In an email to guests booked on upcoming cruises, Disney Cruise Line is sharing an update on revised age ranges for Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lab.
Based on guest feedback, and to enhance the youth activities experience for the youngest and tween guests, Disney Cruise Line is updating the age ranges effective on sailings that depart on or after December 21, 2023, revised age ranges for Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lab is as follows:
The age range in Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lab will change from 3 to 12 years of age to 3 to 10 years of age. Kids of all ages can continue to experience these spaces during Open House hours.
During all other times, kids 3 to 10 years of age will have Disney’s Oceaneer Club and Disney’s Oceaneer Lab reserved just for them, with specially guided activities for children ages 3-4 years old.
As for EDGE and Vibe, Disney Cruise Line’s email states the following:
Edge
Children 11 and 12 years of age may visit Edge. Edge will continue to be available to tweens 11 to 14 years of age.
Vibe
Vibe will continue to provide Guests ages 14 to 17 with their own special place where they can connect with other teens.
During youth activities Open House times, Guests of all ages are permitted in youth activity spaces, including Disney’s Oceaneer Club, Disney’s Oceaneer Lab, Edge and Vibe.
Guests with children 11 and 12 years old no longer need to complete youth activities registration as part of Online Check-in for these children. If you have a child within this age range and have already completed online registration for Disney’s Oceaneer Club or Disney’s Oceaneer Lab, know that your child will attend Edge. Guests with children 3 to 10 years of age may continue to utilize the online youth activities registration process as part of Online Check-in.
While NOT included in the email, I have independently confirmed the change is also effective for Scuttle’s Cove at Castaway Cay which will also change from 3 to 12 years of age to 3 to 10 years of age.
BRAVO!!!
Must have younger kids.
Why did this make this change?
According to the email, “Based on guest feedback, and to enhance the youth activities experience for the youngest and tween guests”
Please consider there are inequities and inaccessibilities with this change for children with disabilities.
Best way to share this is to use the following contact form on DCL’s website.
https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/help/email/
such as what?
It’s too bad this isn’t an optional change where parents can choose where they want their 11 or 12 year old to go. Some 11 year olds still need the structure of the “younger” clubs.
Completely agree. I don’t like the idea that the kids in vibe need to use the bathroom outside of the club and can check in and out by themselves. I don’t feel comfortable going on Disney cruise anymore. After reed this, my last cruise is going to be July 2024 because is already booked. The last one ☝️
Likely staffing issues. Disney can do better
Likely the lawsuit.
This case was between a 3 year old and a 7 year old which the courts found the reported assault didn’t occur per video evidence. That has nothing to do with 11 and 12 year olds being part of the kid’s club.
Our last cruise was the only time I have EVER been disappointed in DCL. My twins were 12 and they had been looking forward to visiting Ocean-ears Lab one more time after every cruise we had booked from 2020-2022 was cancelled.
They went from being 9 to 12 years old in the time we were unable to sail, but still had a very fond place in their hearts and minds for the adventures they had and friends they made in both Club & Lab. Unfortunately the cast members there were so unwelcoming to my kiddos and repeated made them feel uncomfortable when all they wanted to do was color, see some characters and go down the slide in Andy’s room. This lead to them not wanting to go into the club that they had looked forward to for three years.
Edge was of no interest to them as the Edge on DCL Wonder is a subpar club that literally looks like an afterthought put together in the closet that once was the arcade.
There are far to many other things in this world that force your kids to grow up to quickly. Why does this once magical place need to be another? I get it, kids 11 & 12 may feel “to cool” to go to club or lab but why should kids that just want to be kids a moment longer be denied the opportunity.
They will be grown before we know it, why does it have to be today?
Even my 13 year old son would rather be in Oceanears club/lab. He said they have way cooler things to do, then Edge does. I also feel we should also have a choice as parents if they can check themselves out even in the Edge age group. Not all kids between 11-14 are ready to just wander the ship on their own, especially when the don’t have siblings in the same age group so can’t use the buddy system. This is partly why we do not use the clubs on Disney.
What does “specially guided activities” for 3 and 4 year olds mean? Will my 4 year old be separated from their siblings?