Pleasure Island With Kids????

[dsheehan87]

Hi,

I've been to pleasure Island many times... This is my first time going to WDW with just my wife and daughter (3 1/2), as we usually go with her parents or friends (we usually have someone watch our daughter).

Is it ok to bring our daughter to pleasure Island? Is there a minimum age? Were not planning on really partying, maybe just walking around and have a few drinks...

Also does the BWV in room child care service deal with childred this age, and if so has anyone ever let them watch their kids? I'm rather wary of anyone watching my daughter unless its a relative, but was considering it for mayebe a nice quiet dinner one night...

Thanks!

 

[Belle1962]

This topic usually sparks some hot debate around here. If you do a search you'll see lots of previous threads. There are basically two thoughts:

1: PI is for ADULTS and you should leave your kids back at the hotel that night. Other adults are drinking, carrying on, engaging in behavior you may not want your child to see, they left their kids/didn't bring kids so why should they be bothered by yours, etc etc etc etc
2: PI is part of Disney and so children are welcome. People don't want to leave their kids with strangers, they will go early and leave early, etc etc etc

The bottom line comes down to doing whatever you are comfortable with. I have seen children of all ages at PI.

If you go over to the family board you will also find some other alternatives for childcare--I think one of them is called Fairy Godmothers.

 

[WDSearcher]

Personally, I wouldn't take a child that young to PI. It would be sensory overload, for one thing, and probably too late a night for another. Basically ... if you wouldn't walk into a bar or dance club at home with your child, you probably don't want to bring them to PI.

However ... if you do choose to bring your daughter, go early -- at 7pm, when it opens -- and try to be out by 9pm, since that's when the partiers usually show up. I'd stay out of the dance clubs, just because of the noise level, and she certainly won't understand anything at either the Comedy Warehouse or Adventurers Club. A stroller will be more difficult to navigate here, so be aware of that.

Best bet -- hire some child care. Your daughter can get some sleep and you can have an evening out.

 

[Tiggernut_jadie]

I fully intend to take my (then) 4yo DD to PI when we're there in November! I know she'll LOVE the Adventurers club and the arguement about 'not taking kids to bars' etc doesn't really follow IMHO. In the UK a good majority of pubs allow kids in and have special play areas etc, so I wouldn't have a problem with taking my DD to PI. We will be going for when it opens and leaving aroung 9pm - but then we used to do that when it was just us anyway!

I'm sure different people have other ideas, but I would NOT go all the way to WDW and leave my DD in the hands of a babysitter I've never met before. I would be far more concerned about THAT than he seeing adults under the influence or hearing a few swear words!!! Just my opinion but I would never leave my daughter with someone I'd only met ten minute before - especially on their own in our room!!!!

 

[WDSearcher]

Just as a bit of comfort, all of the babysitters that are recommended by Disney inside the Disney resorts go through very thorough background checks, and their names, resumes and references can be gotten well ahead of time, if requested. It's not as though you're calling up 1-800-babysit and getting someone no one knows. The sitters working in the resorts have been chosen carefully.

 

[NTDIANE]

I ALWAYS TAKE MY DD TO PI SHE IS NOW 13YRS OLD. I NEVER TOOK HER TO THE CLUBS OR BARS, WE JUST WENT TO ALL THE SHOPS AND AT THE END OF PI THERE IS A STAGE WITH A BAND THAT SHE ENJOYS WATCHING FOR AN HOUR OR SO. I HAVE ONLY STAYED UNTIL ABOUT 10:00.
DIANE

 

[kman1011]

We took our boys ages 6 and 4 and they had a riot. Every night they wanted to go there. They were a hit at the adventures club and by the second night were best friends with everyone. Every night we came in all the characters knew there name and announced their arrival to everyone. They would the make everyone listen to their stories of the day. We also did the comedy club and both boys ideas they hollered out were used. One was a n 80's song about playing with my toys. It was hilarious!!! I think if your kids would like the atmosphere, live it up!!

HOW DO I ATTACH PICS?

 

[TDC Nala]

In the UK a good majority of pubs allow kids in and have special play areas etc,

PI clubs do not have and are not special play areas for small children. If they're IN the clubs, that's one thing. If they're running around out of control in the clubs, that's another.

If you're in the Comedy Warehouse they'll be required to sit still. If you're in the library show or one of the other room shows at the AC it would be better if they'd sit still (I have seen small kids disrupt the show because they aren't willing to sit and watch it), and there sometimes isn't a lot of room for them to run around in the salon.

 

[anotherboardnposter]

As someone whose been both a child and an adult on the island, I'm kind of torn.

On the one hand, I can understand the reasons why parents would bring their kids along (Many don't trust the child-care facilities, even with the sterling recommendations).

On the other hand, I'm somewhat against the concept. The humor can get a little blue at the AC and the Comedy Warehouse, and the dancing can get raunchy in the various clubs.

In the end, you are your child's parent(s) and only you can make the decision.

Sincerely,

John "anotherboardnposter" Kilduff

 

[slo]

My husband and I havn't been to PI since before my first DD was born. Since then when we have been to WDW (3 times with her & this year will be the 4th) and I never considered taking her to PI because I just assumed that children would not be allowed anywhere near that place. I guess I thought you had to be 21.

