8/17/08 Captain Jack's Repossession Repo Cruise to PC thru TPC #3

[scuba.mom]

We have about a million pirate kids between 8 & 12, so I ask parents - what are your thoughts on sign out privileges for your tweens?

This is the first time the monkeys have been close to an age that we can even think about it.

We allowed our kids at 11 or so to use the sign out privileges. Neither DS or DD ever abused that privilege. We asked them to page us when they were checking out and where they were going. "Roaming the boat was not an option" They could go to get something to eat, or to a movie, or a show, etc. They always went with another DIS friend. (We had "met" a number of other tweens on the boards before each cruise). It worked for our kids, but only you can know what is best for yours.

 

[Downrivermama]

M the elevator thing is good, but last cruise, there were a lot of kids playing in the stairwells with no parent in sight.

Oh, I like the idea of looking out for the kids, like my old neighborhood. My parents usually knew I was up to mischeif before I hit the door!

 

[goofyforlife]

G'mornin' s
After the game, as DS was taking his gear off, I called him out of the locker room to introduce him to Kristina. He held out his hand to shake hers & said "Nice to meet you".

That was great that you and K got to meet. And I agree very sweet of your son.

Yes, He was quite the gentleman...i was impressed... (Now how can i train my DH to do that? )

I have a plan of being consertative at least for the 1st few days and they re-evaluate. My 12 YO is not the most mature but the 8 YO is. It would kill the 12 yo if I let the 8 yo check herself out and not her.

I didn't think they could sign out at 8...Too young IMHO. I know dd had the option at 10 but i didn't let her until the following year.

I know our Jr. Disers differ in ages and level of maturity, but I like Tom's idea of a contract.

ETA: I guess I should add that my guys are decent swimmer and can both stand up in the Goofy pool, so I think DH & I will be OK with them 'swimming' without us.

The only problem comes when the other kids want to jump into the middle pool which is deeper and has many kids jumping on top of one another. I so do not swim in that "Pit of Despair"

Rough Draft

Junior Swabbie and Princess Oceaneer Lab Sign Out Contract
The Rules:
1. When you are not with us, you are expected to behave in a responsible and courteous manner. You will not be rude to other guests and you will behave as ladies/gentlemen. In other words, don’t do anything that you wouldn’t want us to see you doing. (Like yours would have a problem )2. You must be together any time you are not in the Lab.

7. If you sign yourself out of the Lab, you may only go to or move between the following places:
A. Deck 9, Goofy Pool area
B. Deck 9, Pluto’s and Pinocchio’s snack bars (with quick trips to the beverage station)
C. Deck 9 game room
D. Deck 9 bathrooms
E. Deck ?? Sports Deck (can't remember - where the heck is that thing?)
F. Our room
G. You may also go to a movie or show IF you find us first to tell us you are going and you check in with us as soon as the movie or show ends.

9.What no Quest on deck 2? and the Quest kids do have a ship wide scavenger hunt where they are not supervised either (no sign in/out with that program only hand washing)

10. No snacking after 4 p.m.
(ok, meanie NO MICKEY BAR FOR YOU!!)

 

[sk8ingmom]

Do I see law school in your future?

Naw, that was my past. I was pre-law in undergrad, but then I decided that taking the bar exam in a different state every 3 years would not be a productive way to spend my life.

Besides, I don't nee a J.D. to quote Willie Wonka!

 

[tom31b]

Playing on M's version:

Junior Swabbie and Princess Oceaneer Lab Sign Out Contract

We know that you will make a lot of friends on the cruise and we want you to have a great time. We believe that you are responsible enough to be given the ability to sign yourself into and out of the Oceaneer Lab. If you are willing to follow the rules, you will be allowed to go places on the ship together and with your friends.

The Rules:

1. When you are not with us, you are expected to behave in a responsible and courteous manner. You will not be rude to other guests and you will behave as ladies/gentlemen. In other words, don’t do anything that you wouldn’t want us to see you doing.

2. You must be together (define together – with brother/sister? With friends from ship?) any time you are not in the Lab.

3. You will ask the Lab Cast Member to page us to tell us where you are going when you sign out & also page us when you sign in to the Lab.

