Float Policy

[LissyTx]

I think I read somewhere that tubes or floats were not allowed. While I understand they don't want their pool clogged with large items, does this apply to Castaway Cay too?

I know they have inter tubes for adults, but what about baby floats? This is what we used the last time we went to the beach that my daughter loved and it kept the sun off her. My daughter will be 11 months.

I cannot post a link, but if you go to AMAZON, and search "SwimWays Baby Spring Float Sun Canopy" you'll see what we already have.


THANKS!!

 

[maps81]

Following

 

[cscream13]

We're planning on bringing our Swimways baby spring float too since we'll be doing an excursion with pools. Never thought to try the float in the ocean... I guess calm, shallow ocean water would not be so different from a pool. I assume DCL would not prohibit this at CC, but I'd also be interested in whether anyone knows for sure.

 

[wilkeliza]

According to the prohibited item FAQ all floats except for coast guard approved personal flotation devices and swim ware with flotation in it are not allowed on the boat or castaway cay.

This is the exact wording from Disney Cruise Line

"Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) and flotation sewn into the bathing suit for safety. However, recreational floating devices such as floats, rafts and fun noodles cannot be brought on board and are not permitted in the pools or on Castaway Cay."

so this means that technically if they find it in your luggage they could remove it and store it until you get back to port as it says cannot be brought on board not just cannot be used in the pools or on Castaway Cay.

 

[cscream13]

According to the prohibited item FAQ all floats except for coast guard approved personal flotation devices and swim ware with flotation in it are not allowed on the boat or castaway cay.

This is the exact wording from Disney Cruise Line

"Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) and flotation sewn into the bathing suit for safety. However, recreational floating devices such as floats, rafts and fun noodles cannot be brought on board and are not permitted in the pools or on Castaway Cay."

so this means that technically if they find it in your luggage they could remove it and store it until you get back to port as it says cannot be brought on board not just cannot be used in the pools or on Castaway Cay.

Oh no! I was really counting on using DS's baby float on the excursions! This is a little harsh considering how much time there is off the ship! I'm sure I'll get criticized for this, but I might try bringing it anyway. I have no intention of using it where DCL has restricted its use, but I would still like it for use in ports.

 

[wilkeliza]

Oh no! I was really counting on using DS's baby float on the excursions! This is a little harsh considering how much time there is off the ship! I'm sure I'll get criticized for this, but I might try bringing it anyway. I have no intention of using it where DCL has restricted its use, but I would still like it for use in ports.

Just be prepared for them to tell you it can't be brought back on or to find it. Every time you go back onto the ship your stuff is put through a security scanner.

I know a lot of families end up buying a cheap one at the port stops and just throwing it away.

 

[qa4ever]

I was actually annoyed on our castaway cay day to see several floats, rafts, and inner tubes (I saw maybe 6-8 of them). I also saw them walk right by lifeguards and nothing was said. These were not baby floats either, but for children.

This annoyed me because I had purposely not brought any rafts or floats to castaway cay, even though I had some in our stateroom that we were going to use after our cruise at our house rental. I had read they were not allowed, so did not bring them. But if I had known they would be allowed, I would have brought them to the beach. But too far a trek to go back and get them!

I'm not sure if the policy changed or if they are more lax now or what. Regardless, for babies it might be different?

 

[cruisingmom1977]

I was actually annoyed on our castaway cay day to see several floats, rafts, and inner tubes (I saw maybe 6-8 of them).

Just curious...were these the rafts and inner tubes that Disney rents on Castaway Cay? They are child (and even adult) size and not baby size...

 

[wilkeliza]

I was actually annoyed on our castaway cay day to see several floats, rafts, and inner tubes (I saw maybe 6-8 of them). I also saw them walk right by lifeguards and nothing was said. These were not baby floats either, but for children. This annoyed me because I had purposely not brought any rafts or floats to castaway cay, even though I had some in our stateroom that we were going to use after our cruise at our house rental. I had read they were not allowed, so did not bring them. But if I had known they would be allowed, I would have brought them to the beach. But too far a trek to go back and get them! I'm not sure if the policy changed or if they are more lax now or what. Regardless, for babies it might be different?

As pp pointed out they do rent floats and tubes.

