12 1/2 yr. old mature DD -- Can she go w/teens?

[dotterson]

Hi,

My daughter will be 12 1/2 when we cruise on the Wonder 12/19. She's very mature. Will they let her do some stuff with the older kids or are they really strict about the age thing?

She's been on 2 cruises before and certainly doesn't want to be stuck doing flubber again!

Thanks!

Also, can she join us for the Palo brunch or is that adults only???

Can't wait (got the DVD) and wish it was sooner!

d

 

[jel0511]

Disney is very strict with the age thing only allowing a child to move up an age group when within one month of turning that age. Also, your DD won't be allowed to attend any event in Palo's, it is for adults only for all meals.

 

[musicgirl]

This will be a hard one for her in regards to where to go.

Maybe she could go to the lab and find some girls her age to just hang out with.

 

[Katdb]

THey might let her into the teen club, but there are a lot of ifs for that statement:

if the club isn't full
if there are more younger kids than older kids
if she demonstrates maturity during her 'test run'

When I was in the teen club my first cruise, there were a lot of 16, 17 year olds and they bumped a 12.5 year old up because it wasn't that busy and there were a few 13 year old. He ended up not coming because of the age gap.

So there is a chance they might let her into the teen club, but i wouldn't get your hopes up too high!

Katdb

 

[Typhoon]

My son is 12.5 and he would love it if he could got to the teen things. He just took the act's and got a 20 on them. Fingers crossed!!

 

[musicgirl]

Just beware that some of the topics may not always be suitable for the pre-teens. Even though they separate for teen ages in some activities, they do not always check. A while back there were some very upset people over more mature topics in the activities definitely not geared toward the younger teen.

On our last cruise in June, ds was 3 months away from 13. He had a great time in the lab. He's very smart, but he can get goofy as well.

I teach kids Gr. k-12 and there is a huge difference at this age. The older kids do not always take to the younger ones hanging around.

 

[Katdb]

I have to agree with musicgirl that sometimes it can be a alittle annoying depending on how mature the child is (especially if you are 17 and there are mostly 13 yr olds).

I've always thought that they should have a seperate section for 15-17 year olds as, as musicgirl said, there is generally a huge different between the age groups.

Most of the time, people can mesh well in the clubs, it just depends on the group of kids you get in there.

Katdb

 

[dotterson]

I guess we need to see what the Navigators have to offer and the most important thing is if she finds a pal right away.

We're going 12/19 and I have no idea how full the cruise will be. She's hung out with 17 year olds (last weekend), but it certainly depends on the kids and their moods(!)

I appreciate your advice tho!

d

 

[westjones]

I always find it interesting how parents want their kids to be the 'youngest' in a group. I always prefer the opposite. I prefer my kids to be the 'oldest' in a group (or one of the oldest).

On our last cruise my DDs (twins) turned 10. I put them in the 8/9 group and they had a nice time. A friend went a week later with her recently turned 10 year old and her daughter didn't enjoy it because the kids talked about things that her daughter was not into (boy/girl stuff).

I don't know what I will do in a couple of years when we go on the cruise that my DDs turn 13 (we always go on their birthdays), but I will probably have them go in the 10-12 group and if they don't enjoy it they can hang with us. I can't imagine letting my recently turned 13 year old hang with 15-17 year old boys. That is just not going to happen.

But to each their own. Seem like kids are trying to grow up so fast these days. I guess it is just our culture.

DJ

 

[aaronamy]

Im with you Westjones. We are going in Sep and my dd will turn 13 this Saturday. Im not thrilled with her being with 15 and 17 year olds, and she would not be either. That is a huge age difference. Luckily we are going with friends and they also have a 13 year old so they will go to the club and try it out but I imagine they will hang out together most of the time. I wish Disney would seperate them a little more. I understand that on RCL it is broken down 13and 14 and then 15-18. I think that would be much more fun for everyone. I have yet to meet a 13 year old who has the same interest (I don't care how mature)as a 17 year old.

 

[NYGiantsRule!]

The Teen area is broken down into age groups, just like the Lab is broken down into 8-9 and 10-12. The teen activities are 13-14 and 15-17. There are times when they are together, but it is not all of the time. My DS14 did things like scavenger hunts, etc.