4. No one else may enter our room.

5. You may not enter anyone else’s room.

6. You must have your room key and watch with you at all times and your DIS bracelet must be visible at all times.

7. If you sign yourself out of the Lab, you may only go to or move between the following places:

A. Deck 9, Goofy Pool area
B. Deck 9, Pluto’s and Pinocchio’s snack bars (with quick trips to the beverage station)
C. Deck 9 game room
D. Deck 9 bathrooms
E. Deck 10 Sports Deck
F. Our room
G. You may also go to a movie or show IF you find us first to tell us you are going and you check in with us as soon as the movie or show ends.​

8. You will check in with Mom & Dad at agreed upon times and places throughout the day.

9. Stay out of the elevators – take the stairs!

10. No snacking after 4 p.m. Any food you get you must eat. If you do not finish the food, do not order more until after the next meal.

11. No room service ordering without our permission.

12. After dinner, you will be allowed in the following places without Mom or Dad:

A. the Lab
B. our room​

13. No swimming w/o a parent present.

14. No hanging on the stairs! In fact no "hanging" anywhere other than the arcade, lab, Quest, or Stack. (probably need to define hanging.)
15. You will meet us for meals as follows:

Lunch - specify
Dinner - specify​

The Consequences:

Your sign out privileges will be suspended the first time we (or anyone else - remember, we have over 500 friends on board!) see you somewhere you are not supposed to be or doing something you are not supposed to be doing.

"I, the undersigned, shall forfeit all rights, privileges, and licenses herein and herein contained," et cetera, et cetera...”Fax mentis incendium gloria cultum," et cetera, et cetera...”Memo bis punitor delicatum!"

 

[micmse2003]

To all of you trying to keep some controls and rules children must adhere to....the best of luck!!!!

I guess getting old does have some advantages!!!

 

[got2travel]

So, a few threads on the main cruise board have me thinking about something I'm sort of afraid to ask...but I'll go ahead and do it since we all seem to be able to respect one another's opinions and I'm pretty sure we can have a conversation without anyone being called a good or bad parent & if the discussion takes a turn, we can leave it here on this thread that is about to be shut down anyway...here goes...

We have about a million pirate kids between 8 & 12, so I ask parents - what are your thoughts on sign out privileges for your tweens?

This is the first time the monkeys have been close to an age that we can even think about it.

My DS is 12. He will have the ability to sign out, but no charging priviliges. He will also have specific rules and if those rules are not followed, he will lose his priviliges.

Rules will be something like sign out with a buddy, never alone, don't go in any cabins, don't let anyone into ours, have club page me when u leave (is this possible??), stuff like that.

 

[justmestace]

That was the same night you were hanging from the chandelier, wasn't it

The RUMOR was that I only used the chandelier to catch my balance.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

Thanks again for the responses!

I've been having a little trouble finding what I thought would be simple information regarding formal nights (how many/which nights) and just a general idea of the activities on the ship. Do they do a nightly newsletter type thing they do on other cruislines?

I know this is a reposition cruise, but I also know its been done before. Maybe I'm just looking in the wrong places.

Any idea? Have any of you been on these repositioning cruises before?

Welcome see answer below, after Bellelinus quote which covers as well. I might be the one who directed you here from the main cruise board.

Welcome!!!!!!!!!!!! We don't have the exact schedule of all the theme nights, but hope to by April or May. You can find old navigators from when DCL went through the PC in 2005 here:

http://www.wdwinfo.com/Photos/DCL-Navigators/8-20-05/index.htm

Lots of our planning information can be found or linked to other sites here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1715250

Several people, including Andrew who posted the Navigators, were on the previous PC repo cruise, and several more of us, myself included, were on the Med repo cruise last August (which was really a very different cruise in many ways from the PC repo one).

And any other questions that come up, please ask them! Welcome aboard!

Yes I have been on this repositioning cruises before in 2005, albeit that one was one day less at 14 days and had a couple of different ports.

My full navigators are posted on this board under planning and then navigators and on the first one there is a full cruise overview on the events and formal and semi formal nights we had last time.

Its worth looking at them but the sequence might be slightly different to 2005, for example port times at Acapulco have changed we stayed late last time and so had a Mexican deck party there, my guess thats at PV, this time.

We had Pirates night in Curacao last time as we were in port to 8pm, with other posters here we think might be the next night, but it could be Aruba, the thoughts are that we stay later in Aruba than Curacao.

The important thing its this is a longer cruise than many, loads of sea days so far more relaxing than seven night cruises and you explore the ship more, use the ship services more and there s a varied schedule of Entertainment, not just Disney productions but lots of entertainers, special guests are expected, they might come on just for one evening, fly in and out like Susan Egan last time.

