I just called DCL

[Rock'n Robin]

Just to hop in here--luckily my little ones are past this point, but do they nap at the same time? Perhaps when your little one naps, one of you can take the older one to the pool. DH and I often "split up" and take one or two kids (we have 3) when the need arises.
Robin M.

 

[Tluvs2talk]

gottaluvdisney,
I read your post and it was not offensive in the least. I thought you gave some great tips and ideas. This is just a sore subject that has been debated to death!

 

[Tinkerbellfan]

I agree. Gottaluvdisney had some really good ideas and to me, was very understanding. Not at all offensive.

 

[Buckaroo's Dad]

an 18 month old isn't going to be content with just splahsing his hands and getting his feet wet!"

What in heavens name does YOUR 18-month-old do in the water - the backstroke? I thought the under 2 crowd loved splashing and getting their feet wet! The "contentedness" seems to be with the parent rather than the child, especially after reading Lori's response to Gottaluvdisney. Totally uncalled for. (Yes, it would be refreshing to see an apology).

Anyway.

One idea is as follows: there is the "secret verandah" on deck 7 aft. Write to DCL and find out if it is permissible for you to bring along an inflatable pool about one foot deep. Figure out how you can fill it once inflated on deck 7 aft and use it there. Most days nary a soul was out there anyway so it isn't encroaching upon deck space used by most other cruisers. And those few of us who do like the serenity of the secret deck 7 verandah certainly wouldn't mind sharing this little piece of serenity with other families and a carry-on wading pool. Just use water diapers to keep the water even cleaner than the Mickey pool. Heck, it might even start a trend.

 

[inkkognito]

We had a slew of Disney cruises booked when they stopped the improv comedy (and I don't even think that was a CDC requirement). I didn't realize that I could accuse DCL of breach of contract and even demand cancellation with no penalty because they took away my favorite activity...now all I get to do late at night on the ship is sleep.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[peagreenid]

Sure seems to me that a lot of people NEED A VACATION!!!

THIS IS A HEALTH CONCERN! I don't see how ANYONE can ignore that.

People have posted exactly what this pool has turned in to. SAD but true. I have personally seen this pool. The commercials and video make that water look PRISTINE and it in fact is NOT! I Would NEVER have put my infants in this pool.

I guarantee that by NOT putting your children in this pool, they will not grow up disadvantaged, underpriveleged, scarred or ruined. What would happen if it poured rain for 7 days? You certainly wouldn't be swimming. Gottaluvdisney was trying to make everyone aware of some great alternatives to the.....THERE ISN'T ANYTHING FOR THE UNDER 3 KIDS.......
I guess you could always join that CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT of people that want to sue every time the ship doesn't make Castaway Cay!

The rule won't change. It can't change.

Can't we move on

smiles Patty

 

[wildernessgirl]

Ok I have to add my two cents in. Yes I am a parent of a little one who might not be potty trained by our Oct. 19th cruise and this policy does tweek me. We have been on the DCL 2 other times and didn't see the Mickey pool in the "condition" that several of you have stated. Not to say that it HASN"T happened, its just that on our 4 day and 7 day cruise this wasn't an issue. I do recall that ONE late afternoon the life guard found something on the ledge of the Mickey pool and they closed it for a short time, drained and disinfected it. It was refilled and back to normal. ( by the way it was a piece of candy and some other food)

Anyways, the swim diapers were created for such occassions. Even in the public pool in our hometown requires the parent to stay with their child and the child must have a swim diaper on if not potty trained. ( this is to day the parent DOESN"T have to hold their child all the time and the child can sit and play in the water). I feel that it's the parent's responsiblity to know if their child (with a swim diaper on) can handle being in a pool without having an accident. Those parents who take their children up to the pools, park themselves in a chair and pay no attention to their child should be ashamed of themselves and shouldn't let their children in the pool. BUT, those of us parents who watch our children and know the "signs" of a little one who has to go potty, I don't see why our children have to lose out. We have a pool in our backyard and my 20mo. has never had an accident in the pool or in the tub for that matter. He is at that stage where he is trying the potty thing. How are they going to enforce this anyways? If your child LOOKS like they are under 3yrs or are tiny they won't be allowed in the pools? Are they going to have a guard at the pools asking to see birth certificates? Checking to see if they were wearing diapers earlier that day? I am trying my darnest to get my child train so this won't be a problem for us, but I do feel that DCL should let guest know when they are booking about this enforcement. After everything that has gone on in this world and places want to get families traveling again, this isn't a good time to NOW enforce something that they were overlooking before.

