Probably Not a Popular Post - But!!

[ClarabelleCow]

Okay - I will probably make a lot of enemies for saying this, and I'm not pointing anyone out, because I bet we are all good parents. But rules or rules, when it comes to ages and potty training, the rules are there for a reason. Please, even if your child is somewhat potty trained, don't send them to the clubs, its not fair to the child or the other children. For this reason, we waited until our DS was older (he will be 4 1/2 when we cruise) the counselors want to keep the rhythem flowing, and not have to stop because someone had an accident, which is human. We met a counsler from a NCL ship, you would be amazed how many parents blantly lie about their children, saying they are potty trained and they aren't, so the child is asked to leave the club. That is hard on the child and the rest of the kids and counslers, its not their job to patrol when it comes to this, they have other priorities of keeping the kids happy! If your going, keep the kids with you all the time, then great enjoy, I'm pretty sure they have babysitters for the rooms at night, use them. But if you plan on using the clubs or pools, don't put the pressure on the kids and send them when they aren't ready. Now, I know every kid is different, but just something to think about.

 

[hydster]

I totally agree with you!! We've taken our kids when they were younger on cruises (not Disney) and have kept them with us and just done the together family thing. It was harder than putting them in the clubs but like you said rules are there for a reason. Breaking them hurts everyone and teaches children it's ok to lie when it's convenient for you which sends a mixed message! For that reason we waited for Disney UNTIL our last child was completely potty trained and THEN we booked because we knew we wanted them to try the kids club and enjoy it!!!

Heidi

 

[Disneyland_emily]

Ill agree with you- Its not fair to your child or the counselers-
Personally Id rather pay the fee for Flounders then hafta worry about whether or not my child was going to have an accident while there.... Yes I know accidents do happen but if they arnt *really* trained than its well not that much of an accident...

When my daughter was under leukemia treatments she had a tough time with control even when she was an older 3 and 4- We never cruised but I dont think I wouldve sent her to the clubs if control was an issue...


-em

 

[jwann]

Wearing my flame-retardant clothes, I say...

the same kind of parents that send their kids to the clubs when they aren't totally potty trained are also the same sort of parents who send their sick children to day care

 

[LisaGoeke]

And if they do have an "accident" in the pool and it's noticed, they have to close the whole pool down. Is that fair to all the other passengers?!

 

[outahere]

I'm pretty sure they have babysitters for the rooms at night, use them.

I don't think DCL offers any babysitting service in the room, but they do have Flounder's for the younger kids.

I totally agree with DCL's rules on potty training and the pools. We were at a hotel last Easter and they had to close the pool 3 times in 2 days because a child "had an accident". They had to shock the pool each time and it was closed for several hours. My DS loves playing and swimming in the pool and he was very disappointed.

 

[denise5374]

I completely agree with you. Whe we were on DCL last time, somebody had an "accident" in the Mickey pool and it was closed for the enitre afternoon. ANd that was on a four-day cruise. It really isn't fair to the other kids, so please floow the rules.

 

[aprilgail2]

I totally agree...and not even just for the inconvience of them closing the pool but the diseases that can be passed around if your child has an accident in the pool...blechhhhhhh.

 

[DMS_cruisers04]

And here I thought after paying all that money for a cruise, that someone else was going to parent my kids for me. How silly of me.

And while we're talking about kids, don't drop off your kids at their club if they don't want to go or don't want to be there. If you can't handle having your kids with you on vacation, leave them at home.

 

[QueenTrident]

While we're on the subject of bad behavior - if you're sick, don't cruise. There was a huge family behind me in last as we were waiting to board. They were all bragging how they lied about not having flu symptoms in the last 72 hours. The matriarch kept trying to talk to me and trade pins - I was so uncomfortable. The poor people in front of me probably thought I had serious boundary issues, as I was practically stepping on them.

 

[makaylee]

clarabellecow, I do not think anyone would have the nerve to get angry at you for your statement. At least if they did I dont think they would actually post a retort. Everything you have all said is SO true. We had Mickeys pool shut down twice on our trip. I was very angry! People who blatently break the rules really raise my blood pressue. Especially when those rules are there for other peoples protection.

 

[minniemouse1]

clarabellecow,
I am definately not angry at you for your comment but my child did have an accident at the kids club and she had been completely trained for some time and accident free at home and at daycare for over 3 months. I spoke with the counselors when I signed her up and told them that if she is really involved that she will not initiate a potty break that she may need prompting and they stated that it was not a problem at all they could remind her if she looked as if she needed to go and that they also had scheduled potty breaks.
I was not an abuser of the OC as I feel alot of parents are leaving their children in the kids club for 4 hours+ a day everyday of the cruise even when the child protests. My child visited the club 4-5 times during our 7 day and not longer than 2 hours. I had my husband leave Palos early (he did not want dessert) to go and get our child because she had been there for 2 hours. I did feel awful when my child had an accident even though it did not seem to bother the counselors. I did question them to see what had occurred but no one seemed to know?! When I was leaving with her one of them even insisted that I bring her back after I changed her clothes. I responded that maybe she would be back to play tomorrow.
I feel that accidents do happpen but poop in the pool in my opinion is not an accident. Its a non potty trained child in the big pool and I feel that the parents of the kids who poop in the pool need to be dealt with by DCL because it is complete and total neglect of the rules.

