How strict is the enforcement of the adults only areas?

[disneyholic family]

Are they very strict about the age limits in the adults only areas?
The DCL website says that it's for ages 18 and up.
My daughter will be 2 months shy of 18 and my son, who granted is only 15, looks 25 (6'4" and sporting a heavy beard - don't ask).
They both act very mature and tend to prefer the company of adults.
Will they be carded? Or will their appearance be enough to get them in (assuming they even want to 'get in').

thanks in advance!

 

[mmouse37]

Be prepared for a possible debate on this one. This exact topic was brought up a few weeks ago and caused quite a stir.

In my opinion....rules are rules....18 means 18, not 2 months short of or 15.

We are lucky because our upcoming 2/2302 my DD17 will be 18 the week before we sail. She is very much looking forward to Palos and the adult pool area. When we cruised in July she looked 18 but I would not let her go.

My son who is 16 and 6'2 and also has facial hair would probably get in but I would not let him.

MJ

 

[disneyholic family]

Thanks for the info!

I'm assuming from your answer that they're not strict (you are).
Palos isn't an issue as neither they nor we will be eating there.

And i imagine that this will all be a moot point if there are kids their age on board. If not, then i assume they will seek company where they can find it.
My daughter, now finsihing her third year of university, is not about to hang out with 15 year olds and I wouldn't force her to do that. However, if there are others her age, she'll much prefer to be with them than the old foggies.....
My son would probably prefer to be in the internet cafe 24/7. Is that adults only?

 

[Pluto4President]

I did see one teenager asked to leave, looked about 16. As for others, some looked young but who can tell anymore. Even though it is a Disney ship, sometimes it can get a little risque in there. I for one stand on the side of 18 is 18. Just my opinion, now that I'm way over 18

 

[mmouse37]

disneyholic......I have seen DCL ask children to leave the pool and nightclub areas. So, in answer...yes, I believe they do enforce the policy.

The internet cafe is for everyone, not just over 18.

MJ

 

[Michelle]

The Internet Cafe is open to all ages so your kids will have no problem there.

Your daughter who is almost 18 would probably not be carded for ENTERING the adults area, but she would definitely be carded if she tried to order an alcoholic beverage.

Your 15-year-old son should not attempt to use the adults-only areas. He will no doubt find plenty of others his age who are MUCH more interesting to hang with than a bunch of adults anyway.

 

[disneyholic family]

thank you all for the information.....
by the way, drinking's not an issue either, neither they nor we drink (or smoke for that matter....another thing i suppose i should ask about.....since smoke and smokers make me ill......the biggest disappointment of our visit to WDW last year....they were no longer enforcing the no smoking rules.....so naturally all the europeans lit up......anyone who lives in europe, as we do, knows the view of europeans on smoking and the chances of finding anything at all that's no smoking.....zero.....)

too bad there aren't no smoking, no drinking, no casino cruises....i'd be in seventh heaven....

anyway....thanks so much for all your information....

 

[mmouse37]

If you want a completely non-smoking cruise (even the crew is not allowed to smoke) check out the Carnival Paradise. There is no comparison to a DCL cruise....but I am tempted to try it just for the fact that there will be no smoke anywhere, even the Casino.

They are so strict about it that you must sign a waiver they the cruise line has permission to put you ashore at the next port if you or anyone in your party (including kids) are caught smoking or with smoking material. They do not have to compensate you to get you home either.

This is the first cruise line in history to offer a non-smoking cruise. The ship is beautiful and is only about 3 years old.

MJ

 

[disneyholic family]

you're kidding?!?!?...
a smoke free cruise??....
wow....well, the kids picked this cruise....campaigned for it since last summer (when they watched the never-ending DCL commercial on the resort tv).....
i never considered cruising due to severe motion sickness problems (last time i was on a ship was the queen mary as a child, crossing the atlantic....boy.....now THERE was a stateroom....my sister and i had our own butler.......nice...)
anyway, if i survive this cruise, i'll look into the smokefree ship....
that would be heaven on earth....(if you don't believe me, pick up any tour guide on amsterdam and look up what they say about no smoking sections in restaurants.....or rather the lack there of......if you have problems with cigarette smoke, don't set foot in amsterdam.......)

 

[Mmketeer]

Hi Disneyholic,

I don't think your almost 18 year old daughter will have a problem being in the adult pool area. They may ask for her room number though in other adult area's like the spa etc. as the room number in the ship's system (if they look it up) does specify the ages of anyone under 18 staying in that stateroom number. I wouldn't advise your son to try getting in either, but I don't think anyone will say anything if he comes around to see you or his sister (espcially if he is older looking like you say) and as long as he acts that way too he'll be okay. He won't be able to get into the clubs etc. though. But, let them know that there are plenty of teen activities on board the ship and at Castaway's too! Plus, they have a family dance club to hang out at and their own teen only area on the ship and at Castaway's too! So, actually I am sure none of this will be much of a problem as they'll probably meet lots of girlfriends etc. to hang out with.

PS
I have seen crewmember's asking teens and younger folks to leave the pool area and I must say I have to commend them on keeping consistancy with their rules.

