Can a 23 year old attend the 18*21 year old activities on the cruises?

[EmilieK]

I will hopefully be cruising with my best freind and my cousin in early february next year. The thing is my cousin will be almost 23 and I think she would like to attend the 18*21 mixers, she always enjoys socialising in those ways when we are at cons. She has Aspergers, add and a mild mentally development disorder so in her mind she will be around 20 at the time.
If she will be made welcome withouth question I know she would love it but not sure if she will look at the age limitations and just think no I'm not allowed to even ask.

My freind and I am going to be 29 and I don't think I would wanna attend for my sake but if she wanted us to come with her how would that be responded to?
My freind is nervo typical or "normal" but I have aspergers and add too so know her pittfalls and my own and how to handle most situations, but if anybody have any ideas about what activiveties or excursions would be good I would love some advise.

 

[Mrsjvb]

at 29 you will not be welcome at all. at 23 she will most likely also be told sorry. they are specifically for those young adults too old for the kids clubs but too young to drink.

mental age is not factored in. in fact it was the relaxation of this policy that led to a legally adult but mentally not who grew obsessed with a teenager that ended in tragedy. now they are VERY strict on age limits across the board.

 

[SueM in MN]

at 29 you will not be welcome at all. at 23 she will most likely also be told sorry. they are specifically for those young adults too old for the kids clubs but too young to drink.

mental age is not factored in. in fact it was the relaxation of this policy that led to a legally adult but mentally not who grew obsessed with a teenager that ended in tragedy. now they are VERY strict on age limits across the board.

Agree with this poster. It is likely they will not make exceptions.

I believe the issue that came up with teens was a teen's club for teens under 18. The person that caused a problem was a developmentally disabled adult in with teens who were not adults.

They may have more 'wiggle room' for someone a few years older with an 18-21 age group, since all are technically adults. Their main concern with that group is probably not having older adults who might bring alcohol in.

 

[lanejudy]

The 18-21 group is really much different than the official kids clubs and programs. In all honesty, whether or not there will be such a group, and if they really plan anything, can vary from cruise to cruise. It's very loosely organized, basically self-directed/planned by those passengers who have an interest. A 23 year old may not necessarily be excluded as these aren't generally "private" group activities -- it's mainly just an opportunity to meet with others of a similar age, who often are still students and mainly underage (drinking) but too old for the official teen space. Again, depending on interests, they may simply plan time/location to hangout -- at the pool, lounge, workout together, meet for lunch, etc. Very public and unrestricted.
As for the older cousins, you may or may not be welcomed or feel comfortable with a group so much younger. Probably not if any of you plan to drink alcohol.
Enjoy your cruise!

 

[EmilieK]

Thank you, I am familiar with the case about the adult male and although I sort of get what you meen I don't think there is anything in that case that would make it necisary to compare it to this case. She is wery aware of right and wrong, wery shy and tibit and this is about all adults not underage children. Alcohol is not something I even thought about, just that she could find somebody to laugh with, and I don't ever think she would risk breaking a law let alone my wrath by giving somebody under the legal drinking age alcohol.
It is my understanding that this activity aragement is wery loose and not structured by or araganed by the CM's that run the kids/teen clubs, I just wondered if anybody had any experience with joining in in those activities when a few years older.
Personally I don't drink and don't think hanging with a bunch of 18 to 21 year olds as a necesity for myself but would do it if she wanted me close for suport.

 

[SueM in MN]

Thank you, I am familiar with the case about the adult male and although I sort of get what you meen I don't think there is anything in that case that would make it necisary to compare it to this case. She is wery aware of right and wrong, wery shy and tibit and this is about all adults not underage children. Alcohol is not something I even thought about, just that she could find somebody to laugh with, and I don't ever think she would risk breaking a law let alone my wrath by giving somebody under the legal drinking age alcohol.
It is my understanding that this activity aragement is wery loose and not structured by or araganed by the CM's that run the kids/teen clubs, I just wondered if anybody had any experience with joining in in those activities when a few years older.
Personally I don't drink and don't think hanging with a bunch of 18 to 21 year olds as a necesity for myself but would do it if she wanted me close for suport.

I don't think anyone meant to compare it to that case or suggest she might bring in alcohol.
It's just the reason they may not allow people outside of the age group.

I hope you all find fun things to do in groups that are comfortable for you.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Age-is-age.
2) One should adhere to the guidelines.
3) The other guests would/could possibly object to older guests attending.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

I believe Disney really does go by age and don't give wiggle room. I think it would be hard for them to make exceptions to rules for each special circumstance.

I so understand how you feel as my son is really about 5 year younger socially then his age. He could never function in a group so we just don't have him participate.

 

[SMD]

If someone is mentally 20 as the OP claims, then they should understand why Disney would say no to this request. Sorry, but it shouldn't be up to DCL to create experiences for adults with these issues. I can understand some small accommodations within the existing activities for kids, but if an adult needs special care and attention, then maybe this cruise is not the best vacation choice. And if the OP's cousin would be more comfortable attending 18-20 activities with the 20-something OP, why can't they just hang out together and make their own social activities? I don't understand why DCL needs to provide special structured socials for adults over 21? It's a big ship, the three of them can find something to do together.

 

[bookwormde]

Yes this is very different than mixing minors and adults.

With that said it is unlikely that they will make adjustments, but it is worth asking.

Many groups and organizations make adjustments to ages for aspergers and other developmental disabilities/differences for emerging adults.

The idea that "age is age" is not based in science, just counting days on a calendar says nothing, the issue is that it takes reasonable sophistication in understanding developmental disabilities/delays and determine an appropriate developmental age to make these decisions and it is not reasonable to expect cruise staff to have this.

