Question about Edge

[YayDisney]

So this is a great question. I have ten year old twins and we are getting ready to go in a couple of weeks on the Fantasy. Last year we did Alaska on the Wonder and my kids still enjoyed the Oceaneers so I don't think it will be a problem for this cruise, but they have grown (mentally and maturity wise) quite a bit in this year and actually mentioned the Edge to me recently. . . . I didn't think it would be possible to allow them to go this year.

We had an agreement last year where as long as they stayed together, they could sign themselves in and out of Oceaneers - but it was only to go to and/or from the room - and once they went from dinner in the MDR to the Club and then to the Room - when we had Palo reservations - so the signing in and out is not an issue for me.

What sorts of activities do they do at the Edge?

 

[Sydnerella]

Whether a child not in the proper age group wants to "age up" will be allowed depends on how many children of the proper age are onboard. If they have maxed out the number of kids in the 11-14 range booked for the cruise, then younger kids cannot move up. If they haven't maxed out, then they will be allowed (generally) with the proviso that, if there are any issues, they will not be allowed to continue.

Thanks for your helpful replies and background to the "whys" of things - I appreciate that from you! I will have DD10 and DS12 on our October sailing. To request that my DD10 have privileges to enter the Edge with her brother, where/how/when do I pursue that? Also, my FIL is making all of our reservations as he made and paid for the cruise reservation - does he also sign my kids up for clubs when his booking window opens? Or is that only done by parents? Is it done at the terminal? or on the ship?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks for your helpful replies and background to the "whys" of things - I appreciate that from you! I will have DD10 and DS12 on our October sailing. To request that my DD10 have privileges to enter the Edge with her brother, where/how/when do I pursue that? Also, my FIL is making all of our reservations as he made and paid for the cruise reservation - does he also sign my kids up for clubs when his booking window opens? Or is that only done by parents? Is it done at the terminal? or on the ship?

When the online check in window opens one of the options for the room/reservation (each room has it's own reservation #) will be to register kids for Oceaneer's. Those kids who are Edge age will not have to be preregistered. You can also register them in the terminal, but it's quicker to do it on the online registration and check in for the club at the terminal registration desk.

The only way to sign up/see if your 10 year old will be allowed is once onboard the ship. Right at Edge. That's where they make the decision (the CMs at Edge).

 

[ghtx]

I am a bit unclear. My oldest will be 10 on our cruise next summer. I had been assuming that he couldn't do Edge because everything that I read said it's age 11-14.

But will he be able to go to Edge (in addition to Oceaneer's)? Or will it depend on how many kids are on the cruise?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I am a bit unclear. My oldest will be 10 on our cruise next summer. I had been assuming that he couldn't do Edge because everything that I read said it's age 11-14.

But will he be able to go to Edge (in addition to Oceaneer's)? Or will it depend on how many kids are on the cruise?

It will depend on the number of proper-aged kids onboard (11-14). If the total number of that group doesn't max out the Edge capacity, chances are very good that a 10 year old can go to Edge.

If the total maxs out the number, then no.

Any child in the overlap age (11 & 12 year olds) can go to both Oceaneer's and Edge. But they must be allowed sign out privileges in Oceaneer's.

I would think the same would be true for a 10 year old allowed to participate in Edge.

 

[Sydnerella]

The only way to sign up/see if your 10 year old will be allowed is once onboard the ship. Right at Edge. That's where they may the decision (the CMs at Edge).

Thanks! Since they are both OK to go into Oceaneers and there is no need to pre-register the Edge kids, does that mean we should pre-register them both for Oceaneers if both DD10 and DS 12 want to go back and forth? Or only sign DD10 up for Oceaneers and not pre-register DS12? I just want DS12 to be able to go back and forth as he would like to and rules allow this.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks! Since they are both OK to go into Oceaneers and there is no need to pre-register the Edge kids, does that mean we should pre-register them both for Oceaneers if both DD10 and DS 12 want to go back and forth? Or only sign DD10 up for Oceaneers and not pre-register DS12? I just want DS12 to be able to go back and forth as he would like to and rules allow this.

I believe the 12 year old won't require pre-registration, but I could be wrong. Hopefully, someone with better knowledge than I can step in here to answer.

@KT2038, @bbel, help please.

