Son turning 3 on cruise-any tips?

[Gatordad815]

Hi all! I just booked a cruise for next spring and my son will be turning 3 the day after we leave Port Caneveral. I have a few questions for any of you who have taken a child this age on a Disney cruise:

1) any recommendations on special things we can do to celebrate his actual birthday during a day at sea?

2) any recommendations on port activities in Tortola or St Thomas that would be age appropriate for him (and our daughter who will be 5)?

3) I'm interested to hear about recent kids club experiences for kids this age. Obviously I don't have a crystal ball so I have no idea if he will be "fully" potty trained by then. And if he isn't we just will not take him. But I've read drastically different reports on how Disney handles a young 3yo whose parents put pull ups on him to prevent an accident. If he is potty trained & we don't leave him for over an hour at a time & put a pull up on him "just in case" & return hourly to make sure he goes to the bathroom, is that acceptable? The reports are all over the place on this. In the end I seriously doubt we would let him stay in there for hours on end and certainly not without checking in frequently, but if his sister is in there having fun I'd like him to have the opportunity to join in if he really wants to. I'm not so worried about my wife & me getting adult time-we had plenty of adult time before the kids came along! But I want to give my kids the best experience possible!

Any input on any of the above is sincerely appreciated! I'm learning tons from the fine folks on this forum!

 

[bbel]

I can help with number 3.
Basically, they have to be in underwear (even if they're not fully potty trained), no diapers or pull-ups (unless its for medical reasons), yes parents send kids in pull-ups, but if they're caught, parents will be asked to come and change them.
When kids are checked in, parents can come and check in as much as they like. You can encourage them to use the kids bathrooms (no adults allowed, even CMs), or you can use the family bathroom together if you need to.
If your kid has an accident (which happens multiple times a day, even with kids that have been potty trained for years, they just get so distracted), you'll get a phone call and they'll probably ask if you want to come and change them (in the family bathroom of yo bring clothes or check them out to do so), or if you want CMs to change (they have a supply of spare generic shorts and t shirts) and they can carry on playing.
The registration form will ask you to sign to say that they're fully potty trained, if you don't sign it they can't be registered (yes even for a 12 year old...), but at the end of the day, the kids aren't made to take a test to prove it...
Even at 3, potty trained or not, you can still use the nursery, so if you want an evening at Palo, or an afternoon at the spa or pool that is an option if the club is a bit overwhelming.

Just to add too, you won't be able to register him for the club/lab until he's actually birthday.
Enjoy your cruise

 

[Quellman]

@bbel has great information.
You can also order a cake at sea to be delivered at table, like a special cake, I think you can find them under gifst and amenities. They will decorate the room, or you can bring your own stuff and decorate the room (use magnets not tape) while he is in the club one morning.

 

[Gatordad815]

I can help with number 3.
Basically, they have to be in underwear (even if they're not fully potty trained), no diapers or pull-ups (unless its for medical reasons), yes parents send kids in pull-ups, but if they're caught, parents will be asked to come and change them.
When kids are checked in, parents can come and check in as much as they like. You can encourage them to use the kids bathrooms (no adults allowed, even CMs), or you can use the family bathroom together if you need to.
If your kid has an accident (which happens multiple times a day, even with kids that have been potty trained for years, they just get so distracted), you'll get a phone call and they'll probably ask if you want to come and change them (in the family bathroom of yo bring clothes or check them out to do so), or if you want CMs to change (they have a supply of spare generic shorts and t shirts) and they can carry on playing.
The registration form will ask you to sign to say that they're fully potty trained, if you don't sign it they can't be registered (yes even for a 12 year old...), but at the end of the day, the kids aren't made to take a test to prove it...
Even at 3, potty trained or not, you can still use the nursery, so if you want an evening at Palo, or an afternoon at the spa or pool that is an option if the club is a bit overwhelming.

Just to add too, you won't be able to register him for the club/lab until he's actually birthday.
Enjoy your cruise

Thank you for such thorough info and for the thorough reply the other day about my daughter's Celiac. You seem very knowledgeable about the kids clubs! Do you work there? This is all so helpful. I'm glad to know kids have accidents & it's accepted as my biggest concern wouldn't be whether he's potty trained or not. We won't take him there if he isn't. But even fully trained kids have accidents & I would hate that to happen. As long as I can check on him regularly & remind him to go to the bathroom hopefully all will be fine!

Since you seem to know so much, do you mind if I ask: does it seem most 3yos are overwhelmed in the kids clubs & more comfortable in the nursery? I would imagine it really depends on the kid but any thoughts appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Gatordad815]

@bbel has great information.
You can also order a cake at sea to be delivered at table, like a special cake, I think you can find them under gifst and amenities. They will decorate the room, or you can bring your own stuff and decorate the room (use magnets not tape) while he is in the club one morning.

