I thought I was done with Disney cruises once my son became a tween, but he loves them more than ever

Gone are the days when my child would dance with Mickey or pose for photos with Cinderella.

So, after years of playing in Disney Cruise Line's youth clubs filled with "Toy Story"-themed slides and games based on Disney Junior shows, my family was ready for a change.

Though we've sailed with other cruise lines in the past, as my son began nearing middle school, we found ourselves more often booking trips with tween-friendly offerings.

My son especially loved the zip line and laser tag offerings on Royal Caribbean's Oasis Class ships, and eagerly raced around a multi-story go-kart track when sailing with Norwegian Cruise Line.

Although he enjoyed the offerings on other cruise lines, he still prefers Disney cruises.

Although I initially worried that some of the youth spaces on Disney Cruise Line might be too "kiddie" for my burgeoning tween, the diversity of options in these venues has allowed him to continue finding enjoyment in the activities offered.

And he's old enough now to check himself in and out of the kids' clubs as desired, offering him a sense of freedom to choose his own adventure.

Disney ships also have a tween-centric club, Edge, exclusively for those aged 11 to 14, which offers something for my son to look forward to on our next sailing.

As it turns out, you're never too old to appreciate the mixture of cute-meets-tasty that is a waffle shaped like Mickey Mouse's head. And that's just the start.

My son is also a big fan of the quality of food in the main dining rooms on Disney cruises, and the diversity that comes from switching between three separate themed dining venues throughout your vacation.

Some of the onboard restaurants, like the jazzy Tiana's Place and the Avengers-themed Worlds of Marvel, offer entertainment that adds to the overall fun that keeps him amused throughout these longer family dining experiences.

The crew on Disney Cruise Line also stands out, with many going out of their way to create memorable moments for travelers of all ages.

On one cruise, our stateroom host surprised my son with special Marvel-themed sheets. On our most recent sailing, our dinner waitstaff came prepared with nightly puzzles and brain teasers that kept my son and his friend engaged throughout our meal.

It's these seemingly small but deeply personal experiences that make a Disney cruise stand out.

Another unique feature of sailing with Disney is its fireworks show at sea.

When my son was younger, he disliked the loud noises made by fireworks. Plus, they often took place well after his bedtime, making this nighttime show a bust for our family.

However, he can now enjoy this entertainment, along with other evening offerings, in a way he couldn't as a squirmy toddler.

As a parent, I appreciate how a Disney cruise provides my otherwise hard-to-please tween a chance to act like a kid.

Tween years are often when kids feel torn between childhood and adolescence, and there's something about the magic of Disney that lets us all tap into our youthful side.

I love that the cruises are fun for our family and have spaces tailored to individuals in each stage of childhood — even tweens.