A paranoid question about the Vibe from a usually not so paranoid parent

[stitchy626]

After viewing this video of the entrance to the Vibe http://www.youtube.com/user/PassPorterGuides#p/u/18/9WiBK_3eM2k

Go about 22 seconds...

I am concerned about my teen's safety going into and coming out of the Vibe. From what I can tell a KKTW card reader is outside the door but it looks like anyone can use the staircase and that what worries me. It looks like lots of nooks and crannies for someone to hide in. Anyone have any first hand experience that they can calm me down with?

 

[Weedy]

It's very safe. To get to the "Hidden Staircase" the kids enter from desk 4 . Deck 4 is the deck that that people walk/jog on. There are always lots of people (families) walking around. Then it is just one small stairway up to the club entrance.

 

[mickeyluv]

I'm not too thrilled about the Vibe entrance to be honest. We were on the Dream on 3/10 and went to Vibe after boarding and I was a little nervous about DD going alone so she only went with her cousin and if she was around or didn't want to go then she came to get one of us and we would walk do vibe with her. It's always safe to air on the side of caution...doesn't matter where you are!

 

[insureman]

It's very safe. To get to the "Hidden Staircase" the kids enter from desk 4 . Deck 4 is the deck that that people walk/jog on. There are always lots of people (families) walking around. Then it is just one small stairway up to the club entrance.

Not at 12-1AM. I would meet my daughters at the entrance to Vibe on deck 4. I was the only one around.

 

[stitchy626]

Not at 12-1AM. I would meet my daughters at the entrance to Vibe on deck 4. I was the only one around.

That is what I was thinking of doing. Glad I'm not the only one.

 

[anna08]

I ran on Deck 4 at 4pm on Castaway Cay day and made several laps without seeing a person. Towards the end of the run I saw a lot of workers who I assume were getting busy with undocking procedures. I would say at least go with a friend.

 

[kcashner]

Several years ago my DD was accosted and inappropriately touched on the stairway leading up to The Stack...but an older teen guest who had been thrown out of The Stack (for the rest of the cruise) after his inappropriate behavior there. Seems that no one thought to monitor the vestibule area by the elevators or the stairway.

Security was totally WONDERFUL, but I never heard about any cameras on that stairway!

My only issue would be that the Stack counselors knew about his behavior there, security knew about his destruction in his stateroom (he had been moved from a verandah room to an inside room after throwing furniture overboard!), but no one managed to put the whole picture together until he had been inappropriate with several teen girls!

We are fortunate that my DD's issue didn't go any farther than it did; protect your own kids. DCL does what they can, but it only takes one nut case.

For those who may be interested--DCL went as far as they could to INSISTING that I make a report to law enforcement on land; a sheriff met the ship and the girls were each privately interviewed before either they or the young man was allowed off the ship. Ultimately, Brevard County decided not to prosecute this individual. DCL did permanently ban him from any of their ships and his family was charged $10K for the destruction in his cabin. Of course, that probably didn't mean much to a family that had purchased one suite for the parents and a second one for the kids.

 

[mickeyluv]

Several years ago my DD was accosted and inappropriately touched on the stairway leading up to The Stack...but an older teen guest who had been thrown out of The Stack (for the rest of the cruise) after his inappropriate behavior there. Seems that no one thought to monitor the vestibule area by the elevators or the stairway.

Security was totally WONDERFUL, but I never heard about any cameras on that stairway!

My only issue would be that the Stack counselors knew about his behavior there, security knew about his destruction in his stateroom (he had been moved from a verandah room to an inside room after throwing furniture overboard!), but no one managed to put the whole picture together until he had been inappropriate with several teen girls!

We are fortunate that my DD's issue didn't go any farther than it did; protect your own kids. DCL does what they can, but it only takes one nut case.

For those who may be interested--DCL went as far as they could to INSISTING that I make a report to law enforcement on land; a sheriff met the ship and the girls were each privately interviewed before either they or the young man was allowed off the ship. Ultimately, Brevard County decided not to prosecute this individual. DCL did permanently ban him from any of their ships and his family was charged $10K for the destruction in his cabin. Of course, that probably didn't mean much to a family that had purchased one suite for the parents and a second one for the kids.

