Tween Club

[luvmyprincess]

Problem is we did all that planning and Disney just made changes on the Wonder. Changes were made after final payment was due and now I think people are trying to figure out a way to make it work for all kids involved. It's pretty hard to explain to a 10 year old that has been looking forward to this trip for a year that she will no longer be allowed to go into the club with her 11 and 12 year old friends.

EXACTLY !!

 

[sorul82?]

Problem is we did all that planning and Disney just made changes on the Wonder. Changes were made after final payment was due and now I think people are trying to figure out a way to make it work for all kids involved. It's pretty hard to explain to a 10 year old that has been looking forward to this trip for a year that she will no longer be allowed to go into the club with her 11 and 12 year old friends.

Do they have to go to the clubs? Can they hang out together at the pool?

 

[sorul82?]

I just hopped on another thread that put this question in my head:

If a cruise is sold out for the under 16 crowd since each age group has reached the max, would there be room for kids to move between age groups or would there have to be some sort of swap? For instance, in order for one kid to move up to the 11-13 group, then one kid from the 11-13 group must move down in order to have space?

 

[believe79]

I talked to disney a few weeks ago about my 13 year old son being able to go to the teen area, when we booked the cruise we thought he and his cousin who's 16 and never sees would be able to hang out together in the teen area....they told me that it shouldn't be a problem for him to be in the teen club because disney just changed everything and it was after we booked and paid...she said to just talk to a counselor once on the ship...my son would fit in more with the teens anyway because he hangs around with not only kids his age but older friends and cousins and he's very mature for his age

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

^^ IDK
Most likely their "max" they allow to book is not technically really the true MAX they can have in each club/lab. They probably allow a little leeway for a variety of reasons- kids switching, maybe counselors ill and unable to work, etc. I think it would be taking a big risk for them to actually allow enough to book in each age group that was really the total max for each age group per counselor rate and all that. Just my personal opinion

Actually, they are FAR more flexible about moving a kid down than moving up. If the parent and child agree that he should be moved down, the only issue would be "space available," and that's not usually a problem. They will talk with the parent, and usually the kid too. The only thing they used to be strict about was that you couldn't dance between groups--you'd have to choose one or the other. I can't tell you if they are still being strict about this. I think you have a compelling point that he's in middle school and won't fit with the high school group regardless of size.

As to the "other parents," if anyone says anything, the CM can just say that he's in middle school.

This is true.
My youngest has never had a problem moving DOWN an age group (she was always little for her age and preferred the club activities to the lab pretty much until recently I guess.) and in fact, I found out after the cruise that this wasn't solely for lab down to club.... I found out after the fact that on one cruise where my 14y old was in the stack and I wasn't fond of the idea- that many on that cruise ahd their 14yr olds in the oceanquest. I wish I'd known that was an option. LOL

Now I'm glad there is a tween club on Wonder... I was not fond (at all!) of the idea of my 13yr old son being in the teen group with kids up to age 18.

My personal opinion which I've posted before on other threads? I think they need to make the ages a little different. Like 11yr olds still in the club.. and maybe the tween age group 12-15... with 15yr olds able to go to teen group if they want or something like that. Or maybe just 12-14, something like that. That way those of us with 14yr olds aren't forced to let them hang with 18yr olds. I know the old argument about they are with that age group in highschool anyway but not necessarily. Depending on their birthdays and when you cruise- you could easily have a 14yr old middle schooler who isn't used to being around kids up thru age 18 and isn't in highschool yet... not to mention the fact that argument doesn't hold water with me anyway because even when my eldest was in highschool she was in a FAR more strict enviroment with them at all times.... than it is in the stack (per my experience. not just saying that... I KNOW that)
Just saying- some of us have had 14y old middle schoolers who haven't ever been left unsupervised with up to 18yr olds before.

And now my 11yr old will go in Edge this summer on Dream.. and I'm not sure how that's gonna work. Not only is her 13.5 yr old brother not fond of the idea to say the least- she's still little for her age and used to hanging out with kids younger than her (although they are all taller than her!) because all the kids in the neighborhood, that are friends in homeschool groups, etc are younger than her. most likely on Dream we'll be requesting she go into the lab anyway- it'll fit her better. Not all barely turned 11yr olds (she'll turn 11 in June, cruise in Aug) are ready for teens up to 13... or even 14 for those who move down a club into the tween area. Such a huge difference between barely 11 and 14 or 15yr olds. HUGE Just as I think there CAN BE a huge difference between some barely turned 14yr olds and 18yr olds.

