10 year old in "Edge"?

[Topscot]

I'm sorry if this has been asked before, but since my daughter currently is 8, I didn't pay much attention to the question.

We are planning on going on either Dream or Fantasy in 2013. We are going with another couple whose DD is my DD best friend. When we cruise, my DD will be 11, but their DD will still be 10. Can their DD join my DD in Edge with the 11-13 year olds, or will my DD be made to go to the Lab with the 3-10 year olds in order to stay with her friend?

Thanks!

 

[roxy84]

How close will the 10 year old be to 11? If it is a month or two it shouldn't be a problem. If it is more, then they may not allow the 10 year old to move up but the 11 year can visit in the lab with the 10 year old.

It's also important to remember it is 2 years away. The policies and procedures may change by the time you cruise based on guest feedback. They could expand the tween ages, or they could even be more strict on ages 11-13.

 

[Topscot]

Unfortunately, we will be going in April and she will not turn 11 until August. I just can't see them enjoying being around the much younger kids and my daughter is quite tall for her age.

 

[FairyGrandmother]

There is so much to do on the ship that even if they don't spend much time in the clubs they will have a great time, of course that will mean that they will need to spend more time with the adults in your group. At that age they would probably be willing to spend evening time in the clubs (even with the younger kids) if they had been busy all day at other things. I know when we took my then 10 year old DGD she did not spend much time in the clubs at all.Good luck.

 

[DLW8]

My kids were 8 and 9 when we did our 2 cruises and they were barely in the club at all.

All the activities that they were interested in were in the Edge, and they were too young.

We are crusing in September 2012 and they will be 11 in December, we are hoping they can move up to the Edge. If not, no big deal, we will all hang together as we have the past 2 cruises!

Some kids seem to like to spend a ton of time in the clubs, and others, none at all.

The only time my DS was there the last cruise is when we had brunch at Palo. I'm sure he would say that was the longest hour of the cruise.

 

[kcashner]

MANY 11 and 12 year olds choose to go to the Lab on visitor status. The programs in the Lab are not really geared for ages 3-10 although it is possible that a 3 year old could be there.

DCL used to have strict age groups 3-7 and 8-12. And there were always parents who wanted to move their children to be with a sibling, cousin, friend, or just because their child is obviously more advanced than other kids or because they didn't want their 13 year old with the bad 17 year olds. SO, DCL created the tween group for 11-13s WHO CAN sign them selves out. If you don't want your child to sign themselves in and out, they can go to the Lab. And DCL designed a flexible program where 3-10s can go to either the Club or the Lab and can move between the two but the CMS won't ask them if they want to move. If someone drops a 6 year old at the Club, they will stay at the club unless they ask to move. The activities are listed as "designed for ages X-Y," so it is not terribly common for a 10 year old to want to do a 3-4 activity or a 3 year old in a 9-10 activity.

While there is a lot of flexibility, 10 year olds are not routinely allowed in the Edge unless they are within 30 days of turning 11. Think--do you want your 10 year old running with the 13s? However, there are a lot of 11 and 12s who choose to go to the Lab activities! And there are a ton of things for the kids to do outside of the programming--movies, family activities, stuff on the pool deck, etc.

 

[Topscot]

Thanks very much for the replies, they were very helpful. I think my DD will stay in the Lab to be with her BFF. I would not want her to be able to sign herself out anyways.

 

[mindelmouse]

We just cruised the Wonder in August and my kids are 10 and their friends are 11 and 12 and they were not allowed in the Edge. I was told that if they had an older sibling in there, that they may allow them but based on our situation they said no.

 

[WDWJonasGirl]

When I was on my 2009 cruise, I had just turned 14 and I was old enough for the teen club but my parents didn't want my sister and I there. They thought the Ocean Quest was better for us. By the way, I was still in middle school at the time.