How did your 4-5 year old like cruising?

[southerngirl528]

Good sleuthing, SailingScout!

About the same time you were apparently looking for that thread, I did manage to reach someone at DCL about the 3 yr olds needing to be fully potty trained for children's programming. I live super close to the "Mouse" and know tons of people that work for both WDW & DCL. The "expert" at DCL that I spoke with said that nothing has changed as far as requirements for children's programming, that kids still must be 3 y.o and fully potty trained. She did add that a couple of years ago occasionally they would take things on a "case by case" basis, but that that has now changed.

I don't mean to be a party pooper (wow! that pun was unintended but FUNNY!! ), and who knows? Perhaps in rare circumstances they can bend the rules but I would truly hate for any little one to think they were going to be able to play in DCL's wonderful kids clubs only to get onboard and find out they could not. I do know that when we took our little ones a year ago, the girls had to be able to go into the bathrooms alone, take care of their business, get their clothes back in place and wash their hands with NO ONE assisting. The CM's are absolutely not allowed to help kids in the bathrooms. I did see that myself when picking up the girls during our cruise.

That thread you found has some great information, SailingScout!

 

[Stigsmom]

My 5 year old loves Disney Cruise Line! He is afraid to try the Aquaduck, but a huge fan of everything else. He's a picky eater and even ate well there. He can't wait to go back when the Vanellope sweet shop opens!

 

[MelSpees]

I don't mean to sound judgmental or critical, but I'm wondering why there seem to be more and more 3 and even 4 year olds that are not potty trained. Is it really becoming more common, or just my perception? I guess I was lucky, both my kids were potty-trained just before they turned 2. And no, I wasn't a crazed, obsessive parent.

 

[Mrs Green]

I don't mean to sound judgmental or critical, but I'm wondering why there seem to be more and more 3 and even 4 year olds that are not potty trained. Is it really becoming more common, or just my perception? I guess I was lucky, both my kids were potty-trained just before they turned 2. And no, I wasn't a crazed, obsessive parent.

I am sure my son will be but right now he is not even 2, my cruise is over a year away, and I have no idea what he will be like when it comes to potty training. I just want to have the correct information on this subject.

 

[Diva120]

I don't mean to sound judgmental or critical, but I'm wondering why there seem to be more and more 3 and even 4 year olds that are not potty trained. Is it really becoming more common, or just my perception? I guess I was lucky, both my kids were potty-trained just before they turned 2. And no, I wasn't a crazed, obsessive parent.

Our pediatrician said "DO NOT TRAIN" - let DD learn to want to eliminate in the potty. Her reasoning was it's very stressful to child (and parent) - and the pressure of training causes more problems, such as constipation. Also, I would add that the idea of "it takes a village to raise a child" is a very foreign idea to modern parents. IMHO, parenting has become selfish and competitive where people do not take anyone's advice.

 

[MelSpees]

I'm not sure what a "village" has to do with this issue. I would say it is far less stressful to potty train a child than to have an older child who is not potty trained. To have a child "train themselves" is IMO is ludicrous. Centuries, no millennia, of potty training go against what you are suggesting. We used "Potty training in Less Than a Day". It was not stressful for either parent or child. They enjoyed the attention and while not trained in less than a day, they had the basics and were pretty reliable in 2-3.
I frankly would not go back to a pediatrician who said not to potty train. What do you do when it's time for kindergarten and they're still in diapers?

 

[michellekcm]

I don't mean to sound judgmental or critical, but I'm wondering why there seem to be more and more 3 and even 4 year olds that are not potty trained. Is it really becoming more common, or just my perception? I guess I was lucky, both my kids were potty-trained just before they turned 2. And no, I wasn't a crazed, obsessive parent.

My daughter was toilet trained just after 2, but my son is 2 1/2 and just does not want to. We've tried, but there comes a point where nappies are way more preferable than cleaning the floor (or the table or the chairs) yet again.

When we were younger (well, when I was anyway), there was much more need to toilet train early - cloth nappies, multiple changes of clothes a day, tons of extra washing, etc. It's so much easier with disposables nowadays.

 

[Diva120]

I'm not sure what a "village" has to do with this issue. I would say it is far less stressful to potty train a child than to have an older child who is not potty trained. To have a child "train themselves" is IMO is ludicrous. Centuries, no millennia, of potty training go against what you are suggesting. We used "Potty training in Less Than a Day". It was not stressful for either parent or child. They enjoyed the attention and while not trained in less than a day, they had the basics and were pretty reliable in 2-3.
I frankly would not go back to a pediatrician who said not to potty train. What do you do when it's time for kindergarten and they're still in diapers?

Village idea is just to state that family and/or neighbors is very different now. Years ago, a neighbor could reprimand a kid and they would listen and the parent would be ok. Nowadays people are so afraid or uncaring to say anything, there no sense of community. Bring that into a home, parent feels they can and should "do it all" with no help from family or community. Sorry, broader commentary.

