Tell me about cruising with a non-potty trained older toddler.

[melsmom12]

The ear of the Mickey Pool doesn't collect water in it, it's got jets that shoot in different directions and continuously filters through. I have a picture of it somewhere, lemme see if it's on Photobucket...

Awww, that's my DD in the middle when she was just a little pipsqueak. She looks like she isn't too sure, but she loved it! Hmmm, I hope she's going to be OK with this rule.

In Disney's defense, this is not just a DCL rule. It's a public health hazard for all cruise ships, and I actually really respect them for enforcing it, if not wish that there was something else that could be provided for them to do.

 

[tvguy]

I'd say a fair amount of parents are surprised that their tots can't go swimming on the boat when they CAN go in pretty much every other pool with a swim diaper. My son has been swimming in pools since he was six months old. In Florida, it's standard to have babies in pools, and to get them swim lessons. Doctors pretty much demand it in Florida!
.

I have no idea about Florida, but it is illegal in a lot of states too in public pools (pools that the public uses, so even apartment pools). It just isn't enforced.

 

[weathernlu]

I have to throw my two cents in here. If you think any PUBLIC POOL whether it has kids with swim diapers in it or not is not swimming with bacteria than you are kidding yourselves.

I have a 3 yo DS and he's doing pretty good with going to the potty, but to think that 3, 4 and even 5 year olds don't have accidents is laughable. You don't think older kids are going number one in the public pool, whether by accident or because kids are kids?

I plan on letting my kids go in the pools, but I am not naive enough to think that it's perfect. There surely the possibility that my 3 year old could have an accident in the pool or in the club. I am not however going to tell my child he cannot do the things he wants to do because he might have an accident. We take him potty at least once an hour when it's a situation like that and he does a really good job with it. Still, when push comes to shove he is still three and prone to accidents.

 

[melsmom12]

And that's why G-d invented chlorine, folks!

 

[calmom]

Tip for diaper wearing toddlers:

We have been on 2 DCL cruises, and going on the WB Panana Canal (which will have tons of sea days!). I doubt our then 2 1/2 year old will be potty trained, and wasn't on the previous ones.

Bring sand toys - the little ones love playing in water (like they are in the tub). If you keep water toys with them, it tends to keep them occupied, and keeps them active in the ear. Throw some water toys in the middle, tell your children they have to stay in the ear, VOILA!

Now, back to our regularily scheduled debate of diapers and swimming.

 

[atinkerbellmom]

Guys, it is against federal regulations to have non-potty trained children/people in the pools on cruisehips. If Carnival is allowing it, then they can be shut down. It has to do with the number of GI issues that are transfered so easily, especially on tight premisis such as cruiseships. This is the same reason the CM can not change diapers in the club. Did you know if you contact a roto-virus you will be isolated to your room. They are fined if they get an out-break. There are some rules they just have to follow, to stay in business. This is like them saying, okay you do not like things around your neck, well you can skip the life boat safety drill or not wear your life jacket not............ Pools are different from splash areas as the water sits there and collects and grows bacteria even faster in the sun.

 

[melsmom12]

Absolutely true. And, like I said, I have complete respect for this rule and have no desire to be one of "those" people who say tough tarts and break the rule b/c their child is the "special" one who is more important.

But the point was made that truly we have no idea who is peein' in the pool, and there's just not a lot you can do about it except either try not to think about it and have a good time, or just not swim.

 

[Davids-Coco]

But the point was made that truly we have no idea who is peein' in the pool, and there's just not a lot you can do about it except either try not to think about it and have a good time, or just not swim.

Exactly! While swim diapers do allow urine to move through the diaper when they go, there are others who just go in the pool because they don't want to have to get out - no matter if they are 5 or 50.

 

[aprilgail2]

The mickey pool was closed down for hours at a time numerous times for scrubbing on our last cruise for people taking non potty trained children in the pool and them having accidents. By the second time the pool crowd was getting a bit rowdy towards the family of the second "pooper". It is tough having an older toddler that is not potty trained and they have to stay in that little splash water ear, if I had to do it now I would wait until my udaughter was 3 and trained before I went. The first cruise we went on my daughter was 2 1/2 and it was right before they started the no swim diapers rule so she could go in the pool but she could not go to the kids club and she was bored to tears in flounders-she complained it was babyish and there were to many crying babies in there all evening and she couldn't go to the club because she was not potty trained. If I had to go back and do that again I would wait until she was potty trained!