Thank you! Complicating this a little is the fact that my daughter has celiac disease so I will have to check with Disney to see if they have any special gluten free desserts. Hopefully they do but if not we can still decorate & celebrate with whatever gluten free treats they have-Mickey ice cream bars at a minimum! Thanks again.

 

[bbel]

Thank you for such thorough info and for the thorough reply the other day about my daughter's Celiac. You seem very knowledgeable about the kids clubs! Do you work there? This is all so helpful. I'm glad to know kids have accidents & it's accepted as my biggest concern wouldn't be whether he's potty trained or not. We won't take him there if he isn't. But even fully trained kids have accidents & I would hate that to happen. As long as I can check on him regularly & remind him to go to the bathroom hopefully all will be fine!

Since you seem to know so much, do you mind if I ask: does it seem most 3yos are overwhelmed in the kids clubs & more comfortable in the nursery? I would imagine it really depends on the kid but any thoughts appreciated. Thanks.

Haha! No problem. Didn't realise you were the same poster, but glad I can help.
I was a YA (kids club CM) for 3 years until recently, so for both cases, all the info I have is relevant till at least then, but in my time, very little changed so I would guess its still the same...

In my experience, it totally depends on the child, and no one can guess what they'll be like, even parents get it wrong sometimes. You have to remember that (especially on your first cruise) no child has probably ever been in any environment even similar. Ive had parents tell me they'll kid will last less than 5 minutes and they've come back and hour later worried because their kid hasn't called, but they've been playing happily the whole time, and Ive seen the complete opposite. Younger 3s do well if they have an older sibling, even if its just following them around and not really having anything to do with them. But I've also seen older kids (7, 8, 9) be completely overwhelmed.
Which ship are you on? I only ever worked the classics and I know the other two can be completely different again.
Utilise the Open House times. They'll probably be an OH that first sea day morning too, which might blend in well to dropping off. And (I think) all ships now do 'pre-school fun' which is when only 3,4, and 5 year olds can go to the club for about an hour, where its calmer and they can get used to it without the bigger kids around.

Dont be afraid to use the nursery (I know its an extra cost), A lot of people seem to think its baby-ish, but there actually loads for 3s to do - craft, painting, slide, trikes, movies, books, dolls, balls, characters come in occasionally, and they'll get a lot more focussed care aimed around their likes.

My advice - don't be afraid to try both. At the end of the day, you ultimately know your kids the best, but Ive seen many parents surprised by their kids on a Disney cruise. Just carry that Wave Phone, and then they can get you within seconds of your kids asking for you...

 

[Gatordad815]

Thank you! We will be on the Fantasy-7 night eastern Caribbean. My son will be 2 the day the ship leaves Port Canaveral but turn 3 the next day so he will be eligible to participate in kids club (assuming he is potty trained which he'd better be by then) for 5 of the 6 full days and all full sea days. I like the open house idea! That will give him a taste of it & we can guage if he will be comfortable there. I'll have to look into the pre school fun time too because both kids can enjoy that! Fortunately he will have been through a full school year of preschool before we cruise so he should at least be acclimated to spending a few hours a day with other children...

Is it easy to get nursery reservations on the ship if the kids club isn't working out? The cost doesn't bother me-it's the availability I'm concerned about.

Ultimately I want the kids with me most of the time but I hope they can do some of the fun kids club stuff that mom & dad just can't provide.

Thanks again!

 

[bbel]

Thank you! We will be on the Fantasy-7 night eastern Caribbean. My son will be 2 the day the ship leaves Port Canaveral but turn 3 the next day so he will be eligible to participate in kids club (assuming he is potty trained which he'd better be by then) for 5 of the 6 full days and all full sea days. I like the open house idea! That will give him a taste of it & we can guage if he will be comfortable there. I'll have to look into the pre school fun time too because both kids can enjoy that! Fortunately he will have been through a full school year of preschool before we cruise so he should at least be acclimated to spending a few hours a day with other children...

Is it easy to get nursery reservations on the ship if the kids club isn't working out? The cost doesn't bother me-it's the availability I'm concerned about.

Ultimately I want the kids with me most of the time but I hope they can do some of the fun kids club stuff that mom & dad just can't provide.

Thanks again!

Like I said, I was on the Magic and Wonder, but there Nursery reservations were/are pretty easy. They're trained not to say no, so even if theres a lot of kids, they'll just bring in extra counsellors from the club/lab, to cover and be an extra person if needed. Walk ups are common, but unless its a crazy busy cruise you should be able to book in advance the day of, or a day or two in advance.
The clubs are great because they'll get character interactions that they won't get anywhere else, but if they are struggling then some of those do happen in open house.
My guess is, if he's used to other kids, being left and has a sibling he'll do fine!