Unfortunately, our Pediatrician was spot on for every milestone and her advise was sound, but thank you for the advisement

 

[cableguy123]

My d.d who was 5 at the time loved the midship detective game. She is so looking foward to use going back so she can play it. She went to the clubs quite a bit stayed in them for hours!

 

[MommyMeNDisney]

My d.d who was 5 at the time loved the midship detective game. She is so looking foward to use going back so she can play it. She went to the clubs quite a bit stayed in them for hours!

Sorry, slightly off subject, but I've been wanting to ask someone...

What is the "Midship Detective Game"? Is it a video game or an interactive game (like scavenger hunt) that the CMs play with the kids at midship?

 

[Crystal O_o]

Both my 4 and 5 year old love it and can't wait to go on another one.

 

[jtba]

Sorry, slightly off subject, but I've been wanting to ask someone...

What is the "Midship Detective Game"? Is it a video game or an interactive game (like scavenger hunt) that the CMs play with the kids at midship?

http://allears.net/cruise/ships/dream/entertainment/detective.htm

 

[Crush518]

Taking a 3.5 year old and 5 year old next week on cruise, hopefully they like it, Lol!

 

[Drusilla99]

My girls were 2 & 5 for their first cruise & they loved it! They are now 13 & 15 and still love it. I asked them yesterday if next year they'd like to go to Hawaii, where they've been multiple times, or another dcl; they voted for A disney cruise. They only went to the kids club at that age after dinner, but loved that too. otherwise they were enjoying the pools, slide & movies. they also loved the food.

 

[91raven]

DD turned 5 on the cruise. She loved it and is looking to going again. DD enjoyed the kids club (her big brother was with her). We did the glass bottom sub and that was a big hit. Of course the beach was too!

 

[Petals & Pixie Dust]

Thank you for all of the posts and guidance! I hope others chime in with their "hidden treasures!" Next question...How many days? 3? 4? More? DH and I are kind of at odds with this. At first we discussed, in depth, that we wanted to stay with a simple itinerary, see how DS handled cruising, if he liked it or if it was a disaster, and stick to something we knew so that we could enjoy it through his eyes and not miss anything (because lets face it, we are big kids too) Recently DH has mentioned picking a new itinerary, but I feel overwhelmed. I'd also like to do 3 days land 4 days sea as a way to combine the 2 parts of magic, but even that leaves me overwhelmed b/c--at least from what I can find...They don't do them as a package anymore (please let me know if this has changed...)

So, in wrap up...How many days for a first cruise? and how does DCL package land and sea...if they even do at all.


Thanks in advance!

 

[Mrs Green]

Thank you for all of the posts and guidance! I hope others chime in with their "hidden treasures!" Next question...How many days? 3? 4? More? DH and I are kind of at odds with this. At first we discussed, in depth, that we wanted to stay with a simple itinerary, see how DS handled cruising, if he liked it or if it was a disaster, and stick to something we knew so that we could enjoy it through his eyes and not miss anything (because lets face it, we are big kids too) Recently DH has mentioned picking a new itinerary, but I feel overwhelmed. I'd also like to do 3 days land 4 days sea as a way to combine the 2 parts of magic, but even that leaves me overwhelmed b/c--at least from what I can find...They don't do them as a package anymore (please let me know if this has changed...)

So, in wrap up...How many days for a first cruise? and how does DCL package land and sea...if they even do at all.


Thanks in advance!

There is no land and sea package. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

 

[MommyMeNDisney]

Thank you for all of the posts and guidance! I hope others chime in with their "hidden treasures!" Next question...How many days? 3? 4? More? DH and I are kind of at odds with this. At first we discussed, in depth, that we wanted to stay with a simple itinerary, see how DS handled cruising, if he liked it or if it was a disaster, and stick to something we knew so that we could enjoy it through his eyes and not miss anything (because lets face it, we are big kids too) Recently DH has mentioned picking a new itinerary, but I feel overwhelmed. I'd also like to do 3 days land 4 days sea as a way to combine the 2 parts of magic, but even that leaves me overwhelmed b/c--at least from what I can find...They don't do them as a package anymore (please let me know if this has changed...)

So, in wrap up...How many days for a first cruise? and how does DCL package land and sea...if they even do at all.


Thanks in advance!

My first cruise with DS(1) is soon. We're doing a 4 night cruise.

 

[lbgraves]

We decided to do a 7-night first so we wouldn't feel rushed. Selected an eastern because it had an additional sea day. We didn't take a 3-night until our 6th cruise, and that was our last. It was way too rushed and if it had been our first we probably wouldn't have booked a week after getting home. It's better to do land/sea on your own, even when DCL did offer it. We ended up going to MK one day before our first and were really glad we did.

 

[michellekcm]

We did 7 days for our first cruise, and found it was perfect. We also did WDW before the cruise. Our second cruise we did Disneyland after the cruise, and I prefer doing the cruise last - just more relaxing after the rush.

Also, we found that the characters really knew our daughter on the cruise, called her by name etc., and then found she was more critical of the characters at the park afterwards. Just not quite as magical (so we stuck with trying to find characters we hadn't seen on the cruise.)