 

[smb6]

^^ IDK
Most likely their "max" they allow to book is not technically really the true MAX they can have in each club/lab. They probably allow a little leeway for a variety of reasons- kids switching, maybe counselors ill and unable to work, etc. I think it would be taking a big risk for them to actually allow enough to book in each age group that was really the total max for each age group per counselor rate and all that. Just my personal opinion



This is true.
My youngest has never had a problem moving DOWN an age group (she was always little for her age and preferred the club activities to the lab pretty much until recently I guess.) and in fact, I found out after the cruise that this wasn't solely for lab down to club.... I found out after the fact that on one cruise where my 14y old was in the stack and I wasn't fond of the idea- that many on that cruise ahd their 14yr olds in the oceanquest. I wish I'd known that was an option. LOL

Now I'm glad there is a tween club on Wonder... I was not fond (at all!) of the idea of my 13yr old son being in the teen group with kids up to age 18.

My personal opinion which I've posted before on other threads? I think they need to make the ages a little different. Like 11yr olds still in the club.. and maybe the tween age group 12-15... with 15yr olds able to go to teen group if they want or something like that. Or maybe just 12-14, something like that. That way those of us with 14yr olds aren't forced to let them hang with 18yr olds. I know the old argument about they are with that age group in highschool anyway but not necessarily. Depending on their birthdays and when you cruise- you could easily have a 14yr old middle schooler who isn't used to being around kids up thru age 18 and isn't in highschool yet... not to mention the fact that argument doesn't hold water with me anyway because even when my eldest was in highschool she was in a FAR more strict enviroment with them at all times.... than it is in the stack (per my experience. not just saying that... I KNOW that)
Just saying- some of us have had 14y old middle schoolers who haven't ever been left unsupervised with up to 18yr olds before.

And now my 11yr old will go in Edge this summer on Dream.. and I'm not sure how that's gonna work. Not only is her 13.5 yr old brother not fond of the idea to say the least- she's still little for her age and used to hanging out with kids younger than her (although they are all taller than her!) because all the kids in the neighborhood, that are friends in homeschool groups, etc are younger than her. most likely on Dream we'll be requesting she go into the lab anyway- it'll fit her better. Not all barely turned 11yr olds (she'll turn 11 in June, cruise in Aug) are ready for teens up to 13... or even 14 for those who move down a club into the tween area. Such a huge difference between barely 11 and 14 or 15yr olds. HUGE Just as I think there CAN BE a huge difference between some barely turned 14yr olds and 18yr olds.

I agree. The average 14 yr old does not belong with kids as old as 18.... My ds will be a few weeks shy of 14 when we sail- so it works out well... but if we were sailing a month later- he would be old enough for the teen group and he is still in middle school.... I do like the general idea of having the clubs set up by grades, but I do think they had that in mind when the established the age groups..... But, like you said even the average 9th grader is not use to hanging with seniors really.... The HS here keeps the grades very seperate, as does the middle school.... Their classes are seperate, their lunch times are seperate, even at pep rallys they sit with their grade.... So the only time they co-mingle is on the bus, which my kids don't ride for that very reason..... So- a 9th grader does not necessarily belong w/18 yr olds either.... But, DCL can only do so much- I don't think it would be realistic to seperate them any further.... one can only hope that the CM's do a good job of supervising......

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I agree. The average 14 yr old does not belong with kids as old as 18.... My ds will be a few weeks shy of 14 when we sail- so it works out well... but if we were sailing a month later- he would be old enough for the teen group and he is still in middle school.... I do like the general idea of having the clubs set up by grades, but I do think they had that in mind when the established the age groups..... But, like you said even the average 9th grader is not use to hanging with seniors really.... The HS here keeps the grades very seperate, as does the middle school.... Their classes are seperate, their lunch times are seperate, even at pep rallys they sit with their grade.... So the only time they co-mingle is on the bus, which my kids don't ride for that very reason..... So- a 9th grader does not necessarily belong w/18 yr olds either.... But, DCL can only do so much- I don't think it would be realistic to seperate them any further.... one can only hope that the CM's do a good job of supervising......

