17 year old considered adult?

[magicallyoddella]

Hi!

My fiancé and I are considering booking a Disney cruise however we want to go when I will be 18 and he will be 17 (Yes, we are very young but have been together for many years and are very in love. No, the wedding isn't for a few years lol.) We know we can request exceptions to minors being accompanied by a 21 year old but do you think there's any chance he could be considered an adult because we are travelling as a couple and not as a family? We were both really looking forward to dining at Palo, spa treatments, and more but if he's considered a teen and I'm considered an adult, our activities together will be extremely limited. We're willing to pay full adult prices for everything and provide any documentation that Disney may need. Has anyone tried anything similar and had any success?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hi!

My fiancé and I are considering booking a Disney cruise however we want to go when I will be 18 and he will be 17 (Yes, we are very young but have been together for many years and are very in love. No, the wedding isn't for a few years lol.) We know we can request exceptions to minors being accompanied by a 21 year old but do you think there's any chance he could be considered an adult because we are travelling as a couple and not as a family? We were both really looking forward to dining at Palo, spa treatments, and more but if he's considered a teen and I'm considered an adult, our activities together will be extremely limited. We're willing to pay full adult prices for everything and provide any documentation that Disney may need. Has anyone tried anything similar and had any success?

DCL policy:

Minors under the age of 18 not traveling with a parent or legal guardian must be accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older in the same stateroom. The parent or guardian of any minor not traveling with a parent or guardian must appoint an adult to have custody and control over the minor and to contract on their behalf in connection with the Disney Cruise Line vacation. A minor authorization form can be obtained by visiting disneycruise.com and selecting "My Disney Cruise" or is sent when a document package is mailed. The form must be signed by a parent or legal guardian prior to embarkation at the Disney Cruise Line Terminal. After 9:00 p.m., adult entertainment districts are restricted to Guests 18 years and older.


It appears that you won't be traveling on DCL at 18 & 17 as a couple. Where did you see you can get an exception to be accompanied by an 21 or over person? A 17 year old cannot use the adult only areas.

 

[magicallyoddella]

DCL policy:

Minors under the age of 18 not traveling with a parent or legal guardian must be accompanied by an adult 21 years of age or older in the same stateroom. The parent or guardian of any minor not traveling with a parent or guardian must appoint an adult to have custody and control over the minor and to contract on their behalf in connection with the Disney Cruise Line vacation. A minor authorization form can be obtained by visiting disneycruise.com and selecting "My Disney Cruise" or is sent when a document package is mailed. The form must be signed by a parent or legal guardian prior to embarkation at the Disney Cruise Line Terminal. After 9:00 p.m., adult entertainment districts are restricted to Guests 18 years and older.


It appears that you won't be traveling on DCL at 18 & 17 as a couple. Where did you see you can get an exception to be accompanied by an 21 or over person? A 17 year old cannot use the adult only areas.

When we looked into booking the cruise and entered both of our details, it said "If there are children in the stateroom, the Primary Guest must be at least 21 years old. Please choose a different Guest. To request an exception, contact Shoreside Guest Services for assistance at +1 (800) 951-3532." And that made me a little hopeful that if they can make these exceptions then they could make an exception for the age limited activities under the circumstances considering that neither of us can drink on board anyway.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

When we looked into booking the cruise and entered both of our details, it said "If there are children in the stateroom, the Primary Guest must be at least 21 years old. Please choose a different Guest. To request an exception, contact Shoreside Guest Services for assistance at +1 (800) 951-3532." And that made me a little hopeful that if they can make these exceptions then they could make an exception for the age limited activities under the circumstances considering that neither of us can drink on board anyway.

I believe the "exception" would be the Minor Authorization Form. And there'd have to be some adult (I'm thinking an actual adult, 21 and over, not an "adult" of 18) to be the person being authorized to be responsible for the minor.