 

[qa4ever]

No, the floats I saw on castaway cay were not Disney ones, but rather pink, green, and other colored floats. I obviously saw the blue mats and clear tubes that Disney rents but these were not Disney ones. Hello Kitty, an alligator shaped etc.

 

[Savikins]

I'm pretty sure personal floats aren't allowed.

I was actually annoyed on our castaway cay day to see several floats, rafts, and inner tubes (I saw maybe 6-8 of them). I also saw them walk right by lifeguards and nothing was said. These were not baby floats either, but for children.

This annoyed me because I had purposely not brought any rafts or floats to castaway cay, even though I had some in our stateroom that we were going to use after our cruise at our house rental. I had read they were not allowed, so did not bring them. But if I had known they would be allowed, I would have brought them to the beach. But too far a trek to go back and get them!

I'm not sure if the policy changed or if they are more lax now or what. Regardless, for babies it might be different?

I remember walking to and from the ship at CC about 3 or 4 times while I was there in February. It's only about a 7 minute walk from the family beach.

 

[Meredisney]

I'm wondering if my son will be able to wear his little arm floaties in the pool?
I truly don't think that they are "Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices". Has anyone seen kids wearing these? He has worn them at the WDW pools several times.

Also, do they have swim vests available for kids at the DCL pools like at the WDW resort hotels?

Another option for OP, and we have one of these as well, is a puddle jumper. They are definitely a "Coast Guard approved personal flotation device".

 

[wilkeliza]

I'm wondering if my son will be able to wear his little arm floaties in the pool? I truly don't think that they are "Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices". Has anyone seen kids wearing these? He has worn them at the WDW pools several times. Also, do they have swim vests available for kids at the DCL pools like at the WDW resort hotels? Another option for OP, and we have one of these as well, is a puddle jumper. They are definitely a "Coast Guard approved personal flotation device".

Floaters are definitely not allowed as they aren't only not coast guard approved but are actually pretty dangerous. In the crowded DCL pools you son could easily get trapped with his head under water and only his arms afloat due to the arm floaties. If you haven't do some research on them. In an emergency situation they usually do more harm than good for swimmers.

Coast guard approved PFDs are life vests. The tubes that are coast guard approved are only approved for emergency situations and not long term use.

 

[TinkBell10]

Interesting story of how DCL doesn't always follow its own rules....

For several cruises, we didn't realize personal floats weren't allowed on CC. We never used them in the ship pools, but always took them to CC with no problem. It was also very common to see many others with their own, so I always assumed it wasn't against any rules. Anyway--on 3 separate occasions, we were sitting on the loungers inflating our tubes and were approached by a CM. The CM offered to take the tubes to their air compressor and blow them up for us! Again--this happened on 3 separate cruises with 3 different CMs! On our last cruise I didn't take our own because I realized it was against the rules....but I still saw lots of people with their own and no one was stopping them.

 

[cinderkelly]

I'm wondering if my son will be able to wear his little arm floaties in the pool? I truly don't think that they are "Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices". Has anyone seen kids wearing these? He has worn them at the WDW pools several times. Also, do they have swim vests available for kids at the DCL pools like at the WDW resort hotels? Another option for OP, and we have one of these as well, is a puddle jumper. They are definitely a "Coast Guard approved personal flotation device".

Just off the Dream, yes they do have life vests for the kids on the cruise ships like at the resorts

 

[lbgraves]

As pp pointed out they do rent floats and tubes.

There is nothing available to rent for infants or small children.

I'm pretty sure personal floats aren't allowed.

I remember walking to and from the ship at CC about 3 or 4 times while I was there in February. It's only about a 7 minute walk from the family beach.

If you have young children and have to gather everyone up with all your stuff after finally getting back to the beach, that is a long trek back to the ship, through security, to the room with everyone coming down, then back to find another spot on the beach. I doubt many kids would follow along quietly.

Also, on every cruise we have seen smaller floats at CC. We've brought them ourselves a couple times before DD was big enough to use one of those CC floats. We've never had an issue, and weren't the only ones with them.

 

[cscream13]

Are those puddle jumpers DCL sanctioned? The Stearns website says that they are coast guard approved floatation devices. If that makes them OK by DCL, I might try bringing one of those instead. DS was getting a little big for his baby float anyway...