Fun ideas for the under 3 kids

[DISNEYGATOR]

Okay, I know the hot topic the past few days has been the no more pool for the non-potty trained kids, and the lack of DCL-sponsored free entertainment for the under 3 passengers.

And we all know the policy isn't going to change, since a safety regulation by the US, and until DCL figures out the best course of action, I thought maybe we could all brainstorm together to help out these families who are cruising in the near future, who were depending on the pool for entertainment for their rugrats...

any suggestions? I just wanna spin this topic into the positive and be helpful. I hate to think of families missing out and not having a fun cruise, so lets all pitch in some ideas!!

 

[garyss7]

I vote a blowup kiddie pool. You can dump it overboard after your done, or a sprinkler hooked
on a hose and let kids play under it. Unfortunately I doubt Disney will let any unauthoried stuff be used on the boat. To bad they don't have a salt water pool with water continuously being filtered through and pumped overboard so their's always "fresh" water in the pool. Good luck families with small kids...Cheers, Gary

 

[wovenwonder]

Bring along bubbles for the kids -- bubbles always seem to draw a crowd of other little one's though -- so beware!

Also bring along a supply of squirt toys to help the little one's cool off. A misting fan would also be fun for little one's.

The promenade surrounding deck #4 would be a nice place to go with your little one's. Mom and Dad can relax a little in the comfy lounge chairs while your toddler plays close by. Take along some new toys or see if you can pick up a few toys at the kids clubs to borrow for a short time.

Meet new friends! Approach others on your cruise with toddlers close in age to yours and make plans to get together and enjoy some toddler time with the kids. Maybe even plan to visit the kids clubs together to play.


Great Idea -- looking at the glass as half full rather than half empty! I'm sure that other can come up with alot more great ideas!

 

[my3kids]

Why not take some things the littlest ones can play with AT the pool, just not IN the pool. Fill up buckets with water scooped from the pool, then dump it on your head. Squirt you big sibling with a little water squirter. Toss the ball to your big brother or sister in the pool, and the little ones on the deck are perfect for crawling under the deck chairs to retreive it.

Play in the Oceaneers Club with all your children. Sure, the older one can be there by themselves, but take the little ones in and have some family fun.

Take the baby backpack and walk around the deck looking at the ocean.

I always found lots to do with my kids when they were tiny. We didn't spend all our time at the pool!

 

[DISNEYGATOR]

I know some people were mildly joking, but since so many mentioned it, has anyone contacted DCL to see if a kiddie-pool could be brought on the ship?

to go a long with some ideas of things to do...

My stepsister has a large wooden deck at her house..

Anyway, she and my neice would play "deck painting." She would take a bucket of water and spounge and let my niece make pictures with the water all over the deck. It just dawned on me that the pool deck is one HUGE wooden deck. Might be a fun activitiy for young kids to do on the pool deck, with water, while brother and sister are swimming.

I'll keep on thinking... I want all these babies and their families to have fun!

 

[DISNEYGATOR]

Okay, here is another fun activity for those little ones who can't swim in the pool...

How about finger painting, but instead of paint, get some ice cream from Scoops, and make ice cream painting... I bet a toddler would love that, and don't have to worry about messing up the kitchen or the carpet... and once they are covered in ice cream and had a great time, can just rinse them off in the rinse shower by the pool!

 

[DISNEYGATOR]

I have become the self-appointed under the age of three program director of the DCL..., and guess what I won't charge you $6 an hour like Flounders Some of you might be saying... okay Disneygator enough already, its pretty pathetic to keep responding to your own thread... But, hey, you wanted toddler programs, so here is a place to get some... granted they aren't DCL sponsored, but they can still be fun! anyway, stay tuned for more!

 

[disney6]

How about face painting with face paint crayons? or tattoos (I picked up some Disney Princess ones at the Disney store for my 3 girls and others on our cruise). Why not try to find others with under 3/not potty trained and have a playgroup? Of course they are always welcome in the club with an adult too.

don't forget NEW coloring pages and crayons (mine actually could spend hours with crayons and plain paper) and new matchbox cars for the boys? make a "road" in the conference room with paper and play away. (just don't do it at home first!)

 

[jeleann]

Don't do the ice cream thing!!!!!!!!!! On my DD 1st. Birthday we let her eat the ice cream with her hands like the birthday cake. Ice Cream starts to make your hands sting (Like when you're playing in the snow). She cried and cried! It takes a few minutes for your hands to warm back up again. Just some advice take it or leave it!

 

[DISNEYGATOR]

okay, here is my first idea after becoming the self-appointed under the age of 3 activity director...

You could spend some time exploring wind...
Take a walk around the deck and talk about wind, is the flag blowing around? is the wind blowing people's hair? Which way is the smoke blowing? Then maybe find a quiet spot and see how the wind blows items on the deck... a paper plate, a cup, a ping-pong ball, etc.

