Ahoy, Angela!
Welcome aboard the Disney Parks Moms Panel! I enjoy planning my Disney Cruises almost as much as the cruise itself, so I hope you'll have fun preparing for your summer of 2018 voyage in the coming months. I also hope you'll find our site helpful along with the Disney Cruise Line website as you map out all the magical details.
Angela, I had to smile when I read your question because I'm raising two night owls myself who normally shut down the youth clubs every night of our cruise. My daughter has moved on from
Edge, but when she old enough to make the switch, she was so excited to be able to stay out a little later. Typically, Edge stays open until midnight on the first and last nights and 1:00 a.m. on the nights in between. Operation hours are always subject to change, so you'll want to check your cruise newsletter each day or the Disney Cruise Line Navigator app once you are aboard. My son experienced Edge for the first time this past year and also thought the extra hour to hang out was pretty cool! My son recommends Heroes and Villains, GAGA Ball and Sports Deck Fun. My daughter's favorites include Brains and Brawns, Anyone Can Cook, Scavenger Hunts and Karaoke.
Something else I want to mention is that 11 and 12 year olds actually have the opportunity to go to both Edge and the Oceaneer Club and Lab. My daughter wasn't really interested in both when she transitioned to Edge, but my son went back in forth on our last two sailings. He would keep an eye on the activities scheduled and pick what interested him the most since he could come and go on his own in any of the three areas. He did make sure to go to Edge the first night for Icebreakers because it's a good time to make friends with other cruisers the same age.
Thank you for sailing by, Angela! Please let us know if you have any other questions.
Nancy