Kids age groupings

[odomam]

We are cruising in September with 3 children - ages 3, 4 and 5. We would prefer that they are in the same group for the kid's activities. How flexible is DCL with allowing this?

 

[mickeyboat]

The age groupings in the clubs are 3-4 and 5-7. All the kids in the Club spend a lot of time together. I think if you talked to the Counselors, they would be willing to move the 5 year old down to the 3-4 group on a trial basis. Will your 5 year old be bored with 3-4 year old activities? Check the navigators. You may want ot pick and choose activities that will appeal to all the kids.

Good luck.

Denae

 

[232271]

So does the 3-4 and 5-7 share the same location? (oceaneer's club)

how about the 8 -9 and 10 - 12, do you drop them off at
the same club location, same door and all? (oceaneer's lab)

 

[Bmwdsny]

Originally posted by 232271
So does the 3-4 and 5-7 share the same location? (oceaneer's club)

how about the 8 -9 and 10 - 12, do you drop them off at
the same club location, same door and all? (oceaneer's lab)

Yes, for the 3-4, and 5-7 , they shared the same location, (Club) but most times they will be separated for different activites and be at different areas of the ship.

The older group gets dropped off at the Lab, across the hall from the Club, but again, each age group will be separated at times for different activities in other areas of the ship.

I remember the times that the 2 ages groups stayed together are the shows, movies, lunch, and few other activities.

But the Lab and Clubs groups are always seperated except for the show and maybe a movie.

 

[232271]

okay, thanks, another question:

I noticed they said above older kids could move down,
what abouts kids within 1 1/2 months of becoming 10,
can they move up?

 

[Bmwdsny]

Originally posted by 232271
okay, thanks, another question:

I noticed they said above older kids could move down,
what abouts kids within 1 1/2 months of becoming 10,
can they move up?

Yes, a child may move up if they are within one month of the minimum age for that group if they wish, that is the policy of the DCL Kids Clubs.

Now i don't know what they do if the child is within 1 1/2 or 2 months. I guess it depends on the different circumstances. The question is... Do they adhere to strict policy or do they make exceptions from time to time. :

 

[232271]

I emailed disney on that because my son will be just about
2 monts shy of his 10th birthday. I wanted to be prepared if
he wouldnt be able to be with his 11 yr. old sister, who will NOT
want to move down to his age being the 8 and 9 yr. olds.

thanks for the help.

 

[Bmwdsny]

Originally posted by 232271
I emailed disney on that because my son will be just about
2 monts shy of his 10th birthday. I wanted to be prepared if
he wouldnt be able to be with his 11 yr. old sister, who will NOT
want to move down to his age being the 8 and 9 yr. olds.

thanks for the help.

I don't blame him!! maybe that will be the exception so he can be with his sis! Let me know what the outcome...

Good Luck!! and have a great time on the cruise!!

 

[kcashner]

DCL policy on moving kids up is that they have to be within 30 days of the birthday that would place them in the older group AND meet the counsellors and have counsellor and parent approval.

As to moving a kid down, the policy is that a child can only be moved once during a cruise. DCL is good about age groups being appropriate. I'd suggest that you start with your child in the age appropriate group, then request a move only if that isn't working out for some reason.

There's a huge difference between an "almost 10" and a 12 year old. And you certainly can't blame the 11 year old for not wanting to move to an 8-9 level. Again, although the levels are 8-9 and 10-12, they are both based in the lab. They do go other places in the ship and have different programming going on much of the time. However, there is a fair amount of "unscheduled" time when the groups can mix.

Also, at the club....within the 3-4s and the 5-7s, there are smaller groups--like the Simba group, etc. If you want kids together, be sure to tell the counsellors.

 

[CM_Mom]

The key to answering this question is TALK TO THE COUNSELORS. As DD has said in a previous post, they are there to help your child have a MAGICal or WONDERful time not ruin your cruise. They are as interested in having your child where they will fit in best as you are.

