanejudy]

I believe this is how you would allow your child to go between the club/lab/edge. You do not have to specify one. They just have to be in the age range.

This is not entirely correct. Generally, DCL will require a child in the overlap age (11-12) to choose either the Club/Lab or Edge. They cannot usually utilize both. That said, yes some people report their child was allowed to go back and forth throughout the cruise, but most have reported the need to choose and stick with that choice for the duration of the cruise.

Children 3-12 in the Club/Lab are allowed to move between Club and Lab.

 

[pyramid2000]

I am not sure how far in the future you are planning, but I wouldn't fully expect things to be exactly how they are today if you are talking a few years. Yes, you have a rough guideline of how they may be, but you never know when changes may occur. Just a thought.

 

[Beach Mouse]

Lanejudy

Thank you for the clarification.

 

[Melissa S]

OP my cousin had the same problem on Carnival last year. It was their first cruise. She and her husband brought their two daughters and niece; all preteens. If they were on DCL they would have been in the same club, on Carnival they were in all different clubs. Needless to say the girls were miserable, spent no time in the clubs, and the parents who hoped to get some adult time had to entertain bummed out kids. They have sworn off cruising all together.

 

[bumbershoot]

Just to be exact, so that I can talk about it to a relative of mine...when they say 3-12 they mean a 12 year old can still be in the Club/Lab? It's inclusive of 12, right? The Club/Lab days actually end (with current rules) the moment a child turns 13?


I know it's not a hard concept, but I've got to get this clear in my head.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Just to be exact, so that I can talk about it to a relative of mine...when they say 3-12 they mean a 12 year old can still be in the Club/Lab? It's inclusive of 12, right? The Club/Lab days actually end (with current rules) the moment a child turns 13?


I know it's not a hard concept, but I've got to get this clear in my head.

A 12 year old can be in either the Lab or in Edge. The ages on either end of each group are the overlaps that DCL has built in for whatever adjustments that parents want to make for what club to put their kids in.

The overlap between the nursery and Club/Lab is age 3. Between Club/Lab and Edge age 11 & 12. Between Edge and Vibe age 14.

So an 11 year old can be in Edge or the Club/Lab, also.

 

[ciraulo887]

I understand that you don't have older kids. But, an interesting thing we just learned on our cruise last week. If your teenager is in The Vibe 14-17 and they turn 18 on the ship they will not be allowed in. So, if your on a cruise from Saturday to Friday and they turn 18 on Wednesday, they are OUT. My daughter is only 16. But it limited my option for 2014 cruise.

 

[bumbershoot]

A 12 year old can be in either the Lab or in Edge. The ages on either end of each group are the overlaps that DCL has built in for whatever adjustments that parents want to make for what club to put their kids in.

The overlap between the nursery and Club/Lab is age 3. Between Club/Lab and Edge age 11 & 12. Between Edge and Vibe age 14.

So an 11 year old can be in Edge or the Club/Lab, also.

Thanks for laying it out there for me! I think I had gone by what someone told me in person, and I never looked at the upper edges of the ages before. Thank you! And thanks OP for the thread!

 

[lanejudy]

I understand that you don't have older kids. But, an interesting thing we just learned on our cruise last week. If your teenager is in The Vibe 14-17 and they turn 18 on the ship they will not be allowed in. So, if your on a cruise from Saturday to Friday and they turn 18 on Wednesday, they are OUT. My daughter is only 16. But it limited my option for 2014 cruise.

Correct, once they turn 18 they are considered an adult and no longer allowed in the teen club. That means they can attend Vibe for the days leading up to the birthday, but once the birthday hits it's a no-go. However, they will then be allowed in any "adult only" areas including Palo/Remy (nice 18th birthday dinner?), the spa, the fitness club and the nightclubs (not sure that last one would make parents happy though no drinking allowed). No adults in any of the kids spaces except during Open House.

 

[lbgraves]

I understand that you don't have older kids. But, an interesting thing we just learned on our cruise last week. If your teenager is in The Vibe 14-17 and they turn 18 on the ship they will not be allowed in. So, if your on a cruise from Saturday to Friday and they turn 18 on Wednesday, they are OUT. My daughter is only 16. But it limited my option for 2014 cruise.

This is actually better than when the first changed the policy in December 2011. At first anyone turning 18 during the cruise couldn't go to the Vibe the entire time. They weren't allowed to go to the adult areas until the were 18. Parents complained that these kids needed to be able to go somewhere onboard so the change was made.

 

[justmestace]

OP my cousin had the same problem on Carnival last year. It was their first cruise. She and her husband brought their two daughters and niece; all preteens. If they were on DCL they would have been in the same club, on Carnival they were in all different clubs. Needless to say the girls were miserable, spent no time in the clubs, and the parents who hoped to get some adult time had to entertain bummed out kids. They have sworn off cruising all together.

What ages? Carnival's clubs are divided into the same age groups as Disney's are.