teen club

[cen822]

ds 17 and dd 16 are interested in finding out about teen club and activities. any pro/con would be greatly appreciated.

 

[newcruiser05]

My DS 14 went the first night to the meeting to meet other kids - it is at 10:30 in the Stack. It really is a place to meet up with people but they rarely hang out there for long. They have some fun things to do but the kids pretty much are on their own. They spend their time wandering around the ship, sitting around and talking, etc. We actually rarely saw my son. We set a 2:30 curfew and the 3rd night he came in at 4. The next night my DH had to go search for him and just found him sitting around talking with 4-5 other kids. We finally put our foot down and told him 2:30 or he will have to stick with us - that worked.

Anyway, it has been the BEST vacation he said he has ever been on. He still stays in touch with the kids he met thru IM messages.

I think both your kids will meet others their age and they will know when to go to the club and where to meet friends. And teens use the phone message system ALOT.

Tell your kids they will have a blast and the club is a meeting place.

 

[geffric]

LOL my boys learned about curfew while onboard too... They were told to be back when the Stack closed.. the night that Dh had to go searching for them.. we gave him the same ultimatium..

cen822 - my boys had a great time.. met wonderful friends, did things with the other kids at the Stack, hung around the sports deck, and played ping pong with the other kids, ate pizza, ice cream and burgers all day and all night long... we only saw them at dinner ( which was mandatory)

 

[DCDevil2007]

As a teen cruiser, it is WONDERFULL (or MAGICAL, depending on the ship ). I love it and keep in touch with friends from the last two cruises (almost 2 weeks since my last one ) They jsut redecorated the stack and was awsome, my cerfew was 2:30 (1/2 hour after the stack closed) most times i was in then because there was nothing much for me to do that late at night, the others jsut seemed to get into trouble, although 1 night i jsut hung out with 3 or 4 close friends till about 3, parents were sleeping so they didnt even realize it. They hardly saw me except dinner, which was mandatory for me too. But they would definately have a good time if they went and hung out there.

 

[alwayslisad]

My DD ( 13 now ) has yet to experienced the Teen Scene - yet can't wait till she can on 12/2/2006 ~ On our first cruise she was 11 ~ at that time she had a curfew and constantly wanted to extend it. We attempted to have her join us at dinner ~ but she couldn't sit still ~ so our server informed her that she needed to go back to the club and let her parents enjoy themselves!

DD still keeps in touch with many of her friends as well through IM and emails ! They are all trying to do a reunion cruise in 4 years -- now I won't need to have my arm twisted - though some other parents may!

 

[cen822]

thank you all for your replies. I worry that the teens won't have a good time and we will have to hear about it the whole time. Want them to get on the boards and look at postings and maybe put a few of their own on.

Thanks again.

 

[Disneynutzfamily]

We are taking our first Disney cruise in May. We have a 14 yr. old DD, at home I am over protective and not afraid to admit it. Did anyone have concerns about their teens being able to come and go? I really want to let her go and I feel like this is the place to let her have some freedom, but I am apprehensive I really want her to hook up with a buddy so she is not completely alone, but I have promised her I am going to let her go. Please send me a note to console me, obviously all the other teens have survived without major trauma! I know I need to relax, that is why they serve alcohol on the boat right????

 

[alwayslisad]

Oh I do understand where you are coming from. Our DD is our only and we were very scared of the "What ifs" or "oh gosh if". We live in a very rural area of our city - yet our neighbors son was murdered 5 years ago - so our guards are on HIGH alert. Before boarding - I planned all these "what to do" scenarios. I never Ever EVER needed them. There are so many adults (CM's) that are around - as well as friends they will make on day 1!~.

Drinking helps - but I can tell you - while DH and I sat in the pool or jacuzzi or walked the ship - DD would be hooting and hollering with kids her age - and had the time of her life! That is why I am thrilled to be taking her to cruise #2 - this time her cousins are going !

 

[tksbaskets]

I think your older teens will enjoy the Stack. My 13yo sons didn't enjoy it very much. For them, they liked the lab with its MANY computers and video games to while away the hours. The Stack had a very limited supply. DS1 did make a couple of comments about how loud the music was. The boys did enjoy some of the planned activities there but spent more time blowing $$ in the arcade this cruise.

Now being able to eat whenever they want, go to movies, play basketball, order room service, watch Shrek II a billion times, and swim weren't bad alternatives to the disappoinment of the Stack.

 

[Drcell01]

My DD was 13 when we cruised last September and it was her first time we really gave her some "personal time" to herself. On the first night we expected to see her sooner than the 2 am closing of the Stack. However, at about 2:30 am when she did not return to our cabin I went looking for her. After not finding her after 15 minutes of my own search I began to panic (Daddy's little girl and all that stuff..LOL). I went to the Guest Services desk and explained my situation. I then got the following questions from the security officer..."First time crusing"?...I said yes. He then asked how old she was and I expained that she was 13. After two minutes on the two way radio to another security officer he told me where I could find her. She and 5 other teens were on the stairway next to the aft elevators just talking. She had made new friends very fast and still keeps in touch via email with many of them to this day. Aparently this "stairway conversation area" is utilized by many teens after the Stack closes.

So if you are on your first cruise and your teenage son or daughter doesn't return right after 2 am (curfew or not, yes she was informed about what time to return to our cabin) don't bother to find an officer as you will find your teen just sitting in a stairway somewhere chatting with other teens exploring their new found freedom!

