Swim Diapers on Disney Cruise (and other cruiselines)

[Scoutdog]

I recently read in Conde Nast that Disney (along with all other cruiselines) doesn't allow kids in swim diapers in their pools.

Can anyone weigh in on this (either based on experience or industry knowledge) regarding Disney specifically and anything you know about other lines?

The article mentioned that Disney actually allows swim diapers in their splash zone water play area, but not the pools. Is there a specific toddler wading pool? Are they allowed in that?

My extended family is considering a big family reunion cruise. We have a 2-year-old who loves to swim. I don't relish trying to keep him out of the pool when he can see his big sister swimming in the pool right next to his "splash pad"

There are other toddlers in the family too, and my family's not much for leaving kids in the daycare program (I think people will want to hang-out with their kids), and I'm having trouble thinking what else there is to do on a boat with kids if swimming is out of the equation. Thinking of steering them toward an all-inclusive beach resort instead of a cruise.

Any insights would be greatly appreciated! Thanks

 

[dahuffy]

According to my Passporter 2006 Edition: Health regulations require that kids be potty- trained- swim diapers are not allowed in the pools. Infants with swim diapers are allowed in the Starboard "Ear", which is a fountain play area.

 

[tvguy]

As posted, it's a health regulation , not a cruise ship rule. Just like at home, swim diapers aren't supposed to be used in any public pool. Only place you can use them is in YOUR pool in your backyard.

 

[Scoutdog]

No offense, TV Guy, but is that seriously the rules for California pools? Swim diapers are fine in all local pools here. They even teach lessons for 1 year olds.

Thanks for your post, though. I'm not really questioning the health rule for the ship; I'm just wondering if because of that rule if my family would be better off waiting to cruise until everyone's potty trained.

 

[Mean Queen]

It is true that swim diapers are not allowed in cruise ship pools. We just took a Carnival cruise and were miserable because there was nothing for my baby. But the splash area on the Wonder was great. She was not walking when we went, but she sure crawled all over chasing the water. It's similar to the fountains at the parks. I had a nice time watching her from the side while my older DD played in the pool on the other side. DH watched her, because you can not see the pool from the splash area.

Here's a pic of my little one in the splash area.

 

[APOOHFN]

I copied & pasted this off of DCL's website:

Mickey's Pool

Who wouldn't want to swim in a pool with ears? Little kids adore this space, especially the water slide that's been designed just for them, and the ears which are actually wading pools for the littlest ones. Delight in the yummy food from Pluto's Dog House Snack Bar and the ice cream concoctions from Scoops. And most of all, splash away in this really fun place with Mickey's face!

Young children, who are not toilet trained, are welcome to enjoy the fountain play area near the Mickey Pool that has been designed exclusively for the enjoyment of children wearing swim diapers.

The slide is for ages 4 to 14: maximum height 64", minimum height 38".

My almost 3 1/2 yr. old refuses to be potty trained so I guess we'll be hanging out in the fountain play area!

 

[dahuffy]

Oh my Shay, your baby girl is just precious!

 

[Mean Queen]

Oh my Shay, your baby girl is just precious!

Thank you! She just loved the Disney cruise. She went nuts in the splash area and even cried when I picked her up from the nursery. I'm a SAHM, so I thought she'd hate it there. But she was so pampered and there were so many toys in Flounder's, she didn't want to leave. DCL is THE cruise line for people with young kids. And older kids. And no kids.
It's just THE cruiseline.

 

[tvguy]

No offense, TV Guy, but is that seriously the rules for California pools? Swim diapers are fine in all local pools here. They even teach lessons for 1 year olds.

Thanks for your post, though. I'm not really questioning the health rule for the ship; I'm just wondering if because of that rule if my family would be better off waiting to cruise until everyone's potty trained.

No offense taken. I tried Googling to find the exact number, but I think swim diapers are illegal in public pools in a majority of states. Of course cruise ships are governed by international law, so that's the issue for ships.

 

[vpalmer]

No offense taken. I tried Googling to find the exact number, but I think swim diapers are illegal in public pools in a majority of states. Of course cruise ships are governed by international law, so that's the issue for ships.

Swim diapers are allowed in any public pool I have ever been to as well. I researched this subject when we were considering a cruise before my DD turned three and my understanding was that cruise ships can not allow swim diapers because their pools are not chlorinated.

 

[lillygator]

No offense taken. I tried Googling to find the exact number, but I think swim diapers are illegal in public pools in a majority of states. Of course cruise ships are governed by international law, so that's the issue for ships.

wow - that's odd...what do they do for swim lessons?

All the YMCA's around here teach starting at 6 months. Swim diapers necessary. (although swim diapers are terrible at holding anything in)

 

[eva]

Swim diapers are allowed in any public pool I have ever been to as well. I researched this subject when we were considering a cruise before my DD turned three and my understanding was that cruise ships can not allow swim diapers because their pools are not chlorinated.

This seems to make a lot of sense. But I could swear they don't allow swim diapers in the main pools at WDW either. And I am pretty sure all the pools are chlorinated at the resorts. I may be wrong about this, but I thought it was listed on the pool rules at the resorts.