We really had a great time the year we did go to PI, but I just can't see us having as good as a time with my DD with us. Why?? Because I just wouldn't want her to see people drinking and some being intoxicated. Because I feel this isn't a childrens place I wouldn't expect people to watch their mouths, and then you run into the problem of children hearing some vulgerity.

I would like to go back to PI someday, but it won't be for a long time because my youngest is 7 months and when we return in Sept she will be 13 months. Until then, we will pass on this and just look forward to going there again in the future.

 

[WDWguru]

Not to belittle the concern folks here have expressed over what affect it may have on the children who are taken to PI, but everyone also needs to consider the other side of the coin: the adults who either got sitters or those who don't have children who go to PI for an adult evening out.

It's not really fair to them to take your young kids to PI, is it? Whether your kids are well behaved or cause a disruption, just the presence of them changes the atmosphere and makes most adults change their behavior. There are 46 square miles of WDW where they bend over backward to accept and entertain children. There is one square mile dedicated to adults. Why can't it just be that way? I sincerely wish Disney would just make PI either 18+ or 21+ only and leave it at that.

That said, it is WDW and there is some expectation that even though PI is an adult oriented and adult marketed experience, some kids will inevitably be taken there. If you MUST do it, the earlier the better. (And to compare PI to a UK pub isn't really an accurate comparison. In the UK, pubs are family establishments while US bars are generally not.) I would encourage you to consider not just your child's reaction and whether they are ready for it, but also to consider the rest of the folks paying to get into PI and your decision's effect on their experience.

 

[renessa]

WDW guru- I really agree with what you are saying. I wish WDW would make this decision an easy one and set an age minimum. Until then, parents will contiune to bring children.

 

[goofy4tink]

As an adult who has a 10 1/2 y/o, but thinks that children are brought to places that are too 'adult' I have made a choice here. We are planning on going to AC for the first time this summer. We are bringing dd, but will be going very early in the evening. Then we will be gone by 9 or so. It's my experience that most 'adult' spots don't really get going until later in the evening.

 

[buzz2400]

I am taking my DS (who will almost be 13) when I go. I have too many plus hopper days left on my passes. If Disney feels we should not bring kids to PI then they should not offer it as a plus hopper option. I would prefer to go to Disney Quest but for some strange reason unknown they do not offer it on the plus.

 

[jcemom]

I was wondering about this myself. We also have way too many plusses left over and we aren't big on water parks. We probably have a lifetime supply of plusses, lol. Next trip DS will be 11 and I was considering the comedy club, but wondered what type of jokes were told. We do allow him to watch certain (pre-screened) PG13 movies, would you consider the humor PG13? Or R rated if you were rating it? I'm not at all interested in any of the dance clubs or anything like that.

 

[AdventurerKat]

I agree that if you are going to take your kids, go in early, get out early.

I think the comedy early on is pretty acceptable at both the AC and the CW for kids, usually it doesn't even get PG 13 til later at night.

Also, just know alot of the cast at the AC rib people for bringing kids in so you might expect to be made a spectacle of.

 

[jcemom]

Thanks for the quick reply! We would definitely go early, if at all. As someone else mentioned, I really wish they would let us use those plusses for Disney Quest!

 

[HaleyB]

I have really found this thread interesting. I never even considered taking my kids to PI. Actually I just assumed it was 18+... I still am not even considering this, just sounds like a bad plan. Exhaust child in theme park and sun all day and then keep them up late at a place where they need to be on best behavior. Sounds like asking for trouble to me, but then that could just be my kids. I don't, however, agree that people who want to take children to PI should not. I am pretty darn sure there are adult only bars in Florida...

 

[karylrocks]

I also was not aware that you could bring your kids into the clubs. I was thinking that it would be fun for DD and I to go to the AC but didn't think we would because we will have DS12 with us. Now I am thinking that we may go (early) and bring him, and go to the CW as well. He loves Whose Line Is It - how does the comedy compare with that (before 9 or 10)? Do the clubs open at 7?

 

[Disney Debbie]

As I posted on a different thread, we took DD when she was 14 and we all had a great time. We went to the very first show at the Comedy Warehouse - I believe it was about 7:00 - but that was in July and I know they aren't always that early. I'd say it compares very well with Whose Line is It Anyway - in that it can get a little "adult" but no completely vulgar language. I was more embarassed when I took her and a friend to see "The Nutty Professor" when they were about 9 or 10 then I was taking her to the CW!!

Then we went to the AC and we absolutely LOVED it! It is really fun and we will definitely go there again this year - she'll be 18! We were out by about 9ish and as we were leaving, the streets were starting to fill up with the jello shots and partyers.

I personally wouldn't have considered taking her before she was at least a teenager - and certainly not when she was young enough to be disruptive. You know your child best - and if your child is one that is going to talk loudly during the show, need 10 trips to the bathroom or otherwise disturb others around them, I wouldn't take them. I think DD would have behaved nicely when she was younger - but I don't think I would have had nearly as good a time as I did.