 

[Vidia2]

I don't understand why DCL needs to provide special structured socials for adults over 21?

For the same reasons that they provide structured socials for regular guests?

Special needs groups don't really get equal benefits through DCL at any age. You seem to think that the ADA was written for only children so they should benefit, but not adults on a cruise.

Your attitude of "if you don't like it go someplace else" doesn't really add anything meaningful to the conversation.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

the issue is that it takes reasonable sophistication in understanding developmental disabilities/delays and determine an appropriate developmental age to make these decisions and it is not reasonable to expect cruise staff to have this.

Exactly. A person's lifestyle also has to be taken in to consideration. For example, there are people where my brother lives who are in their 20's but with a developmental age of 10-12. However, their families have let them do things like drink alcohol because they are legally old enough, or watch movies with graphic sex scenes in them because they are legally old enough. The staff at the group home now have to keep a closer eye on these "kids" who try to imitate what they've seen in movies or behaviors allowed at home. There is no way a cruise ship employee knows enough about a persons true mental age AND their background to be able to make a good decision on whether or not it is safe to bend the rules for one guest. It would be a legal nightmare if they did bend the rules and it turned out to be a mistake. Sounds like it already happened once.

 

[SMD]

For the same reasons that they provide structured socials for regular guests?

Special needs groups don't really get equal benefits through DCL at any age. You seem to think that the ADA was written for only children so they should benefit, but not adults on a cruise.

Your attitude of "if you don't like it go someplace else" doesn't really add anything meaningful to the conversation.

The ADA prevents DCL from excluding people with disabilities from going on a cruise. It doesn't say that the cruise line needs to create special activities because someone claims they'd be more comfortable with younger people. It doesn't say they need to include someone with a disability from an activity that someone without the same disability is also excluded from. So yes, if those are the accommodations that the OP's cousin requires, maybe this cruise isn't the right choice for them. From the OPs second post, it sounds more like she wants someone else to be responsible for her cousin so she and her friend can party elsewhere. Or maybe since at 29 she wants to go to the teen party, the OP just wants a free party.

 

[Vidia2]

The ADA prevents DCL from excluding people with disabilities from going on a cruise. It doesn't say that the cruise line needs to create special activities because someone claims they'd be more comfortable with younger people. It doesn't say they need to include someone with a disability from an activity that someone without the same disability is also excluded from. So yes, if those are the accommodations that the OP's cousin requires, maybe this cruise isn't the right choice for them. From the OPs second post, it sounds more like she wants someone else to be responsible for her cousin so she and her friend can party elsewhere. Or maybe since at 29 she wants to go to the teen party, the OP just wants a free party.

I was really referring to your assessment, not the OPs situation. It sounds like you approve of children getting certain benefits but not adults.

DCL offers hardly anything by way of accommodation to the point that many people do not go on cruises.

What I'm saying is that people with disabilities should be able to take advantage of all activities on the ships but they are not. Not even close. DCL does not offer accommodations to people with cognitive disabilities. Many people have just accepted this and go or not.

It's a failure on the part of DCL that some people are EXCLUDED because of a disability from certain activities without at least something alternate being offered. This does not apply to OPs friend.

Off topic maybe. I'm just responding to your statement as I understood it.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

. . . What I'm saying is that people with disabilities should be able to take advantage of all activities on the ships but they are not. Not even close. DCL does not offer accommodations to people with cognitive disabilities. Many people have just accepted this and go or not . . .

1) Let us remember what ADA is all about.
2) It provides for ACCESS, not EXCESS.
3) The law does not mandate extra or special activities for handicapped folks.
4) It simply access to normal activities.
5) That is why people chose to go or not go.
6) And, this is how the law should be interpreted.

 

[Schmeck]

1) Let us remember what ADA is all about.
2) It provides for ACCESS, not EXCESS.
3) The law does not mandate extra or special activities for handicapped folks.
4) It simply access to normal activities.
5) That is why people chose to go or not go.
6) And, this is how the law should be interpreted.

#2 should read "the opportunity for access". For example, if an event can handle 200 people and there are stairs that block access for people with a physical disability, under the ADA they need to provide a way into the event that avoids the stairs, (if not grandfathered/etc) but they do not have to include the disabled person if the event is already fully booked with the 200 people.

 

[Schmeck]

Yes this is very different than mixing minors and adults.

With that said it is unlikely that they will make adjustments, but it is worth asking.

Many groups and organizations make adjustments to ages for aspergers and other developmental disabilities/differences for emerging adults.

The idea that "age is age" is not based in science, just counting days on a calendar says nothing, the issue is that it takes reasonable sophistication in understanding developmental disabilities/delays and determine an appropriate developmental age to make these decisions and it is not reasonable to expect cruise staff to have this.

"age is age" is based in science. Unless time is not a scientific principle that can be measured? One can use the measurement of physical age to distinguish criteria just as well as using mental/emotional/academic age. Actually physical age is one of the more specific measurements of age, as it has fewer subjective facets to it. "Developmental age" is subjective.

 

[Vidia2]

1) Let us remember what ADA is all about.
2) It provides for ACCESS, not EXCESS.
3) The law does not mandate extra or special activities for handicapped folks.
4) It simply access to normal activities.
5) That is why people chose to go or not go.
6) And, this is how the law should be interpreted.

1) What are the normal activities on a cruise?
2) What are the normal activities in a theme park?
3) Should Disney not offer accommodations for any activities at WDW or DL because they are not normal?

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

People are getting out of control with expecting Disney to bend age rules, regardless if it's for people with or without disabilities.

Age rules are usually in place for legal, insurance, or capacity reasons. Disney isn't just making up rules for giggles.

 

[Green Tea]

I think they are strict with ages