Ahoy Tyler,
Thanks for sailing back to planDisney with another great question. Your voyage is on the horizon and I know you must be getting excited about all the fun that awaits!
Disney's Oceaneer Club and
Disney's Oceaneer Lab are spaces designed for sailors aged 3-10. Though I can understand your concern about your younger son's needs, unfortunately, your older son will not be permitted in those spaces with him. Your older child will be able to enjoy tween time at
Edge, a space designed for guests 11-14 years old.
My children are also a few years apart and are now separated into different activity groups, so I can certainly appreciate your situation. However, in my experience, the Crew Members in these spaces are pretty amazing and should help your younger child feel right at home. If you are concerned he will have an issue communicating his needs, you can always visit as a family during
Open House times which will be noted on the
Disney Cruise Line Navigator App. My husband and I are well past the age limit for these spaces, but we always love exploring them to see all the fun our kids have while we're off having other adventures on board.
There should be a few opportunities on embarkation day (and throughout your sailing) for your whole family to enjoy the space together. This would be a great time to show your 5-year-old how to find the bathrooms or navigate to his favorite areas. Hopefully, this will help him feel confident should you decide to give him free rein during the regularly scheduled kid's programming times.
I'm sorry I don't have a different answer for you today, Tyler, but I hope it won't detract from your family's enjoyment this December. You are always welcome to speak with a Crew Member onboard, but I think you'll find plenty of opportunities for family fun during your voyage. If you need further assistance or recommendations for some of our favorite activities, please come back and let us know.
Bon Voyage!
Amy