New Pirates Cruise for kids?

[polkadotminnie]

The new cruise just started about 2 weeks ago.

 

[erikthewise]

If this info is on AllEarsNet, it is extraordinarily well hidden. I sent a link to the thread http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=731558 to AllEarsNet some time ago and have been checking to see if they've posted anything yet. Search function, site map, Speciality Cruises, Beach Club & Yacht Club fact sheets, Grand Adventures for Kids, etc. all come up empty. If anyone finds something about the NEW pirate cruise on allearsnet.com, please post a URL.

No doubt this is for real, I would just like to see AllEarsNet post it as that will do a lot to help spread the word.

 

[nasmith]

I have always been curious - and since this thread has attracted so many with PB allergies, maybe you could help me......

HOW allergic are these children - I mean, if I am sitting behind them on an airplane, and open a bag of Peanut M&M's to munch on (One of my favorite treats) - are they going to have a reaction? How about if someone touches something at Epcot (say the handrail in the wait-line at Testtrack) after eating those roasted nuts they sell in WS without having washed first - and then a "Nut-allergic" person comes thru and touches the same handrail - does that cause a reaction?? Does the child go into full anaphylactic shock - and how quickly? Honestly - I've always wondered about these things ....

Selket - There is NO way the CMs will be able to check his glucose levels and administer insulin -as those are things that require a MD's orders and a RN to perform (in the state of FL (home-care by care-givers notwithstanding)). Unfortunately, If your child is that brittle to require checking more frequently than every 2'; then you might want to consider waiting on this until he is old enough to check his sugar levels himself.

 

[gigi1313]

my ds is soooo allergic to certain nuts (brazil are the worst) that yes, cracking one open in the room could send him into anaphylactic shock... peanuts are a lesser allergy and he could probably survive one bag of peanut m&m's in the room, but we were at a NYEve party and a few kids were eating reese's and another few were eating snickers and he broke out in head to toe hives (never having touched it, just having breathed it!)... when we fly we have to request that the plane be "nut free" and they would make an annnouncement asking you not to eat your peanut m&ms! if a dozen people on the plane opened their little bags of nuts, he'd most likely be in serious trouble 'cause the air gets recirc'd and no way to "clear" it!

 

[Betsyt82]

It is sad there are some people who have these types of allergies...but in the case for those with these types of allergies they are the ones that need to find ways to adapt to the majority of the people and not the other way around. Most kids eat penautbutter.......WDW knows that and makes it available. They(WDW) also try and accomondate the needs of allergy restricted kids...but the reality is if a child is that allergic then maybe that is not the place for a severly allergic child to on that/and other/ activities as I know that if my child was like that and needed an eppi..... I would have to be the one to administer it.

 

[BuckNaked]

It is sad there are some people who have these types of allergies...but in the case for those with these types of allergies they are the ones that need to find ways to adapt to the majority of the people and not the other way around.

ITA. And it seems that WDW does everything they can reasonably be expected to do in order to make this cruise available to kids with allergies.

 

[NMW]

Exactly Disney Fool - I have no doubt that WDW will do everything they can to ensure that children with allergies can still take part in the cruise. But I don't agree that they should simply "ban" PBJ uncrustables for all of the kids.

Honestly I think Disney is a little behind the times on this one. None of my three kids have a nut allergy. However all of the 3 different preschools they went to banned all types of nuts. We were not allowed to send them in for snacks, birthdays, etc. Same thing with both of my sons kindergarten classes in our public school. The kids bring their own snack to eat every day (1/2 day) and no nuts are allowed. They are very strict about it. Our cafeteria does not serve any nut products for school lunches ( 1st grade-4th grade). Every year in all of their classes there has been at least one kid with a potentialy life threatening allergy to nuts, usualy more than one.

 

[BuckNaked]

Honestly I think Disney is a little behind the times on this one. None of my three kids have a nut allergy. However all of the 3 different preschools they went to banned all types of nuts. We were not allowed to send them in for snacks, birthdays, etc. Same thing with both of my sons kindergarten classes in our public school. The kids bring their own snack to eat every day (1/2 day) and no nuts are allowed. They are very strict about it. Our cafeteria does not serve any nut products for school lunches ( 1st grade-4th grade). Every year in all of their classes there has been at least one kid with a potentialy life threatening allergy to nuts, usualy more than one.

I don't think Disney is behind, but I do think this shows the difference between a private entity and a public one. Our kids are in private school, and a trial balloon was floated a couple of years ago about banning all peanut products because there were 3 or 4 kids with peanut allergies. The parents nixed that idea immediately and peanuts were not banned.