 

[MrsSmalls]

I'm glad you asked this, we'll have a girl who's 11YR and a boy who's 10YR. She is excited to go to the Edge, but I don't think she'll go without him. They're pretty much inseparable.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I'm glad you asked this, we'll have a girl who's 11YR and a boy who's 10YR. She is excited to go to the Edge, but I don't think she'll go without him. They're pretty much inseparable.

Well, it could be the best of both worlds. They both can go to Oceaneer's and, at those times that she's feeling a bit courageous, she could pop over to Edge and get familiar with it.

 

[bbel]

Kids that are 11 and 12 can make definitely go to the lab, club and edge. There's no pre- registration for edge and for the club and the lab you don't have to pre register either. You can pre register and then never get the band too. Or you can fully register and get the band as a back up and they never use it because they're in edge.
Pre registration doesn't really make a difference, it will just speed up the actual registration by about two minutes...

I hope that helps?!

 

[bbel]

As for what do they do in edge? A lot of what they do in the club and lab:
Game challenges, Gaga ball, cookies, science, fourth pigs pasta, around the world,
And then things like pizza perfection, smoothie hour and ship wide scavenger hunts.

 

[noahsketomom]

I am encouraged by these posts that my 10 yo daughter might be able to go to the edge with my 11yo son. The last time we cruised she felt out of place in the Club/Lab and only went there for specific events like cooking and science. She is HUGE (5'3") so playing the active games with kids half her size didn't work out so well. I was prepared for her to be with me or her sibs on the pool deck most of the time, but it would be awesome if she could participate in some of the activities in the Edge. Crossing fingers there will be room....

 

[ghtx]

Thanks for the info.

Here is another question: If my 10-year-old can go to either Edge or Club/Lab, can he switch back and forth over the course of the cruise? E.g. if one afternoon he feels like going to the Edge, he can do that, and one evening he could go to the Lab. Or, does he have to make a decision at the start of the cruise about which kids club he wants to go to and stick with that? The guidebook that I am reading (unofficial guide) seems to imply the latter, but much of the discussion here implies the former.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Thanks for the info.

Here is another question: If my 10-year-old can go to either Edge or Club/Lab, can he switch back and forth over the course of the cruise? E.g. if one afternoon he feels like going to the Edge, he can do that, and one evening he could go to the Lab. Or, does he have to make a decision at the start of the cruise about which kids club he wants to go to and stick with that? The guidebook that I am reading (unofficial guide) seems to imply the latter, but much of the discussion here implies the former.

I know that 11 & 12 year olds (the typical overlap ages) are allowed to go back and forth. I don't know for sure about a 10 year old, but I don't see why not.

Time was all kids had to start in the club they were supposed to be in and were allowed one switch (if they were close to the age division). Once they made the switch they were stuck with it. But DCL changed that about 2-3 years ago.

 

[Bree]

Both my kids went to Edge when they were 10yo. In 2014 my DS was 1.5 months away from turning 11yo. In 2015 my DD turned 10yo 5 weeks before we sailed. Both times we went directly to Edge as soon as they opened on boarding day. The staff had list of names of kids that were on our sailings and both times my then 10yo kids names were on it. They had me sign a waiver and then they put a sticker on their KTTW card. In 2014 my son was allowed into both Oceanears and Edge. He spent all of 5 minutes in Oceanears and never went back. My DD was only 8.5 and she didn't care for it. Her complaint (like so many other kids) was that there were way too many little ones and they were always in the way and interrupting activities. She had a blast in Edge. It was nice to actually use the adult areas and attend adult activities that sailing LOL!!!!

 

[YayDisney]

Both my kids went to Edge when they were 10yo. In 2014 my DS was 1.5 months away from turning 11yo. In 2015 my DD turned 10yo 5 weeks before we sailed. Both times we went directly to Edge as soon as they opened on boarding day. The staff had list of names of kids that were on our sailings and both times my then 10yo kids names were on it. They had me sign a waiver and then they put a sticker on their KTTW card. In 2014 my son was allowed into both Oceanears and Edge. He spent all of 5 minutes in Oceanears and never went back. My DD was only 8.5 and she didn't care for it. Her complaint (like so many other kids) was that there were way too many little ones and they were always in the way and interrupting activities. She had a blast in Edge. It was nice to actually use the adult areas and attend adult activities that sailing LOL!!!!

My boy/girl twins are 10.5 and as I would like to check this out as an option, especially because my DS loves video gaming and I suspect the games they have are much better than the Oceanears. I am probably being far too over protective but these tween years seem to be getting so advanced now a days and my kids (while mature in terms of responsibility) are not anywhere near the teen angst/drama stage yet . . Did you find the friends your 10 y/o made were their own age groups? Like are the kids still kids? or did you find it to be much more on the teen side?