I totally agree with you about the age groups.
And I've said before- I don't compare highschool to the teen group on the ship anyway. I mean our highschool is the same as you describe. They are generally seperated by age without even meaning to (ie: most freshman are taking freshman and/or sophomore courses, etc) and due to the classes it ends up they have the same lunch/etc. Generally the only time they are together is when they are in extra curricular classes such as pe, athletics, band, choir and such- and even then they are SUPER supervised. I mean here the don't even allow holding hands or anything like that. Zero tolerance policy.
Compared to the teen group on disney ship? Not the same at all. not at all.
And if anyone doesn't believe me, take their own words from there website in the description of vibe- the end part where they say (wording not verbatim) although it's a teen area they will have fun counselors who will be there with the kids allowing them to feel as unrestricted and comfortable as possible. And let me tell you -THEY MEAN THAT. I've not only witnessed it myself (yes I am one of those bad mommies that has gone up the steps and asked a counselor to get my daughter a time or two, so has DH. I'm not fond of completely locked out of vibe, to be honest. And I think Vibe will be even worse: think scantily clad teens in the wade pools and deck. eek!), heard about it from other teens, but also seen the pictures throughout the months after the cruises... they aren't exactly acting how I want my young teen to act, let alone my older teen. LOL It is nothing at all like being with older kids in highschool- at least not our highschool.

 

[one princess]

I see that there is no way to have the clubs be perfect for every child. Each child matures in their own way. I love that they added the tween club which I think was badly needed. I can see how they have the 14-18 together because they are for the most part all in high school together. They might not hang out together but they are all having the same experiences together. The age group for the Tweens is fine too. They are mostly in middle school or close to it on either end. What I don't get at all is the melding of the club and the lab. I know this is only my personal situation but my dd will be just shy of 11 when we cruise and she is expected to go to the club/lab. So my dd who will be on the verge of puberty will be hanging out with kids who are not even fully potty trained. I don't get that at all.
Just mho.

 

[sorul82?]

So my dd who will be on the verge of puberty will be hanging out with kids who are not even fully potty trained. I don't get that at all.
Just mho.

That does seem a bit odd.....just a bit.

 

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

I see that there is no way to have the clubs be perfect for every child. Each child matures in their own way. I love that they added the tween club which I think was badly needed. I can see how they have the 14-18 together because they are for the most part all in high school together. They might not hang out together but they are all having the same experiences together. The age group for the Tweens is fine too. They are mostly in middle school or close to it on either end. What I don't get at all is the melding of the club and the lab. I know this is only my personal situation but my dd will be just shy of 11 when we cruise and she is expected to go to the club/lab. So my dd who will be on the verge of puberty will be hanging out with kids who are not even fully potty trained. I don't get that at all.
Just mho.

Well that is true. But then again I'm not a fan of this mingling of all kids up thru age 11 either. our very first cruise worked great- our youngest was in club, our eldest two were in the lab (this is prior to any oceanquest/tween groups) but our oldest two were in different AGE GROUPS even within the lab. Our eldest was 12 then. It worked out great.. they weren't even like really "together" for the most part at all. The two age groups in the lab did entirely different things at different times and the older group did more things outside of the lab than the younger age group did.

If it was the example of "my" personal preference of age groups... I definitely didn't mean the way it is now with club and lab all comingling. I'm not fond of the change as it is, I certainly wouldn't like the new way of club/lab together plus make it slightly older in the lab/slightly older in tween group.

I do think, however, that kids in club have to be potty trained though -although for the most part it's the same thing if they are "just recently" potty trained. So that's arguing semantics really. LOL
Please do not remind me that 11 is on the verge of puberty. MY BABY IS 10! wahhhhhhhhhhhhhh (pardon me, I'm a little weepy at the moment because my eldest "baby" just turned 17 like an hour ago. And I'm trying to come to terms with it LOL)

 

[ltzol]

OK, here's my little dilemma. We are cruising with another family this February. It is my DD's best friend and they moved out of our state this past July (so hard!). So, needless to say, the girls are really looking forward to spending time together. My daughter is 10, her best friend is 11. They are in 5th and 6th grades. From what I am reading, it would probably be easier to drop the 11 year old down to the lab than try to get my 10 year old (she turned 10 in July) into the tween group, huh? I know that the girls would love the tween area (they have been skyping about it) but I want to have them prepared in case it is not allowed.

