18 year old activities on DCL ships

[disneyfool_1202]

My son is 17 and has very high functioning autism. He is very independent but also needs to stay "busy". The last time we cruised he was old enough for the Tween club while his sister was too young and refused to leave our sides. We are booked for April 2021 during which he will still by 17 and eligible for the teen club. However, if we have to postpone our cruise due to COVID, I have to try and figure out a time that both my son and daughter will be "off" from school at the same time.
So if he is 18, I know he can't go into the teen's club (which he has been looking forward to). Maturity wise he is where his 15 year old sister is, but I know that it's age that matters. I don't know what there is for an 18 year old boy who is relatively shy, does like to game and get into group activities that are not sports related. He's too young for night clubs. And I don't want to cruise with him "bored" in the cabin the whole time . This is our 6th Disney Cruise so we know there is a lot to do. but I've never cruised with an 18 year old broody male.
I'm looking for your expertise on things to do, especially on the Fantasy (the one ship we haven't been on).

 

[JM23457]

My son is 17 and has very high functioning autism. He is very independent but also needs to stay "busy". The last time we cruised he was old enough for the Tween club while his sister was too young and refused to leave our sides. We are booked for April 2021 during which he will still by 17 and eligible for the teen club. However, if we have to postpone our cruise due to COVID, I have to try and figure out a time that both my son and daughter will be "off" from school at the same time.
So if he is 18, I know he can't go into the teen's club (which he has been looking forward to). Maturity wise he is where his 15 year old sister is, but I know that it's age that matters. I don't know what there is for an 18 year old boy who is relatively shy, does like to game and get into group activities that are not sports related. He's too young for night clubs. And I don't want to cruise with him "bored" in the cabin the whole time . This is our 6th Disney Cruise so we know there is a lot to do. but I've never cruised with an 18 year old broody male.
I'm looking for your expertise on things to do, especially on the Fantasy (the one ship we haven't been on).

There is an informal 1820 Society for people ages 18 - 20. They have meet-ups & do some things together. Have him go to those, especially the initial meeting. I believe it's listed in the Navigator.

No guarantee that he'll like it or that he'll make friends, though. I'd be prepared to do activities with him during the cruise, just in case.

 

[Snowwhyt]

Yes I agree the 1820 society is probably not going to be your sons must love Club. I encourage him to go to each one of the activities every day and hope to make friends during the our meeting that they will have. At that time he can discuss with some of the individuals if they would like to meet at other functions on the ship. Since he will be 18 I think he will enjoy going with you to the adult functions comedy show and what have you as they are family oriented and he will feel special just being there as an adult.

 

[Geomom]

All the kids clubs have open house hours at various times, anyone can go to those, so he can visit the teen club or any club during open house. On the Disney ships, adult areas are open to anyone 18 or older, he just can't order alcohol. There is a special code on the key card that identifies those 18-20, so they can enter adult areas, but not order alcohol. My oldest DD was 18 on our last cruise, attended a few of the 1820 events--lunch, non alcoholic drinks, crafts, but didn't really make any friends at it. She liked doing the craft activity with the CM running the group. DD enjoyed going to the adult only activities with us--entertainment, napkin folding, etc. She also went to an open house in the kids club with her teen sister to check out that area.