5yr old girl?

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Hi,
I've been reading this forum quite a bit for the past few days. We're in the "learning" stage -planning our next Disney experience to be a cruise- most likely 7 day cruise unless I can talk DH into land/sea (he doesn't want to go back to WDW for awhile..... *sigh*).

My question is- do you think a 5yr old "girlie" girl is going to enjoy the programs and activities that I've seen are for the 5-7 age group? I'm curious because so far in our pre-planning- that's the age she would be if we went on the cruise then (with oldest 12yrs old, son 8yrs old) and honestly the navigator for 5-7 age group seems like it would be right up my son's alley NOW (he's 6 now) but I truly can't see that stuff interesting my daughter at that age- even though that's a couple of years away. I suppose her interests could change drastically by then- but doubtful. I just have a hard time seeing her being interested in all the things listed there now- that my 6yr old son would be thrilled with- when she's 5. She's more a tea party with Alice, play with my dolls/dollhouse/etc (if you get my drift) type child than anything to do with the "lab" activities I see listed in the navigator for that age.

Is it really more "girl" oriented than it seems from the navigator? It seems so boyish... stuff that MYSELF at that age group or my oldest daughter when she was age 5-7 might have thoroughly enjoyed... but then we were tomboys at that age. LOL

(and then I look at the 8-10 navigator and think my then 8yr old son would probably more enjoy the 5-7 navigator. *sigh* LOL)

Ps. the issue with her enjoying it is a VERY important issue for us... because while we do plan our excursions and shore activities to be enjoyed as a family- we are thrilled with the idea of actually having some time alone on the cruise also. Kinda like the only way we can think of to have a vacation with time alone until the kids are much older or grown. LOL We've done it at WDW but it's always just a few hours in the evening and costs a fortune to do so. LOL So this issue might change WHEN we take the cruise... early in the year so she'll still be 4 in the 3-4 age group or later in the year when she'll be 5. Which btw.. if we went in the fall months of that year my son wouldn't be 8 yet- so then they'd both be in the 5-7 age group... and I do think he'd totally enjoy the stuff listed on the navigator for that group, and them together would probably be great.... hmmmm, decisions decisions. LOL

 

[videoman]

My daughter was exactly 5 yrs old when we went this October. She loved the club, but we didn't push it too much, cause we wanted her to be excited about going, cause tears would have been very dissapointing on Mommy & Daddy's Palo night! She loved the arts & craft time and pajama party w/Goofy. Also free time was fun for her too, they have a big play area where the girls & boys can run free. She absolutely loved when they took them to the Oceaneers Lab to explore. I would strongly recommend NOT putting her in the very first night. I know many people tell you that you should and that is when they make friends, but I found that night to be very very hectic and the counselors have so much to do and such an overload of children that my daughter got very intimidated, as did many other younger children that we saw. The next day was so different, the counselors actually were able to take her hand and talk to her to make her feel special, and she made friends on the second day, not the first. My daughter also goes to Kindergarden, so i think if your daughter goes to PreK or K-garden it is easier for the drop off. It is a wonderful feeling to know that your daughter is having a great time and Mommy & Daddy can actually sit down and have a conversation......(about the kids lol)! Have a great trip & good luck

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Thank you so much for your reply. Perhaps I need to read that age group's navigator more carefully... she'd probably love the arts & crafts stuff (this child must "color"- either with crayons, markers or stickers or all 3- every single evening while her siblings are doing homework LOL... that's her "homework" don't you know... LOL) -but see like the Goofy... wouldn't interest her at all. To her that's "boy" (my son loves him!) She's only interested in Minnie and princesses. It's just how she is.

I don't think we'd have any issues at all with her feeling overwhelmed or seperation issues. She's barely 3 now and already goes to 3yr old preschool because she cannot STAND that her older siblings go to school... she has to also. So at that time she would have already gone to 2yrs of preschool- starting Kindergarten in 2005- either after or before our cruise depending on what time of year we go on the cruise ofcourse. She's the type that absolutely LOVES going to preschool and gets upset when it's time to go home or when Sat/Sun rolls around and she can't go. So unless she changes in some way by then... she's probably going to prefer to go to the activities for kids rather than hang with us 24/7. So that's good.... but my concern is if she gets there and nothing they do suits her interests THEN she's not going to want to go back. And that would be a bummer... we want the kids to have fun too but like you said- REALLY looking foward to some alone time... it's such a rarity for us (um, 2 "dates" -lasting a few hours each- out alone in the past oh, 7yrs atleast? LOL The "alone time" possible on a Disney Cruise is really the only way I talked DH into it! He wanted to go to Hawaii next vacation and not go back to WDW for many years when the kids were older, no stroller, no parent swap, etc.... but when I compared the vacations for him and he saw how we'd have more alone time on the Disney Cruise and it would actually be more fun for the kids than just going to Hawaii- that is what changed his mind. LOL)

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

When you get closer see what she likes. My DD is 5. But we asked and they granted our request to have her be bumped down to the 3-4's. She is a very petite 5 year old, and still is in preschool, so this was perfect for her. The Do-si-do with Snow White was wonderful! SHe had a wonderful time! Just letting you know that there is the possibility that she could move in age groups to accomodate her interests. I have read that they will bump down, but rarely bump up an age level. Have fun planning!

