Welcome Aboard, Mary!
Thank you so much for stopping by the Disney Parks Moms Panel with your question. I know you must be counting the minutes until your first cruise! The
Disney Dream is a gorgeous ship, and the one our family has sailed on most often. It's like a floating home away from home for us! You'll feel right at home too, from the moment you step onboard and are greeted by the amazing cast and crew.
I'm happy to hear you're planning to take advantage of the awesome Youth Clubs on the ship. Our kids have grown up participating in the Youth Programs, from the nursery to the teen club. They love making new friends and getting to enjoy all the fun activities the Youth Counselors plan for them.
At age eleven, your son is in the overlap age category where he can choose between the
Oceaneer Club/Lab, for ages 3-12, and
Edge, the tween club, for ages 11-14. Although it's recommended for children to stay in the same venue for the entire sailing, a child within the overlapped age ranges may swap from one location to the other without restrictions at any time during their cruise.
I hope this helps with your planning! Please come back and visit if you have any more questions before you set sail - we're here to help you have the most magical Disney Cruise Line vacation possible.
Bon Voyage! - Diane W.