Then you could sit down at a table, and take a paper plate, crayons/markers (if you have them) some napkins, a little bit of string and some tape, and make a mini-kite and have your tot decorate the plate with colors and strips of napkins as streamers. Once it's done, tape on a small piece of string (hey, dental floss would probably work) and let your DD or DS run around on the deck to make their new kite fly!

 

[TiggerPU88]

Hi!

My one year old loves playing in wading pools, so I am very diappointed that he won't be able to play there. In fact, we won't be able to go on that deck at all, because he won't understand why we aren't taking him in to play.

I would love any suggestions you all might have. Thanks.

-- Adrienne : )

 

[DISNEYGATOR]

Tigger,

I always liked to walk around and watch the crew at work, maybe your one year old would like it? You know, watching the scrub down the lifeboats, or do touch-up painting, washing decks...

You could also walk around the deck and practice the alphabet by naming all the things you see...

Maybe on Deck 4 in the Promenade lounge thats usually empty during the day you could hide stuff and have a scavenger hunt.. maybe a cruise egg hunt... if you can get your hands on any of those plastic easter eggs. Might find other tot mom's a DD's and DS's who would want to join in.

And if you do make tot buddies could maybe have a cruise parade, have the little ones dress up and take out their favorite stuffed animals and have a parade around the deck, and wave to people..

could snag some cups from the drink stand and set up bowling on the deck..

make a mini kite with a paper plate and go up to the sports deck and run around and "fly" it....

Take a hidden mickey tour... go hang out in the lab together...

fill up the bath tub and let them have their own "private" pool

just takes some brainstorming... and if we all work together I am sure we can come up with even more!

 

[DreamsDoComeTrue]

Originally posted by DISNEYGATOR
And if you do make tot buddies could maybe have a cruise parade, have the little ones dress up and take out their favorite stuffed animals and have a parade around the deck, and wave to people..

Love THAT!

 

[TiggerPU88]

Thanks, DISNEYGATOR!!

Those are neat ideas. We were planning to use Flounder's Reef every afternoon, but I sure am disapoointed about the lack of swimming options. Maybe we'll do a beach-type excursion in Nassau or Freeport. I have to check the prices, though....

Thanks again for the ideas!

-- Adrienne : )

 

[gottaluvdisney]

Flounders Reef for a fee-
Oceaneers Club during family time
Oceaneers Club with parental supervision - go during the slide time or play time.

I think these are great ideas in lieu of the pool area. The difference between a three year old sailing fare and a one year old sailing fare is about $200 or so. At $6.00 an hour in Founders is very reasonable, considering most people will not spend eight hours at the pool swimming. (at least we didn't)

I personally don't think they could do more 'planned' activities as this is not the age range (infant to 24mos) that do well in a structured environment. It really as easy as you thing to set up some alternate activities. What do you do at home with your children this age other than swimming in a pool??

**Also, please don't bring your own pools. You CANNOT 'dump' the waste water from these over the side of the ship. There is no way to fill them and no way to empty them. I cannot see DCL allowing you to create something that they have to enforce due to USPH standards.

Most importantly - please do not throw ANYTHING over the side of the ship.

 

[DISNEYGATOR]

During the day you could go to one of the empty entertainment venues (wavebands, studio seas, etc) and let them run around on the stage..

Dance with them when the band is playing music out on deck...

Bring a small paint brush or old tooth brush, fill a cup with water and let them paint the deck, the tables and the chairs etc..

Give them a disposable camera and let them be a photographer for the afternoon...

Save your cabit host/hostess's towel animals or create your own and take them for a walk in a stroller on the promenade deck...

go on the promenade deck in just your socks and "skate" around the deck... spin and twirl and watch them become the next gold metalist!

 

[disney6]

LOVE the parade idea!

Don't forget the doll strollers!!!!!!!!!! Mine play with theirs EVERY day!

 

[peg2001]

Drain the Mickey Pool and fill it with sand! The only activity that comes close to water play for my toddler in fun value is sand play. Include plenty of sand toys and I bet the toddlers would have a blast. The nearby shower would come in handy, too, to clean them up afterwards.

Just a thought.
Peggy

 

[Fawn]

Originally posted by peg2001
Drain the Mickey Pool and fill it with sand! The only activity that comes close to water play for my toddler in fun value is sand play. Include plenty of sand toys and I bet the toddlers would have a blast. The nearby shower would come in handy, too, to clean them up afterwards.

Just a thought.
Peggy

Dang..ya know, Peggy, that is a pretty creative idea! For that matter, why couldn't they put a sand area somewhere on the ship other than the pool?

We were at a museum once, can't remember where, that had a water room. Full of little water tables with scoops, pouring toys, bridges, boats, waterfalls...your kid put on a smock at the door and went and played. We had to drag our toddlers out of there!

 

[RIDISNEYLOVERS]

Disneygator - Thanks for all the great ideas. I will use them - I have a 2 1/2 DD that is almost fully potty trained (hopefully 100% by our 11/3 wonder cruise) but these ideas are great alternatives and add on's for any young child.

Thanks again and keep them coming.

Lisa