mandatory boat drill/life vest drill?

[Miss Eeyore]

I used to be one of those who grumbled and complained about lifeboat drill, but I never will again. I was a passenger on the March 2002 Eastern cruise where we had fire at sea. We were all evacuated to our muster stations, and sayed there for quite a long while. But.....everyone was safe, the difficult job was done easily without muss or fuss......and even the littlest guys were pretty calm about the whole thing. So, in this case practice made perfect.

Marilee

 

[gometros]

Ask Barb or Tony what happens if you miss the drill

I've taken my vest off immediately after the drill was over and nobody ever said anything about it to me. I think it's a safety precaution. You don't want all those people tripping down the stairs cause they can't see their feet

 

[lbgraves]

It was pretty quick and painless...with the exception of DD. The kids are use to their "boat coats" but these were much bulkier than their at home. DS was fine but DD, who was 3 at the time, was trying her hardest to endure. The top of the orange was covering her ears and her mouth was also partially covered. The CM in front of us told me that I could take it off her soon after we arrived. She had tried going down the stairs with us but couldn't since she couldn't move or see her feet.

 

[glindamood]

We cruised on Princess last year and they do not have the requirement to wear your vest back to your room - belts dragging, people carrying them to the side, swinging them, you name it - it was a mess! DH and I looked at each other and said how much better DCL's was.

 

[wdw1972]

Originally posted by The4OfUs
I was laughing at how awkward it felt to try to get down the stairs from the Walt Disney Theater to our deck 2 stateroom!

Just curious - what stateroom were you in? I just booked 2006 for a Wonder cruise and am hoping that's one that will have the lifeboat drill in the Walt Disney Theater. That deck 4 gets mighty hot in September with all those bodies crammed together.

 

[inkkognito]

Ah, yes, Sandy, you are bringing back memories!
In all of our 36 cruises, we have always faithfully attended the drill, even though I could don a lie vest and make it to Lifeboat Station Q in my sleep. But on one trip, our attendance was somehow not recorded. I thought they took note of our stateroom number when we arrived. They may have called it later, but I never would have known because we were standing next to Incessant Radio Beep Woman, who had radio that literally made a beep and then static noise every few seconds. I don't know what mode she had it in, but I think there were several of use who were ready to stash it where the moon don't shine by the end of the drill. Later that day we got "THE LETTER," the admonishment if you miss the drill. But ironically, for the first time ever, we had actually take a photo! In all our cruises, we had somehow missed the requisite Orange Sponge Bob photo, so on that trip we finally took it...thank goodness or we could have ended up in the brig!
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[The4OfUs]

Originally posted by wdw1972
Just curious - what stateroom were you in? I just booked 2006 for a Wonder cruise and am hoping that's one that will have the lifeboat drill in the Walt Disney Theater. That deck 4 gets mighty hot in September with all those bodies crammed together.

2506.

 

[eye R.N.]

The drill just isn't that long. I do admit I like the theater and the animator palate muster stations better. When they make you line up outside as a family according to height I keep getting closer to the front of the line every year.

 

[natdencro]

Why all the fuss about drill? It takes 20mins and is painfree. It is there for YOUR safety - not for entertainment: however............. we have some corking photos of DH and me wearing the orange vests! All part of the Disney cruise experience! And for those of you who choose to HOLD your vests (much to everyone's elses' annoyance)............. are you the SAME people who HOLD their car selt belts over your laps?

There should be a penalty for all those NOT ATTENDING drill (unless a very valid reason). These folk should be deterred from cruising on ANY ship! The crew are ALL trained for drill REGULARLY.............. why shouldnt we be? I certainly wouldnt want to cruise on a ship which doesnt encourage passenger safety! !Nat

 

[moinab]

wdw1972 - we were in stateroom 2012 on the Wonder last July, and we reported to the Walt Disney Theater for the drill.

I had to carry my vest (actually DH had to carry it for me) because it was impossible to safely hold my 5 month old daughter while wearing it. Also, the CMs allowed us to remove our toddler's vest as well, because he was having such difficulty walking in it. He kept tripping and falling, which was far more of a safety hazard than carrying the vest.

 

[NYDisneyMom]

Originally posted by natdencro
Why all the fuss about drill? It takes 20mins and is painfree. It is there for YOUR safety - not for entertainment: however............. we have some corking photos of DH and me wearing the orange vests! All part of the Disney cruise experience! And for those of you who choose to HOLD your vests (much to everyone's elses' annoyance)............. are you the SAME people who HOLD their car selt belts over your laps?

