Kids Club Open House Activities/For the Non-Toilet Trained

[MSPeeler]

Are there ever any activities scheduled during open house times, or is it just a free-for-all mad house?

My almost 4 year old is stubborn as a rock, and will happily sit in his own waste if given the chance rather than tell me he needs to potty or go to the restroom by himself. To say potty training has been a challenge is the understatement of the year.

ANYWAY- I say all of that because I want him to experience the kids clubs with his older brother, but he wont be able to obviously since he isn't potty trained. Yes, I have explained this to him and I think he understand he won't be able to go play in there. We have shown him videos of the kids club to "bribe" him into potty training even, LOL. Nothing works, seriously nothing. He is just stubborn. I just don't know if he will be able to have any "fun" with his brother, since he cannot go to the clubs (which him brother loves).

Info? Advice?

Thanks.

 

[lilsonicfan]

There are often activities in the open houses, not to worry. Check the “DCL blog” for past navigators and you’ll see what types of things are generally available.

Sorry about the stubbornness! Kids are a delight sometimes.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

There are activities scheduled during the open house times.

Perhaps it is time for potty training boot camp. Pick a weekend where you have nothing to do so you can hang at home the whole time. Have him go bottomless the whole weekend. And make sure not to have your carpets cleaned until after said weekend.

 

[MSPeeler]

There are activities scheduled during the open house times.

Perhaps it is time for potty training boot camp. Pick a weekend where you have nothing to do so you can hang at home the whole time. Have him go bottomless the whole weekend. And make sure not to have your carpets cleaned until after said weekend.

Thanks We did this the weekend after my older kids got out of school, no carlines, activities, etc... he made a corner in the kitchen his bathroom for a couple hours Bad gag reflex here... but, I'll try again. I'm just not very brave at this point

 

[lilsonicfan]

Milking it being the youngest I bet. Lol.

 

[MSPeeler]

Milking it being the youngest I bet. Lol.

NO doubt... and he knows it!!!!!! Turd.

 

[cmph]

On the Wonder last week, there were A LOT of open houses. It was fine for us b/c our 2yo nephew had zero interest in the nursery and my 13yo had aged out just a few weeks before (not that she was super into it), so all the kids could go together at various points. Honestly, it wasn't a madhouse, b/c there were so few people there! Other than my family, in the few times I went there to find my kids/family, I saw as many people as I could count on my hands. If that! So I wouldn't necessarily count on lots of fun planned activities, but also not a madhouse.

 

[MSPeeler]

On the Wonder last week, there were A LOT of open houses. It was fine for us b/c our 2yo nephew had zero interest in the nursery and my 13yo had aged out just a few weeks before (not that she was super into it), so all the kids could go together at various points. Honestly, it wasn't a madhouse, b/c there were so few people there! Other than my family, in the few times I went there to find my kids/family, I saw as many people as I could count on my hands. If that! So I wouldn't necessarily count on lots of fun planned activities, but also not a madhouse.

Thanks! The only open-house we went to on our dream cruise was on sail-away day, and it was shoulder to shoulder as I remember... but we didn't know anything walking in and didn't even know they had other open house times available so we never went back. Trying to plan much smarter this time around.

 

[UNDDisney]

Thanks! The only open-house we went to on our dream cruise was on sail-away day, and it was shoulder to shoulder as I remember... but we didn't know anything walking in and didn't even know they had other open house times available so we never went back. Trying to plan much smarter this time around.

It was probably extra busy because families were registering their children, checking it out, etc. We were on Dream last week and there were several open houses - at least once per day. Usually the club/lab seemed pretty empty during open house as pp have mentioned. A few nights the club was open house from 11pm - midnight. It was dead when I picked up my kids from the lab side.

And I empathize with you on the potty training, can't do anything about those stubborn ones! My youngest is being a pain with the potty training right now! You would think he would want to be like his older brothers, but no

 

[amberlombardi22]

Has he seen videos of the kids clubs? Maybe that would be a big motivator! "If you are potty trained, you get to go in these pools & these clubs whenever you want!"

 

[mmouse37]

I feel for you...potty training is no fun!!! Our two granddaughters are in the process right now....one is 3 and one will be 3 in August. We watch one of them full time so we are right in the midst of action! The younger one (who we watch) actually started first but the older one (who lives 3,000 miles away) was stubborn as heck but she finally came around when she heard her cousin was doing it. Thank goodness for FaceTime as they would talk about it to each other. Their conversations were too funny. They are both cruising with us in September and that was a big factor...told them no pool or kids club unless they were both potty trained. Luckily it worked. Both are doing well.

When we were onboard the Magic last year with our then 2 year old granddaughter who was not potty trained she LOVED the open houses. She loved Andy's room and she would color and do whatever activity was out.

Good luck...I am sure your son will come around soon!

MJ

 

[xQuizx]

Your son sounds like my son, he doesn't care about potty training. I key it to he's having too much fun, why bother going to the bathroom.

Fortunately for us we know his pattern, he does number 1 every few hours and number 2 around the same time during the day. So we had him go number 1 before entering the club. If he hadn't done number 2, we made him do it before going into the club. He had one accident during the trip and the CM's were very gracious about it, they called us to come change him.

 

[MomOTwins]

On the port days on the Dream, one side (e.g. Club) was open house while the other side (Lab) was drop-off for most of the morning. Since a lot of people had excursions, it was not busy in either.

