Pool rules for kids under 3.

[BuzzLightyearInTampa]

Just read something on the DCL site about young children and the pools. Does this mean that children under three can't go in any of the pools, just the splash zone?

Feedback please... What did you think of the splash zone? Did your littlest cruisers miss not being able to go in the pool? I have a 3.5 year old and my youngest will be 10 months at time of cruise.

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From the DCL site
Young Children at Mickey's Pool
The United States Public Health Service requires that only children who are toilet trained be permitted to enter swimming pools onboard cruise ships. Children under 3 years of age who are not toilet trained can make waves at the Splash Zone next to Mickey's Pool. This special play area has been designed exclusively for the enjoyment of children wearing swim diapers.
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Wonder if I'll be able to potty train my 10 month old in time for the cruise! Lol. I heard Gisele Bundchen (the supermodel) has her seven month old trained already.

For young children who aren't totally potty trained, you can take their pull-up/diaper off and just put their swimsuit on during a reasonably safe time (like soon after they went) and take them in the pool for a short time. The 10 month old would be too young to pull this off, but 2-3, or even 4 year olds who haven't quite mastered the topic at hand are prime candidates for this approach IMHO.

 

[Tinkermommy]

I just posted this question on another baby thread and it looks like I have my answer.

I guess there will be no cruising for us until our baby is potty-trained (or if we are blessed to have more children until our last baby is potty-trained.) We have a pool and our baby swam almost every day this summer -- it would be cruel to go on a cruise and not let her swim so I guess we will postpone for a couple of years.

I understand the policy -- and realize that Disney's hands are tied here. But, I don't think it is completely rational. I bet there are just as many "potty-trained" 3-4 year olds that have accidents in the pool as there would be babies -- in my experience babies tend to not go #2 while in the water anyway. In fact -- between both of my girls and hundreds and hundreds of swim diapers, I have never changed a dirty swim diaper yet. As far as #1 goes -- it really doesn't matter; and I guarantee the younger kids (and too many adults) are doing that all the time anyway.

We went before my son was potty trained (he was 2). He loved the splash zone! We have a neighborhood pool which we go to all the time and he loves it but he never even asked to go in the Mickey pool with his big sis.

I think people are grossly exaggerating the appeal of a pool on a cruise. The Mickey pool is always very crowded. So you are really just bobbing up and down in it. And there are so many other things going on that we were able to enjoy it just didn't matter.

I would not let this be the deal breaker for going on a cruise.

And I really don't like when people try to bend this rule. If something does happen then you have inconvenienced your fellow passengers and created an expense for Disney just because you wanted to.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

For young children who aren't totally potty trained, you can take their pull-up/diaper off and just put their swimsuit on during a reasonably safe time (like soon after they went) and take them in the pool for a short time. The 10 month old would be too young to pull this off, but 2-3, or even 4 year olds who haven't quite mastered the topic at hand are prime candidates for this approach IMHO.

Sure you can as in "you have the ability to do this" but it does not change the fact that you are not supposed to by both DCL rules and Health Dept. regs.

 

[Dicecatt]

I think people are grossly exaggerating the appeal of a pool on a cruise. The Mickey pool is always very crowded. So you are really just bobbing up and down in it. And there are so many other things going on that we were able to enjoy it just didn't matter.

I totally agree with this...it is like going to Disney World and spending most of the day at the hotel pool. I don't give my children the option of spending all their time at the pool...not when there are adventures to be had! I also can't stand crowds and that is all a ship's pool is, CROWDS, with the possible exception of the Adult pool. There is a lot to do on the ship, your fun need not be confined or tied to pool time. If a main draw is swimming, cruise pools aren't really the best...there are cheaper ways to enjoy swimming!

I will also say...sometimes you just have to wait to enjoy things...ask my DD11 who is STILL not tall enough to ride Hulk, even though her twin brother has been tall enough for years. Heights, ages, ect all come into play all the time...I didn't elect not to go to Disney World when she was too short for RnRc even though she cried every time she couldn't ride it (finally tall enough at age 9, she is a peanut)....there is much more available to do!

Now, if you told me that my kids were too young/short/whatever to go to Castaway Cay, that would be a different matter but the pools...Eh...

 

[Webmiester]

Ahhhh well last time we went, which was our DDs first, the splash zone was closed for repairs...so maybe they made an exception for that time. It was 9/2009.

 

[tvguy]

Where are you getting this from? The rules that govern land and sea are different. Swim diapers are allowed in most public pools....do you think the Health Depts. just turn a blind eye to all those places?

CDC guidelines are cited on signs by the pools at our health club and YMCA. I think the health department expects public pool owners to enforce it. We have a friend who is a property manager and the ban is in their lease agreements, violating it is an evictable offense.

http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/pools/swim-diapers-swim-pants.html

 

[Figment1983]

We just got back from a 3 night cruise on the Wonder, I was a bit disappointed in the size of the splash area for the little ones. It's not much bigger than a cabin on the ship. If there are more than 3 or 4 kids it seems crowded. But like others have said...it's common on cruise ships, not just a Disney thing for the kids to have to be potty trained.

 

[mhsjax]

I only go in the adult pool. My kids really don't care about pools, we have one at home. If you think you might be missing something by not being in the big pool with you kids, just hang around and take a look at the color of the water by the end of the day. that should change your mind. Disgusting is the word I would use for it.

 

[jodifla]

CDC guidelines are cited on signs by the pools at our health club and YMCA. I think the health department expects public pool owners to enforce it. We have a friend who is a property manager and the ban is in their lease agreements, violating it is an evictable offense.

http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/pools/swim-diapers-swim-pants.html

This link mentions NOTHING about not swimming in pools in swim diapers. In fact, it gives tips on changing the diapers often and taking young children to the bathroom often.

From the link:

Parents should not allow their children enter the water when they are ill with diarrhea, even if they are wearing swim diapers or swim pants. They risk contaminating the pool and making other children sick.

Swim diapers and swim pants are not a substitute for frequent diaper changing. It is recommended that parents change their children often and make frequent trips to the toilet while swimming.

Pool operators should try and make sure that parents:

Understand the importance of NOT swimming when ill with diarrhea.
Plan regular and frequent (approximately every 30 to 60 minutes) diaper changing or trips to the toilet. This will reduce the chance of fecal contamination and can also reduce the amount of urine in the pool that binds with disinfectant and creates irritants in the air (see Irritants (Chloramines) & Indoor Pool Air Quality).

 

[jjgarv]

Hey we all (kids and parents) have to endure not being able to particpate in something because our kids are too young!!! hug:

So true. There are so many different stages when parenting...each with it's own challenges and joys. Through each stage, just remember what Darius Rucker sang: "It won't be like this for long."