Policy change Oceaneer Club and Lab

[happycamper47]

For all who are concerned, since DIS and DCL, as Mags said, do things based on comments and feed back I would use the contact page or chat and voice your opinion.

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/help/

 

[DCLMP]

And not everyone wants a 10-11 year old in edge with kids that are high school freshman (age 14).

If this is real it will likely change our plans next year and likely not cruise.

My kids started going to the Edge at age 10 and the Vibe at age 14. Kids tend to gravitate towards kids their age. I'd be surprised if there were many 14-year-olds in the edge. That said most 14-year-olds aren't going to give a 10-year-old the time of day.

There's no easy solution to the problem, but having 3-year-olds and 12-year-olds together is pretty weird. I can see why they would want to separate them.

I think the cut-off for the Oceaneers club should be 9 and the 10-12-year-olds should have separate activities or space. Something better than the Edge. 13-17 for the teens would be fine.

 

[DCLMP]

On the other hand, my hometown has moved 5th to middle school so that now elementary is 1-4, middle is 5-8, and high is 9-12.

Anyway, my 12-year-old niece and her almost 3-year-old brother play together all the time. I don't know why you all don't seem to believe that it happens.

They are family. Of course, siblings play together. It's not the same thing.

 

[Kwami]

They are family. Of course, siblings play together. It's not the same thing.

I was specifically responding to multiple posts that said siblings (or cousins) or similar ages to my niece and nephew wouldn't play together in the kids clubs.

 

[DCLMP]

It seems they are trialling having some separate programming for 11 and 12 year olds as not all of them feel comfortable in Edge

Why would they not feel comfortable in the Edge when it's the same age group? Maybe it's the parents who don't feel comfortable giving their kids some independence.

Other cruise lines have set age groups and stick to it. There's no way to make everyone happy.

 

[BPPHL2002]

My 11-year-old was affected by this policy change on this past weekend's Wish sailing. He received a green paper bracelet at every check-in (he kept removing them at night) to the Oceaneer's club. He wore this in addition to the magic band+ we had brought for him.

He went to the club the first day and a half of our cruise. Then, we went to Edge during an open house Saturday and he never looked back. I'd been encouraging him to try Edge as it seemed more suitable to where he's at, with access to video games and more kids his age seeming to be there. He really liked the entry slide to the Oceaneer club on the Wish, and seemed to like the programming he did, but Edge became more fun to him in the latter half of the sailing.

 

[Dug720]

Maybe it's the parents who don't feel comfortable giving their kids some independence.

Bingo. I think we have a winner here.

 

[DCLMP]

My 11-year-old was affected by this policy change on this past weekend's Wish sailing. He received a green paper bracelet at every check-in (he kept removing them at night) to the Oceaneer's club. He wore this in addition to the magic band+ we had brought for him.

He went to the club the first day and a half of our cruise. Then, we went to Edge during an open house Saturday and he never looked back. I'd been encouraging him to try Edge as it seemed more suitable to where he's at, with access to video games and more kids his age seeming to be there. He really liked the entry slide to the Oceaneer club on the Wish, and seemed to like the programming he did, but Edge became more fun to him in the latter half of the sailing.

When I see the Edge and Vibe kids running around the ship in packs doing scavenger hunts and just hanging out. I think WOW does time fly. My kids have grown up on DCL. They are 19 and 21 and they have nothing, but good memories. My 19-year-old still has a good friend he met at age 10 in the Edge.

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

Bingo. I think we have a winner here.

Def not all about the parents. Every kid is also different on what interests them and what their comfort level is. A lot also depends what month in a school year they turn the next age and when JR high/middle school starts fot them.

 

[BPPHL2002]

When I see the Edge and Vibe kids running around the ship in packs doing scavenger hunts and just hanging out. I think WOW does time fly. My kids have grown up on DCL. They are 19 and 21 and they have nothing, but good memories. My 19-year-old still has a good friend he met at age 10 in the Edge.

It's so cool your kid maintains that friendship! It's marvelous.

Yes, time marches on. I had a wistful feeling on this cruise. It was only our second, but it hit me how he was growing up, especially seeing all the littles and babies on the Wish. It was a mix of happy he'd found his people in Edge and seeing another small move out of childhood.

I just wanted to add he didn't feel unwelcome in Oceaneers by the new policy. Not at all, if that's a concern for anyone. If the cruise was a longer one, I think he would have floated back to the club and switched between Edge and Oceaneers. The Wish Oceaneers club is really nice. He said he'd built a rollercoaster and then got to ride it in the simulator they have there. I can't remember what it's called, but that was a highlight!