 

[digskat]

My children are not allergic to nuts, however there is a ban at our school banning anything that has peanuts or may contain traces of nuts at school. I'm very cautious and read labels very carefully to void products/snacks with nuts. I really feel it is too large of a risk to take, considering it can be life threatening to those individuals with these types of allergies. I guess I would just wish if the tables were turned and my child had such an allergy that other parents would have the same respect that I show. When you consider the severity of the consequences, I think it is pretty minor for me to spend that extra few minutes shopping and reading the labels. Besides most schools give out Peanut free snack lists to give parents ideas of what to send. As for now and always my children can eat there peanuts and PB&J at home. Hopefully Disney will ban these items as well to ensure all children can enjoy these types of events safely. Take care, an understanding mom and nurse Kat

 

[Selket]

No one should fear that I'll send my son on the pirate cruise anytime soon - he is just 3 right now. I'm sure it will be many years away before he could test himself, much less give insulin. He isn't a "brittle diabetic" right now but a 3 year old who cannot yet give good indications of his highs and lows.

I agree with the previous poster that disney does seem to be behind the times on this. Certainly the last place one would want a young child to have a full blown anaphylactic reaction is out on the lake with no one there to give an epi-pen. I just do not accept the argument that peanut butter has to be served in every dining situation with young children. It is enough that it is served in the parks. Believe me WE DO adapt to the majority and take great care. But I don't think in all cases the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few when we're talking about peanut butter and the consequences can be so deadly. It would be very simple to make the cruise accessible to those with food allergies - and peanut/nut being a very common allergy - and one of the few that just touching peanut/nut can bring about a reaction.

Some folks are not as allergic to peanuts as my son - if he touches it he has a life threatening reaction - we give the epi and call an ambulance. So yes, if you eat some peanut butter and happen to get a bit on the table and he happens to sit down and touch it then we have a big problem. I wouldn't send him on the pirate cruise (when he is old enough to self-test) just because of the diabetes though - if they aren't allowed to administer an epi I'm sure they can't give glucagon either.

I'm having just a very bad day with all the medical complications of my son so forgive me if I'm touchy about it. Today is his 1 yr anniversary of being dx'd with diabetes. But all you want for your children is for them to grow up and do what other kids do. He goes through enough in life that I think a few kids on a boat could not eat peanut butter for 2 hours.

But the bottom line is that is between folks like me and WDW and not something anyone on the Disboards has decided as policy. I am just thankful that planning vacations for him at disney is a wonderful experience overall because they do go out of their way to help us out. And I am happy they added another pirate cruise. And when William is elected President of the United States in about 40 years your peanut eating days are over friend....

 

[TiggerInLBV]

The Albatross Cruise just started within the last several weeks.

 

[NMW]

The 3 different preschools my childern went to/are going to are all privately owned. In fact 1 of them was connected to a Catholic school (private school). It was the policy of the Catholic school in regards to nut products that dictated the preschool ban. I can't imagine any parents opposng the ban. I mean, you're talking about another child's life! My kids like peanut butter. I just don't think it's a big deal if they can't eat it while at school. Neither do my kids. My DS age 6, is in kindergarten and when we pick snacks at the grocery store, HE is the one always checking to make sure nothing has nuts in it. He says that Sarah and Lexi (kids in his class) could get very sick. I'm proud of him that he is thinking of others.
I think it's a shame kids with peanut allergies can't go on the cruise. I know I have not been on a flight that had nuts in a long time. I have not however heard a message that passengers were not allowed to eat nuts that they brought on the plane with them. I never even thought of that! I'll watch the flight snacks I pack for our Disney trip in Dec.

 

[BuckNaked]

I think it's a shame kids with peanut allergies can't go on the cruise.

Who says they can't go? If I'm not mistaken, a parent of a peanut allergic child already posted on this thread saying that her child went and that there were no problems, due to the precautions that Disney took on the cruise.

I can't imagine any parents opposng the ban. I mean, you're talking about another child's life!

Yes, we are...and if it were my child, I wouldn't depend on other people to keep him or her safe. That's my job, not the job of other parents. It isn't just an issue of no peanuts or peanut butter, it's an issue of all of the products out there that have some type of peanut or nut by-product in them. There are tons of products out there that we would never suspect of having peanut products in them, and no way would I depend on other parents to know about all of those things. IMO, it's much better to work with the teachers and the child to ensure that they are aware of what is and isn't acceptable, and then work from there.

