Oceaneers Club

[Weegl]

I need your help and advice. We're going on the Magic in 2 weeks with our 5 year old son and 4 year old daughter. They are best friends and would be crushed not be together in the same group during the cruise. I know that the age break is 3-4 in the Club and 5-7 in the Lab, so my question is:

Should we just sign our 5 year old up as a four year old to stay with his sister? Does Disney check up on this?

Please help with some kind words of experience and wisdom.

Thanks

 

[TnRobin]

Disney does let children drop down in the age bracket on a case by case situation. Just tell the counselor what you are wanting to do and they will help you.

That said. I am concerned that your 5 year old will be bored in the 3-4 year olds. The activities are aimed at the 3-4 year old set. The 5-7 year old activites are much more exciting, especially for a boy. My DS was so excited when he was able to move to that group.

I would show the kids the navigators for thier groups and let them decide. You may be surprise. You DD will probably be thrilled to learn to dance with Snow White in 3-4 , while your DS wants to do the Buzz Lightyear game in the 5-7 group.

 

[disney6]

Our last cruise they let my 4 year old (she was in Kindergarten already and turned 5 six weeks later) up with her 6 year old sister. Their 3 year old sister was happy being on her own so it worked out. Just another option depending on how "old" your 4 year old is.

 

[padams]

I would think that Disney knows the true ages of your children since you have to show a birth certificate or passport to board.

I agree with the above poster that your ds will love the 5-7 year old activities as lots of them are boy-oriented. Our ds 5 refused to leave the Oceaneer Club one afternoon to spend time with his parents so we had to have some more adult time without him.

 

[dvarallo]

You can start off the first night with both kids in the 3-4 year old group and once your 4 year old is settled, try to move your 4 year old into the 5-7 group. They will allow you to move your child once. You could try to move them both up to the 5-7 if there is room and your child is close enough to turning 5. It's done on a case-to-case basis and the counselors know it will be easier for them to do their job if the kids are happy where they are. Back in January, they let me move my son up to the 5-7 group to be with his friend, but he was 5 weeks short of turning 5.

 

["Ginger"]

They sure do know how olds your children are, it on their records. One year our DD had a birthday on the ship we did say anything to them. On the day of her birthday they had a party for her.

Disney must be as wise as Santa. LOL

 

[TnRobin]

For a child to be considered for "moving up" they must be within 6 weeks of thier birthday.

As for switching back and forth between age brackets, DCL asks that once a child decides to drop down in age, that they do not switch back and forth.

 

[kmc33]

Also, it might make it easier that they both will actually be in the Oceaneer's Club . Kid 3-7 are in the club, but split into two groups, 3-4 and 5-7. And then the Oceaneer's Lab is for the kids 8-12. So even if they are in separate groups, they won't be too far away from each other.