Age 2 vs 3

[justme0729]

What can a 3 year old do that a 2 year old can’t on the ship besides the kids clubs? Are there any events like royal gathering etc. that are only for 3+? We’re going for her 3rd bday so we could do a week before 3 (cheaper) or right after she’s turned 3

 

[darnheather]

Would still need to be potty trained for the club and pool. But if she is potty trained I would wait so you don't have to pay for the baby sitting but can still get some breaks.

 

[lanejudy]

Some differences for 3 year olds:

• 3-yr-olds are allowed in the pools assuming potty trained (no swim diapers allowed); under age 3 or 3+ still in swim diapers are limited to the splash pad
• the Aqua Lab on the Fantasy and Magic is ages 3+
• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is ages 3-12 and cannot be booked for younger
• as mentioned, a 3-yr-old is allowed at the Club/Lab BUT a it may not be the best fit for a newly-turned-3
• at 3 you may not be able to pre-book nursery times but they are allowed to use the nursery if you prefer
• Royal Tea and Olaf's Picnic are for ages 3-12 and cannot be booked for younger

And since you asked, the Royal Gathering (multi-princess meet & greet) is open to any age.

 

[Cheburashka]

What can a 3 year old do that a 2 year old can’t on the ship besides the kids clubs? Are there any events like royal gathering etc. that are only for 3+? We’re going for her 3rd bday so we could do a week before 3 (cheaper) or right after she’s turned 3

Have you ever had your little one around characters (at the parks, or even just Santa)? Some 2 year-olds cry and are scared of them, whereas many by age 3 warm up to them. It's very individual, but that's one thing to consider if you'd like to get some good character pictures.

 

[Lillebelle]

Yeah, whether or not they are potty trained really makes a difference. And unless they have an older sibling or cousin or something that they'd be going to the regular club with, I'd be leery of sending a child who just turned three to try to run around and keep up with kids almost 10 years older than them (at least I know that would be overwhelming to my child).

If you think she'd really enjoy BBB, then I'd do the later one. Otherwise I think you're fine to do the cheaper one.

 

[justme0729]

Have you ever had your little one around characters (at the parks, or even just Santa)? Some 2 year-olds cry and are scared of them, whereas many by age 3 warm up to them. It's very individual, but that's one thing to consider if you'd like to get some good character pictures.

Ours at 19 months now loves all of them! Santa is another story lol

 

[justme0729]

Yeah, whether or not they are potty trained really makes a difference. And unless they have an older sibling or cousin or something that they'd be going to the regular club with, I'd be leery of sending a child who just turned three to try to run around and keep up with kids almost 10 years older than them (at least I know that would be overwhelming to my child).

If you think she'd really enjoy BBB, then I'd do the later one. Otherwise I think you're fine to do the cheaper one.

Yeah I don’t think she would be ready for BBB (sitting in a chair to get hair done by a stranger doesn’t sound like it would make her that happy at least now at 19 months… I could just do it myself and bring a dress) And she will have a little brother in the nursery too if i take them so nursery probably better

 

[sponica]

Yeah I don’t think she would be ready for BBB (sitting in a chair to get hair done by a stranger doesn’t sound like it would make her that happy at least now at 19 months… I could just do it myself and bring a dress) And she will have a little brother in the nursery too if i take them so nursery probably better

This would make me opt for the one before she's 3. One of the major reasons we held off until our youngest would be 3 is so she could go to the kids club with her older sister (potty training will be long over by the time we go on our cruise, she's stubbornly determined to do everything herself).

 

[nancipants]

For the record, my 2.5 year old went in the pools and Aqua Lab on the Fantasy. He was potty trained and not wearing a swim diaper. He's tall for his age (was taller than most 3yos at the time) and nobody questioned him. (I was only aware of the swim diaper restriction, not the age restriction, which is why we let him go.)

 

[lscrivan18]

Some differences for 3 year olds:

• 3-yr-olds are allowed in the pools assuming potty trained (no swim diapers allowed); under age 3 or 3+ still in swim diapers are limited to the splash pad
• the Aqua Lab on the Fantasy and Magic is ages 3+
• Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is ages 3-12 and cannot be booked for younger
• as mentioned, a 3-yr-old is allowed at the Club/Lab BUT a it may not be the best fit for a newly-turned-3
• at 3 you may not be able to pre-book nursery times but they are allowed to use the nursery if you prefer
• Royal Tea and Olaf's Picnic are for ages 3-12 and cannot be booked for younger

And since you asked, the Royal Gathering (multi-princess meet & greet) is open to any age.

You can't prebook nursery times for a 3 year old? Our first cruise is later this year and was planning on reserving some slots for our soon.

 

[OpieDoodle]

So for me it'll depend on what YOUR plans are. At 3 my son wasn't really mentally ready for the wild kids clubs and honestly I wasn't really too keen on sending him there alone anyways. My son is now 5 and I would feel comfortable now sending him.

We took my youngest on his first cruise when he was almost 3. It was a GREAT time. But I also didn't use the nursery at all the entire trip. Everything I did he was able to attend or occasionally we divided and conquered for some things. I.e. I went snorkeling with my older kids while my husband sat on the beach and then we switched. I love watching my kids learn and play so I really didn't want to send them to the nursery. (Exception of our massages, I would have sent him there then but my parents came with us so he got to spend the time with his grandparents instead)

I'd look into the excursions you're interested and check ages. Often there is a big difference between ones that allow 2 vs 3. I know some people leave their kids on the ship and go on excursions but I could never do it. Too many what ifs for me. I'd be so worked up worried about being separated from my kids that I couldn't enjoy an excursion. Some people can I just am that "what if" type of person.

 

[lanejudy]

You can't prebook nursery times for a 3 year old? Our first cruise is later this year and was planning on reserving some slots for our soon.

I don’t think so. Maybe it has changed; hopefully someone recent will confirm. But you can book once onboard.

 

[Aimeedyan]

We cruised at almost-3 (not potty trained) and again at 3.5 (fully potty trained). They were both amazing trips. The only difference, really, was the ability to use the kid's club.

On cruise 1, we used nursery a few times (Palo dinner, theater show one night, etc) and he loved it. He was 100% content with splash pad and really, the on deck pools are not overly attractive anyways.

On cruise 2, we did the transatlantic so very few kids on board and I was comfortable trying the kid's club. On a "normal" cruise, I would personally not send my 3 year old into the kids club due to the age range and number of kids. But the TA had so few children, he was known by name by every CM and they often had a 1:1 ratio in there. It was an amazing experience, and he spent hours in there. Because it was the TA, we easily found chairs on the pool deck and did do the pools some. He enjoyed it, but it wasn't a make or break.

 

[nancipants]

On cruise 2, we did the transatlantic so very few kids on board and I was comfortable trying the kid's club. On a "normal" cruise, I would personally not send my 3 year old into the kids club due to the age range and number of kids. But the TA had so few children, he was known by name by every CM and they often had a 1:1 ratio in there. It was an amazing experience, and he spent hours in there. Because it was the TA, we easily found chairs on the pool deck and did do the pools some. He enjoyed it, but it wasn't a make or break.

We are doing the PC cruise and my son will be almost 4. I'm super excited for him to try the kids club when there will be way less kids aboard.

 

[Aimeedyan]

We are doing the PC cruise and my son will be almost 4. I'm super excited for him to try the kids club when there will be way less kids aboard.

We are now so spoiled! Not sure I want to cruise on a "regular" Disney cruise again