 

[Bree]

My boy/girl twins are 10.5 and as I would like to check this out as an option, especially because my DS loves video gaming and I suspect the games they have are much better than the Oceanears. I am probably being far too over protective but these tween years seem to be getting so advanced now a days and my kids (while mature in terms of responsibility) are not anywhere near the teen angst/drama stage yet . . Did you find the friends your 10 y/o made were their own age groups? Like are the kids still kids? or did you find it to be much more on the teen side?

My kids made friends with kids their own age. We were super involved with our 2014 cruise group. My DS chatted with some boys his age for a few months before they got to meet in person. They hung out the entire cruise and he still talks to one of them. I wasn't as involved with our 2nd cruise group, but my DD is not shy at all and found two girls her age the very first day. I always require my kids to text me or call me on the wave phone before they go anywhere and they do it again when the get there. I don't care if they are walking from Edge to grab a soda or an ice cream. They are to stay in public areas and not to allow anyone into our cabin nor can they go into someone else's cabin. There is no swimming allowed at all, but they may ride the AquaDuck. They know if they do not follow the rules they will immediately become my shadow for the duration of the cruise. The ships are not that big and I will spy on them every now and then to make sure they are where they are supposed to be. On the Fantasy/Dream you can see into Edge from one of the adult areas. Edge is located in one of the funnels and has a huge floor to ceiling window. On the Magic, Edge is located near the entrance to the adult pool. I could just quickly peek in and they had no clue.

 

[DallasToDis]

I was kind of confused about the Edge club. We went on our first cruise on the Wonder on July 4 with our daughters who are 12 and 9. I registered them both in the Lab on the ship, got them wrist bands, and gave them permission to check themselves in and out. The security in the Lab seemed fairly tight with attendants working, kids getting scanned in and out, etc. First night after dinner my kids head for the club. I let them go alone, but told my 12 year old to look after her sister and not leave her side. A short bit later she texts me that she has decided to go to the Edge club with some other friends we were traveling with and has taken her little sister with her. When I went to pick them up later I just strolled into the Edge, there were no employees checking anyone who went in. It seemed to be this way whenever I went in throughout the cruise. It was not Open House hours by the way. The rest of the cruise they just went freely in and out of the Edge whenever they wanted to. My older daughter said that sometimes a crew member would come by and ask to see their key cards and at some point someone put Edge stickers on them. I was OK with them being in there, especially since my little one was with her older sister, but never authorized it with anyone.

 

[YayDisney]

My kids made friends with kids their own age. We were super involved with our 2014 cruise group. My DS chatted with some boys his age for a few months before they got to meet in person. They hung out the entire cruise and he still talks to one of them. I wasn't as involved with our 2nd cruise group, but my DD is not shy at all and found two girls her age the very first day. I always require my kids to text me or call me on the wave phone before they go anywhere and they do it again when the get there. I don't care if they are walking from Edge to grab a soda or an ice cream. They are to stay in public areas and not to allow anyone into our cabin nor can they go into someone else's cabin. There is no swimming allowed at all, but they may ride the AquaDuck. They know if they do not follow the rules they will immediately become my shadow for the duration of the cruise. The ships are not that big and I will spy on them every now and then to make sure they are where they are supposed to be. On the Fantasy/Dream you can see into Edge from one of the adult areas. Edge is located in one of the funnels and has a huge floor to ceiling window. On the Magic, Edge is located near the entrance to the adult pool. I could just quickly peek in and they had no clue.

Thanks - I am sure they will be fine - my rule is generally that they stay together at all times and they are good about that. Good to know this information.

 

[elvispursley]

I am encouraged by these posts that my 10 yo daughter might be able to go to the edge with my 11yo son. The last time we cruised she felt out of place in the Club/Lab and only went there for specific events like cooking and science. She is HUGE (5'3") so playing the active games with kids half her size didn't work out so well. I was prepared for her to be with me or her sibs on the pool deck most of the time, but it would be awesome if she could participate in some of the activities in the Edge. Crossing fingers there will be room....

My son turned 11 on our cruise and both he and his brother are tall (he was 5'6 at 11yrs, now that he's 12 he's 5'10). He said he felt really out of place in there, hence why he won't return. And my 2 generally are pretty insupportable (blessing and a curse)!