Planning first DCL cruise

[PoohBearFamily]

Hi! We are regular Royal Caribbean cruisers- family of six. I've been dreaming of trying a DCL cruise for years and I think we may try to get one scheduled for next year!
Our oldest two kids will be 10 and 11, is there enough to keep them entertained? They are used to the activities on RCCL things like roller blading, bumper cars, rock climbing, pools etc. They also love Adventure Ocean. How are the activities for tweens on DCL? Any specific ships better for these ages?
My younger two will be 5 and 8 and I know they're just going to love DCL.

I'm also under the impression that the shows are more family friendly on DCL, and we're really happy about this. These were something we just usually skipped for the kids (we would usually go see shows when they were in Adventure Ocean.) How do the show times work with the kids club on DCL? Can you do both the show as a family, as well as evening kids club for the kids?

Any tips for us as new DCL cruisers? Thanks in advance!

 

[Dug720]

No rock climbing, roller skating, or bumper cars on Disney.

The 11 year old will be in Edge. The 10 *may* be able to age up depending on the numbers on the cruise. From what everyone says, it is KEY to go to ice breakers the first night as that's when the cliques form.

Shows on Disney alternate with dining times - if you have early dining, you'll go to the second show; if you have late dining, you'll go to the first show. They can go to the clubs after the show or dinner depending on which dining time you have.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

The entertainment on the Disney ships comes from the activities they run, not rock climbing walls or bumper cars. My girls loved Oceaneers Club (kids club). This last cruise was their first exclusively in Edge (tween club) and I was worried they would be missing the more structured kids club activities. They ADORED Edge, had to rush dinner multiple nights to get back up there, and said it was their favorite thing on DCL now.

Your 10 yo is in an interesting position in that they will be the age for the Oceaneers Club but will likely to be able to waiver into Edge as well. (Not guaranteed but, usually, you can go to Edge on the first day and sign a form to allow 10 year olds to join the 11-13 club. When my girls were 10 and we did it, Edge staff had a pre-printed list of all of the 10 year olds on the ship, had us a sign a form, took maybe 3 minutes. Sometimes they don't allow waivers if they already have a ton of tweens and they're worried about capacity.) Based on the fact that you listed 10 with the 11, I'm assuming they'll want to do this and can go with older sibling to things. But they can sign up for both and go where the mood strikes them.

 

[tvguy]

The shows are SUPPOSED to be family friendly. On our cruise the Comic did two family shows and a late night (by Disney Cruise Line standards) adult show. The adult show was canceled at the last minute and the Comic escorted off the ship the next day in port. Rumor was he crossed the line in the second family show. We were at the first show, so I don't know.
Kids clubs really depend on your kids and family. Our kids were 12 and 16 on our Disney cruise and our 12 year old went to the music trivia contest in the kids club and was shocked that the castmember running the contest did not know that Paul McCartney had been in a group before Wings!!!!!
It was our kids second cruise, the first being the year before on HAL, and cruise vacations evolved into family vacations where we did everything together 24/7 for the week. We checked our mom and dad roles at the gangway and just became our kids friends for a week. Because of that our kids were predisposed to be in the kids clubs and away from us. Kind of nice from the usual rat race of school and after school sports where we might spend 3 waking hours a day with our kids.

 

[SnowWhite2]

If your kids are used to rock climbing, rollerskating and bumper cars, they will be bored on DCL. The most exciting thing is the detective agency scavenger hunt and the mini golf on the Dream/Fantasy. Your younger kids will have a good time though if they are in to the Disney IP. There are three production shows and the remaining nights are filled with magicians, jugglers, singers, movies, etc. which may or may not keep your kids entertained at night.