Pool rules for kids under 3.

[Mommy2princess]

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.

 

[jilljill]

What you read is correct, those children not potty trained can not go in the pools and can only use the splash zone area. This is common on ships and is not unique to DCL ships.

 

[mickey7879]

I find this policy so crazy. I mean, if the child is wearing a swim diaper, that would hold the pee or whatever. You can't tell me that all those kids who ARE potty trained are actually leaving the pool to use the bathroom.

 

[mushu756]

I was on a 5 day dcl cruise in august with my almost 3 year old and he loved the splash zone, but my son in fascinated with sprinklers. Also you get bigger kids coming in the splash zone which is frustrating knowing that it was the only thing my son could do. The lifeguard did tell kids to get out once on the 1st day we were in the splash area and that was it. It definitely could use some more water spouts ( there's only four ) . When there's a lot of kids there's not enough spouts

 

[mushu756]

heres a picture of what i mean about the big kids as you can see there's only four spouts and the older children are standing on 2 of them

 

[Mommy2princess]

I'm not going to let this detour me from taking the cruise. Just a little disappointed. We have a lot of community pools where we lived when my first was born. We took her swimming from three months old and she loved it. Just means we all won't be able to swim together, one of us will have to stay with the younger one. I was thinking of taking a small blow up splash pool for my youngest. Do you think DCL would allow a small splash pool on the deck?

 

[mickey7879]

Not sure of their policy on this, but I know I have read on here somewhere about someone doing this and they didn't have any problems.

 

[Mommy2princess]

I just found this on the Fodors site...
http://www.fodors.com/news/story_2733.html

Diapers not allowed: If you're cruising to a warm weather destination, you'll be expecting to take your little one into the ship's pool. However, all cruise lines except Disney Cruise Line do not allow diapers or swim diapers in their pools in accordance with Center for Disease Control's sanitary codes. On the Disney Magic, the Mickey pool has a separate filtration system in its "ears." Thus non-potty trained children are allowed in this area since it can be easily emptied, cleaned and filled if there is a diaper accident. On the Disney Wonder, toddlers can enjoy Mickey's Splash Zone, a 385-square-foot play area with interactive fountains.

So it sound like swim diapers are allowed in the "ears" of Mickey's pool. Can anyone confirm??

 

[Jey12]

You can always call DCL and ask. I had not heard of the Magic being swim diaper friendly in the ears, but we are going on our first cruise next week. So I can't say what I've seen or what is allowed. I would go by the rules posted on the Disney site over another site. Although I do understand why this policy is in force. This summer at our local community pool any "code brown" would shut down that certain pool area for at least 30 mins while the water was disenfected, and tested multiple times. On a closed in area like a cruise ship I would think this would become expensive and get many complaints from the other guests. Since you only have two pools to choose from closing one for a long period would overcrowd the other. Is your 3 year old potty trained? Maybe you could put the younger child in the nursery for a short period and give the older child a chance to enjoy the bigger pool if they are. Either way there is so much going on I am sure you'll have a great time even if you are limited to the splash area.

 

[Minniemiss]

From the DCL site for the Wonder

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 are welcome to enjoy the Splash Zone next to Mickey's Pool. This special play area has been designed exclusively for the enjoyment of children wearing swim diapers.

http://disneycruise.disney.go.com/ships-activities/ships/wonder/pools/mickeys-pool/

 

[MandyGirl]

I think back to swim lessons for DD1 at 8 months old... the swimming lesson center had parents double-diaper kiddos. Not with disposables, but the diapers you pay about $10 for each. By the time we went to Hawaii at 9 months old, she was going underwater for 10 seconds at a time. Makes me re-think putting DD2 in swim lessons prior to our DCL cruise... would feel bad teaching her to love the water but yet get on a ship for 14 days and can't even get in the kiddie pool (she will only be 15 months then). Mickey Ears would be great though! I'm thinking there was one cruise we had researched or been on before where the kiddo area had a pool specifically for non-potty trained children - hence being the kiddie pool. Can't remember which line/ship.

iswimemler.com/faq/
In an effort to protect all swimmers from Water Born Illnesses (WBI) the Health Department requires that children who are not potty-trained wear reusable swim pants. Wearing two swim pants with tight elastic around the waist and legs will contain a solid accident in the swimming pool and protect everyone from WBI.

 

[samily]

I just found this on the Fodors site...
http://www.fodors.com/news/story_2733.html

Diapers not allowed: If you're cruising to a warm weather destination, you'll be expecting to take your little one into the ship's pool. However, all cruise lines except Disney Cruise Line do not allow diapers or swim diapers in their pools in accordance with Center for Disease Control's sanitary codes. On the Disney Magic, the Mickey pool has a separate filtration system in its "ears." Thus non-potty trained children are allowed in this area since it can be easily emptied, cleaned and filled if there is a diaper accident. On the Disney Wonder, toddlers can enjoy Mickey's Splash Zone, a 385-square-foot play area with interactive fountains.