 

[Gatordad815]

Like I said, I was on the Magic and Wonder, but there Nursery reservations were/are pretty easy. They're trained not to say no, so even if theres a lot of kids, they'll just bring in extra counsellors from the club/lab, to cover and be an extra person if needed. Walk ups are common, but unless its a crazy busy cruise you should be able to book in advance the day of, or a day or two in advance.
The clubs are great because they'll get character interactions that they won't get anywhere else, but if they are struggling then some of those do happen in open house.
My guess is, if he's used to other kids, being left and has a sibling he'll do fine!

Thank you!

 

[Quellman]

Thank you! Complicating this a little is the fact that my daughter has celiac disease so I will have to check with Disney to see if they have any special gluten free desserts. Hopefully they do but if not we can still decorate & celebrate with whatever gluten free treats they have-Mickey ice cream bars at a minimum! Thanks again.

They should be able to accommodate just about all food requests. If you have not already, be sure to have them note the dietary requirements on the reservation. Your dining room servers will also ask the first night. You can also get a chef at Cabanas to walk the line with you to help avoid items that may be detrimental for your daughter.

 

[Huron66]

We were very pleased by the nursery with our 3 year old and his 3 year old cousin. My son was 3 years and 4 months and the day we went to Palo Brunch we put the two littlest ones in the nursery. They had a blast! It was actually more fun for them than the Kids Club. They had a counsellor making paper airplanes with them and then testing them out in the back where the cribs are located (obviously it was empty at the time). Our only regret was that we did it on our last day of the cruise and not earlier. The nursery is actually a really good choice for three year olds. This was on the Dream.

 

[Gatordad815]

We were very pleased by the nursery with our 3 year old and his 3 year old cousin. My son was 3 years and 4 months and the day we went to Palo Brunch we put the two littlest ones in the nursery. They had a blast! It was actually more fun for them than the Kids Club. They had a counsellor making paper airplanes with them and then testing them out in the back where the cribs are located (obviously it was empty at the time). Our only regret was that we did it on our last day of the cruise and not earlier. The nursery is actually a really good choice for three year olds. This was on the Dream.

Thanks for the info! Glad to hear the nursery is a good option! Was it easy to get a reservation or did you need to book far ahead of time?

 

[Quellman]

Thanks for the info! Glad to hear the nursery is a good option! Was it easy to get a reservation or did you need to book far ahead of time?

You can book some hours ahead of time online. The others you can book once on board. There are generally available hours same day. Usually times around the evening dinners and shows can be the busiest.

 

[Gatordad815]

You can book some hours ahead of time online. The others you can book once on board. There are generally available hours same day. Usually times around the evening dinners and shows can be the busiest.

Thank you!

 

[Huron66]

Thanks for the info! Glad to hear the nursery is a good option! Was it easy to get a reservation or did you need to book far ahead of time?

We had actually booked ours ahead of time because it was for a Palo Brunch reservation. We had an early reservation and the nursery was very quiet at that time. When we used the nursery on previous cruises when our son was younger we never really noticed it being too busy and were able to make adjustments to our times even the day of without any trouble. The nursery CM's are amazing! One of them even recognized our son at the Orlando airport on our way home as she was leaving for her two months leave. That was pretty neat!

 

[Lauren Pusch]

We are going on the Fantasy in April ( 1 month and 11 days away) I need to know how secure the kids club is. Im a bit over protective although my sons father will say im way to over protective. I just need to know its secure. Also about the rooms for children are they safe when you have a veranda my son absolutely loves water and they terrifies me as well. Thank you in advance! We are all so excited!! I hope theres alot to do for a 3 year old whos super active.

 

[JW9DVC]

We are going on the Fantasy in April ( 1 month and 11 days away) I need to know how secure the kids club is. Im a bit over protective although my sons father will say im way to over protective. I just need to know its secure. Also about the rooms for children are they safe when you have a veranda my son absolutely loves water and they terrifies me as well. Thank you in advance! We are all so excited!! I hope theres alot to do for a 3 year old whos super active.

Yes. It's very secure. Parents must give password and it shows on the wrist band who is able to pick up. Shows photos from the KTTw.

We still always tell our kids to be situation aware at all times. Most kids 5 and up know stranger danger.

JW

 

[Lauren Pusch]

Thank you for that!! Makes me so nervous. So my son will not be allow to come and go unless accompanied
by an adult that is approved by us correct?

 

[Mr. Drauer]

Thank you for that!! Makes me so nervous. So my son will not be allow to come and go unless accompanied
by an adult that is approved by us correct?

yes that is correct - you check them into the club where they scan the magic band so they are in the system as being in the club, and there are not any other exits. When you retrieve them, they scan the band again and only authorized adults that put into the system can give the password and take the child. It is very secure. You will see when you come to pick them up that you give them the name and they can tell you "he's in Andy's room" so you can then go on in there to get him.