Fantasy Tween Room

[NewYorkcruiser]

I understand that kids need to be checked in an out of the Oceaneers club, but not the tween room. I will have an 11 y/o that could go to either. Is there supervision in the tween room? Is there a way for him to call me if he needs to? I don't want him walking the ship by himself so Im paranoid about letting him to go to the tween room.

 

[Mr. Drauer]

yes there are CM's in the Edge, but it is not a "check in - check out" place. If you have him go there, he can come and go as he pleases. Still, if you want him to stay put, he can, but they don't have the same security as the Lab and Club. Some of the activities they do have them going around the ship though. My DD loves doing the scavanger hunt which sends them in teams around the ship, and they sometimes go to other places like D Lounge for activities, or have ice cream social up on deck. As an FYI, you can assign your child to be a "self check out" kid at both Lab and Club, so they can come and go to those with your permission.

 

[lanejudy]

If your tween has access to a smartphone, or even an old one that can still do wifi, you can text onboard using the DCL Navigator app. Also, each stateroom receives 2 "wavephones" that call or old-style text onboard, and if needed you can rent another from Guest Service.

There are CMs in Edge. Kids sometimes hang-out at Edge but also they have "out and about" activities which will take place outside of the actual Edge space. And they often head up to get a snack on the pool deck. So yes, to attend Edge your tween will need to have sign-out privileges. Many families find that setting rules ahead of time and talking about expectations as well as consequences works out well. Rules such as "never go into another stateroom and nobody invited into our stateroom" and "always call/text parents when leaving Edge" or that the kids must meet up with the parents if leaving Edge, etc.

If you have concerns and do not want your child to have sign-out privileges, you can restrict him/her to the Club/Lab.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

As an FYI, you can assign your child to be a "self check out" kid at both Lab and Club, so they can come and go to those with your permission.

Isn't "self check-out" the default for those ages, even the Lab and the kids club? Or do you have to request it? You may find your child may be able to check himself out of either place.

As for contacting you, there are a number of options. There are two wave phones in the room that work all over the ship that you and your child can use, but they are a bit large and clunky (like cordless phones in your home). Another option that worked for our 12 YO neice was a second hand iPod touch. As long as it has wi-fi, you can get the Disney Navigator App on it, and then, once on board you can text each other for free on it.

 

[NewYorkcruiser]

If your tween has access to a smartphone, or even an old one that can still do wifi, you can text onboard using the DCL Navigator app. Also, each stateroom receives 2 "wavephones" that call or old-style text onboard, and if needed you can rent another from Guest Service.

There are CMs in Edge. Kids sometimes hang-out at Edge but also they have "out and about" activities which will take place outside of the actual Edge space. And they often head up to get a snack on the pool deck. So yes, to attend Edge your tween will need to have sign-out privileges. Many families find that setting rules ahead of time and talking about expectations as well as consequences works out well. Rules such as "never go into another stateroom and nobody invited into our stateroom" and "always call/text parents when leaving Edge" or that the kids must meet up with the parents if leaving Edge, etc.

If you have concerns and do not want your child to have sign-out privileges, you can restrict him/her to the Club/Lab.

Enjoy your vacation!

Thank you. He was super excited about the tween room so maybe between knowing there is supervision and setting ground rules we would be okay with letting him go there. I wouldn't want him carrying a wave phone though...he would lose it. I was hoping they had a phone in the tween room he could access.

 

[Mr. Drauer]

Isn't "self check-out" the default for those ages, even the Lab and the kids club? Or do you have to request it? You may find your child may be able to check himself out of either place.

As for contacting you, there are a number of options. There are two wave phones in the room that work all over the ship that you and your child can use, but they are a bit large and clunky (like cordless phones in your home). Another option that worked for our 12 YO neice was a second hand iPod touch. As long as it has wi-fi, you can get the Disney Navigator App on it, and then, once on board you can text each other for free on it.

yes - it is the default. You can assign them to be self checkout on the registration if they are 8 or older for the club/lab.

 

[lanejudy]

I'm sure there is a phone at Edge, though he may need to ask the CM to use it. You will need to carry a wavephone as that'll be the only way to reach you onboard.

Enjoy your cruise!

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

Set ground rules for sure. And remember, the advantages are yours.

1) He wants to go there, so he will be eager to obey so that he can keep the privilage.
2) If he doesn't come when he is supposed to, chances are, you'll know right where he is, at the Edge. You can then go there and get him.
3) Many parents of kids your age let the kids come and go from Edge, as long as they go directly there, and directly back to you (or your room) afterwards. If he goes to your room and you aren't there, but you are carrying the wave phone, he can use the other wave phone in the room to tell you he has arrived there. Something like that should give him some freedom and you some piece of mind. (And give you some freedom too.)

My kids are a little older than yours, but personally, I looked for opportunities when mine were this age so that they could start practicing being responsible and so that I could see how good they were at it. That way, when they get a bit older you know they will be ready for more responsibility/freedom. My oldest just got his learners permit. Soon a whole new level of responsibility/freedom will be coming for him. Which is why I've been preparing him for it for years. (Still scary though!)

 

[bbel]

Edge will have a phone too, and the number is (usually) listed in wave phones and around the ship - so you can always call edge to check they're there, but it also means they can call you (if you have a WP make sure they know which one you have tho).

As for a self-check in the club/lab - No child is automatically a self-check - the registering grown up has to give permission for any child (8-12) to be allowed to leave by themselves.
BUT any child (ages 3-12) with an oceaneer band can check themselves IN!

As for Edge, there is no sign in or out procedures (come and go as much or as little as you like), so unlike the club/lab there is no record of when a child came or left or how long they stayed for.

 

[pawstat]

I was wondering this too. My daughters will be turning 11 on the cruise and the other is 12. Do I need to register them before the cruise in the lab/club or can we do all that when we get there? They loved the lab/club on our first cruise a few years ago, but I think they'll want to go for the "older kids" club this time. I just want them to have that option.