Have fun!Mmketeer

 

[disneyholic family]

Mmketeer,

i forgot about all the family stuff....
they'll probably want to do those things so there's no problem...
i have odd children.....they're the ones who want family vacations.....even the older one....all her friends go off on their own trips (remember, kids in europe are VERY different and very independent).....
my kids for some strange reason prefer to vacation with us....go figure....and vacation means WDW....
the spa's not important, living in europe she gets regular doses of that, so not being able to do that won't bother her....
which reminds me, is there an age limit to use the workout room?...
probably 18 and up.....oh well.....she'll survive a day or two without working out....
besides, in WDW we walk about 50 billion miles anyway...

 

[smjj]

In May when we took our cruise a man brought his small kids to the adult beach. I did not see the mom(maybe getting a spa treatment near by). Anyway he got upset when told it was an adults only beach. He did not make a big deal about it but I could see other adults were giving him the evil eye, me included. I love children and raised two but sometimes you don't want them around expecially if they are not yours. He knew the rules and I applaud DCL for making him leave. Rules are rules and they are there because adults wanted a place to get away from the kids and have some peace and quiet..smjj

 

[inkkognito]

One of my FAVORITE things about Disney Cruise Line, and a big reason we keep sailing them, is the adults-only areas. While I don't mind being around children, I want some private time too. RCCL supposedly has adults-only areas on some of its ships, but there is NO enforcement. Disney has really stepped up their enforcement over time, and the few times a crew member doesn't take the initiative, I am not shy about asking them to handle the situation (or to point out that it is an adults-only area to the offending person myself). I have even seen teens carded in the adult pool! People are so surprised when I tell them how much Disney Cruise Line has to offer for adults...they are amazed that hubby and I have been on 18 Disney cruises and don't even have children. But I'm not a total stickler...when teens have joined us in the adult whirlpools, I have not said anything to them when they were being well-behaved and very obviously trying to act "adult."
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Amzey]

I don't want to add to the debate, but I just have a question. We will be cruising on the Magic in late June/early July as a graduation present for me and I will be a month shy of 18. Would I be able to go to Palo's or would I be carded?

 

[wovenwonder]

Amzey,
If you explain when reserving at Palo that you are a month shy of 18 -- I don't think that you would have a problem. If you will be going with your parents - and they are reserving, chances are that you will never be asked.

 

[Rikersmom]

The adult areas on the ships and Castaway Cay are exactly that--for adults. I have no problem with someone who might not "look" 18 or older who is behaving like an adult. Sure, there are some adults way older than 18 who act like children. The idea is that adults have areas where they can enjoy the company of other adults.

I noticed on one post that someone suggested that guests over 15 be allowed at the adult pool. There is a pool for guests that age: the family pool.

 

[Dodie]

As a childless couple who loves Disney, one of the main reasons we have chosen to go on a DCL cruise is the fact that DCL actually enforces their adult-area policies.

I have seen these posts about "sneaking" teenagers into the adult areas enough times on this board to be amazed that people just "don't get it." Rules are rules. Rules are not just for "other people."

A mature-looking 15 year old is still a 15 year old. I honestly don't want to spend the adult portion of my vacation with a teenager.

Just my two cents...

 

[CarolAnnC]

On my last cruise my DD's were aged 16 and 18. The 18 year old had no desire to separate from other teens and head off to the adult pool, Palo, or the adult nightclubs. In fact, I arranged with Common Grounds for them to register her in there too so she could participate with her younger sister and the many friends they made on board.

The teens tend to group together, go to movies, hang out on deck 10 playing basketball, and participate in the Common Grounds organized activities. I would never dream of trying to enter any adult aged area with my 16 year old. I feel it would send her a message that "sneaking in" is ok, therefore, why not do it at the nightclubs at home too? There is enough activity, plenty of other teens, and IMHO no need to sneak an underage teen into an adult area on board ship. Most teens I know are happy to find people their own age and so many fun activities to participate in, rather than hanging around the parents on board ship.

 

[Mmketeer]

Hi Disneyholic family,

LOL! Now, you get the picture. I am sure they'll want to be with you most of the time and I think it's refreshing to see older kids actually want a family vacation, but with sooo much stuff that's their own....I am sure they'll keep busy on their own too.LOL!

PS
The the health club (work out room) is behind the spa and you have to go into the spa to get to it, so it is 18 and over only. And, when you take the spa/ health club tour they make sure that 18 and over is mentioned in "all" their spiels. But, hey, tell her she can always go for a jog or walk around the jogging deck. There is no age limits for that. <BG>

PSS
Here is a small list of things to do for teen's only and or with your teens!
Castaway Cay's Teen Beach area (with their own bar-Head's up Bar)
On ship:
Dualing Piano Club @7:45pm showing is for families
Who wants to be a Mousketeer game show
Family Karaoke in Studio Sea the family dance club
Family Disco and or Dance Party in Studio Sea
Tropical Deck Party w/ fruit and dessert buffet at midnight
Movie's at Buena Vista Theater (Now showing Disney's Snow Dogs)
Internet Cafe- surf the net at sea
Common Grounds- teen only club
Shows at Disney's Walt Disney Theater like Hercules the Muse-ical
Mickey Mania the Game Show @ Studio Sea
and much, much more for you and your teens to see and do! So have a great time!!!


Mmketeer

 

[mmouse37]

mmketeer......Head's Up Bar is just for teens? I did not know that...I thought it was a regular bar. My teens will be happy there is a place to go for soft drinks without walking all the way back to family beach.

MJ