 

[DCLMP]

It's so cool your kid maintains that friendship! It's marvelous.

Yes, time marches on. I had a wistful feeling on this cruise. It was only our second, but it hit me how he was growing up, especially seeing all the littles and babies on the Wish. It was a mix of happy he'd found his people in Edge and seeing another small move out of childhood.

I just wanted to add he didn't feel unwelcome in Oceaneers by the new policy. Not at all, if that's a concern for anyone. If the cruise was a longer one, I think he would have floated back to the club and switched between Edge and Oceaneers. The Wish Oceaneers club is really nice. He said he'd built a rollercoaster and then got to ride it in the simulator they have there. I can't remember what it's called, but that was a highlight!

I think most parents will find when their kids turn 11 they will want to go to the Edge. It's natural to want to be around kids your age and develop those relationships. Chances are most 14 years old's will have moved on to the vibe and will be hanging out with other 14-year-olds.

My kids were never negatively affected by any kids a few years older. Disney does a good job of keeping kids in line. At least inside the clubs.

 

[lanejudy]

I was specifically responding to multiple posts that said siblings (or cousins) or similar ages to my niece and nephew wouldn't play together in the kids clubs.

The difference is the situation... at home or a family gathering vs in a social situation with other kids of the same age. Most 11-12 year olds are unlikely to spend much time playing with a pre-K sibling/cousin when there are other 11-12 yr olds doing more interesting "older-age" activities.

 

[Kwami]

The difference is the situation... at home or a family gathering vs in a social situation with other kids of the same age. Most 11-12 year olds are unlikely to spend much time playing with a pre-K sibling/cousin when there are other 11-12 yr olds doing more interesting "older-age" activities.

Maybe? I don't know. They cruise together and spend time playing together at the Splash Academy on NCL cruises. Maybe some kids just aren't like other kids and we shouldn't generalize so much.

That kids club is also for ages 3-12, so Disney isn't unique here, anyway.

 

[DCLMP]

Maybe? I don't know. They cruise together and spend time playing together at the Splash Academy on NCL cruises. Maybe some kids just aren't like other kids and we shouldn't generalize so much.

That kids club is also for ages 3-12, so Disney isn't unique here, anyway.

My 19-year-old will play with his 5-12-year-old family members at family get-togethers. That's out of obligation and because they are family. That's not quite the same thing as an older teenager seeking out an 11-year-old to play with.

The kids club is from 3-12, but I doubt you'll find many 12-year-olds looking for 3-year-olds to play with. That would be concerning and very strange.

I'm guessing you don't have kids?

 

[Cfabar1]

separation is good... I wish they'd go back to the original system.

 

[Bibbidi_Boo]

separation is good... I wish they'd go back to the original system.

They can’t easily with the Wish and likely treasures design with just one area not two
Seperate .

 

[Kwami]

My 19-year-old will play with his 5-12-year-old family members at family get-togethers. That's out of obligation and because they are family. That's not quite the same thing as an older teenager seeking out an 11-year-old to play with.

The kids club is from 3-12, but I doubt you'll find many 12-year-olds looking for 3-year-olds to play with. That would be concerning and very strange.

I'm guessing you don't have kids?

Again, I was specifically responding to posts that claimed siblings (and cousins) or disparate ages wouldn't play together in the kids clubs. I didn't say anything about a 12-year-old kid looking for a 3-year-old kid to play with. This is the second time that I've had to clarify this for you. Please read what I actually wrote.

 

[Cheburashka]

They should have a 3-7 year old club and a completely separate 7-11 year old club, with Edge for 11-14 and Vibe for 14 - 17. In terms of child development, that would make a lot more sense than what they do now, and the overlapping years would allow for some developmental variations in individual children. But it would require an additional club, and DCL isn't going to fund that.

 

[Mags2002]

They should have a 3-7 year old club and a completely separate 7-11 year old club, with Edge for 11-14 and Vibe for 14 - 17. In terms of child development, that would make a lot more sense than what they do now, and the overlapping years would allow for some developmental variations in individual children. But it would require an additional club, and DCL isn't going to fund that.

That’s what they used to have. The Club for the younger kids, Lab for the older kids and then Edge and Vibe. But parents complained that their kids couldn’t be together so Disney merged the ages and made both the Club and Lab 3-12

 

[Cheburashka]

That’s what they used to have. The Club for the younger kids, Lab for the older kids and then Edge and Vibe. But parents complained that their kids couldn’t be together so Disney merged the ages and made both the Club and Lab 3-12

They shouldn't have caved to the complainers. There was likely a silent majority that was happy with the previous policy.