 

[jodifla]

This seems to make a lot of sense. But I could swear they don't allow swim diapers in the main pools at WDW either. And I am pretty sure all the pools are chlorinated at the resorts. I may be wrong about this, but I thought it was listed on the pool rules at the resorts.

Uh, not true at all. My DS was swimming in WDW pools starting at 6 months old. They even SELL swim diapers in the gifts shops.

To the OP, I once posted a thread that got over hundred responses. It was titled along the line of "Why does DCL discriminate against toddlers?" or something similar....

It's true, IMO, that WDW is sorely lacking from about 2 to 3 years old. No kids clubs for them, and no swimming. My Florida boy would not be happy in the splash pool, although I think it could keep a lot of small kids happy. Just not a kid who was used to swimming in pools 2/3rds of the year!

What I saw people do is a few things on the cruise: Just sneak them in a regualr swim diaper until a life guard noticed, or take them out of the diaper and just send them into the pool. My bet is also that parents use the swim diapers sewn into swimsuits that are undetectable.

We did go when DS was almost 3 and had a great time. He enjoyed just runnign around the boat, and he was fine in Flounders at night. I had planned to take him to a pool at a resort in the Bahamas, but our cruise was diverted to Cozumel for a hurricane, so we did the Beach Break there where they had a pool, so he was happy.

 

[tvguy]

This seems to make a lot of sense. But I could swear they don't allow swim diapers in the main pools at WDW either. And I am pretty sure all the pools are chlorinated at the resorts. I may be wrong about this, but I thought it was listed on the pool rules at the resorts.

No, the ship's pools are chlorinated, for the same reason swim diapers are not allowed, health rules, so that's not an issue.
Heck, I was on NCL's Pride of America in June and they even had a sign on the pool that said "No diapers of any kind allowed in pool, including swim diapers and adult diapers".
I've never seen the "fecal tea bag" comparison before, but in a nutshell, that's a great example of why they aren't allowed.

I can't find anything on The Y and local park district websites about swim diapers, but both sites say children must be potty trained and over age 3 for swim lessons.

 

[eva]

Uh, not true at all. My DS was swimming in WDW pools starting at 6 months old. They even SELL swim diapers in the gifts shops.

Well, if WDW allows swim diapers, then I am not sure why they prohibit them on the cruises. Maybe it has something to do with the size of the pools. They seem to have to drain and refill them a lot on the ships. But I have never seen that happen at a WDW resort pool.

To the OP, I once posted a thread that got over hundred responses. It was titled along the line of "Why does DCL discriminate against toddlers?" or something similar....

It's true, IMO, that WDW is sorely lacking from about 2 to 3 years old. No kids clubs for them, and no swimming. My Florida boy would not be happy in the splash pool, although I think it could keep a lot of small kids happy. Just not a kid who was used to swimming in pools 2/3rds of the year!

What I saw people do is a few things on the cruise: Just sneak them in a regualr swim diaper until a life guard noticed, or take them out of the diaper and just send them into the pool. My bet is also that parents use the swim diapers sewn into swimsuits that are undetectable.

We did go when DS was almost 3 and had a great time. He enjoyed just runnign around the boat, and he was fine in Flounders at night. I had planned to take him to a pool at a resort in the Bahamas, but our cruise was diverted to Cozumel for a hurricane, so we did the Beach Break there where they had a pool, so he was happy.

I tend to agree. I feel that it is just not worth it taking a child that young. They can't go in the clubs. They can't swim, if they are still in diapers. And they can't go on most excursions until they are 5. For this very reason, we are waiting until our DGD is 5 or 6 before we take her. Of course, we can still go till then.

 

[lillygator]

I can't find anything on The Y and local park district websites about swim diapers, but both sites say children must be potty trained and over age 3 for swim lessons.

I wouldn't think FL would be all that different than CA and our Y's start them at 6 months. Both my daughters have been in the swim classes...look for a mommy and me swim class.

 

[lillygator]

sacramento offers them at 6 months....
http://www.sacymca.org/lessons.htm


ETA: it looks like all the Y classes are universal. The Pike, Eels, etc we all have too.

 

[Kruegs]

So I'm confused...

Since the Magic doesn't have the spash area yet are toddlers allowed to "swim" in the Mickey Ear in swim diapers?

 

[Mean Queen]

Well, if WDW allows swim diapers, then I am not sure why they prohibit them on the cruises. Maybe it has something to do with the size of the pools. They seem to have to drain and refill them a lot on the ships. But I have never seen that happen at a WDW resort pool.

I was told by Carnival that the pool rule was international Maritime law. So even though DCL has a nice chlorinated pool (unlike the sea water on Carnival), the international law still holds.

 

[jodifla]

So I'm confused...

Since the Magic doesn't have the spash area yet are toddlers allowed to "swim" in the Mickey Ear in swim diapers?

The one ear isn't connected to the rest of the Mickey pool. It has separate, recirculating water. It can be a total pain to keep them in the ear though....