 

[MSPeeler]

It was probably extra busy because families were registering their children, checking it out, etc. We were on Dream last week and there were several open houses - at least once per day. Usually the club/lab seemed pretty empty during open house as pp have mentioned. A few nights the club was open house from 11pm - midnight. It was dead when I picked up my kids from the lab side.

And I empathize with you on the potty training, can't do anything about those stubborn ones! My youngest is being a pain with the potty training right now! You would think he would want to be like his older brothers, but no

I didn’t think about all the kids being registered on the boat. That is probably why it was so packed. I’ll make sure we don’t go that first morning!

Has he seen videos of the kids clubs? Maybe that would be a big motivator! "If you are potty trained, you get to go in these pools & these clubs whenever you want!"

Yes! I have, but I think I will have to show them multiple times for him to understand. I think he just doesn’t get it yet? He seem to be a “learn it the hard way” or “too little too late” kid unfortunately.

On the port days on the Dream, one side (e.g. Club) was open house while the other side (Lab) was drop-off for most of the morning. Since a lot of people had excursions, it was not busy in either.

So Port days were slower than sea days obviously but I’m guessing that means little to no activities in club/lab either?

 

[Quellman]

For open house, you need to be there with the kids as well. But they will do some of the "secure programming" things during open house. Like the Stars Wars Learn the Force or the magic play floor.

 

[DietCokeMommy]

I'm about to start training my almost 2 year old. Debating whether to do it this weekend or wait until Labor Day. With my son, he really needed something that motivated him for #2. He was begging us to play with his t-ball set after work so we told him if he pooped on the potty at school he we would play with it. The next day he pooped in his pull up at daycare and when he came home and asked for t-ball I told him no because he didn't poop in the potty. He went right into the bathroom and pooped! After that we continued to use the t-ball set as a motivator. So anyways, my advice to people potty training is find something your kids REALLY REALLY wants and use that as a a motivator.

I know this thread wasn't for potty training advice, but I think it'll be really hard on a cruise with a 4 year old that's not potty trained. He won't be allowed to go in either the splash areas or the pools because he's either too old, or he's not diaper free. I know my kids would get really upset if they saw those things and their sibling was doing it, and they weren't allowed to. Plus, as a parent you deserve some true vacation time. Literally the only time I've ever felt like I was on a vacation was when we brought our kids to the club/nursery and we were able to relax. All other "vacations" have been just been parenting in different places.

 

[MSPeeler]

I know this thread wasn't for potty training advice, but I think it'll be really hard on a cruise with a 4 year old that's not potty trained. He won't be allowed to go in either the splash areas or the pools because he's either too old, or he's not diaper free. I know my kids would get really upset if they saw those things and their sibling was doing it, and they weren't allowed to. Plus, as a parent you deserve some true vacation time. Literally the only time I've ever felt like I was on a vacation was when we brought our kids to the club/nursery and we were able to relax. All other "vacations" have been just been parenting in different places.

And you know what? That’s why we booked this cruise when he turned 4!!! Because I was so sure he would be potty trained by then. Gee this biy me in the butt. When we cruised and he was 18 months, we hardly had alone time because he didn’t want to be in the nursery alone (without big brother) and it was too expensive anyway to do it so often. We’ve got 4 months till cruise, so we will see if I can motivate him somehow to figure this out! Thanks!

 

[Anchors Away 2016]

And you know what? That’s why we booked this cruise when he turned 4!!! Because I was so sure he would be potty trained by then. Gee this biy me in the butt. When we cruised and he was 18 months, we hardly had alone time because he didn’t want to be in the nursery alone (without big brother) and it was too expensive anyway to do it so often. We’ve got 4 months till cruise, so we will see if I can motivate him somehow to figure this out! Thanks!

We'll keep a good thought for you! And who knows, maybe he is just more of "show me" kind of person. Once you get on the ship, and his siblings walk into the club and he can't go in, he might run right over to the restroom, take care of business and be ready to go. The good thing about a stubborn child is once they DO decide to do something, they are usually very successful at doing it.

 

[bumbershoot]

So anyways, my advice to people potty training is find something your kids REALLY REALLY wants and use that as a a motivator.

My friend’s firstborn refused refused refused to to leave diapers behind. They were desperate as they had to change daycares and the new one required training.

Over the entire summer they took away toys one by one. Nothing worked until he had one toy left. His precious, huge, plush shark. (As a toddler and beyond he would watch Shark Week and root for the sharks. He also loved Titanic. Slightly worried about that combo.)

Once it was Sharky on the line he finally did it.


I’m quite sure his parents wished that they had started with the shark.

I know this thread wasn't for potty training advice, but I think it'll be really hard on a cruise with a 4 year old that's not potty trained. He won't be allowed to go in either the splash areas or the pools because he's either too old, or he's not diaper free. I know my kids would get really upset if they saw those things and their sibling was doing it, and they weren't allowed to. Plus, as a parent you deserve some true vacation time. Literally the only time I've ever felt like I was on a vacation was when we brought our kids to the club/nursery and we were able to relax. All other "vacations" have been just been parenting in different places.

I so agree.

 

[Shanti]

I agree that the potty training should utilize both a highly motivating short-term reward, and punishment in the form of loss of privileges. He's old enough to be trained. It just has to be made worth his while. If he's "having too much fun" to use the potty, then the fun should be removed for an hour or so after he messes his pull-up. That won't be fun to do as a parent, but it will get him trained.