 

[smb6]

OK, here's my little dilemma. We are cruising with another family this February. It is my DD's best friend and they moved out of our state this past July (so hard!). So, needless to say, the girls are really looking forward to spending time together. My daughter is 10, her best friend is 11. They are in 5th and 6th grades. From what I am reading, it would probably be easier to drop the 11 year old down to the lab than try to get my 10 year old (she turned 10 in July) into the tween group, huh? I know that the girls would love the tween area (they have been skyping about it) but I want to have them prepared in case it is not allowed.

Yes, I think it would be easier to drop the 11 yr old down..... Or keep them seperate and allow them to participate in Out & About together.....

 

[drparoo]

OK, here's my little dilemma. We are cruising with another family this February. It is my DD's best friend and they moved out of our state this past July (so hard!). So, needless to say, the girls are really looking forward to spending time together. My daughter is 10, her best friend is 11. They are in 5th and 6th grades. From what I am reading, it would probably be easier to drop the 11 year old down to the lab than try to get my 10 year old (she turned 10 in July) into the tween group, huh? I know that the girls would love the tween area (they have been skyping about it) but I want to have them prepared in case it is not allowed.

I think preparing them is key, but letting them know that you'll do what you can once you're on board. You never know.

 

[bdette1971]

Hi. We will be sailing on the Dream in November with family. There will be one just barely 15 year old ( she will just turn 15 three days before cruise) with her 2 cousins that are 11. I understand the 11 year olds will be in the Edge. What are the chances the 15 year old will be able to move to the Edge with her cousins?
Thanks.

 

[drparoo]

Hi. We will be sailing on the Dream in November with family. There will be one just barely 15 year old ( she will just turn 15 three days before cruise) with her 2 cousins that are 11. I understand the 11 year olds will be in the Edge. What are the chances the 15 year old will be able to move to the Edge with her cousins?
Thanks.

Probably low. That's a whole two years older than their age cut off. But the only thing you can do is ask on board.

 

[3smithboys]

Where does the "will they let my kid in" end? I've been reading this thread and wondering what they will do.... if they let what every parent wants on this thread then the "tween" club will have kids from 9-15 in it.... where does it end??? Just asking???

 

[sorul82?]

Where does the "will they let my kid in end?'' I've been reading this thread and wondering what they will do.... if they let what every parent wants on this thread then the "tween" club will have kids from 9-15 in it.... where does it end??? Just asking???

I'm wondering the same thing. Please note that I'm not trying to offend anyone, but the age groups are what they are. If they don't work for your needs, then don't use them. On our Carnival cruise, the activities for my 11 years olds were beneath them in the 8-11 group (or whatever it was), so they didn't go much. However, my 13 year had a good time.

 

[beachpal]

Well, actually they can all three participate together in Out & About activities.... These activities are either held in the Edge or other places outside of the kids groups (will be listed on navigator). There are several opportunities/activites each day scheduled for Out and About- Out & About is for ages 8-13. So, while the 11 and 12 yr old will "belong" to the Edge and the 8 yr old will "belong" to the kids group- those groups (again 8-13) will be combined for certain activites- So, it really is a win-win IMO....

Thanks for posting that- I was wondering about the 'out and about' group.

 

[smb6]

Hi. We will be sailing on the Dream in November with family. There will be one just barely 15 year old ( she will just turn 15 three days before cruise) with her 2 cousins that are 11. I understand the 11 year olds will be in the Edge. What are the chances the 15 year old will be able to move to the Edge with her cousins?
Thanks.

I doubt it. They can still participate in family activities together... I would really encourage the 15 yr old to go to the teen club right off the bat/night one and you might be surprised that if she can make a few friends right off the bat that she will probably actually have a better time overall than playing with her 11 yr old cousins..... Kids like familiarity, so I get that she would be more "comfortable" w/her cousins... But she would actually probably be happier in the long run with a couple of other kids her own age.....

 

[jawdropper]

I just registered my kids online. My 11 year old had a button that he was eligible for the Lab. There was no registration option for Edge. Not sure what that means but maybe they are allowing the 11-12 group in the Lab, like in the past, but they can go to Edge whenever they choose (if you allow them to sign themselves in/out).