No infants allowed in pool?

[allieg8r94]

In my post below about cruising with an infant, someone mentioned that infants are not allowed in the pools. Huh?

Please clarify, for anyone who can explain this. We will be bringing our 9 month old DD on the cruise and if she can't go in the pool we may rethink our plans.

Thanks,
Allie

 

[KathyTX]

Only completely potty trained kids are allowed in the pools- no diapers allowed.

The diaper set has a little spashy area in one of Mickey's ears that they can play in, though!

 

[lbgraves]

Yes, that is correct. Non potty trained children are restricted to one ear of the Mickey Pool where there are small fountains and the water is constantly recirculated & filtered. Unfortunantly not everyone follows the rules & the pool sometimes needs to be closed, emptied, and sanitized then refilled. Swim diapers are only allowed in the one ear.

 

[castlegazer]

You'll find that the fact that Disney allows the pre-potty trained into at least one area of a pool is more than most lines allow. Its like a kiddie pool attached to a bigger kiddie pool.

 

[JennsBabySky]

For public health reasons (i.e. poop diapers), DCL will close the entire pool down, drain it, clean it and refill it. Because of this, they do not allow kids that have not been potty trained into the pools. Although, the pool usually gets closed at least once because of an accident. Unfortunately, swim diapers usually leak a little. DCL is very cautious about public health hazards because they don't want wide spread incidences of illness on their ship.

We've cruised twice with an infant. Our son was 9 months on his first cruise and 16 months on our most recent. He loved Mickey's ear. DCL does allow non potty trained children in one of Mickey's ears. It is fountain style so warm water enters the ear, but it is constantly drained and doesn't reuse the water. Since the water is warm, most infants and toddlers seem to love the ear. And since it isn't a traditional pool, there isn't a lot of water, so it seems a little safer for the little ones. And you can sit on the edge and be right next to your baby. I was very skeptical about using the ear, but my son had a blast and I couldn't keep him out! He loved it. For family swimming, we booked excursions in port at hotels that allowed infants to swim in swim diapers.

Overall, I found DCL one of the best vacations to take with small children. We are now planning our 4th and my little one may very well be in diapers on that one as well. Swimming restrictions aside, it is really hard to find any vacation that caters to infants and toddlers as well as DCL. They by far surpass anything else we've considered (at least in my opinion). That is why we continue to cruise with them. Of course, I'd rather my 16 month old be able to swim in the big pools, but since DCL has our health in mind I'm willing to overlook this aspect and look at the big picture. At least that is my 2 cents.

Have fun,
Jennifer

 

[erikthewise]

I believe one of the "ears" in the Mickey pool is for very young children in swim diapers. It's really very nice for that purpose. For obvious reasons children who are not toilet-trained are not permitted in the other pools.

See http://disney.ennis.tv/magic_page3.htm for a photo of Mickey's "ears" (the two small black rubber pools).

 

[StuartMI]

I dont blame people for not wanting to swim in a toilet. Then again, thats just me.

 

[crisi]

This was one of the reasons we waited until our kids were potty trained. Potty trained makes such a big difference for kids on cruises - pools, kids clubs. At nine months your daughter may not care if she never gets to go in the real pool, but a two year old may.

But its a CDC regulation.

 

[Rence]

But its a CDC regulation.

A while back I wrote the CDC regarding an incident I witnessed on another cruiseline regarding an infant in a pool.

In the reply, the official at the CDC did state that the rule is non-potty trained children are not allowed in any pool on any cruise line. She then mentioned that the ONLY exception to this was the fountain area on the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder.

 

[Patricia1]

Jennifer, thank you for the information on Mickey's ear!!! I've been looking for this type of info for a bit now... we have a 9 mo and were wondering if she'd have anytime to play in the water.
Patricia

 

[allieg8r94]

Thanks so much for the clarification. Now that you've explained it, it does make perfect sense.

Don't worry, we're rule followers.

 

[Debbie H]

Have you seen that pool?????? I don't think I'd want my potty trained child in it if I had one small enough! Most of the kids in there I'm sure are not potty trained otherwise the pool would not be drained daily and a yellow hue. YUK!

 

[KewlxPink]

I personally agree with the Disney Cruise Line people. Who wants infants swimming in the main pools? They may poop or pee in it. So I am glad when I heard that one of Mickey's Ears are for little kids.

But yes, only toilet trained kids go in the big pool.

 

[lbgraves]

On the cruises we have been on the Mickey pool has stayed pretty clear all day. It's never changed color. If it had, I wouldn't have let the kids stay in it. The kids are in it any time from 8 am - 4 pm when we have to bribe them to go take a break before dinner.

 

[Aneille]

What constitutes an infant? If my 23 month old went into the pool without a swim diaper would people automatically think my kid was peeing int he pool because of her age?

We aren't going on a cruise anytime in the near future probably not for years but I am curious.

My 23 month daughter is partially trained and doesn't wear a swim diaper in pools that much since she never makes an error in regards to poop, and that swim diaper doesn't hold in any pee anyway.

I am not saying I would or wouldn't take her in but maybe I would for a few minutes while I play with my 3.5 year old, who knows. I can see that happening.


Honestly that pool must be nasty if the water isn't changed, because I am sure some of those very very potty trained kids(4+) are peeing in the pool.

I am more concerned though with the poop side of things. Are you really suggesting in these posts that when the water isn't clear its not just yellow?

YUCK!

If thats the case I may never go on a cruise unless of course they have an adults only pool!

 

[lbgraves]

On our cruise the CMs at the Mickey pool approached people with children who were obviously too young to be PTs or were wearing swim diapers in the main pool & directed them to the ear.

 

[CM_Mom]

DCL does have an adults only pool but there's so much to do that we didn't spend much time at the pool. I think lots of families also find too many other things to do on board to have much time to swim.

 

[Aneille]

On our cruise the CMs at the Mickey pool approached people with children who were obviously too young to be PTs or were wearing swim diapers in the main pool & directed them to the ear.

Hee I guess I need a good debate! Anyway how would they know what is too young to be PT? I know a few children that were PT'd near their 2 year old b'day. I know mine isn't, but if mine was and they told me to get of the big pool I may be a little peeved. Plus my almost 2 year old looks pretty little so I am sure if it was me even with my 2.5 year old I'd probably be one of those approached.

I understand the problem though. You have kids older than 3 that aren't completely potty trained, and you got kids under 2 that are. Honestly its a no-win situation for the cruise line. You can't put an age restriction on it unless you set it really high and then you got a lot of upset parents of 3, 4 and maybe 5 year olds out there, plus their kids!

CM_Mom - That is good to know since I am not a pool person really. I only started going to the pool because my kids like it so much!

 

[spotdog]

I would think a 9 month old would be perfectly happy splashing in Mickey's Ear. The larger part of the Mickey pool is often so crowded with the 3-7 yr old set, a baby would get bowled over.

The pool is often closed for cleaning due to a BM accidents. Fortunatley urine is usually fairly bacteria free and the cloudy discoloration of the pool is probably due to suncreen.

 

[Aneille]

I would think a 9 month old would be perfectly happy splashing in Mickey's Ear. The larger part of the Mickey pool is often so crowded with the 3-7 yr old set, a baby would get bowled over.

The pool is often closed for cleaning due to a BM accidents. Fortunatley urine is usually fairly bacteria free and the cloudy discoloration of the pool is probably due to suncreen.

I don't think I would let either of my kids set foot in that pool then! Once is an accident, closed multiple times is a bunch of very irresponsible parents!

Gross!