Not to offend anyone but to some of the comments made:

Bumbles: When you talk about the pools being closed on the ship or in a hotel is slightly different then this situation. In that situation, NO ONE would be able to use the pools. THIS situation, younger brothers and sisters can not play with the siblings in the water. Yes there are other activities you can do as a family, but children who LOVE the water and can't be in it and see others in it, it is very hard. Adults understand the situation, young children don't. If you go out on the upper decks they see the pools!!! So the ony deck a parent could take their child on would be the promanade deck.

Buckaroo's Dad: I know my 20 mo. old isn't happy with just getting his feet wet. No he doesn't do the back stroke, but he love putting his face in the water, sitting in it, and yes sometimes laying in it. He has grown up around water and has older siblings who he has enjoyed playing with in the pool.

I agree that this is a touchy situation that I feel has no true solution to. I do understand that parents are upset with this new enforcement. Lori, I DO SYMPATHIZE with you. I also feel that disney should refund the cruises to those families who feel that this isn't what they want now. Especially those of us who have taken DCL before and had this never enforced. If they just put this into effect, they should give those families the opt. to rebook their cruise for a later date OR refund the cruise completely.

Sorry this is so long, I had to speak what's on my mind. Most, if not all hotel pools,require the use of swim diapers and there never seems to be a problem, so maybe this should be looked into. Also, isn't the pools on a filter of some kind I thought on our last cruise they stated that.

Anyways, best of luck to all of you with the little ones. I know I'm gonna try to get my little one trained.

 

[peagreenid]

Did you see the original thread on this subject?

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=2397152#post2397152

People actually told how in their embarassment or rush to get their children out of the pools CM's were not notified of the mess that these infants had just made in the pool.

Then please read this article please. It tells how the false sense of security that swim diapers give. And that they do nothing to contain bacteria should an accident occur.
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/pdf/fnl_operator_newsletter.pdf

This article also states how children the same age as your children are AT RISK.......for the very reason that YOU stated. Instead of their feet........they have their mouths in the pool. This bacteria isn't absorbed in the soles of their feet, but ingested. E-coli only lives minutes in Chlorine, but there are worse bacteria that can last almost 7 days in Chlorine.

Come on, we all talk about how predictable our kids BM's are, but, really can we honestly say that they never had a day when they ate too much fruit or too many raisins that we got that UGLY surprise that 1 pak of HUGGIES couldn't contain. When you put that many kids in that little of water and they are all splashing around with their mouths in the pool, it would only be a matter of minutes for this bacteria to spread.

smiles Patty

 

[Tinkerbellfan]

Originally posted by wildernessgirl
I feel that it's the parent's responsiblity to know if their child (with a swim diaper on) can handle being in a pool without having an accident. Those parents who take their children up to the pools, park themselves in a chair and pay no attention to their child should be ashamed of themselves and shouldn't let their children in the pool. BUT, those of us parents who watch our children and know the "signs" of a little one who has to go potty, I don't see why our children have to lose out.

Wildernessgirl, why do you think they call them "accidents"???
Last I checked, an infant can't say, "Ya, ma, I gotta go and I gotta go NOW!" *hit happens and it happens fast!

Originally posted by wildernessgirl I am trying my darnest to get my child train so this won't be a problem for us,

Recently trained children are notorious for having accidents and a crash course in potty training probably isn't the best idea for a toddler.

Originally posted by wildernessgirl but I do feel that DCL should let guest know when they are booking about this enforcement.

I think DCL should have told us Scoops doesn't serve hard packed icecream anymore too. If I would have known I was going on a cruise and had to endure SOFT SERVE.... My God, I want my money back! The cruise is NOTHING without hard packed icecream!

