Potty-training/Oceaneers Club Questions

[DVCDawn]

HELP!!!!

We are taking our first Disney cruise next week. My DD, who turned 3 this week, has been potty-trained for the past month. However, we have found that sometimes when she's really engrossed in something, she can't seem to pull herself away to use the bathroom. In fact, just today, she was having so much fun at her big sister's birthday party that she had a major accident. Needless to say, I'm in full panic mode about the Oceaneers Club now. I fear she will become so completely involved that she'll forget to go.

Our plan is to make sure that she has used the bathroom before even letting her go to the club but I still have some questions:



1. Do the CMs ever gather all the little ones up and take them to the bathroom like they do in some preschools?

2. If she has an accident, do they kick her out of the club for the remainder of the cruise? In other words, how many strikes until she's out?

Thanks in advance for your help!

DVCDawn

 

[CM_Mom]

Don't worry. The CMs understand that the little ones get engrossed in what they are doing to they plan frequent potty breaks. Since the bathroom is "kid sized" and the faucets are "magic" (the automatic ones that start when you hold your hands under them) the kids enjoy going to the bathroom.

The CMs also understand that kids in new environments sometimes have accidents. If that happens, you will be paged to come get your child to clean them up - which you would want to do anyway. They can return to the club unless they have multiple "accidents" which would indicate that the child isn't really potty trained or unless the "accident" appears to be an illness (such as diarhea) which might be something contagious.

Just remember that the counselors want both you and your child to have a MAGICal WONDERful time.

 

[dletz]

my daughter was in the same situation on our cruise. They do try to remind the kids often and ask if they have to go. First night late (about 10:30) my daughter had an accident. She just missed making it to the potty (was staning in front of it). We were actually just walking to get her when they paiged us. The last day, they paiged us to come get her. Her panties were a little dirty. they weren't sure if was because she didn't do a good job wiping or not. My daughter was upset she had to leave. She was told as soon as she got cleaned up and changed she could come back.

they put the kids off to the side, on a mat, and immediately remove and wipe it up when the child leaves. They are not treated so they feel embaressed or upset. They have someone sit with them and help to entertain them while they wait for their parents.

Donna

 

[Rence]

My niece was newly potty-trained on our cruise. My sister just popped into the club frequently to make sure her daughter used the potty. Sis set the alarm on her watch to remind her. They don't mind if you stop by the clubs. If you know about how frequently your DD needs to be reminded, you can who up and make sure she is going.

 

[Woobie]

This was an area of disappointment for me. My four year old had been using the bathroom for over a year. However, both times he was in the club, he had an accident & no one noticed. Once was in front of the toilet (a near success). When we picked him up & brought him back to the cabin, I noticed & called to tell the club (just so they could clean anything that may need it). My son was too embarrassed to tell anyone. I guess I was disappointed b/c no one noticed & he was never reminded/asked if he needed to go.

Woobie

 

[floridaminnie]

Between each event they have a potty break. My DD was potty trained literally just days before we went on the cruise and didn't have an accident.

 

[crisi]

A lot of it will depend on your kid. My daughter is famous for say "no, I don't need to go" when offered a break, only to RUN to the bathroom screaming "I HAFTA GO POTTY" ten minutes later. She is almost six. Needless to say, it was a long time for us until she was actually potty trained.

She was fine on the cruise - however she had been trained at that point for about six months.

Them giving potty breaks doesn't seem to be consistant, some people report yes, some people report no (but then, we don't tend to be there all the time, so we have to depend on our kid saying "they never told me to go like at day care). They will eventually tell you if your kid isn't dependable enough with the potty - but a single accident won't do it.

If I had a recent trainer, I think I'd drop by the clubs every so often. In fact, I'd drop by the clubs every so often for any kid still in the 3-5 age group. My son didn't realize he could ask to have us paged (we'd told him, he forgot) and they paged us only when he got quite upset about us not showing up. After that, we'd drop in every hour or so with "do you guys want to leave or stay."

 

[DVCDawn]

Thanks, everyone for the great info. I have one more question -- do the toilets in the kids' clubs flush automatically? I hope not -- this scares the pants off (no pun intended!) my DD!

DVCDawn

 

[floridaminnie]

I believe that the kids have to flush them, but I don't remember.

 

[lazarru]

Just mention to the CMs that thye may need to nudge them every once in awhile. Our DD was in the same boat, about a month before the cruise we really pushed the matter so she would become trained. She had no problems at all in the clubs. Most of the time she did go herself, a couple of times the CM just mentioned if she wanted to go. From what I understand with the young ones they also do ask everyone once in awhile.

Our daughter only had 1 problem on our whole trip and that was on the flight down. We had gone with underware and she never let us know she had to go on the flight and she had an accident on the plane. Seemed like once that occured once she realized she didn't want to do it again

What's funny is that the one that had an accident was our DS, who's 5 and been trained for quite awhile. He just had 1 accident, they cleaned up and sent his clothes out to be cleaned, giving him some others that they had. They paged us and everything was fine.

 

[lbgraves]

I was in the club checking on DD when I found out that they do regular potty breaks. I took her back in though to make sure & then she went. She was afraid with all the noise of the flushing toilets & just stood against the wall. This can be a problem since those flushes are so loud. No CMs go in with them so if she went in they would have no way to know if they used the bathroom or not. When I took her in there was a little girl lying on the floor crying softly. I went & got a CM...right before she got sick.

 

[kcashner]

The toilets were not automatic (unless they have been changed).

Another suggestion that works well is for a parent to show up every 45-60 minutes and take the child to the potty. Yes, it means that mom needs to keep track of time, but really reduces the chances of an accident. You can show up, take your child to the restroom, and leave right away again.

 

[dletz]

In fact, I'd drop by the clubs every so often for any kid still in the 3-5 age group. My son didn't realize he could ask to have us paged (we'd told him, he forgot) and they paged us only when he got quite upset about us not showing up. After that, we'd drop in every hour or so with "do you guys want to leave or stay."

We did this if she was in there for long periods of time. I think we went and checked on her every 2 to 3 hours. We had told her she could have us paged, but we felt better going and giving her the option to stay or go swimming, or do any number of stuff.

Donna

 

[GoofyDisney]

Also, make sure your child is wearing something they can get in and out of themselves. (no overalls, problem zippers or buttons) The CMs are not allowed to touch the children, for example to help them with their pants. (It is like this at our local elementary school as well.) This is why no one will change your child or anything if they should have an accident. They do not go into the bathroom with them, cannot help them wipe, etc.

I like this rule on the ship and at school. At least this was the rule when we were there last.