I would just like to say "Thank You" for this post. You really didn't have to come forward with this information being this was an incident with your daughter but I admire you tremendously for you honesty. Hopefully this will help so many other people in taking care to use caution "even on a Disney vacation" where safety and vulnerability are concerned. Just because it's Disney doesn't mean that there can't be wackos on the ship. DCL does the very best they can to ensure everyone's safety but you have to use your own judgement! Again, thanks for your honesty and for sharing this story with us!

 

[mellers]

I would just like to say "Thank You" for this post. You really didn't have to come forward with this information being this was an incident with your daughter but I admire you tremendously for you honesty. Hopefully this will help so many other people in taking care to use caution "even on a Disney vacation" where safety and vulnerability are concerned. Just because it's Disney doesn't mean that there can't be wackos on the ship. DCL does the very best they can to ensure everyone's safety but you have to use your own judgement! Again, thanks for your honesty and for sharing this story with us!

As the parent of a teen daughter--what Mickeyluv just said.

 

[JAM113]

Quite frankly, I found it kind of creepy, and that was during daytime open house hours. My 15 year old was rather incensed that I made her and her 17 year old sister come and go together, but it really did feel very isolated. And we were on the ship at the end of February and the KTTW card reader was not working yet. As a result, there were no "new" cards given to them. The CMs had to keep the door unlocked during open hours which allowed curious non-teens to want to take a look around. The counselors were constantly having to (politely) ask families and younger children to please leave.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I've been trying to decide, how much freedom my DGDs should have on our cruise. They will have their phones and we will walk them to the club. We will play it by ear, until we are sure of what's going on. But, there is no way they will be out to 12 or 1am. NOT going to happen.

 

[princessmom29]

I don't see a reason to be any mor worried than yuo would abotu anywhere eles on the ship?? In fact I don't see areason to worry at all. There is NOT a weordo lurking aroud every corner to snatch your kids.

 

[TinkBell10]

I don't see a reason to be any mor worried than yuo would abotu anywhere eles on the ship?? In fact I don't see areason to worry at all. There is NOT a weordo lurking aroud every corner to snatch your kids.

Unfortunately, you CANNOT say that with complete certainty. Even though we like to think because it's Disney, nothing bad can happen. But, we live in a strange world...and you never know what's out there. I choose not to make my girls paranoid, but having a healthy fear is good. Although my girls are not yet teenagers, I teach high school students and have traveled on multi-day field trips with teenage girls many times. My rule is always--especially for girls--never go anywhere alone. I believe there's safety in numbers.

 

[princessmom29]

Unfortunately, you CANNOT say that with complete certainty. Even though we like to think because it's Disney, nothing bad can happen. But, we live in a strange world...and you never know what's out there. I choose not to make my girls paranoid, but having a healthy fear is good. Although my girls are not yet teenagers, I teach high school students and have traveled on multi-day field trips with teenage girls many times. My rule is always--especially for girls--never go anywhere alone. I believe there's safety in numbers.

I teach high school as well, and I don't believe in living in fear. The facts bear out that abduction or attack by a strangeris the least likely scenario. Much better to teach our girls to satnd up for themselves with people they know. Authority figures, relatives, and the boys they are dating are much bigger dangers than some unknown stranger waiting in the shadows. You cannot really ay anything with complete certianty. I cannot be 100% sure that the cieling won't fall in on me in the next 30 seconds, but I can say that it is highly unlikely and i shouldn't spend time worrying about it. It is about as likely that some stranger will accost a teen girl on a cruise ship.

 

[TinkBell10]

I teach high school as well, and I don't believe in living in fear. The facts bear out that abduction or attack by a strangeris the least likely scenario. Much better to teach our girls to satnd up for themselves with people they know. Authority figures, relatives, and the boys they are dating are much bigger dangers than some unknown stranger waiting in the shadows. You cannot really ay anything with complete certianty. I cannot be 100% sure that the cieling won't fall in on me in the next 30 seconds, but I can say that it is highly unlikely and i shouldn't spend time worrying about it. It is about as likely that some stranger will accost a teen girl on a cruise ship.

I agree with you...but I still feel it's safest to be with at least one other person. I have always felt perfectly safe on DCL. The OP is worried about the quiet halls and nooks/crannies on the ship. At midnight or 1am, I think it's a good idea to meet her DD if she didn't have a friend to walk with. Like you, I don't live in fear--it's about a 'healthy' fear and teaching our kids to be smart and safe.