The highlight is Panama crossing a long day, you need to get up early if you do not have a veranda room, and stake your claim to see the crossing, cruisers were up very Early last time say 5am to snag a place, the front of the ship is most popular, but think of deck 4, lots of spare there and you should get a view there. Additionally on deck 9 and 10 you can get sunburn and suffer form the heat, deck 4 is covered, its hot and humid there. Its a long day were diddnt finish the last port to gone 7pm.

Common issues cameras do not work in humidity straight away, and also medicines do not work as well, headache tables are a good contingency.

The folks of shutters take your pictures form the land at the ports to wave and wave and there was a very nice deck BBQ last time.

Its a trip of a lifetime, needs a bit of planing the pirate zone here is a very good recourse for support information.

 

[got2travel]

Hello!

I was asking some questions on the main disney cruise board thread and they refrered me to this thread.

I was just wondering if you all wouldn't mind helping me out with some questions my party and I have as time goes on?? It would be a huge help!

You all seem like a nice friendly bunch and I certainly wouldn't want to intreupt any of your discussion!

A little background about myself:

I'll be 28 this 2/29, yes a leap year baby. My wife and I will be on this cruise along with her entire immeadiate family and some of their friends as well. I may be new to these boards, but not to many others on the net. I regret not coming to this site earlier.

We are Disney nuts! I've been a DVC member since my junior year of college when I jumped in with pretty much my life savings! (just to give you an idea of how much we love all things mouse.)

We love to cruise, however, this is the first time we will be on a Disney ship. Which is basically why I'm seeking help from any past cruisers or those who have already made their plans.

Sorry for the interuption, and I thank you so much for any help.

Thanks!

aboard, the more pirates the merrier. Don't mind us, we love to chat, but will gladly answer any questions you have.

 

[justmestace]

I have great admiration for you. I have real issues with 8 legs. My GP referred me for help & the psychologist just made me worse! I understand how the therapy was suppposed to work, i.e. confront your fears by repeatedly watching arachnophobia, but all it made me do was continually check my slippers & cereal boxes! Now with the girls I have to be more brave & managed to throw a casserole dish over the one in the eldest's slipper. Unfortunately DH was away for 2 weeks so I had to ring MIL to dispose of it after a couple of days as I didn't know what else to do - it was still alive as I don't want them dead. just not near me

Celestine

Having the kids is what made me have to face my fears. I had to defend my children.
Jared was only about 9 months old when a scorpion stung him. I stepped on it, and ran to the phone to call Poison Control to see what they suggest I do.....when the lady asked me how Jared was reacting to the sting, I turned just in time to see him pick up the dead scorpion and stick it in his mouth! I screamed, dropped the phone, picked him up and had to dig the "thing" out of his mouth.
When I got back to the phone, I think I'd scared the poor woman half to death. But she ended up laughing at the kid who "got even" with a scorpion.

 

[got2travel]

Maybe we should develop a "contract" for the kids who will be given limited privileges so that a bunch of kids will be under the same rules??

This sounds really cool. If we could all agree on it, that would help the kids knowing that others have the same rules.


The kid issue is another reason why I prefer lanyards over bracelets. It is so easy to spot someone from your group when you see a bright colored lanyard around their neck. Bracelets are harder to spot. If all our kids were easily identifiable to our group, we could help each other keep an eye on them. I know we'll be doing that anyway, but only with the kids we start to recognize.

But, I know there's some strong opinions out there about lanyards, so I guess bracelets it will be. Just know that you probably won't be able to spot DS's cruise bracelet, but just look for the kid with 20+ bracelets on.

 

[got2travel]

How does it work with CC? Are they still in sign out mode at the kids area there or is it separate from the ship authorization?

I doubt my kids will go in there (only if they request to), but I would be more worried about them wandering there than the ship....

LOL, CC doesn't bother me. I know where my kid will be.....Snorkeling....all day....I swear the kid's a fish

 

[got2travel]

One rule that I saw on the main cruise board that I hadn't thought about but WILL be including on this cruise is the No Elevator rule. I try to stay out of the elevators on the ship (but that's my own attempt to counter-act some of those drinks of the day ) But on the occassion that I have been in them ... it's pretty annoying that someone has hit every button and I'm stopping on every floor. If my kiddo's aren't allowed in the elevator, then I don't have to be nervous that it was them annoying some other innocent passenger

On the Repo last year there was a group of girls that hung out in the elevator. They didn't push buttons or anything, but they say in the back and played cards. Harmless, but annoying, especially at busy times. Not sure I will implement the no elevator rule, but at least no camping out in the elevator.