 

[bcnb103]

We are going on our first cruise in Aug. on the Magic (Mexico) Our dd14 is going with us along with our ds10 . We too have been concerned over her being able to wander about without us but we also realize we need to start to let go and let her grow up. It is going to very hard. Thank you for all the posts here I think they are going to help my nerves but I think my hubby will get quite a bit more grey on the cruise than he would like and he won't be able to use the I was painting excuse hehehhaha.

 

[nehdeh]

We are taking our first Disney cruise in May. We have a 14 yr. old DD, at home I am over protective and not afraid to admit it.

Disneynutzfamily, when is your cruise in May? We're going on May 22 and I have a DD15. Yep, I'm overprotective too and trying to determine how I'm best going to "handle" it. Thinking of taking walkie-talkies, I'm sure she'll be embarrassed--but isn't that what we were put on this earth for? To embarrass our teens?

 

[xlRacerXlx]

lol i guess im lucky my parents aren't overprotective... and there's really nuthin 2 worry about unless some kid gets ahold of alchohol.


and about curfew... i usually get tired around 1 and fall asleep somewhere and last time i had my g/f wake me up 2 tell me 2 go back 2 my room lol



If your trying to get them to eat with you,tell ur guy teens that they don't want to miss the great meal anyway! The Filet is the best (well not as good as my moms...)

 

[Disneynutzfamily]

Thank you for all of your reassuring notes, I know I will survive and I want her to have a fabulous time soooo I am going to relax. Walkie Talkies are not a bad idea.I don't know about her coming in at 2 am. We will have to negotiate on that. Thank you again for letting me know it will be ok.

 

[cen822]

again, thank you all for putting my mind at ease. I too have to learn to relax and give the kids space. Curfew is going to be the best.....as any parent knows the kids feel they can come in at any hour! It is good to hear that everyone's teens had a good time and met some new friends. Thanks again.

 

[Drcell01]

We (DW and I) thought that this was a great way to let our DD (now 14) explore some freedom. She responded by actually eating most meals (she was dissapointed that she could not come with us to Palo) and did check in with us from time to time so we would all be on the same page when it came to doing things together (pirates night, excursions, meals, etc.).

Let me reasure all of the first time crusiers (just as the security officer on the Magic) that they are well aware of 99.999% of the things that go on during the cruise and will make very sure of your DD or DS's safety. Even thought they can come and go without supervision I can assure you that this is a "controled" enviornment. Lets just say that "Big Brother" is always watching. Do you really think that the camera focused on the front of the ship (and the basketball court) are the only security cameras on the ship?

 

[DCDevil2007]

Thank you for all of your reassuring notes, I know I will survive and I want her to have a fabulous time soooo I am going to relax. Walkie Talkies are not a bad idea.I don't know about her coming in at 2 am. We will have to negotiate on that. Thank you again for letting me know it will be ok.

Not really negotiable to tell you the truth, The Teen clubs dance parties dont start till about midnight every night so its not much time if you want to pull them out early.

 

[Disneynutzfamily]

that is good to know, we may have to bend a little. We just have a younger one and we like to get up early. I am sure we will work something out. thanks

 

[cookielulu]

Hi! I wanted to give another thought about the Teen Club.

We have a DD14 and she is mature for her age. We just got back from our 10th DCL cruise. We "bribed" DD to check out the Stack - it was the first cruise that she could visit.. She went to a get together and then to a "power lunch". She didn't have much in commmon with them - the majority were boys who were her age and immature. The lunch was an Asian buffet and the boys put the chopsticks in up their lips and acted like walruses - - she did not find this amusing.

The activities at The Stack begin later in the afternoon and into the wee hours of the morning - 2am. Our DD is not a night owl - she is an early morning person.

I know alot of kids love the Stack - in fact their were 2 boys at our table that enjoyed it. I have noticed in the posts that it seems to appeal more to the boys than the girls. Our DD says when she turns 18 that the Vista Spa is going to be "The Stack" for her - I hope she has good job to pay for it - !

I wish that Palos would allow kids 13 and over to attend either the Brunch or High Tea. I bet the kids - who are well behaved - would love that experience!

 

[xlRacerXlx]

Hi! I wanted to give another thought about the Teen Club.

We have a DD14 and she is mature for her age. We just got back from our 10th DCL cruise. We "bribed" DD to check out the Stack - it was the first cruise that she could visit.. She went to a get together and then to a "power lunch". She didn't have much in commmon with them - the majority were boys who were her age and immature. The lunch was an Asian buffet and the boys put the chopsticks in up their lips and acted like walruses - - she did not find this amusing.

The activities at The Stack begin later in the afternoon and into the wee hours of the morning - 2am. Our DD is not a night owl - she is an early morning person.

I know alot of kids love the Stack - in fact their were 2 boys at our table that enjoyed it. I have noticed in the posts that it seems to appeal more to the boys than the girls. Our DD says when she turns 18 that the Vista Spa is going to be "The Stack" for her - I hope she has good job to pay for it - !

I wish that Palos would allow kids 13 and over to attend either the Brunch or High Tea. I bet the kids - who are well behaved - would love that experience!

I would definitely agree that the 13-15 year old guys on the disney cruises are very immature... the last 2 DCL cruises I went on I've had 1 guy friend who was 17 but that's about it... the girls have always been nice though