Nemo's Reef

[fab1976]

My daughter, 2.5, is currently not potty trained and isn't getting the concept of it at all. We sail in 2 months so I keep looking at the pictures of Nemo's Reef since that's the only water fun area she will be allowed in with a swim diaper. From the looks of it, it's within view of one of the pools and is inside? Am I seeing that right? It just seems like a form of torture for an older unpotty trained child to put their area beside the space they aren't allowed in. I'm hoping it just clicks for her suddenly and we won't need to worry about it, but otherwise I'm not sure my headstrong little girl will do well with not going in the pool.

Forgot to mention we will be on the Fantasy.

 

[LWILDP]

Nemo's reef is "almost" beside the small Mickey pool. Difference is that it is covered (which is nice as you don't have to worry about sun burns) and there is a plastic/glass wall around it to contain them. She'll have lots of fun there! I had the same issue with my girl -- fortunately the cruise was a good incentive. That said if she isn't potty trained I wouldn't be too worried. There is still a lot to do around the ship and you can try to use the port days as beach days to enable her to enjoy the water. We found that we didn't use the pools too much as they tended to be rather busy and crowded and my kids loved doing other stuff just as much. Hope you have a fun time!

 

[ladypiph]

My son who is potty trained preferred Nemo's reef area over the pool for those same reasons, pools were almost always crowded and Nemo's reef is much more interactive and it even has a small slide in it as well. I think your DD will love it and there are usually lounge chairs near by so you can sit and keep a close eye on her as well.

 

[DisneyPups]

My daughter first saw Nemo's Reef at 18 mos and LOVED it. It was all she talked about until our next cruise the following summer at 2y4mo when she WAS potty trained and could use the Mickey pool. While she went in the pool once or twice, she still loved the Nemo fountains much better. There is a little stingray slide and lots of falling water. I wouldn't worry too much. In fact, you'll find there are LOTS of big kids who want to use the Nemo fountain/slide that get a little out of control. Don't be afraid to ask a lifeguard to step in if the big kids are getting too rowdy (they aren't technically supposed to even be using it, but I'm fine with them being there if they are safe and not knocking down the little kids...) Have a great time!

 

[DisneyPups]

Oh, I forget I took her on the cruise with my mom for my mom's 65th bday. DD was 2y7 mos and she still spent most of her time in the Reef.

 

[fab1976]

We have a big kid too, her 8 year old brother. He will likely go in the pool too. I think I want her to be potty trained more for the AquaLab than the pool, it looks fun! Overwhelming for the little ones though probably. Really though, with everything else on board we may not even miss the water areas she can't go in! Good to hear positives about Nemo's, reassuring to know other littles liked it!

 

[Trera]

The worst part of Nemo's reef is all the other kids that are really too old to be in there are running around and taking over the slide from the little one.

One older (at least 12) kid went running right in front of the slide as a 2ish year old was coming down and kneed her right in the head. Lifeguards did nothing.

We have to stay right with our 2 year old DD to protect her from getting hit or knocked down.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[nearlyfallinstar]

Nemo's Reef is close to the pools but you can not see the pool or the people at the pool once you are inside Nemo's Reef, so she will not be able to "see what she is missing" while she is playing. My two youngest girls loved Nemo's Reef and spent more time there than in the pool (which was fairly crowded).

As far as older kids inside that shouldn't be there, we had about three boys come in that shouldn't have been there and they were kicked out immediately. I wouldn't hesitate to ask the lifeguard to intervene if nothing was being done. Luckily for us it was not an issue!