How does the Stack work?

[SweetSpot]

This is my first time with a kid going to the Stack and after reading the Navigators I'm not sure how the Stack works. I noticed they don't open until 12 unlike the other clubs, don't have scheduled meals and the a few activities they have state they have limited spaces available.

Once the club opens at 12 can a kids come and go from the club as they please? When an activity is scheduled can they still hang at the Stack and play video games instead of joining the activity even if the activity is in another location?

My DS would be happy sitting in front of the big video screen all day if we let him but would he even be able to do it if he wanted to or do they close the place down and move to other locations like the other clubs?

 

[ann-e-mator]

I just came back and I'm almost 16...

The way The Stack works is it is always open (after noon of course) and you can come and go as you please. During scheduled events The Stack is still open as normal, you don't have to participate in the activities

And as for not having scheduled eating times... there is about 4 food places right below The Stack on Deck 9 and you can bring food into The Stack.

~Nicki

 

[kcashner]

The Stack is basically open as a hang out. THere are some scheduled activities, but remember that we are dealing with teens--they mostly make their own fun. THere is a list of activities that can be done any time. They just ask the CM for supplies. The "gotcha" game is wonderful--don't miss that one. There's a party with a different theme each night.

DD had her 13th birthday on the ship, and we took cake to The Stack...she and everyone I met loved it. She says the counsellors are teen wanna-bes, especially during karoke.

They are essentially open from noon till midnight. Sometimes the kids will choose to eat together, but there are no specified meals. There is no sign in or out--they are big kids and take care of themselves.

However, for worried parents....there is a security officer on the ship assigned specifically to monitor the teens. There are cameras all over. There is always a counsellor in The Stack. Any teen behaving inappropriately is warned once, then banned from the stack. Any major issue will result in a teen being allowed out of their cabin only in the company of a parent. (such as one who jumped off the ship's deck 4 while in port). On another occasion, many teens were spotted going in and out of one cabin--investigated and stopped. Another time, one was caught making annoying phone calls to other cabins as well as banging on doors, etc. Allowed out only with his father after that!

We've never had a problem on our cruises, although we generally go "off season" when the teen population is much smaller.

Sorry...this is probably a lot more than you wanted to know.

 

[SweetSpot]

Thank you ann-e-mator and kcashner your posts eased my mind. My DS has never had to be in a club without a sibling before and is more a loner than a kid who will look for someone to hangout with and explore the ship. We checked out the Stack last year and he liked the idea of the Playstation area and that he might have the freedom to play anytime he wanted unlike the scheduling and moving of the other age groups. Now I need to figure out how to keep him occupied until noon when it opens. We are all such early risers and the other two will be off to the clubs as soon as they open.

 

[MommaluvsDis]

Keeping your son occupied 'til the Stack opens at noon won't be a problem. He may be an early riser at home but on the ship is a different story! My DS would sleep 'til 11:00 or so then shower and be at the Stack in time for it to open. Other times, he and other teens would meet in the morning to eat breakfast at Topsiders.

 

[kcashner]

Remember that he'll be partying till midnight or 1 am....DD doesn't crawl out of bed till nearly noon on the ship except on CC day.

 

[dvcmomdeh]

DITTO...... First let me say we made it a family rule the kids had to eat with us at dinner EVERY night. DS (16) DD (13). The only pictures we got of them were when they were sleeping. Mickey of course was able to capture beautiful pictures at dinner. They strolled in after 1:00 a.m. every night and didn't get up until 11:30 in the morning. They missed breakfast and went straight to lunch. What a great experience to see how they will deal with being given some freedom. Your best bet is to try to hook them up with someone they have be on the boards. I did that our first cruise and the kids still to speak to their California friends. Last spring I wasn't so lucky, however they did meet some really great kids that are from Orlando, so they get to meet up with them during our two week vacation in the summer.

You can't beat the way Disney is able to draw the kids together.

Have fun. I am envious..... waiting for my next cruise