 

[MrsPete]

I agree 100%. Personally, we felt that traveling while children were still "in transition" between diapers and big-kid pants was not worth the effort. Diapers were easy enough, and pottying is easy enough -- but the transition time is a good time to stay home!

 

[flexsmom]

I don't necessarily think that parents who leave their kids in the club for 4+ hours are abusing it. I know my DD, then 3 1/2, politely asked us to take a hike when we showed up once to pick her up after several hours. Yes, we were on a family vacation, but we had plenty of opportunities to be together for long hours, and plenty of opportunities for us all to be doing our own activities - and they were activities she wanted to be doing. Granted, there are many children not comfortable with this kind of separation, and there are plenty who enjoy it greatly.

That said, I couldn't agree more than when they ask to leave the club, it's time to take them on their way!

 

[Disneyland_emily]

>>I am definately not angry at you for your comment but my child did have an accident at the kids club and she had been completely trained for some time and accident free at home and at daycare for over 3 months.<<

But there is a difference between that a true accident because normally your child is trained-My kids were the same way- They were good at reconizing the "signs" except when they got really into something- I dont think the counselers mind that because its something that usually isnt completely mastered for a decent 6 months to a year after initial training... I think its something they try to avoid with the group potty breaks but alas not all the kids bladders work on that schedule...

I think what Clarabellecow means is the parents whose kids are normally still in diapers but stick big kid unders on them to pass them off as "trained" simply to get them there- That is not an "accident" as the child had no control to begin with..

 

[minniemouse1]

When your child asks to be there is completely different than when the parents are leaving the kids there and they are kicking and screaming. I saw alot of this on our cruise in Oct. I feel that this is abuse of the counselors because that child would definately need alot of extra attention and there are not that many counselors to go around when the OC is almost to capacity. I also heard a few nightmare stories about kids being left in the kids club, the parents leaving the ship and DCL not being able to locate them for hours. I personally am not comfortable enough to leave the ship with my child on it. If there would of been a situation where I would of needed to do that I would of stayed home. I'm not talking about leaving to go to mallory square to watch the sunset I am talking about leaving to go on an excursion where you will be unavailable and not able to return to the ship for a few hours. I guess I am definately a nervous nellie! Please don't take any of my comments the wrong way I do know that parents need a break esp on vacation.

 

[QueenTrident]

Our daughter took some cajoling to go to the club, but once she got to the door, she ran in. She was always afraid she would miss a character.

Only once did I bring her when she was crying and we had massage reservations. We were at CC and she got sand on her on the way to Scuttle's Cove. So she started freaking. I signed her in and explained we had massages. They took her without a problem, even though she was crying. Ten minutes laters, before taking the tram to Serenity Bay, I stopped by the desk to make sure she had calmed down. She had, and when I tried to pick her up after the massages, she was covered head to toe in sand and didn't want to leave!

I think the majority of parents have the best intentions for their child and try not to abuse the system. It's the few "bad apples" that can ruin the experience for their kids and other guests.

 

[floridaminnie]

I've seen several parents in the my last four disney cruises forcing their kids into the club. My dd, I have to force her to come out. I always give her the different choices for the day and we go from there, but I would never force her into the club. BTW, I also believe that they need to be fully potty trained and NOT sick!

 

[mariamard]

but my dd was one of the kids that cried when she was LEAVING the club. she went everyday, we would pick her up at different times for different activities such as swimming, character visits, a movie, dinners and parties/dismeet. she spent about 50%-60% of her awake time with the club. that is what she truly wanted to do....so, (IMO)i dont think a parent is bad or dumping their 3/4 y/o child if they express that this is what they truly want to do! we took her onshore at st marteen and st thomas and as soon as beach time would end and we werent entertaining her(meaning shopping or grabbing a bite to eat)she would ask if we can go back to the mickey boat to play with kids."it was her vacation, too" my dh would tell me when i would try to get her to hang with us. i guess we are no competition for the o. club . this was by far her favorite vacation(and we have taken quite a few) ever. we have been home for almost a week, and all she can talk about is going back....i do agree that if a kid doesnt want to stay, he/she shouldnt have to. but, i think they are missing a big chunk of the "magic" if they dont at least try it wth the parents not so far away.
just speaking from my experience. also, i just wanted to add, the pagers make a world of difference, too. if a child wants to leave- they will page the parents so that child CAN leave. the counselers really dont want a child to stay against his/her wishes.we loved the o.c. and the wonderful, caring staff.

 

[makaylee]

I am one of theose parents who left my dd6 on the boat for 3 hours to do a snorkling excursin on St. Thomas. I don't think there was anything wrong with this. It was a Disney excursion and they knew where we were and when we would be back. We picked her up right when the excursion was over and brought her back on the island with us to shop even though she wanted to stay at the kids club. I dont think I did anything wrong. She was at the club only a few more times during the 7 days, twice while we were at Palo (we picked her up right afterwards) and about 2 more times because she asked to go.