Bumping down an 8 year old to lower age group

[princesspumpkin]

Am traveling with a group of 12 in February on the Wonder. DD-8 is one of 4 girls. The other girls are 3,7,7. There are 2 boys that are 9,10. I want DD to be in the grouping with her little girlfriends. I have read about the issues with bumping up to another age group. What about bumping down to stay with other kids in a group (family/friends). Thanks!

 

[kcashner]

Bumping down is a lot more common than bumping up. The rule is that a child can only move once. Thus, I usually suggest starting them in their "age appropriate" group and reserving the option to move if that doesn't work out. For instance, your 8 year old could start in the Lab with the 8-9s, and if that wasn't good, on day 2 you could move her to the 5-7s.

The problem is that if you start her in the 5-7s (which is a move from her appropriate group), they won't allow you to move her back to the 8-9s. Kids cannot bounce between groups, they are in one or the other.

So....yes, the usually will allow a bump down (talk to the counsellors), but seriously consider whether you want to start with a move or do the welcome parties in the age appropriate groups and then make a decision.

 

[disneyfreakk]

depending on the girls, why not move the 7 year olds up to the 8-9 cat??

 

[princesspumpkin]

Thanks Kcashner. We did the Wonder last year and DD was in the 5-7 year old group and had a blast. She is a "young" 8 year old and all of the girls want to be together. I know she would be miserable knowing that the other girls were together but she had to be with the boys in the other group. I understand what you're saying about starting her out in her own group, but I think that she would just be miserable thinking about what her "girlies" were doing in the Club. Thanks again.
Disneyfreak, the 7 year olds will be too young to bump up. Plus, there's a 3 year old in the Club as well, so it would probably be better to keep all the girls there.