 

[magicallyoddella]

I'm aware of the minor authorisation form which actually states "The Authorisation For Minor To Travel Without A Parent or Legal Guardian Form authorizes an adult (age 18 and older) other than the parent or legal guardian to retain care, custody and control of a child during the span of a Disney cruise vacation. It is required for each child traveling without a parent or legal guardian." so we can travel on the cruise together but I was only wondering if considering our circumstances that we could both do adult activities together. I'm well aware that it's a long shot but you never know unless you ask

 

[lanejudy]

DCL grants no age exceptions to the adult-only areas. You would need to do activities that aren’t age-restricted. At 17 and as the 2nd passenger in the cabin he is already charged full-fare.

Alternatively - I would wait a few months until his 18th birthday. Then you won’t need any exceptions even for the room and you can both participate in the adult areas of the cruise.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I was only wondering if considering our circumstances that we could both do adult activities together.

You would need to do activities that aren’t age-restricted.

That would also mean that, as an 18 year old, you can't participate in those activities for, say, in Vibe which the 17 year old can.

I agree that you might want to reconsider cruising until he's 18.

 

[bigAWL]

I recommend asking DCL directly. They can make any exceptions they want to depending on the situation. It's up to them.

 

[Chemist]

Given that 17 year olds who turn 18 ON the cruise can’t do Palo until their 18 th birthday, I’m going to say the adult only rules are firm.

hoping for an exception will probably lead to disappointment.

 

[WishUponAStarryNight]

Engaged or not, a 17 year old is a minor. DCL has rules about certain areas being limited to 18+. You can ask, but I wouldn’t count on “but he’s my fiancé” to get you too far. His key to the world card will note that he’s a minor. Why not wait until he’s 18?

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

They aren’t going to grant you an exception for the adults only activities. If they do it for you they will have to do it for anyone that has a 17 year old cruising with them. And it is a liability issue. Just wait until he is 18.

 

[Cruising Engineer]

We were in Palo for dinner and the couple across the way wanted to celebrate a birthday with champagne. The waiter informed them his birthday was tomorrow and they could celebrate with champagne at midnight. Just saying: Disney abides by the rules.

 

[lorimay]

No exceptions will be for anyone under 18 for adult areas.
Others have tried and failed.

 

[DisneYE]

I've seen many younger guys/gals on the adult pool/cove cafe area that in no way they were 18... many 16-17 year olds look older than their actual age. if he looks a bit older than his age it's likely no CM will ask.
For Palo/Remi/bars that's a different story they're pretty strict tho.

I also want to say: Kudos for having your life together at such young age. 17-18 and already living together for many years? Uff, wow. Total respect.
At 17 my only interests in life were my Commodore 64 computer and figuring out ways to get money from my parents for the arcade down the street.
I don't think I even knew what cruises were when I was 18.
You'll go far in life.

 

[nancipants]

How much longer until he turns 18? The discussion may be moot considering we have no idea when DCL will sail again.

 

[mevelandry]

Wait until you are both 18. This way you won’t have to even « try » to get in Palo, etc. You’ll be allowed.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

if he looks a bit older than his age it's likely no CM will ask.

Our, then, 19 year old son, was carded about 4 times at Quiet Cove before the CMs there got to know him. While he looked young, he definitely didn't look that young - 6 foot tall and bulky.

 

[mevelandry]

Our, then, 19 year old son, was carded about 4 times at Quiet Cove before the CMs there got to know him. While he looked young, he definitely didn't look that young - 6 foot tall and bulky.

I got carded at 35... They are definitely monitoring the area.

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

Am I interpreting it wrong, but they can’t go until he’s 18 no matter what. Since he’s under 18, there must be at least one other person in the cabin 21+, and she’s not. I don’t get the impression anyone but the 2 of them were going.
I thought there were exceptions for people who were married and one of them was under 18 and the other was under 21. But that doesn’t apply here.

I think they also make exceptions when a parent isn’t 21 and is traveling with their own child.

 

[DisneYE]

I got carded at 35... They are definitely monitoring the area.

At 35? wow...happens often at the bars but at the adult pool area?... not saying it doesn't happen just that I've seen folks that look 16-20 without anyone approaching them..