Please tell me about Middle School kids on the DCL

[westjones]

We just completed cruise #5 and will go on cruise #6 in December (DH says this one counts as our 2005 cruise, since he agreed to 1 cruise a year--so we won't be going in 2005).

We are looking at spring break in 2006 when my girls will be in 6th grade. I pretty comfortable with that because they will still be 12 and they will be in the lab.

BUT what I am wondering if what will it be like after that. Once they are in 7th grade (in 2007) they will be 13 and will have to go with the teens group.

Are they still going to like going on the cruise at that point? Do Middle School kids really like the Disney cruise? Or is it more something for grade school kids (and parents) to enjoy?

Thanks,
DJ

 

[erikthewise]

I have a similar concern. We are cruising this year, and if we cruise again in 2006, our oldest DS will be 13. I'm concerned about him being one of the youngest in the teens group as he is not very social. For that reason I'm thinking either 2005 or 2007 would be better.

 

[jrabbit]

Some 12yo's really don't like the lab -- especially if it's been there done that, I'm way to cool to do that again. We found out that our oldest had/has that attitude. He didn't like being a 13yo in common grounds either. Hopefully as a 15yo next year he'll enjoy the stack more.

Other kids will do just fine in the lab as 12yo. Lots of the 12yo's really want to be in the teen program (can't wait to grow up - if they only knew what was waiting for them as grown-ups)

 

[westjones]

I think my girls will be fine in the Lab as 12 year olds. They tend to enjoy playing with kids 1 or 2 years younger, so I am guessing they will be alright then.

I am mostly concerned when they are 13 and 14 in the teen program. There seems to be a big difference between a 13 year old and a 17 year old. We may need to take a break from DCL for a couple of years when they hit those years.

DJ

 

[ldb1030]

We just got back from the 9/11 cruise with our 13yr old (8th grade)! This was her 3rd disney cruise!
We rebooked on board and just this weekend, discussed the AWFUL prices to go summer of 06.
I told her that her dad wanted to go on another cruise line because of the price and she said "disney or nothing"
So yes, MY middle schooler loves it still!

 

[westjones]

ldb1030,
Did she go to the teen program? Did she make friends with kids her own age.

Actually, in September, I would think there are fewer kids in the teen program than during the times school is out. We have always cruised in September, but starting next year when my girls go to middle school we are going to stick with the school breaks. So I am guessing there will be more teens in the program during those times.

DJ

 

[ldb1030]

Yes, she went to The Stack and she also had her best friend with her which helped but she also met several new friends which was nice! There were not tons of kids of course because of Sept. but I was surprised at the number! She emails some of the kids she met even!
They went to The Stack every night!

 

[PoohJen]

Originally posted by ldb1030
We rebooked on board and just this weekend, discussed the AWFUL prices to go summer of 06.

Did you check out the Aug 19, 2006 Western? I found those to be the same as off-peak for THIS year! So reasonable that I booked immediately (and told DH later...gulp). I never thought I could do DCL in the summer b/c the prices are so high, but that week came in (relatively) "low".

As to middle schoolers, my oldest will be 12 on our Nov cruise - I really wanted to go while he would still age into the Lab - and he really can't wait to be "hangin' in the stack" when he's older. (haven't told him about the '06 cruise - he'll be 13)

One thing that might help your son is if he hooks up with fellow middle schoolers pre-cruise thru the "cruise meets" boards.

Good Luck!

 

[ldb1030]

Yep, saw that 8/19/06 sailing but we start school SO early in Aug. that would not work AND I want to do the REAL western sailing, not the new one!
Sooooo, we'll have to see!

 

[tvguy]

DD was 12 and DS was 16 on our Eastern. They never showed the least interest in the clubs, they did only adult activities and had a great time.
They did the same thing the year before on HAL. They found the ship itself much more interesting than the clubs.

 

[DisneyNutMary]

Hi DJ
We just cruised 9/18 with you, and are cruising 9/3!
My 16 year old step son LOVED the cruise. Best vacation of his life (score points for the dad ) We hardly ever saw him after 12 noon, when the Stack opened. He came back to us only for dinner, which was the rule.
If you were at the kids show on Friday, in the slideshow there was a pic of a teenager sleeping...that was him. He even stayed up there when he was too tired for fun, just napped on the couch!
The counselors took his pic, tied his shoe laces together, they had a grand old time, and he STILL loved every minute of it!

