Crusing with a 3 year old

[voodooboy]

My daughter will be 3 years old a few days before we embark on our family's first Disney Cruise adventure. My family is small but very close and though my DD is a "social butterfly" my wife and I are concerned about just dropping her off at the childrens program while we go off and do our own thing. I am sure others have experienced similar issues so I am curious about a couple of things;

1) Is the child care sufficent to entertain a 3 year old for a few hours?

2) Has anyone experienced any abnormal negative service when using the child care?

3) What is the ratio of kids to counselors?

Thanks for any information.

 

[all4fun]

Well, we didn't have any kids the last time we went but I did notice the only "abnormal" reaction we saw was when we saw parents picking their kids up for dinner and the kids didn't want to go! It looked like they were having a great time. I understand they also give the parents a pager so if you're needed, you'll know right away. I think your dd will have a great time and so will you. Enjoy!

 

[Jo-Anne]

Our son (just 4 at the time) and daughter (7) just loved the kids clubs on the cruise and spent time there every day - mainly in late afternoon and evenings. Every night my kids skipped dessert and between my dinner and dessert, I ran them up to the club! My DD still talks about it and wants to go back to the cruise just for the kids club! My son had no problems with us leaving him there and they would both fall asleep at the club in the nights watching movies which gave us some wonderful adult time. However, there were many kids reluctant to let their parents go and some tears, but the councellors would do everything possible to get the kids to come in and play. The activities are more than fine for a 3 year old and they break kids up into ages 3-4 year olds and 5-7 year olds for some activities and then bring them together for others like movies or a character visit. I think there were about 1 councellor to 10 or so kids, but I could be wrong and it really depends on how full the clubs are at any given time. I'm assuming your DD will be or is out of diapers as they don't take kids who are not potty trained. My advice would be to take your DD to club on the afternoon that you board to introduce her to the area and concellors and you'll be able to join her in the club at that time to get her more comfortable. Enjoy - our kids had a blast! Jo

 

[voodooboy]

Thanks for the positive feedback. Being a somewhat protective dad it feels good to know that the ship offers such a positive and entertaining area for young children. Thanks for the information.

 

[DisneyPhD]

Does that mean that the kids club is for kids age 3 and up who are potty trained? I was under the impression it was for ages 4 and up. We have been waiting until DD (turns 3 next week,but not potty trained) is 4 years old to go. The problem is we are having DD #2 in 5 months so then we have another 4 years to wait.

Are there any options for babies and kids who are not potty trained, or can younger children play if the parents stay to suppervise them? So now it is looking like we have to wait until 2008 to go cruise.

 

[moinab]

Yes, the Oceaneers' Club is for 3 year olds and up, as long as they are completely potty trained (no pull-ups allowed, and no help with clothing, etc.)

However, the counselors allowed me to accompany my almost 3 year old, non potty-trained DS in the club so that he could play with the toys. They told me he could stay as long as we liked, just as long as I stayed with him. He had a great time playing with the trucks. I had to drag him out of there after an hour, because we had to go meet DH.

Flounder's Reef is the nursery on board for children under 3. You have to reserve the time (minimum of 2 hours) and there is a charge ($6/hour for the first child, $5/hour for each additional sibling.) Our kids had no experience with daycare or babysitters, but we felt very comfortable placing them in Flounder's for 2 hours one night so DH and I could enjoy some adult time.

DS was 6 weeks shy of his 3rd birthday and DD was 5 months old at the time of our cruise last summer. Let me know if you have other questions.

 

[jodifla]

Moinab, so there were enough things for your almost 3-year-old to do?

I'd like to take DS on a 3-night cruise in September, when he'd be 33 months, but I wonder about keeping him entertained on the boat when he can't use the pool, (he's crazy for pools) or the kids club, and in Nassua, I wonder what people do with toddlers.

 

[moinab]

The 3-night cruise goes by so fast! For toddlers, you do have to make your own entertainment, but we found we didn't have to work too hard at it.

Our DS doesn't like to swim, so playing on the beach at CC was good enough for him. You can also go to a beach in Nassau on your own, or with an excursion, so your son can swim 2 out of the 3 days of the cruise. I know the Atlantis is supposed to be amazing, with great pools. Also, toddlers in swim diapers are allowed to use one of the ears of the Mickey pool. It is set up like a little fountain that they can splash in. We tried to take DS once, but he wasn't interested.

There is a cute character show in the afternoon, and they run movies (We saw Finding Nemo right after it came out in theaters.) Also, as I mentioned, you can take your son into the Oceaneers' Club to play, as long as you stay with him.

As it turned out, DS's favorite things on the cruise were the elevators, and the porthole in our stateroom. Whenever we were in the room, he sat at the porthole and played with his Hot Wheels cars. He also loved getting pizza and soft serve ice cream from Deck 9, and chocolate chip cookies from room service.

He was sad when it was time to leave, and still asks us, almost daily, to go back to the "Disney Boat."

Here is a link to an album with some photos from our cruise. http://community.webshots.com/album/85968863yGzLFY We can't wait to go again!

Have you checked out the DCL Discussion board? There's tons of great info there. It's a very active board.

 

[jodifla]

Great pictures, moinab!

It sure does look like fun. Now, if I can just convince DH....