Welcome aboard, Erin! Disney Cruise Line's Youth Clubs are my kids' favorite parts of sailing with Captain Mickey and his crew. At 10 years old, your daughter is in for so much fun in the
Oceaneer Club and
Oceaneer Lab!
You're correct that kids over 8 are allowed to check themselves out of the clubs, but only with parental permission. In order to do this, simply swing by the Club or Lab and chat with the counselors there to fill out the permission. I learned quickly that they're very serious about child safety in the clubs, so kids without that permission will not be able to leave on their own. We sailed back to back on two cruises, and I'd given permission to my 11 year-old daughter and signed the form on the first cruise. When we began the second sailing that next day, I got a panicky text from my daughter through the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator App, that I needed to come check her out of the Lab right away because she was headed to an activity in the tween club, Edge, and didn't want to miss it. Whoops! I had forgotten that even though we were still on the ship, it was technically a new cruise, and I needed to re-give permission. She got to her next activity just in time, and I learned my lesson that if I don't want tween drama about missing a very exciting onboard event with her new friends, I need to be sure she's got permission to leave the Club. Ha ha!
Speaking of the Navigator App, be sure to download that to your mobile devices, especially if your daughter has a phone or iPod of her own. She can then check in with you through the free texting onboard so you'll know where she is if she checks herself out of the clubs.
Enjoy this magical cruise, Erin!
Marcy