 

[SamIAm21]

I have to throw my two cents in here. If you think any PUBLIC POOL whether it has kids with swim diapers in it or not is not swimming with bacteria than you are kidding yourselves.

I have a 3 yo DS and he's doing pretty good with going to the potty, but to think that 3, 4 and even 5 year olds don't have accidents is laughable. You don't think older kids are going number one in the public pool, whether by accident or because kids are kids?

I plan on letting my kids go in the pools, but I am not naive enough to think that it's perfect. There surely the possibility that my 3 year old could have an accident in the pool or in the club. I am not however going to tell my child he cannot do the things he wants to do because he might have an accident. We take him potty at least once an hour when it's a situation like that and he does a really good job with it. Still, when push comes to shove he is still three and prone to accidents.

True! There could be some accidents, but if the pool were filled with toddlers in swim diapers then for sure you know without a doubt that there is going to be some serious bacteria that maybe even chlorine couldn't keep up with. There's only so much chlorine you can use before that becomes a health hazard too. I'm glad to see that Mickey ear is really just a little sprinkler station. I love toddlers and kids, and don't get me wrong I feel for those parents who have to find ways to distract their little ones away from the big pools, but I know I'd prefer it be this way so we don't have a bunch of sick people on the boat.

 

[fairfax]

I was on the Magic last week and they were VERY strict with the kids' splash area. My DS is 2, and he had to be lifted in and out of the Mickey ear, they would not let him walk in the shallow water surrounding the pool. I completely understand this and had no problem with it, but it was just too difficult for him to stay put in that one area! So we did not take him to the pool after that first day. While DD (4) was in the pool, I'd take DS to the Oceaneer's Club, which he loved. He could stay there and play on everything and participate in the activities, which he did, as long as an adult was there with him.

 

[LisaFB]

We were on the Oct 28 Halloween Wonder cruise. DS, who's is 2, was very happy in the splash area behind the slide at the Mickey pool. I think he only asked once to go to the Mickey Pool and I just told him he was there (on the Wonder, it's behind the slide so you can't really see the pool). DH went with DD to the pool part (not even 4 years old and she even went down the slide!) and they came to visit us a few times but then went back to the pool part. Neither of my kids had any issues and both had fun.

 

[calmom]

We were on the Oct 28 Halloween Wonder cruise. DS, who's is 2, was very happy in the splash area behind the slide at the Mickey pool. I think he only asked once to go to the Mickey Pool and I just told him he was there (on the Wonder, it's behind the slide so you can't really see the pool). DH went with DD to the pool part (not even 4 years old and she even went down the slide!) and they came to visit us a few times but then went back to the pool part. Neither of my kids had any issues and both had fun.

I wish the Magic had that splash area! It looks great from the pictures I have seen. I think having that saves a lot of issues between parents and their 2 year olds!

 

[LisaFB]

I wish I had pics of it, but he was splashing me so much that I didn't want to take it out and chance it getting wet! It really worked out perfectly fine and it would be good if the Magic had the same thing. If they can't see the other pool, then it's not as big of an issue for them!

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

I do wish they'd allow swim diapers in the actual pool since he LOVES to swim.

Swim diapers =

But the point was made that truly we have no idea who is peein' in the pool, and there's just not a lot you can do about it except either try not to think about it and have a good time, or just not swim.

Although urine in a pool is a gross concept, I don't think it's so much the pee that they are worried about, if you know what I'm saying.

I know that I will get to the point in life where I am worried about these things too (and it's coming soon) but, for now and after reading this thread, thank God for the adult-only pool!

 

[tvguy]

I like Babe Ruths, just not in the pool.

 

[crisi]

We elected to postpone. We have two kids a year apart and my daughter was not yet potty trained, my son was. She was almost three, he was almost four.

Not only did a few months (we actually waited a year) mean she could swim, she could also go to the kids clubs (which she loved), did fine with a hour and a half dinner, and we could book excursions for her.

Would we have had fun anyway - probably, but the two features my kids (now eight and nine - potty training is such a hazy memory - though so vivid at the time) like best about the cruise is the kids clubs and the pools. And, honestly, one of the things we like best is getting at least a little time away from our kids.