 

[Celestine]

Having the kids is what made me have to face my fears. I had to defend my children.
Jared was only about 9 months old when a scorpion stung him. I stepped on it, and ran to the phone to call Poison Control to see what they suggest I do.....when the lady asked me how Jared was reacting to the sting, I turned just in time to see him pick up the dead scorpion and stick it in his mouth! I screamed, dropped the phone, picked him up and had to dig the "thing" out of his mouth.
When I got back to the phone, I think I'd scared the poor woman half to death. But she ended up laughing at the kid who "got even" with a scorpion.

That would have totally freaked me - luckily we don't have those in Blighty!! The worst I have is the youngest DD who insists on eating the cats dry food!

 

[Celestine]

You know, there is such a huge group of kids in this age group....it seems like they will have friends everywhere they go! I think it's going to make the cruise so much more fun for them!

Completely agree....until I find them all hiding out in my cabin! LOL!

 

[justmestace]

We gave our kids charging privileges after about our 2nd or third cruise when I had to stop what I was doing to go buy Jordan a hairbrush because she forgot to pack hers.
They both know that they're allowed "X" number of charges for the arcade and that they have to ask before buying anything in the shops...and it has worked. They're very good about it. Too bad I'M not!

Both were given sign-out when they reached the "legal" age, and we keep post-it notes on the inside of the door to the room so that we know (fairly well) where everyone is at any given time. I got a kick out of the concierge using our post-its to leave us notes!

Yes...we did have to have a conversation about misuse of the elevators, but after they saw a group of kids get in SERIOUS trouble (they "broke" an elevator and got stuck in it) they knew it could have been them in there, and haven't been a problem with that since then.
As for hanging in the stairwells.....the older mine have gotten, the more secret places they've found.....so we haven't caught them there. We tried to tell them that they were disturbing other passengers, but once they get with a whole crowd of kids, we lose a little of our authority. I'm sure that they were told more than once to scram.

Castaway Cay....as long as they each had a friend, we let them take off and do what they wanted (and Dad & I got to go to the Adult beach for the first time ever!) when the youngest turned 13.
Once or twice we ran into them somewhere along the way....and they knew when to meet us for the Banana Boats or whatever we'd planned...and they also knew what time they had to be back on the ship.

I guess we're too lenient, but so far it hasn't backfired on us.

 

[Andrew DEREK UK]

On the Repo last year there was a group of girls that hung out in the elevator. They didn't push buttons or anything, but they say in the back and played cards. Harmless, but annoying, especially at busy times. Not sure I will implement the no elevator rule, but at least no camping out in the elevator.

I have had this on so many DCL cruises kids either hanging around the elevators, or playing with them and running them up and down. I have had on disembarkation morning one boy walk down with his family to the immigration check and press every button on every floor at 6am so we stopped everywhere from 8 to 4. Not funny. Parents didn't do anything.

That would have totally freaked me - luckily we don't have those in Blighty!! The worst I have is the youngest DD who insists on eating the cats dry food!

 

[PBader]

The RUMOR was that I only used the chandelier to catch my balance.

Sure it was

 

[allshookup]

14. No hanging on the stairs! In fact no "hanging" anywhere other than the arcade, lab, Quest, or Stack. (probably need to define hanging.)

Might want to add some of the locations that M mentioned to that list, but you're right of course. As an attorney, how does one define "hanging". Standing or sitting around without doing something productive i.e playing basketball, ping pong tournemant, etc. But if you say that, they could say "We were doing something! We were talking! or We were seeing how many stairs you could jump at one time!"

To all of you trying to keep some controls and rules children must adhere to....the best of luck!!!!

I guess getting old does have some advantages!!!

Hardee har har!

Having the kids is what made me have to face my fears. I had to defend my children.
Jared was only about 9 months old when a scorpion stung him. I stepped on it, and ran to the phone to call Poison Control to see what they suggest I do.....when the lady asked me how Jared was reacting to the sting, I turned just in time to see him pick up the dead scorpion and stick it in his mouth! I screamed, dropped the phone, picked him up and had to dig the "thing" out of his mouth.
When I got back to the phone, I think I'd scared the poor woman half to death. But she ended up laughing at the kid who "got even" with a scorpion.

OMG I would've absolutely freaked! We don't have anything poisonous or deadly around here. Well except for the fabled "brown recluse spider" but I've never heard of anyone actually coming into contact with one.