That being said, I still suggest that you try your child out in the appropriate age group first unless you are certain that a change is necessary. For example an extremely shy or developmentally delayed 5 yo might be more comfortable in a younger group with his or her outgoing 4 yo brother or sister.

The key is to review the activities for each age group and talk to the counselors. Moving to the higher age group really depends on the maturity level of the child.

The one thing you CAN'T do is switch around. Once you make a change, you have to live with it for the entire cruise for safety and security reasons.

 

[MelJade]

If my daughter is two and potty trained, can she go in the kid's club that are for the younger one (3-4 years old)?

 

[Bmwdsny]

Originally posted by MelJade
If my daughter is two and potty trained, can she go in the kid's club that are for the younger one (3-4 years old)?

Accordance with the policy, you must be 3 years old. If you made ressies and paying your DD as a 2 year old, she will not be able to use the clubs. Children that age must be able to interact comfortably with peers of the own and interact comfortably within the counselor to child ratio groups of 1-15 for the 3-4 years old group. The clubs won't even have your DD name on list since she is consisted 2 and under years old.

Instead, they do have a group babysitting nursery for a fee. You may want to check with the DCL if your DD is within 1 month of turning 3, she may be able to go to the clubs, but i am not sure of that...

 

[CM_Mom]

MelJade: It really depends on how old she actually is, whether a very young two or an almost three. If she's within 2 or 3 months of being three and is pretty mature for her age AND completely potty trained - which includes wiping and dressing, you can talk to the Counselors in the club about allowing her in on a trial basis. They will talk to you and your daughter and make the decision.

Also, you can take your DD to the Club at any time if you stay with her and are responsible for her. If she's too young to register in the club, this might be an option for some of the activities although you couldn't leave her.

Key answer is TALK TO THE CMs. They want your whole family to have a MAGICal or WONDERful vacation and have lots of experience in evaluating kids.

If she's a young two, I would just plan on using Flounders for the times you want adult time.

 

[clm3]

My son turns 13 the day we set sail. I was afraid the 13-17 group may be alittle much for him. He will be alone in there as his brother and sister will be in the 5-7 group. I'd hate for him to miss out !!

 

[Bmwdsny]

Since your son will be sailing on his birthday, i suggest he may want to try in the 10-12 group. He will be allow to be in that group. I feel that 13-17 is a very wide age group myself and i wish Disney would divide the teen club. My DD will be 13 in 2 years and i will not be to crazy for her to be in the teen club either at that early teen.

 

[colonels cruisers]

'Yes, for the 3-4, and 5-7 , they shared the same location, (Club) but most times they will be separated for different activites and be at different areas of the ship. '

We found that they spent a considerable amount of time as a group (as of July 2004). We have a 3 yr old and by no means was it a good setting for him when the 7 year olds were there. a 3 yr old will try to do things with the 7 yr olds and they just don't have the skills. Our son is very outgoing and at home he really doesn't have a problem playing with kids that are 5. There is just such a HUGE developmental difference between 3 and 7.

We learned the hard way.. if a average 7 year old doesn't like having a 3 yr old around (to a 7 yr old it is like having a baby around) it takes them less than a second to have the 3 yr old on the ground and "rough him up". Our son had a 7 yr old cousin in there who did come to his defense but...

 

[westjones]

My neighbor's DD was 2 months away from turning 13 and DCL allowed her to move up to the teen group.

Now, personally, I would rather my child be the oldest in the group than the youngest, but her parents let her move up and she loved it.

I don't know details, perhaps the teen program wasn't crowded. Perhaps it was because her older brother was there. I have no idea. But they did allow this exception to the 30 day rule just this past April.

DJ

 

[leahvonleah]

at what age are the kids allowed to enter/leave the scheduled activities w/o parents having to sign in/out?

 

[CM_Mom]

The kids in the Lab, 8 YO and up can have sign-in/sign out privileges. You have the option to allow this or not.

 

[leahvonleah]

thank you!