What to do after you put todder to bed?

[DavidNYC]

Just got back from WDW for our first trip since we had our twins. Considering a Disney cruise - my initial instinct is to wait until they're old enough for the oceaneer's club but want to look into maybe a little earlier. (They'd be a little over 2 years if we go next December).

My biggest question is what do you do when they go to bed? I definitely don't want to pay for a cruise if we're going to be stuck in a stateroom when they go to sleep. But we clearly can't leave them and take a monitor with us either.

So for parents of toddlers - what do you do at bedtime?

 

[turbo teacher]

We've never cruised before, so I might not be the "best" for advice...but wanted to add what we'd be doing. Hubby and I are 37 and DD is 5 - we will be cruising with friends, and my parents. There will always be other people to "hang out" with. We plan on taking turns putting DD down and staying with her in the evening time. Then the other can go out and enjoy the evening. We plan on doing one evening together - when DD stays "over" with my parents

I've heard a LOT of people on the board say that, when they cruised with young children they always got a veranda. This way they could sit out on the veranda and enjoy the evening together.

 

[kcashner]

Many parents enjoy their "verandah time" after the young one goes down. You can book time in Flounder's nursery. If it's only the three of you, you could consider taking a "babysitter" on the cruise. Just make clear in advance what your expectations are.

Until your child is potty trained, those are about the extent of your options. You are right that someone needs to stay in the room with the child.

 

[blessedmomofboys]

We are doing flounders reef nursery for the evening for our youngest 2 ages 2 and 1. We are reserving time from 6:30 (45 min into dinner) until 10:30.

 

[5lilfish]

We have 3 1/3 yr old twins. We took our first cruise with them when they were 8 months old. We've sailed a few times in between that trip and now. Flounders Nursery is great. The staff is amazing. We put the twins in the nursery every evening. We did take them to see the Golden Mickey's and Dreams (they loved both shows). On nights that we did not go to the show, they were in the nursery from 7:30-10:30pm. On the show nights they went in from 9:30-11pm. Some nights they fell asleep...other nights they did not. They did sleep in beautifully for us.

Jess

 

[noahsmom]

Our DS was 4 when we took our 1st cruise and we had a veranda. It was very nice. We had main dining, then the show, then to bed for him. DH & I would sit out on the veranda with a cocktail and enjoys some quiet time.

 

[booger73]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHrSX0gHX_8

 

[darwinsrule]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHrSX0gHX_8

So that's what the veranda is for.

 

[kcashner]

Our DS was 4 when we took our 1st cruise and we had a veranda. It was very nice. We had main dining, then the show, then to bed for him. DH & I would sit out on the veranda with a cocktail and enjoys some quiet time.

With a child of Oceaneer's Club age it is easy. They have sleep mats in the Club that the kids can use. If they are tired, they encourage them to stretch out. That opens a lot of options for mom and dad!

 

[ededmd]

Agree with the veranda suggestion.
And I have found on a port intensive cruise, I am at times thrilled to go to bed when the kids do.
Otherwise, I surf the internet, read a book, speak with my spouse at leisure sharing a glass of wine - all the things I never have time to do at home.

 

[narsibvl]

Just got back from WDW for our first trip since we had our twins. Considering a Disney cruise - my initial instinct is to wait until they're old enough for the oceaneer's club but want to look into maybe a little earlier. (They'd be a little over 2 years if we go next December).

My biggest question is what do you do when they go to bed? I definitely don't want to pay for a cruise if we're going to be stuck in a stateroom when they go to sleep. But we clearly can't leave them and take a monitor with us either.

So for parents of toddlers - what do you do at bedtime?

In our case, my wife and I took turns, I got to see "Tangled" one day all alone, and my wife went for Disney dreams...my daughter was awake for the pirates party so my daughter and I partied while my wife stayed back with our son.

 

[ssanders79]

DD3 slept on the couch next to the verandah door so when she went to bed we closed the curtains and did not disturb her. My wife wrote notes for the trip report, we read over the navigators then went to bed ourselves. I ended up waking up really early and going on photowalks then returned around 6 am and DW would head to the gym. I was thankful for the extra sleep.

 

[mkymouse4ever]

There has been a few over looked idea's while in your stateroom.

-- watching the "basketball" court station on the tv. That was exciting.

-- Taking a long lesiurely bath and stretching out in the tub.

-- watching the map of your journey on the tv.

-- Sitting on our balcony and hearing the neighbors get a "soveniger".{see video, above}

-- all the room service, you can afford to tip for.

 

[justmestace]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rHrSX0gHX_8

This has now been blocked on You Tube as "spam".....apparently there's a guy who goes through and does this periodically just to be a pain in the neck. I never knew people could to that to random You Tube videos.

 

[bigedwin]

Hello

We had friends in the same situation.
They actually brought with them their Niece (15 Y Old).
She was well aware what she was expected to do and was more than happy to get to cruise. She helped a lot and definelty was not responsible for babysitting more than 4-5 hours per day.

Other times we have been in larger groups we did take turns taking care of the little ones. The older kids just loved the Disney clubs so there was no issue with them once they hit the potty trained age.....

good luck
Ed

 

[kay1864]

To take turns (one stays in cabin with twins, the other goes to a show), zero cost.
Or if you take them to the show (assuming they'll sleep and not cry loudly), zero cost.

Flounder's Reef costs $11/hour for twins. So the bottom line is, would you pay $22 so that both of you (rather than just one) can see a 2-hour show?

 

[so_oregon]

my daughter and I took the jogging stroller and the kiddo went to sleep in the stroller (age 2.7 years) and went wtih us to the show and slept.....or to the pirate party (and slept) and so forth.

 

[Davids-Coco]

We took turns for the most part. We were traveling with friends, so the guys (who aren't as close) went out one night and the girls went out a few nights. It was best for us.

 

[zaz]

I have not yet been on a DCL cruise, but my daughters like their stroller ... so yes, even though the youngest is now 3, I still bring it with me when traveling. When she gets tired, whether during supper (we usually have it late) or during a show, we get her favorite stuffed animal out and her blankie and put a blanket on top of the stroller and off to sleep she goes. We can then go anywhere and do whatever.

I hope this will be a possibility onboard!