Disney Wonder--Tell me about the Edge (11-13), please-son 13 with autism

[adevlin235]

I didn't even think about this when booking our trip but when registering our family last weekend it hit me. My son will turn 13 a few weeks before we depart for our cruise on March 6th. He has austism. He is fairly high functioning. Meaning he is able to make requests, would be able to attend the deck parties, doesn't have a ton of food issues but he is not the "normal" maturity level for 13 year old. He loves video games and computers so that will be good. I'm just curious if they are really "watching" this age group, facilitating interactions if need be, and if they are going to be able to work with him? He can have a tendency to wander off or run ahead and not stay with the group so outings would be difficult. We didn't have any problems on our last Disney cruise but he was only 9 so he was still in the younger area.

Any advice? We really can't cancel at this point. We excursions booked with the kids 2 days but it would be nice to have some "adult time" while on the cruise..

 

[lanejudy]

As a 13-yr-old, he'll automatically have self-check-out privileges. While there are CMs physically at the Edge, some of the activities are considered "out and about" around the ship (scavenger hunts, sports deck, etc.). I guess only you can decide if he would participate in such activities, and would he be safe on his own if he got separated from the group? I don't believe a CM actually "chaparones" the outside activities to be watching his every move and keep him with the group. Or would he simply enjoying hanging out at Edge and playing video games? If he's good with rules you can set family rules that he must call when leaving Edge, or can only return directly to your stateroom nowhere else, etc., but I don't know that CMs will make him do any of that.

It's important at that age for the kids to attend the getting-to-know-you event held the first night; that's where the kids connect with others, making friends and doing some planning of what activities they're interested in doing. He might find a buddy to hang with.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Ofinn]

They watch the kids to make sure there is no bullying, bad language, inappropriate behavior, etc etc. They don't supervise the kids comings and goings. They are free to roam around the ship. The doors to the Edge are open so they really can't keep a child in. I have gone to the Edge a few times because I wanted to tell my kids something, and they weren't there. I've had the counselors tell me there on a scavenger hunt or they went to get food with a group of kids. So they kind of know what the kids are up to, but not always.

 

[Krissy22222]

In my experience, if the counselors are watching the kids in Edge, it is hit or miss. We've done many cruises in the Wonder with my son in Edge and I check in frequently unannounced. Most times, he's playing a video game with others, so that seems like it would work out for your son. Some counselors are really great and interacting with the kids, and others are just kind of sitting around chatting with each other. If there is a problem between the kids, they will notice, though, and step in. You will learn who is really great. My advice would be to talk with the counselors on day one, introduce yourself and your son, explain your situation in private when your son is occupied. If you meet Jake, Ryan, or Rosario, try to talk with them, hope they are on your cruise, but they may be in the kids club too, I believe they rotate duties. These three are awesome!

 

[adevlin235]

Thank you very much for your replies. It at least helps for planning purposes. I think he would probably stay in the Edge and just play video games but there is always the chance he could wander out so that makes me feel like we really won't be able to use it much. Maybe just for the dinner at Palo. I wouldn't think he would need much supervision in the club but if they are able to come and go unsupervised I don't think that will work for us. I'm a little bummed . . . I don't think I would have booked the cruise if I had realized that this was going to be a problem. Do they have sitters that you can hire to supervise your child? We will realistically be spending the majority of the trip with our children but I would really like to be able to just relax for a few hours on a couple of days.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Do they have sitters that you can hire to supervise your child?

No, DCL doesn't do in-room sitting. The kid's clubs are all they have for "watching" your child.

 

[adevlin235]

I figured as much. I really don't know if I would feel comfortable with "in room" sitting but if they had a service where you could schedule more one-on-one time or supervision for kids with special needs in the kids areas I would be willing to pay for that because I realize it is more than what the average guest would need. Oh well, unfortunately part of the appeal of the cruise is the wonderful kids programming and we won't be able to take advantage of that for our son so it may be our second and last Disney cruise. I don't mind trading the smaller pools and more crowded desk areas on the cruise vs. a nice resort when the trade off is the kids programming but if it's not a fit then I guess we would be better off staying at a high quality resort. Hopefully, all will go smoothly.

 

[hanscarlet]

Is there maybe a way to practice the texting capability with your phones? they have texting on the boat with the navigator app and maybe teach him to text you while he's in edge and you can text him periodically and also require him to text you when he decides to leave? I have a HF ASD daughter but she's 7 so we're not in your position yet but I feel for you... with my daughter, we can practice things beforehand sometimes and she just learns the rules that way, like "here's the rules of the ship, if you need to leave, the counselors won't let you leave unless you text me"... and agree with others advice, if you establish those rules with him, tell the counselors that is the rule so they can remind him if they see him leaving and also it will help him see that you "brought the counselors in on the rules" kind of thing...

 

[adevlin235]

I agree that he can do well when he learns routines or rules in advance. He is immature and behind academically/cognitively by a few years so I just question if I can totally trust him to not leave for some reason and then I have him wondering a giant cruise ship on his own. Kind of scary. I thought I had read somewhere you could give them in/out privileges or not but from the replies here it sounds like it is very loosely monitored. I will talk to my behavioral therapist and husband and get their thoughts.