Originally posted by wildernessgirl After everything that has gone on in this world and places want to get families traveling again, this isn't a good time to NOW enforce something that they were overlooking before.

With everything that has gone on in this world I thank my lucky stars Disney takes bacteria and sickness seriously.

Originally posted by wildernessgirlYes there are other activities you can do as a family, but children who LOVE the water and can't be in it and see others in it, it is very hard. Adults understand the situation, young children don't.

Sorry, but with this situation, I think it's the other way around.

Originally posted by wildernessgirlI also feel that disney should refund the cruises to those families who feel that this isn't what they want now. Especially those of us who have taken DCL before and had this never enforced. If they just put this into effect, they should give those families the opt. to rebook their cruise for a later date OR refund the cruise completely.

I wonder how many of you would actually cancel your cruises if DCL called your bluff. I bet not many if any at all. I bet some of you realize deep down that there is more to a cruise than your tot swimming in the Mickey Pool for what, maybe a couple of hours a day? I think what some of you are after is monetary compensation <b>along with</b> your cruise.

If I sound ridiculous, it's because this issue is getting more and more ridiculous with every new post created on the subject.

 

[wildernessgirl]

I believe that I was stating that NOT all children are content to just putting their feet in the water because they have grown up around water. My child is one of those children. That's all I was saying about that! My other main point was that since they have decided (being forced to enforce) and those families who enjoy swimming together (especially those families who took the cruise with 2 days at sea) should have been notified of the change (at those cruisers who have been on DCL before and this wasn't an issue then) and they should be allowed to change their cruise or get a refund so they can book one at a later date.

And your comment about too much fruit or raisins could go for anyone not just small children. Maybe they should get rid of all pools on board ships. Hotels don't seen to have a problem. I also asked how would they enforce it.

So Come on now....(using your words) I DO CARE about my children's health and I would put them in danger. ALL my post was saying was that I have a small child that this would be hard for. Fortunately my child has grown up around water and I have worked with my child so those types of accidents don't occur. Yes, there have been a few times where my child had a bug and wasn't as predictable, but my child has a pretty good schedule and this isn't a real issue for me. I'm aware of what I feed him and for soon to be 2yrs, have never had a problem with my child's BM or peeing in the pool. For that matter, not a problem for my other two children either.

EVERYONE's situation isn't the same. That's was the "idea" of my original post. I was just tossing out MY OWN situation and that there maybe some solution. (ie the swim diapers). Did I say it was the best idea? NO . I believe I stated they SHOULD be looked into. I believe I stated that there seems to be no true solution to this new enforcement. I just sympathize with those parents who this effects.

tinkerbellfan: My child isn't on a crash course, we have been working on this for awhile and he can tell me if he has to go. It obvious that those persons who this effects or could effect maybe a little emotionally about the topic and those of you with older children or none at all may not see it the way some of us do. I NEVER said I would cancel my cruise but some families MIGHT WANT TO. I NEVER said that we are looking to get money off. All I said was that THIS may sway a family's decision NOT to do a cruise this time.

Let's just agree to disagree. All this is going to do is to get those parents of little ones more upset and everyone else feel this is getting more ridiculious. I've said my peace and don't feel like defending my original post any more.

 

[aprilgail2]

. I bet some of you realize deep down that there is more to a cruise than your tot swimming in the Mickey Pool for what, maybe a couple of hours a day? [/B][/QUOTE]

I have to agree with this one!!! I put my daughter in one morning at 7am when the pool was empty and clear just for one time...but by the afternoon when I saw the gross murky looking water these kids were playing in I would never put her in again! She is only 2 1/2 and we found plenty to do together, she loved the shows and movies, we took excursions to a pool/beach in freeport, swam at castaway cay together, played ball on the secret deck 7 and other things, she had a geat time and everytime she tells people abut the cruise she never even mentions the pool, its like it wasn't even there.

 

[gary in florida]

Everyone who wants their 8 yr old to swim in a polluted pool please raise their hands.