At our school, one of the parents did pull her child from the school, but the others have stayed without incident. The teachers know all of the precautions to take (the kids sit at a table with other kids whose lunches have been inspected by the teachers, tables are thoroughly wiped, etc.) and all of the staff and faculty know how to administer the epi pen, if necessary. It's been a good experience for the non-allergic kids, in that they've learned about allergies and how serious they can be, and for the allergic kids, in that they've learned that they can live with their allergies without depending on everyone around them to adjust to their problem.

 

[lenshanem]

NMW, I want to live where you are! That is great! I think my daughter's elementary has done a pretty good job, but next week they are having TWO days with PB&J served cause it is conference week. She currently has a sub who is really nice and has offered to take her back to the room to eat with a friend during both of these lunches. I asked her to wash all the kids' hands, too before they got back to class.

BuckNaked, I think it is the difference in everyone's comfort level. When I called about the GF pirate cruise they told me the boat would be eating PB&J, they'd serve my daughter and her sister another meal and would sit them up front. She (who just turned 7) or her sister (who just turned 4) would have to administer the Epi if she needed it. Obviously that is a joke. I totally understand them not wanting to be responsible for the Epi, don't get me wrong. BUT, if I was a CM on that boat I'd personally be freaked. Despite my daughter being disappointed, I had to pass. MY comfort level being I don't feel safe with her being out on a boat with twenty other kids eating PB&J around her and not having an Epi available if needed. She wanted to do something alone with her sister so I have them booked at the Neverland Club one night, which has now gone peanut free.

Most of the kids' programs at WDW are now peanut free. We did the tea party with Alice before and they were great! I understand PB&J being easy to transport on a boat, they could try using soy butter instead. I let my daughter eat this ONLY at home cause it looks and tastes so similar to PB. I can bet none of those kids would know the difference.

 

[nanatink]

I just booked the pirates cruise for my grandson. Hurrah!!!!! I have wanted him to go on it for several years. I got the last slot available for the day that I wanted.

 

[kelscross]

When I talked to a CM a few weeks ago she was telling me about the Albatross cruise. She said they created that one to draw more girls on the trip. Pirates Cruise has a stigma for boys I guess, although both of my girls want to do the Pirate Cruise so who knows.

 

[pattyT]

For April 20th

 

[bjakmom]

Here's an excerpt from the new DVC mailing about the "Albatross Treasure Cruise":

"During the Alatross Treasure Cruise, a new children's activity at Disney's Y&BC Resorts, kids travel the waters of Crescent Lake and the Epcot World Showcase Lagoon in search of buried "treasure."

"We're looking for my ship and my treasure that was stolen from me, " explains Captain Ron, the CM who leads his young crew on the adventure. "We go from one spot to another picking up clues, and eventually we find the ship and the treasure."

Captain Ron tells Vacation Magic that the ATC offers guests ages 4 - 12 an interactive adventure, one that's a bit different than those found in the Theme Parks. "They help us put the map together. They look at the clues - 'Where do we go next?' It's a hands-on activity for the kids."

Featuring 6 different ports of call, the cruise includes stops to the Japan and Germany pavilions in World Showcase; these visits add a level of realism to Captain Ron's tale. "We tell the kids, 'Gee whiz, we're going all over the world looking for this treasure. There's France, there's Morocco, there's all these other countries,' and they get a big kick out of that," he says.

The Alatross Treasure Cruise is currently offered Weds from 9:30 - 11:30 am. Cost of the activity, which includes lunch, is $28.17 per child, plus tax. The cruise sets sail from Bayside Marina, located behind disney's Yacht Club Resort."

Sounds like a great addition !!! Can't wait to book this for my nephew on our October trip - he loves pirates - already has his Peter Pan costume for MNSSHP!! This also looks like a good alternative for those parents who were concerned about their children being "out of sight" while on the GF pirate cruise - you could keep an eye on the boat during this one.

 

[minmate]

I don't have nut allergic kids but I have always wondered why WDW would choose Peanut Butter. It's convenience makes sense; however, I wonder if they couldn't come up with a better solution. With that being said,where do you draw the line? My oldest dd is only in Kindergarten and we've encountered folks with allergies to nuts, mayo, eggs, dairy, strawberries, bananas, soy (in which case I'm guessing soy butter is a bad idea!) gluten allergies and more! Would you cut out all of this? If so, what is left?

I, personally, have a bee allergy, which, in the summer, can be difficult to control. Can't hardly tell the bees to take a hike since I'm allergic to them! I am the one that has to leave the area!

 

[lenshanem]

Given the time, I don't see why they even need to serve lunch. It amazes me how every kid thing has to have food involved! Even at Sunday school - they are there an hour, but yet still need food?
Maybe they could do a snack instead? Fresh fruit? Apples, bananas, juice boxes?