 

[Krissy22222]

I wish that DCL would devote a time and space for kids with special needs, who may not fit into the regular kids programming for whatever reason. Not to say these kids couldn't also attend the regular programming, but I think there is a need there. On our last cruise there was a kid with special needs who had a really tough time in Edge, got kicked out (!) several times, for getting really upset about the way the video games were going, absolutely normal child behavior, but disruptive. Wish there was someone who could have given him more one on one time so the parents could go to Palo and do things like that. Just my 2 cents.

 

[KT2038]

I agree that he can do well when he learns routines or rules in advance. He is immature and behind academically/cognitively by a few years so I just question if I can totally trust him to not leave for some reason and then I have him wondering a giant cruise ship on his own. Kind of scary. I thought I had read somewhere you could give them in/out privileges or not but from the replies here it sounds like it is very loosely monitored. I will talk to my behavioral therapist and husband and get their thoughts.

Hi! I am a youth activities Counselor. You read right about self check privileges but that only applies to the club and lab. As Edge is designated for the Tweens, they automatically can come and go. We do not even check names off as they come and go as some come and go every five minutes! And if they want to leave, we cannot physically stop them.
I would recommend chatting to the Counselors onboard and discussing the situation. They may be able to help your son send a text when he wants to go. They won't automatically send one though as there is no computer system like Oceaneers.
Also let the Counselors know the kinds of things he's in to so that they can try and have them available so that he wants to stay and hang out. Please let me know if you have any further questions or concerns.

 

[c todd]

A suggestion, I don't know if it would work for you but how about a GPS tracker for kids? If he left the club without telling you, you could switch on your phone to locate him. It would mean using some data but you would only need to use it if he wandered off. I might be a good thing to have anyway at home. They have different versions and some clip on and some are worn like watches.

 

[adevlin235]

Thank you so much to everyone who responded and especially to KT2038 as a youth activities counselor. I am definitely going to look into the GPS tracker because I think it's a great idea. We will see how it all goes. Hopefully, it's a smooth experience that will make us want to cruise with Disney again in the future. I think being prepared is half the battle.

 

[taishartrueblood]

Adevlin, the younger Kids Club kids have bracelets that they wear that will allow them to be found anywhere on the ship. I am sure that you could request the same thing for your older child, though, knowing kids, he might get teased for it. Maybe he could wear it on his belt or as an anklet?

 

[KT2038]

Adevlin, the younger Kids Club kids have bracelets that they wear that will allow them to be found anywhere on the ship. I am sure that you could request the same thing for your older child, though, knowing kids, he might get teased for it. Maybe he could wear it on his belt or as an anklet?

Hi! I am a youth activities Counselor. Unfortunately the Mickey bands will only let us track where kids are inside the club or lab. It doesn't work over the whole ship. It would be great if it did!!

 

[taishartrueblood]

Ooops, well you know better then me

 

[mommysaurus]

I wish that DCL would devote a time and space for kids with special needs, who may not fit into the regular kids programming for whatever reason. Not to say these kids couldn't also attend the regular programming, but I think there is a need there. On our last cruise there was a kid with special needs who had a really tough time in Edge, got kicked out (!) several times, for getting really upset about the way the video games were going, absolutely normal child behavior, but disruptive. Wish there was someone who could have given him more one on one time so the parents could go to Palo and do things like that. Just my 2 cents.

I would gladly pay the big bucks for this service. Its a great idea.

 

[taishartrueblood]

Pay a nanny to come on vacation with you? Honestly, there is no way that Disney can tailor a special care plan for the assorted special needs kids.... too many different types/needs and too much risk.

 

[Hundredacre]

Adevlin, the younger Kids Club kids have bracelets that they wear that will allow them to be found anywhere on the ship. I am sure that you could request the same thing for your older child, though, knowing kids, he might get teased for it. Maybe he could wear it on his belt or as an anklet?

Hi! I am a youth activities Counselor. Unfortunately the Mickey bands will only let us track where kids are inside the club or lab. It doesn't work over the whole ship. It would be great if it did!!

This is true. We were trying to locate one of our kids who was with his older brother and we stopped at the oceaneer club to ask if maybe they could find the kids on the ship for us via the younger one's magic band and they said sorry they only work in the club.

 

[lmb80129]

I would talk to the Edge counselors on the ship. We took our 12/13 year old son with developmental delays to the Edge on the Fantasy and they were very clear what they could and could not do. They could not physically keep him in the Edge but did remind him that he couldn't leave until we picked him up. And they were willing to text us if he had any issues. He understood he had stay in the Edge space and was perfectly happy staying there even when the other kids left. But he is not a runner or wanderer and had a younger sister in the Edge with him. We didn't leave him there for a long time and would discreetly check in to make sure he was ok. After talking with counselors and seeing the space, I bet you can decide if it will work for your son. Best of luck!