There should be a penalty for all those NOT ATTENDING drill (unless a very valid reason). These folk should be deterred from cruising on ANY ship! The crew are ALL trained for drill REGULARLY.............. why shouldnt we be? I certainly wouldnt want to cruise on a ship which doesnt encourage passenger safety! !Nat

I don't think anyone's fussing about the drill...just sharing experiences! First time cruisers like myself like to know what to expect.

 

[mrsfuzzmo]

I believe the basic reason for this is that the straps hang on the floor and drag, others following (it can be a crowd) step on the straps and either rip the life jackets or they get dropped and trampled. You don't need your 4 year old stopping dead in the middle of a mob trying to pick up his lifejacket.
I don't believe there is a safety "rule" or "regulation" about wearing them back to your cabin (only had to do this 1 time out of 12).

I used to work on a ship and this was not the rule. After drill, everyone could remove them. So I think Disney is just looking out for the safety of the passengers, and the upkeep of their vests! This way they know that they will all make it back into the staterooms as well. I don't want to be the one shorted because I left it up at the pool after drill, if "God forbid" we'd ever need to actually use them.

Mrsfuzzmo

 

[jrabbit]

The drill is usually your first exposure to the entertainment staff. THe performers in the theater usually are the ones taking roll call. Once they are done with that they usually will start telling jokes. Some sing. THey try to make it as plesant as possible.

There have been numerous posts about why to wear the jacket back to your room (safety, tripping, losing it, etc). Another reason is if everyone tries to remove the jacket while on the deck or hallways, elbows will be flying and several broken noses may occur.

The reason why children must wear the jackets is so that they know how uncomfortable they are. Now the parents have a "threat" they can use to keep the kids in line on the cruise. "Johnny, if you don't stop that right now, you will have to spend 15 minutes in 'the jacket'" Any whining and trouble making comes to a complete stop

 

[Stampnrobin]

My 3 and 4 year olds were quite scared during the drill. They had to stand in front and couldn't see us which made matters worse. No amount of reassurance or pointing out the diving pelicans made them feel better!

They allowed them to stand between my DH and myself after a bit.

You are squished together and you can't move much, but I think if we had discussed it with them beforehand it would have given them a little idea about what we were doing. But, it was our first time too and we didn't know!

 

[heart]

Just so you know, not everyone who doesn't follow the directions is doing so because they think they're "beyond the rules."

I am safety-crazy, and very much a rule follower. I will always be at the drill--but I may not have my lifejacket on.

On my first cruise (Disney in a way--the big red boat, remember that?) during the drill, in my big orange SpongeBob costume (I LOVE that!) I turned to my (new! it was our honeymoon) husband and said "I don't feel good." I then promptly planted my face on the deck. It doesn't happen very often--because I remove myself from the situation--but I pass out in the heat!

 

[wdw1972]

Thank you! I'm glad to learn I picked the right cabin to get the theater muster station. We were in there last weekend, and it was a nice treat to get to sit down instead of standing on deck, even though it's only 15-20 minutes out of my day. In early Sept it'll be even more of a treat to be in the air conditioning, since it's still to darn hot! I'm midship in November though, so it's back to outside on deck 4 for me then!

 

[Jeanny]

the MANDATORY safety drill only takes minutes out of your day, you HAVE to attend and the earlier the better for you AND everyone else.

I couldn't get my life vest on, so the CM helped me, of course, I was being totally blonde and couldn't figure it out... and yes, they place you by height in rows of 5 for the most part. I was fine until they placed a HUGE man and his HUGE family in front of us, and a family on the left side of us and made them move closer to our line. That's when my claustophobia started to kick in.... after saying excuse me three times and being ignored, I pushed the kids on our left out of the way and jumped up to the front. The CM saw the panic look on my face and let me stand in front... Another CM came along and tried to make me move and the first CM leaned back over and said "NO, she stays there!!!"

Then still being blonde, I couldn't get my vest OFF, so my daughter had to unhook it once we got back up to Deck 7, I couldn't breathe and couldn't handle having it on... I held it in front of me and picked up the straps until we were back at our cabin.

Just about everything else is broadcasted over and over on the tv, but for this important instruction, everyone HAS to go. Go and have fun!! and don't panic like I did. Luckily, I knew it was going to be only for a short time

 

[MrsPete]

We were in the Walt Disney theater for the safety drill, and it was not unpleasant at all. We sat in comfortable, air conditioned chairs and listened. My 6-year old was frightened of the whole thing and cried to go home, but she was quickly reassured.

 

[KELLY]

Does the Jacket clip in the front and back and do you have to pull it over your head to get it on. I know some people have a hard time with things that are really tight around the head/neck area?

Thanks KELLY

 

[inkkognito]

You do put it on over your head, but it is not right and you can adjust it for comfort.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com