Age Rules For Teens?

[JODIELYN]

Cruising 12/7 western Magic. There are 19! of us going. An assortment of kids and 6 adults.

One of the kids is a girl 12 years old. She will be all alone in her programing and would like to be able to put her with the teens and their programing / activities.

Anyone have any experience with putting a 12 year old with the 13-17 year olds? We called Disney and they said, rules.. blah blah blah...

But... we all know that personal experience is better. Would like to sign her up with the Wild Side excursion and the Fury catamaran cruise with the other teens that are traveling with us...

Help....

 

[lsmac]

Hi Jodie!
We are wondering the same thing for our 12 yo boy! I think the consensus is: a). it depends on the child and b). Dis allows it if they are within 30-60 days of 13 birthday. Which is a bummer since my ds won't be 13 until March. My theory is that we will send him up to the 411 meeting on the first day and see what the counselors say! Especially if your 12 yo is traveling with others that are older, she would already have an "in". I am hoping my ds will hook up with at least one other 12-13 yo to hang with for some time during the cruise.

Hope to see ya on the 7th! ONLY 2 more months from TODAY!

Lisa

 

[Padre Disney]

We are wondering the same thing. For March 15th cruise our DD will have just turned 13 on Feb 3rd. Her best friends family would like to take the same cruise. Problem is that even though the girls are in the same grade the best friend will no turn 13 until June 7th. If I understand correctly our DD will have to go to the Teen club. Will they let the best friend into the teen club if she is only 12 but almost 13 or will they let our DD who just turned 13 into the kids club with her best friend.

Thanks ahead of time.

 

[FOJMO]

I'm sure that Disney has a good reason for wanting to enforce the starting age for the teen club. My DD is in her upper teens and she said that it's sometimes uncomfortable with someone even just turning 13 to be included in the teen club. Of course, it depends on the child -- some are more mature than others at the age of 12, but there has to be a cutoff point.

Sometimes, there's a big difference between the interests of the younger teens and the older ones and they don't always "gel" at all the activities.

It's also different, though, if you're traveling with other teens that they are familiar with -- hopefully, Disney will make an exception for you in that case.

 

[Padre Disney]

We also have a DD 17 and DS 15 that will also be in the teen club so our 13 year old and her friend would have others that they already know. But we also have a 10 1/2 year old that would be in the kids club and would love having her 13 year old sister and her sisters 12 year old friend to play with. So we can't figure out what is best depending on what Disney says the age rules are for the 12 and 13 year old.
confused:

 

[jds]

My DD was 13 (almost 14) when we cruised in July, and she never felt comfortable at Common Grounds, which seemed pretty much taken over by a large group of older teens (mostly 16 and 17-year-olds).

There's a huge difference between younger teens (mostly middle schoolers) and older ones in high school, and the older ones just didn't seem to want the younger ones around. I never asked the counselors how (or if) they handled this, and we had enough family along that my DD always found plenty to do. But I wish that Disney would recognize this difference and schedule some activities specifically for the younger teens (maybe 12 & 13-year olds).

 

[peagreenid]

It all depends on the kids. Yours as well as everyone elses.

Padre Disney-
You will have better luck trying to get the 13 year old in with the 12 year old, than the other way around, at least that was the consensus on past threads.


My boy/girl twins were 13 last year when we cruised. There were 2 very distinct age groups in common grounds.
13-14 and then the 15-16-17 year old teens. but, of course all sailings would be different. There may not be very many kids of your childrens ages on board. I too, as a parent was concerned about my 13 year olds hanging out and around 17 year old kids. But, they divide themselves justly. My teens are pretty outgoing, and they always have EACH OTHER to hang out with. It is probably much easier for my children than single children going in alone and trying to make friends.
We are doing our 2nd cruise in November and they already know the ropes. They will be 14.
I always read them the RIOT act before we cut them loose.....

1. NO PLAYING IN THE ELEVATORS
2. DINNER IS A FAMILY OCCASSION..... BE THERE.... ON TIME, as we will not make our dinner companions wait.
3. Leave a note where you will be, and vice versa.
4. Running loose is a Privelege....... We giveth....we Taketh away!
5. Use your manners and be respectful!
6. Have a GREAT TIME!

smiles Patty

 

[Padre Disney]

Patty,
great rules. I will pass those along. On our last cruise it was only a 3 day. Our 2 older teens hung out together in common grounds some of the time. But did not feel comfortable with some of the other teens. I was glad they had each other. The younger 2 were in the kids club but not in the same groups. They had a great time. The 3 day was just way to short. We can't wait for out 7 day. The kids are picking out all the activities they want to do.

 

[Jhondy(210)]

on the cruise i was on there were distinct groups in common grounds but they did not seperate by age. i don't know how to explain it but its almost divided as a school group the same age would be. some younger kids hung out with the older kids and vice versa.

The rules i have heard our that the child has to be within a month of there 13 birthday. although i'm pretty sure there were many exceptions to this rule because there were a lot of 12 years. as far as i know about signing up for the catameran you must be between the ages because of insurance reasons i know a kid a year older tried to be able to go on the catermaran since he hung out in common grounds but the people at the excursion desk would not let him even with counselors consent.

now the rules may not be exact to what i have said but htis is just what i picked up through the course of the week.

 

[Aly]

As far as i know you have to be within a month of your b-day to be "upgraded" to the next level if you want. As far as the wild side and everything not on the boat(wild side.....ect.) you have to meet the age requirements you must be that age! as far as the groups go on the commen grounds it all depends on how mature you are....like me i'm only 13 but will probably hang out with the older groups only because i live around older teens and am very mature for my age.hope this helps you!!!

 

[DizMare]

Padre Disney,
You should have no trouble registering the 13 year old in the Club with the 12 year old. According to the CM's I spoke to in the Club on the Wonder in January, moving down is not a problem, altho moving up could be.

 

[peagreenid]

I have a real problem with thirteen year old girls hanging out w/17 year old boys. Unfortunately my daughter looks older than her years. I've had several people confuse her with employees at establishments. I may be a little over protective of her, but, intend to keep it that way for a while. Its pretty tough to be on the street with your 13 or 14 year old and have men looking at them.......

smiles Patty