 

[Homemom]

I can say that it is highly unlikely and i shouldn't spend time worrying about it. It is about as likely that some stranger will accost a teen girl on a cruise ship.

Better to act on the safe side here, IMHO. Perhaps you didn't see post #7 where she says her daughter was accosted and inappropriately touched by a stranger. There was also a case a few years back where a girl was sexually assaulted by a stranger on the Wonder after leaving the teen club. http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2011/0...aulting-girl-on-disney-cruise-ship/index.html

 

[princessmom29]

Better to act on the safe side here, IMHO. Perhaps you didn't see post #7 where she says her daughter was accosted and inappropriately touched by a stranger. There was also a case a few years back where a girl was sexually assaulted by a stranger on the Wonder after leaving the teen club. http://www.cruiselawnews.com/2011/0...aulting-girl-on-disney-cruise-ship/index.html

I saw it, and I have seen the other report you quoted. Neither changes my opinion that it is not worth losing sleep over. It is still a highly unlikely occurance. I can show you a report of a child dying as a resuly of a jump rope accident. Are you going to forbid all jump ropes as a result? To me, this is that silly. A teen girl on a cruise ship with thousands of other people does not need an escort becuase of the possiblity that someone might "jump out and get her". All that is needed is teaching our daughters how to stand up for themselves. I will not teach my DD that living in fear of what my be lurking around every corner is the way to keep herself safe. I will teach er that no one has a right to lay hands on her, and if someone does then she has the right to yell, scream, fight or do whatever it takes to defend herself. BAd peopel are out ther, but I do not allow them to control my actions.

 

[Homemom]

I will not lose sleep over the matter, but be peaceful with my decision. I too will teach my daughter how to stand up for herself, kick, scream, etc. I will not have her thinking fear lurks around every corner, but I will take precaution when I see fit. My MIL was kidnapped in a grocery store parking lot by a stranger and her fighting didn't help, it was a few days before she was found (alive, but hurt). Just because we're on a Disney ship I'm not going to assume everyone there acts like an angel. Maybe i'm overly cautious because of my MIL's situation, I know many people allow their children to come and go or sign themselves in/out of activities, but I choose not to. If my DD or I have to be "inconvenienced" by having her escorted somewhere then so be it. Again I'd rather be safe than sorry and she agrees.

 

[m&m's mom]

I teach high school as well, and I don't believe in living in fear. The facts bear out that abduction or attack by a strangeris the least likely scenario. Much better to teach our girls to satnd up for themselves with people they know. Authority figures, relatives, and the boys they are dating are much bigger dangers than some unknown stranger waiting in the shadows. You cannot really ay anything with complete certianty. I cannot be 100% sure that the cieling won't fall in on me in the next 30 seconds, but I can say that it is highly unlikely and i shouldn't spend time worrying about it. It is about as likely that some stranger will accost a teen girl on a cruise ship.

I saw it, and I have seen the other report you quoted. Neither changes my opinion that it is not worth losing sleep over. It is still a highly unlikely occurance. I can show you a report of a child dying as a resuly of a jump rope accident. Are you going to forbid all jump ropes as a result? To me, this is that silly. A teen girl on a cruise ship with thousands of other people does not need an escort becuase of the possiblity that someone might "jump out and get her". All that is needed is teaching our daughters how to stand up for themselves. I will not teach my DD that living in fear of what my be lurking around every corner is the way to keep herself safe. I will teach er that no one has a right to lay hands on her, and if someone does then she has the right to yell, scream, fight or do whatever it takes to defend herself. BAd peopel are out ther, but I do not allow them to control my actions.

YAY!!!
Someone who thinks just like I do!! It seems like "paranoid" and "protective parent" are used- especially in the DIS as code word for "good parent".
I was raised like you said - to use my own good judgment for my safety.

 

[TinkBell10]

I don't think anyone here is suggesting that we all board the ship scared to death of something bad happening. The primary concern I saw from the OP and other PP's was whether it was safe for a teenage girl to be alone in a relatively deserted area of the ship in the middle of the night. I think that's a lot different than wandering the populated parts of the ship during the day. I certainly don't want my girls to be afraid to go off by themselves...but there are times when more caution should be used.