So it sound like swim diapers are allowed in the "ears" of Mickey's pool. Can anyone confirm??

This is outdated information (and incorrect - it was only one ear that was available not both) - this was prior to the splash zone being installed on the Magic. Now that both ships have the splash zone, the ear is no longer available for the non-potty trained kids. The splash zone is an improvement over the one Mickey ear - there was never enough room there!

Here is a pic of the splash pad on the Wonder:

 

[jilljill]

We've been on many sailings and have seen the Mickey pool closed for a couple hours at a time due to an 'accident' that caused the pool to be drained, cleaned and refilled. I've even seen it closed twice in the same day.

 

[mickey7879]

We've been on many sailings and have seen the Mickey pool closed for a couple hours at a time due to an 'accident' that caused the pool to be drained, cleaned and refilled. I've even seen it closed twice in the same day.

Exactly. Kids are going to pee (or poop!) without a swim diaper on. They are having too much fun to leave. So why keep the younger ones out that would have a swim diaper on. I know it's their policy as well as the policy of all the other cruiselines, but I don't understand it.

 

[jilljill]

Exactly. Kids are going to pee (or poop!) without a swim diaper on. They are having too much fun to leave. So why keep the younger ones out that would have a swim diaper on. I know it's their policy as well as the policy of all the other cruiselines, but I don't understand it.

Probably because not all parents will put the babies in swim diapers.

 

[twinstars]

We were on the Magic in March. Diapered kids are not allowed in any of the pools, only the splash area. My little one was in a swimming diaper, but each time the lifeguard saw him in the Mickey pool, he was told to go to the splash pad. It will be difficult if you have kids of different ages. My little one was ok with the splash pad until he saw his older brother in the Mickey pool.....

 

[Tower]

When we were on the Magic in December, the Mickey Pool was closed 3 times due to some child peeing in it. Personally, I would not want to have to contend with this as well in the goofy pool and I understand the rule. For more opportunities with your child in the water, be sure to take the kids to the beaches, esp. at Castaway Cay.

 

[atinkerbellmom]

This subject comes up ALL of the time here on the boards. I bet if you do a search, you will find hundreds of threads.

Yes this is true. Non-potty trainned children regardless the age can not be in the pools. This is due to health regulations that have NOTHING to do with Disney. It has to do with them keeping their license. See Cruise ships are a big corporate for GI illness. So many people in tight corders eatting from an on-site location. The company even has to report GI outbreaks and these are watched very close. They can even get written up and reviewed if they have so many. When you get on the ship, you will see tons of signs posted as well as see the staff watching people who appear to be ill. I have even seen people "disappear" who have GI disturbances. If a certain amount breaks out on the ship, you will then see a CM posted at the drink station not allowing people to get their own drinks. This is the reason DCL gives you wipes as you enter for meals. Not the case at the counter service by the pools. Well anyway, swim diapers do not prohibit leakage of human waste from diapers. A DISer here onced called Swim Diapers "Fecal Tea Bags" and now when I see them, I get a whole new image.
Since the ship is already highly susceptible to GI outbreaks, not allowing the non-potty trainned children into the pool is decreasing the outbreaks the best they can. The CM are very very strict to with this rule (as they want to keep their jobs). So know this is not just Disney.
Now Disney does have a bigger problem. I swear on each of our trips, the pool is closed 1 times even up to 3 times a day because of "accidents" in the pool. Since uses Fresh Water for their pools, it is a bigger deal to drain and refill their pool. It has been my experience the babies are ok not in the pools. They like the little areas they are assigned to just fine.
A DISer once here asked about a blow-up pool. She decided not to take it, because 1) There is no room near the pool to place it. The ship is small and the chairs are on top of each other. 2) There is no way to fill a pool. There is not a water source. So I would suggest just bringing your baby to the ship with swim diapers to the splash zone. You all will still enjoy the trip. Also know the pools on Disney are very small. The Mickey pool is so small it is almost a "Splash Zone." There is not any "Swimming" in the pools. It is just a basic "get wet" station.
I hope this helps.... It may not bee what you wanted to hear, but it will be fine.

 

[Tower]

I hope this helps.... It may not bee what you wanted to hear, but it will be fine.

Very well put atbm! I agree 100%

 

[Homemom]

Very well put atbm! I agree 100%

Me too!!!

My DD1 loved the splash zone, but loved the beach and water at Castaway Cay even more.