Ahoy Amanda!
We are as proud as Mufasa at Pride Rock to have you here at planDisney! August will be here before you know it, and so will your adventures on
Castaway Cay. I love the relaxed vibes ashore on Disney’s private island, and we always have the best time making memories there.
When I first cruised with Captain Mickey, there was a part of me that wished I could be a kid again...because there’s so much for kids to do on a Disney cruise! I’m talking about dedicated spaces both on the ship and on Castaway Cay.
Teens and tweens absolutely thrive on the independence they have in exploring the ship and in making new friends. Having visited Castaway Cay with both my teens and specifically when one of mine was 13, I know firsthand that they will certainly be included in the action!
I love how you want to “be prepared” as Scar would say for what options are available for your teens. Onboard, your kiddos can participate in all the activities in
Edge, the tween club geared for ages 11-14. Once you arrive at Castaway Cay, the fun continues! While you are correct that the Teen Hideout specifies that teens ages 14-17 are invited to this enclave, you will find that 12 and 13-year-olds will have their time there, too. So "Hakuna Matata (no worries)!"
Here’s how it works: The
Disney Cruise Line Navigator app or the Personal Navigator (paper newsletter) will list all the Edge activities both onboard and over on Castaway Cay. This will include several opportunities where "Invade the Teen Hideout" is an option. This will be their chance to take over the club and play games like beach volleyball together.
What typically happens is that once the kids have made friends, they make plans to meet up on the island! Then they can go to Pelican Plunge, play games at In Da Shade game pavilion, or just hang out on the beach together. As long as you are prepared for this fact up front: they will be more than willing to ditch the grown-ups to hang with their pals! You may find that you are having to schedule time to spend WITH them! I’d call that the “Circle of Life."
Amanda, "Asante Sana" (thank you) for sharing your planning question with us here at planDisney. There's nothing we love more than helping Guests look forward to their upcoming trips. Have a magical vacation!
Sherry