Workout for children under18

[dis4me]

My daughter is wondering if there will be anywhere for her to work out during the cruise or if they will let us bring weights on board? She is gymnat and would prefer not to let a whole week go by without giving her muscles a workout. I know she can't go to the gym but is there anywhere she could get a decent workout?

 

[ann-e-mator]

I too would like to workout while on board, however, I am not sure about what size weights and how much you would want to bring... Would the airports even allow them? I'm not sure.

However, I can tell you as a female body builder myself, you can get an excellent workout just using your own body weight...no weights required...she can check out lots of videos designed for business travellers that don't include any weights at all, and memorize these exercises before her trip

Doing pushups, and tricep extentions on a chair....situps etc.

And while I admire her drive to continue on the trip... she may find she is too busy once she is there.... you know, the best of intentions....

And finally, let me propose this option...there are a lot of excursions to choose from and some are more athletic than others...I am hoping to get my exercise that way....I will be hiking in St. John, mountain biking in St. Maarten and kayaking in CC... plus walking the decks of the ship (somewhere, the mileage for that is posted...)

Hope this helps...best of luck...!

 

[yodasdabomb]

If you check the navigtors on the dcltribute site or castawayclub. I believe there are certain times for teen only workouts, and workout type classes, she may want to look into that.

 

[kcashner]

There are a couple of times when the teens have the workout facility--she might be sure to do those times. There's a whole sports deck/area where she can play basketball, etc. She can run on deck 4. There is a lot of equipment available in the sports area (balls, hula hoops, ropes, etc.)

She could ask her coach for a program that uses her own body as resistance, or bring a jumprope. Soda cans make excellent weights for arm stuff. DCL will allow you to bring weights on board, but I sure don't know about the airport.

 

[dis4me]

Very true I wasn't thinking about the airport that is probably a no no. I will have to have her ask her coach for a workout that uses her body.I know she can do push ups sit ups etc but I just don't want her to be dragging when she gets back. Thanks for your replies.

 

[yodasdabomb]

I can't point to a link or anything but I believe they sell things at travel stores that could help DD out.
They have these pastic things that look like weights but weigh nothing. You can travel with them and when you want to work out you fill them up to a certain level with water (different water levels= different weights). You might want to check online for something like that? I know I have seen them somewhere before? Also those velcro ankle weights that you can put on for an extra work out when running might be good.

 

[BethA]

How old is your daughter? My neice is 9 and a gymnast and was told she couldn't work out in the gym, but I know my son and nephew, both 15, used the gym at times no one was in there and were not asked to leave. The teen workout time is 9pm-10pm, so it may conflict with dinner or other activities.

 

[tvguy]

Gym is for those 18 and over ONLY, except for 2 times during the 7 day cruise. And then it's only open for 30 minutes at 8:30 pm for the kids in the clubs.
We were on the 12-27-03 NYE Eastern, my then 16 year old son, who is a varsity baseball player was very upset he could not do any lifting. He prefered to eat dinner with us, and we had late seating, so going with the clubs wasn't an option.
This is supposed to be a family cruise, why no family time in the gym?

 

[ann-e-mator]

Well, I can tell you the reason there is no family time in the gym for a good reason...

I am a well trained lifter (adult female) and I can't tell you how many times I have seen adults do exercises incorrectly...moves that could cause great bodily injury....

That being said, it gets much worse when adults let their children into the gym to workout...at the gym I belong to, sometimes children try to accompany parents when trainers are not looking and let me tell you I am appalled by what I see going on... Do you know how quickly a child/young teen can injure themselves in a gym?

I don't think this adult only policy is for Disney only. I am sure this has everything to do with the insurance policies in place for the gym....most gyms will not let youngsters participate...for obvious reasons...just because Disney is a family ship does not mean every bit of it has to be for family...that is why there is an adult pool, Palo's, etc. Different activities for families, but not open to everyone....

Before I get a lot of flack for what I have said, let me say I do understand that there are some teen athletes that probably know more about good form in lifting than most adults, but rules have to be set for the majority...Perhaps if your teen needs to seriously train while on vacation, you could speak to someone at Disney and maybe sign a waiver or something to allow your daughter to work out...

But again, you did say you were worried about her burning out on the ship, so again, I suggest some very active excursions to keep her active instead...

 

[dis4me]

I am not questioning DCL policy and believe me I have been in many hotel gyms where the kids are playing with equipment etc and it is not a pretty picture. My dd is only going to be 10 but just was looking for some type of FUN structured activity she could do. DCL could offer like a family aerobic or something of that sort.The reason I asked about weights is that is what she does at home to build shoulder etc so I figured it was something easy that she knows.
We spoke to her coach who suggeted that she take it easy and just do her sit ups pushups etc. She can certainly jump rope on the Sports deck and run on deck 4. I was just hoping since she can't get a full gym workout that she could do some fun acivites.
I know they have a baketball court etc I just never see anyone using them.
Thanks for all your advice and suggestions. I am sure she will do just fine.

 

[two-foxes]

Whenever we travel, we use bands for weight resistance. They work great if she will be looking for resistance exercises. You can work your chest, back, legs, biceps, triceps, shoulders.....you get the idea! Most of the brands come with exercise suggestions, but you can figure out most of the basics on your own as well. Heres a link to some, but we got ours at target!

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-form/104-6125210-5302353

 

[tvguy]

Not sure why insurance would be an issue since both my kids have Gym memberships here. They are 13 and 17. My wife and I are not members, and the kids can go by themselves anytime they want.
Matter of fact, the California Family Fitness chain of gyms has a special summer only membership for kids.
But on the cruise, supervised time would be fine. It's the ban on kids that I don't understand, especially since everytime we went into the gym on board, it was empty.

 

[inkkognito]

Just a guess on my part, but maybe since you have to pass the treatment rooms to get to the gym, this prevents kids from running back and forth and making noise that would be disturbing to people getting treatments.
Barb