Ahoy, Katie!
Welcome back to planDisney! It feels like just yesterday we were chatting about staying in touch with your son onboard—and now you're almost one month away from setting sail on your high seas adventure! I bet the excitement in your house is bubbling up faster than a
Goofy pool party on embarkation day!
Okay, let’s dive into this like Ariel under the sea—starting with the not-so-magical part. While the Disney magic is strong onboard, Edge does operate a little differently than the
Oceaneer Club and Lab. There’s no formal check-in or check-out process, so kids ages 11 to 14 (age 10 with guardian consent) are allowed to come and go as they wish, and Youth Counselors don’t track when they enter or leave. It’s a big step up in independence, which some kids love—but I totally get that it’s not every family’s dream scenario.
Now, don’t let that news sink your ship just yet! Here’s where we chart a course toward possible solutions. Once you're onboard and everyone’s had that all-important embarkation lunch (may I suggest a soft-serve swirl on the pool deck to celebrate?),
sail over to Edge and speak with one of the Youth Counselors. While they
can’t generally provide one-on-one supervision, they’re as friendly and flexible as Olaf in summer—and they truly want each family to have the most magical experience possible.
Full disclosure: I haven’t personally made this request, so I can’t promise anything more magical than what Genie can grant without his lamp. But I have heard of Guests working with the Edge team to create little workarounds—like possibly having a counselor message the parents through the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator app when their child wants to leave. This kind of solution isn’t guaranteed, but it’s worth asking about, and the Cast Members may have additional ideas up their sleeves.
Another tip: you can set expectations as a family before the cruise. On my sailings, I’ve found that a little “crew meeting” to go over rules and boundaries for each kiddo goes a long way. Sometimes just knowing the plan ahead of time gives both parents and kids peace of mind—especially when that plan ends with a stop at
Eye Scream Treats!
Katie, I know your son is about to have a blast—Edge is packed with awesome programming, games, and even the occasional selfie scavenger hunt. It’s a whole new world of independence for them... and a whole new era of trust for us parents. But with a little teamwork, communication, and maybe some pixie dust from those incredible Youth Counselors, I’m hopeful you’ll find a setup that works for your whole crew.
Sea ya real soon as May brings sunshine, magical ports, and maybe a Mickey bar or two,
Dustin