Any trip reports with teenage boys?

[skiingwife]

Hi,
I'm new here, just having convinced my husband to take a Disney cruise. We're looking at the first week of April 2008. We have 3 boys - ages 14, 12 and 8. I thought it would be neat to read a trip report by someone with boys about these ages, so I could get an idea of the activities and other things that the boys liked doing.
Thanks a lot!
Melissa

 

[MickeyD]

Well I am not sure how to link a trip report, but you can search under my screen name for our trip last May when ds was 15. We have cruised Disney since he was 11, so he has been in the Stack when he was 13, 14, and 15...soon to be 17 .
If the boys are active/athletic, then they usually hang on the basketball court. Otherwise they will hang in the Stack and play video games, listen to music and "chill". The counselors do have scheduled activities for them after noon, that run until 2am! If you want to pm me, I can list off most everything they will do, I can ask ds.

Lisa

 

[pop5]

We leave on the 7 day eastern this Saturday. I have 5 boys ages 15, 13, 9, 6 and 5. I will let you know.

 

[skiingwife]

Ah, I learned something already - I had never heard of the Stack and didn't know there was a basketball court. I can't wait to go read your trip reports. Thanks

 

[wanderlust72]

We just got back from the Magic March 3-10 and my DS 13 and D Nephew (14) were MORE sad than my DD(5) and DS(3) that we were leaving! They had made so many friends and were really sad to leave them and the fun activities from the ship. I didn't see the boys very much the whole week!

Let me know if you want to know more about what they got into and stuff. I'd be happy to tell you. The one thing I would suggest is to make sure they go to the 411 the first night! They give you all of the info for the week, the rules, times, info for the stack, etc. so they weren't clueless. It's also a great time for them to meet others their age.

My boys were very athletic and into video games and stuff so they really had a great time. They played bball a TON, loved the dodgeball and also loved "chilling in the stack" playing the PS2 guitar hero challenges, XBOX challenges, etc. Disney goes all out to make them feel special, they have their own dances, games, activities, and food sometimes!

They'll have a great time and be prepared to not see them very much! Just make sure they go to the 411 the first night!

 

[Sue (mom of 3 boys!)]

My boys are 15, 13 & 10. When we sailed on the 2/17/07 Magic, all of them had a great time! They are all very different and each found friends and activities that were perfect. The key is going to the stack/clubs the first day.
My kids also corresponded with other kids on our cruise before we went. Our DIS group started a kid's thread, and they all made friends before we were even there. That made a big difference!

 

[Indea88]

Hi Rachel- we just got back as well from the Magic 3/3. My DS13 and your son I believe hung out alot together in the stack! He said his new friend was from Utah..! I overheard my son tell a friend on the phone when he returned "Dude that was the best week I'd ever had in my life"! I too never saw him. He slept late on the ship 10:30/11:00am then on to the stack, they loved it, were never bored. I would see him in the restaurants with his new friends and staff. They also had a teen area of Castaway Cay and stayed together for teen activities etc..awesome

 

[wanderlust72]

Chandler talked a lot about his friend from New Jersey! In fact I bought the photo at Shutters with the two of them from CC. Did you see those? They're really cute. If you want I can send you a copy if you'd like.

I was just thinking the other day how I wished we would've met while on the ship. It was hard enough though to even find Chandler though! LOL! Apparantly you guys had a great cabin suite! How did you like it? Was it worth the money? We felt kind of cramped where we were, I am thinking we'll do something like that next time.

Did you go to the DIS meets while onboard or anything? Are you planning to go on any more DCL cruises? Maybe we could hook up again....Chandler would love it.

 

[MickeyD]

Can those of you that just got back do me a favor? Will you ask your teens if Pascal was still in the Stack? He and Shirley were the two favorite counselors that my son really connected with and I would like to know if they will still be there in May. (I hope)

Thanks
Lisa

 

[wanderlust72]

Can those of you that just got back do me a favor? Will you ask your teens if Pascal was still in the Stack? He and Shirley were the two favorite counselors that my son really connected with and I would like to know if they will still be there in May. (I hope)

Thanks
Lisa

We just got back from the Magic 3/3-3/10 and I just asked my DS(13) who spent a ton of time in the stack if Pascal or Shirley were in the stack and he said no. He said that Claire was really awesome though!

 

[MickeyD]

Rachel,
Thank you very much for checking. DS will be disappointed, but I am sure he will still have a great time! There has always been at least one counselor from the previous trip and they always remember him! He said it feels like coming home!

Lisa

 

[lowtiger]

We just got off the 3/3-3/10 Eastern aboard the Magic. I was not sure if my 13 y.o. son would have a good time or not. I didn't need to worry. He would get up in the morning, eat breakfast and disappear to the Stack. I would see he and a bunch of other teens occasionaly during the day (scavenger hunt or some other activity), but they had so many things to do that I didn't see him often. We made our son eat dinner with us each night and after dinner he would head back to the Stack until 2am. My wife and I didn't worry, Claire and the rest of the crew was on the job. If you want to have any family time (dinner,breakfast, shows) I suggest youset the parameters before you get on board. You will probably eliminate a teen confrontation. We had our son stay with us on St. Thomas and St. Martin, but after a morning excursion, he was free to hang with his new buddies. Rest assured there is plenty for teen boys to do and feel free to give them a little room. The Disney crew is increadible, they have plenty of activities and we felt perfectly safe knowing he was in the teen programs. I hated to leave the cruise, but it was great seeing my son wave goodbye to all his new friends.
PS: My wife and I had a great time too. We really relaxed knowing he was having fun and we were able to enjoy activities on our own like the Spa.

HOPE YOU HAVE A GREAT TIME.

 

[Paigee10]

hey! im 17 and ive cruised on disney since i was 14 and i loved it everytime! your son will LOVE it i cried i dont know how long even at breakfast...trust me you will prob. never see him and they do have alot activities planned and they are opptional but i prefer he does them because you meet more ppl and most of all they are fun!, chilling in the stack is awesome too, just hanging out listening to music and video games movies and the big game when i went this past janurary was GUITAR HERO!! and definantly go to the 411 the first night and meet the other teens and get aquainted because you are goning to be those ppl for a week it doesnt seem like it but its very long..i met some of the coolest kids of my life and we all talk everyday! hahaha everyone loved it, there are dances and game shows that are awesome that we play i could go on forever!! i have pics if you would like to see them just private message me! hope i helped anymore questions please ask