 

[DISNEYGATOR]

I know these were posted before but, never hurts to be too well informed...
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/faq/swimmers1.htm http://www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming/pdf/fnl_operator_newsletter.pdf http://www.dhs.vic.gov.au/phd/poolfacts/crypto.htm http://abcnews.go.com/sections/living/DailyNews/swimming_germs010525.html

 

[mrsltg]

I definitely think that we're dealing with an "ivory tower" issue here. People who don't have the under-3 group travelling with them find this new rule to be no problem. That means one of two things.... 1: you're kids are not affected by this at all, 2: you've never had kids.

My daughter is almost two and GASP sometimes (dare I say it) she has temper tantrums! OMG! Yes, it's true! Now, you'll pardon me (and the rest of us honest folks) who would really like to avoid a meltdown on our thousands of $$$ + vacation. If I were cruising now, with my un-trained child, I would be unable to go up to the pool decks with her. I would not be able to take her for ice cream or eat at Topsiders because it would be waving something in her face that she can't have. This would cause a meltdown. Maybe that makes me a bad Mom...

I also cannot take Dierdre to the movies. Well, I could, but I suspect that more than one of you who don't have an under 3 would be less than thrilled with the wiggly, chatty toddler sitting behind you. I may even draw a glare or two. Hmmm... let's see...

I guess I could go and play in the clubs with Dierdre all day. Oh, but wait, I paid for a Caribbean vacation and sitting inside all day just doesn't do it for me. Add to that the fact that, once again, GASP, I am a working Mom. I leave my child at daycare M-F, 9-5, every week. Wow... this is sounding like a great vacation.

Another solution of course would be that Mike and I split shifts. Well, he can take Dierdre to the club for a couple of hours while I go off, and then we can switch. Of course, I could pay $6 an hour for babysitting, but that's on a limited basis.

Of course, none of this applies to me because when we cruise she'll be 3. Most likely (PLEASE GOD) she'll be trained already. I can walk by and look at the infants and toddlers and wave as we go to the pool. After all, I guess I am in the ivory tower then! The point is, people who are cruising in less than 60 days are really stuck. Yes, Disney should make good on this one. People with kids who can no longer do the ONLY ship sponsored activity for them should be able to get their money back. Even if you have non-refundable plane tickets, I can think of more than a few places in Orlando who would be happy to see your wallet! Those of you not in the situation of these parents are really sitting high on your horses. Think back to when your kids were small... it's not an overwhelming joy to spend a full day inside with your infant/toddler.

 

[buzz&woody'smom]

You just said everything I have been feeling and made me laugh too.........thank you so much! I have eben so upset I was having a hard time conveying my feelings but you said it perfectly. Thanks for a smile today!

 

[jel0511]

mrsltg - another high five for you from me!! You very eloquently just said EVERYTHING that was on my mind and I applaud you for it, thank you!!

 

[ducklite]

I think the point has been lost here.

DCL is following US Dept of Health regulations. not following these could cause them to not be able to dock in the US or US territories.

DoH put these regulations into place, DCL had nothing to do about it.

You are all complaining to the wrong source. Call the US DoH, or your senator.

I don't see why DCL should have to change their payment policies to guests when all they are doing is complying with the law.

If this happened at WDW, would you all still be wanting to cancel your vacations? That could be on it's way next.

Like I said, if you do'nt like it, go to the source, the US DoH.

Anne

 

[gary in florida]

That means one of two things.... 1: you're kids are not affected by this at all, 2: you've never had kids.

I fall into number 1 - but when my kids were affected I would never think about putting them into a public pool when they were not potty trained.

I also cannot take Dierdre to the movies. Well, I could, but I suspect that more than one of you who don't have an under 3 would be less than thrilled with the wiggly, chatty toddler sitting behind you. I may even draw a glare or two. Hmmm... let's see...

Yes I would be one that would give a glare, only if it continued to happen - I'm also on vacation, paying the price and trying to enjoy myself.

 

[Bumbles]

Nicely put ducklite and gary...

DCL so can't win...they look out for all of their passengers' needs and follow the law, and they get hammered for being the nasty company who won't refund people.

Hmmm....I suspect I'm not the one on that high horse

 

[Michelle]

Once again, this has turned into a debate. You are welcome to start a thread on this topic on the Debate Board if you choose to do so. DCL's policy has been made clear and we all have the information as we know it, so this discussion is closed.