 

[ldb1030]

tvguy -

How did your 12 and 16 yr olds get to do the adult activities?

 

[westjones]

I'm glad to hear that some middle school kids like the cruise. I really enjoy it, and am hoping to make it an annual event (or at least every other year since school schedules are so hard to work around in conjunction with DH's work schedule).

I guess we won't know if our girls will like it until we try it with them at that age. At least by being twins, they will have each other to hang with (but they prefer to find other friends--I think they get tired of each other )

DJ

 

[profdsny]

Wow, I was just going to start a thread about this, because we are going for the first time with our (will be then) 12-1/2 yo. She is looking forward to some of the 'teen' things, being in 7th grade, and I can't blame her. How restricted, by the cruise, will she be? We are willing to give her a bit of lee-way on board, or on the island with slightly older kids. We understand the idea of her being with the young group, but if she is restricted to that group exclusively, I don't think she is going to have a good time at all. She is the youngest of 4, and pretty independent and self assured. What has been others' experience?

 

[decolady]

We went this year with my DS12 and we are going back in 2006. This was my DS's favorite vacation because we let him go off on his own. There is nowhere else in the world (probably not even another cruise line) where we would be comfortable letting a 12 yr old do this. He did not stay in the club much, he went to the movies and played basketball a lot. So the bottom line is he loves the freedom, no matter what he is doing.

 

[westjones]

Originally posted by decolady
We went this year with my DS12 and we are going back in 2006. This was my DS's favorite vacation because we let him go off on his own. There is nowhere else in the world (probably not even another cruise line) where we would be comfortable letting a 12 yr old do this. He did not stay in the club much, he went to the movies and played basketball a lot. So the bottom line is he loves the freedom, no matter what he is doing.

This does seem to be the big draw for my kids. I let them have more freedom on the cruise than any other vacation place.
DJ

 

[NYGiantsRule!]

My DS was 14 last year on our cruise. The Stack has activities grouped by age 13-14 year olds and 15-17 year olds have different things to do. If they don't want to do activities, they can just hang out. My son really liked the counselors and had a great time.

 

[DigiDude]

I turned 12 on 8/24/04, which was the 8/22/04 Eastern Wonder cruise


See, my parents had the mistake of allowing me 2 or 3 $20 arcade cards

(I lost count after the first one )

And giving me the unlimited internet access plan

They put me in the lab, I sat down at the computer and started playing the games on it.. But they were sooooooo slowwwwwwww

So I said, forget it, and signed myself out, and went to the internet cafe

Bottom Line, unless your son or daughter is REALY social... dont even bother with the lab.. Just give them a walky talky and say goodbye, except when you go to CC, then your there all day

Ok, I am going to stop going off topic now

 

[MO Disney cruiser]

DD was barely 13 on our 5/22 cruise. She had a good time, but after the 411 she never went back to the Stack. She stayed with us old people. She can't wait to take another DCL cruise.

I haven't told her yet that I booked a 3 day for May 05 today. I can hear the squealing from here.

 

[geffric]

we went on our 3rd DCL cruise this year for spring break.. ds#1 was 12 turning 13 on the cruise and ds#2 was 10. We all had talkabouts, DS#1 LOVED the stack... had a great time!! we only say him at dinner ( our rules), he came back to the room at 2 am each morning..still emails some of the other kids...

DS#2, had been in the lab before and said it was too boring.. he went there for a few things but met several other guys his age and then spent some time in the lab and the rest of the cruise with the other boys on the sports deck and eating...

I let them hang out with their friends and they had a great time.. said it was the best cruise and vacation ever... we did have a rule that they had to check in with me when they changed locations..

and as DH will tell everyone who will listen..she who said "let them have their freedom" spend some time walking by the locations that the kids were at 'just to make sure that they were ok'

we are going back spring break 2006.. both boys can't wait!!!