2.9 vs 3 yr old

[Ragnrok23]

Hello,
Currently trying to plan our first Disney Cruise and are debating between Oct'16 or Feb/March'17. Our oldest son turns 3 in Feb'17 and the "baby" will turn 1 in Oct'16

Pretty much looking for pros/cons of going before/after baby turns 1 as well as pros/cons of going before turning 3

Thanks!

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Hello,
Currently trying to plan our first Disney Cruise and are debating between Oct'16 or Feb/March'17. Our oldest son turns 3 in Feb'17 and the "baby" will turn 1 in Oct'16

Pretty much looking for pros/cons of going before/after baby turns 1 as well as pros/cons of going before turning 3

Thanks!

Not much difference for the before/after turning 1. But the before/after turning 3 - before means using the nursery ($9.00 an hour) instead of Oceaneer's Club (included in your cruisefare). After means you pay more for the 3 year old in basic cruise price (I believe).

 

[wcw57]

2.9 vs 3 yr old? sounds like a fair fight to me......

as to your point, it won't matter enough to worry about. As the dish soap said to the grease after someone pulled out the drain plug, "Just go with the flow"

 

[KLB9]

There is a fare difference if the child is still 2 vs being 3 or older, But you will have to pay for the nursery at $9 per hour. 3 year olds can go to Club for free.

 

[closetmickey]

And they no longer allow almost 3 year olds in the Club so that would be the biggest deciding factor for me.

 

[Ragnrok23]

So the only difference is the club or nursery? My wife seems to think there were a few things that opened up to a 3 yr old

 

[mylittlebuttercup]

Before 1: Not allowed on some itineraries (transatlantic, Hawaii, and Panama Canal, I think); if you use formula, having to pack that and bottles (or worrying about storing/pumping breast milk possibly)

Before 3: Cannot use kids' club yet, have to pay for nursery like the baby; can only use pools if potty trained; but cheaper than a 3+ year old

 

[beckysko]

i feel like if you go before your oldest turns 3, you can drop BOTH kids at the nursery so they could be together so you can have a meal or adult time. If your oldest is over 3, you can't drop them off anywhere together...they would be separated.

 

[Luvzmy3boys]

It also depends on the personality of your kid. We went on first cruise when youngest DS was 2 months shy of 3rd birthday and he was in nursery for about 2 hrs and was fine. It is much quieter there and smaller caregiver to child ratio. He had not yet been in preschool at this point so we were more nervous than he was. Went agin the following year when he was almost 4. He never lasted more than 45 minutes in oceaneer's lab with two older brothers. He was overwhelmed by the activity and noise. He is a bit shy with new kids. He probably would have been better off in the club but his brothers had no interest in the club part-- this was on Wonder so they are separate and kids needed to be escorted between the two areas. your excursions will also be limited by the ages of your kids

 

[PrincessShmoo]

i feel like if you go before your oldest turns 3, you can drop BOTH kids at the nursery so they could be together so you can have a meal or adult time. If your oldest is over 3, you can't drop them off anywhere together...they would be separated.

Good point.

 

[GusGus77]

If the almost three year old would be happy with being dropped off in the club and having to "fend for himself" among other kids of various ages with him being the youngest with minimal adult supervision then wait until he can go to the clubs. (Edited to say we cruised the day after DS turned three and he loved the clubs. His sister was in the club, too, though, even though they did not stick together. DS was too busy charming the bigger girls in the club and the cm's. Lol.)

If not or you are unsure, go before and put both kids in the nursery together when you would like a break. Yes, you will pay for him in The nursery, but his cruise fare will be cheaper.
You can take him to the club and play with him there during their open hours. I do not think an almost 3 yr old will be bored in the nursery. They have fun toys and games and a very strict child to cm ratio. It is much quieter and calmer in there.

You must be fully potty trained, no pull ups, to be in the pool on a cruise ship. Quite truthfully, the pools are small and often very crowded. My two water babies (well, they aren't really babies but under 8) have not yet been in the pool after two cruises (4-night and 7-night.) Depending on the ship there is a splash pad for them to play in instead.

 

[bumbershoot]

DS was too busy charming the bigger girls in the club and the cm's. Lol.

Bet it hasn't stopped has it? My dude is like that, too.