 

[kcashner]

I'll echo that they will bump down, but almost never bump up for age. The requirement to bump up is that the child is within 30 days of the age for the upper group. For bumping down, it is parents and counsellor's discretion.

From your post, it looks like you are considering a trip about 2 years from now--6 year old will be 8. So...if your DD is 3 now, you are talking about her being very significantly older than she is now. She'll probably do fine, and if she doesn't fit in the 5-7, they will let her do the 3-5 (probably.) My DD thinks the club is a lot better than the lab....she is talking about growing up to be a counsellor in the club!

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Thank you all for your posts!
I realize she may change a lot by then... but I just don't think she'll go the direction of the type of stuff I read on the 5-7 navigator. I could be wrong.... we'll see.
That's good to know about bumping down. Atleast at the moment she is small for her age (again, could change by then LOL) -so she might be happier with children her size anyway... see, things like Snow White would thrill her immensely... goofy would not (for example) LOL

 

[Bbgrizzle]

Our first cruise with our kids was this past May, and one of my DD's was 5. She loved the clubs and wanted to be in them at all times. I think what made it the most fun for my girls was that thru these boards we found them some pen pals who would be on the cruise with us. They wrote letters for about six months before the cruise (we had to help the 5 year olds) and they loved getting mail and sharing their excitement with other friends who would be on the cruise with them. We had a DIS meet the first day and all the little girls met each other. Then they always had friends in the clubs. That was probably the main reason they wanted to go to the clubs was to see their pen pals. The activities were fun, but they were even more enjoyable because of the friends they had made.

 

[dizmomof2]

I have two VERY girlie girls. They were both in the 5-7 age group of the club. They absolutely LOVED it! We had to drag them out of the club. Every night was an issue. Thank goodness the room steward made towel animals and it was the excitment of going to see what he had made that got them out of the club. They really enjoyed every activity that they went to. Don't forget that at Goofy's Giggle Gala they make a pillow case and get a travel pillow to take home with them. My kids still have them.

Don't worry about your DD not enjoying it. Chances are she'll love it. Theyreally take into account boys and girls (girlie and tom boy)

 

[lbgraves]

You might also want to know that the time listed for an activity that has a character appearance listed is not the time the character is actually there. They only stay for about 15 minutes in that time frame. The rest of the time is spent preparing for their arrival. For example, for the Mousekateer activity the kids practiced marching in line, then marching hitting drum sticks together, giving high 4s (Mickey only has 4 fingers), and doing Mickey ears. Mickey showed up after they had done all that, gave them each a high 4, marched around the club for a few minutes, took a picture with the group, then left. The pajama party for Goofy is almost 2 hours but most of the activity is done without Goofy there. Your DD might enjoy the activities around the time & the planning a trick on Goofy that my son still gets a kick out of telling us about it.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

OH see... I'm already learning more and more from this thread! Thank you so much! I really must go back and read more thoroughly apparently... I don't recall seeing stuff about a pillow and all that. She'd probably love that... she's a pillow freak already. Let's see.. she has a Cinderella pillow, Snow White pillow, other characters on pillow cases and all have to be ON a pillow at all times to sleep with every night..... LOL

Thank you for the reassurances that they really take into consideration both girls and boys- it seemed from a quick read of the navigators in different age groups TO ME that the 3-4 was more geared towards what she was interested in, and 5-7 more what my son was interested in... so I guess that's why it seemed more gender oriented than it really is.

 

[danamay]

We took our DD's pillowcase down to guest services the next day, guest services had all the Characters onboard signed the pillow case. We just picked the pillowcase up 24 hours later. Great keep sake for our DD.

 

[lbgraves]

Keep in mind that these activities will probably change in 2 years too. They don't get a pillow now, but do get a pillowcase with The Lion King pictures that they work on coloring in when they are at the PJ party.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Changes is what I'm afraid of.... could change for the worse. LOL

 

[plutospup]

I had the same concerns when DD moved up to the 5-7 group. She loved the 3-4, but I wasn't so sure about the older group for cruise#2. No fear. My "princess" had a blast with the 5-7 group. I never would have suspected she would have enjoyed making "flubber", but she did! Your little "princess" will enjoy the Club as well.

 

[clh2]

There are many characters on board - that aren't in the clubs!

When we were on the Wonder in October - I was amazed at the number of Princesses that were on board. I was extremely impressed with the picture/autograph sessions in the lobby. My DD had a blast meeting them all and having her picture taken with them.

If she is a girlie-girl the pics with the princesses is a must do.

The princesses each took time to talk to each girl, ask them questions etc. When the princesses were talking to a younger girl, they would go down on a knee so that they could talk to them "eye-to-eye".

 

[Rock'n Robin]

My DS was 5 on our 4 day Wonder cruise, and getting him out of the club was NOT an issue--each night he fell asleep watching the movie and we had to carry him out! Seriously he had a ball when he was there. I'm hoping he has as much fun on our western this July.
Robin M.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Thanks for all your posts- I appreciate them!

Robin- the issue was a GIRL in that age group.. I've already said from what I've read of the navigator I think my now 6yr old son would have a tee-total blast there.... just doesn't seem like what my daughter would enjoy. I didn't mean to imply it's not fun for the kids....