17 year old traveling with friend who is 18

[sweetpee_1993]

I agree. And I suspect that Disney has these put in place and sticks to them because if they bend for one, they are opening up a can of worms. I mean my mother didn't want me hanging out with 20 year olds at 17, even though I was very mature for my age. I could see the potential for liability issues.

There was an incident in Vibe which caused the hard line on the age rule. The age parameters are a consideration when planning a cruise vaca with older teens. My sons managed and always had a good time. We took them on NCL where we could sign consent for them to be served beer & wine in bars when they were 18 & 20 which they enjoyed. It’s a non-issue now because if/when they cruise again both will be 21 or older. I think its best to do the research and manage expectations accordingly. I hate when there’s disappointment but I understand the reasons for the rules.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

They make exceptions for the Edge and just mark the kids KTTWC with a sticker upon patent approval. Why not do the same for the Vibe and 18-20 Society? Why allow exceptions in one group but not the others?

Because liability. Like I said, there was an incident that resulted in the hard line on the upper age cutoff for Vibe.

 

[SherriNichole]

They make exceptions for the Edge and just mark the kids KTTWC with a sticker upon patent approval. Why not do the same for the Vibe and 18-20 Society? Why allow exceptions in one group but not the others?

I guess because 18 is "THE AGE". I understand wanting your kids to hang out with their friends who may only be slightly older, but would you want a creepy 20-year old guy hanging all over your 17-year old daughter? And would you want your 20-year old son to get in trouble for doing something with someone he thought was 18? No matter how responsible a child, things can happen. You may trust your own, but can you trust everyone else's?

 

[swmal]

Thanks everyone. Looks like I got my answer..and then some. It is unfortunate...especially since she is school aged and goes to school (in the same building) with 12 year olds. Too bad Disney won’t accept a proof of high school enrollment for 18 year olds.

Thanks again.

 

[FigmentSpark]

An 18 year old high schooler doesn't need parental permission to leave the school or even have to show their report card to their parents. They are legally responsible for themselves and can even switch classes without parents even knowing about it. But a 17 year old is not allowed any of this. An 18 year old can sign up for military service and can vote. Just because the 18 year old is in a civics class with 17 year olds and may know as much about politics, doesn't mean the 17 year old can vote, but the 18 year old gets a say in government. Because of this, that number is hard and fast.

 

[Summer12315]

The ages of 18 and 21 aren't magic numbers in terms of development but they are magical numbers in terms of legality in the U.S., where I'm assuming the cruises in question are departing from. (Are the rules different on ships departing from European ports?) Disney has to cover their butts from a legality standpoint just like everybody else. They need to take these steps to avoid potential lawsuits as well as bad press.

 

[mmmears]

Honestly it's simple. There is a legal difference between an 18 year old and a 17 year old. And as for it being "just" a week, a month, etc. I've seen people here say "just one year" or "my 2 year old is very mature" and at some point they have to draw the line somewhere.

 

[lady9]

The policy used to be if you were 18 but hadn't started college yet, you could go to Vibe. As stated above, there was an incident that caused the policy to not be flexible with 18 year olds because they are legally adults. On the last cruise our 18 year old son was on with us, there was a 16 year old hanging out with the 18-20 group with her older sister. Seriously this girl was making moves on my son and texting him really inappropriate things to the point he wouldn't stay at their get togethers if she was there. It really dampened our cruise because he felt he couldn't hang out with friends he had made because of her.

 

[FigmentSpark]

The policy used to be if you were 18 but hadn't started college yet, you could go to Vibe. As stated above, there was an incident that caused the policy to not be flexible with 18 year olds because they are legally adults. On the last cruise our 18 year old son was on with us, there was a 16 year old hanging out with the 18-20 group with her older sister. Seriously this girl was making moves on my son and texting him really inappropriate things to the point he wouldn't stay at their get togethers if she was there. It really dampened our cruise because he felt he couldn't hang out with friends he had made because of her.

Wow! That could ahve really spoiled his whole cruise. Did you report her to Guest Services or was anything done in time for him to be able to enjoy the rest of his cruise?

 

[lady9]

We didn't say anything. We just had him hang out with us or make arrangements with some of the guys in the group to do things without the girls. He played a lot of basketball! It was a good cruise overall and hasn't stopped us from cruising Disney. However, our DD is turning 18 next year so we are cruising before her birthday so she has one last time in Vibe.

 

[GoofyforDCL]

The tricky thing will be that the 18 year old can go to the adult pool area, the club and bars (for trivia, shows, dancing, etc.), and Serenity Bay, while the 17 years old will not be able to. The 17 year old can go to the Vibe, but the 18 year old can't. Our girls have grown up on DCL, and now are in the 18-20 group and last year of Vibe. They hung out in very different areas of the ship the past two years once the oldest hit 18 years old. (Btw, it is 18-20, not 21...concern about 21 year olds passing drinks to underaged guests...and the 18-20 year old kids get carded constantly in adult areas, including the pool, particularly when in larger groups.) BUT if the two girls are cool hanging out on their own, they'll be fine. There are a lot of "family" trivia games and events, not just adult versions, and underaged kids are allowed in the "bar/nightclub" areas of the ship until some later part of the evening.

 

[kiford]

I'm not only referring to the clubs, and as others have indicated, there is no big difference between a 17 year-old & an 18 year-old.

Legal liability. That's the big difference. An under-18 year old is still legally a child and the parents are still responsible for them. An 18+ year old is legally an adult and responsible for themselves. Maturity level is irrelevant. Strictly a legal issue.