Toddlers in the Kids Club

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

Since I've finally got my life back in order from our 5-11 cruise I thought I'd post some observations about the kids club. I have 4 year old twins, so they were in the 3-4 year old group. I noticed that the counselors had scheduled potty breaks for this age group, which was great. DS will go when he needs to, but DD gets too busy playing and forgets to go. Don't put your kids in any clothes that they can't or may not be able to manage themselves. The counselors CANNOT TOUCH the children at all. So this means they can't help with snaps, buttons, buckles or belts. I saw more than a few little boys coming out of the clubs bathroom with their pants around their ankles (men-go figure). As a mom to little ones, we usually help our kids get their clothes back on, so make sure your kids know they have to do it themselves. Also, I used a restroom by AP, which is were the kids were having lunch one afternoon. The counselor was standing by the door and a little boy was trying to figure out how to use the faucet. I showed him how to stick his hands under to get the water flowing. The counselor said "Thanks, we can't come into the bathroom or touch the kids." My kids had a great time on this cruise and loved being in the club. DH and I actually had a few meals by ourselves. Can't wait to go again.

 

[peg2001]

Thank you for this information. I'll be cruising when my younger DD is turning 3. I've been hoping that she will be completely potty trained by then but I had not given much thought to making sure she can re-dress herself alone. She is more interested in UNDRESSING herself at this point.

I have also considered visiting the restroom with her just before she enters the club and and letting her stay for only an hour. This may avoid the whole "bathroom help" issue.

Would the CMs beep a parent for bathroom breaks if their child still needs assistance or would they be annoyed and consider the child not "completely" potty trained?

 

[demath789]

Wow! Thanks for the great info. My daughters are 3 and 4, and although both are completely potty trained, my littlest one still wants me to pull her pants up. I have to get to work on that before September!!
Thanks so much!!!!

 

[cumickey]

Great to hear your observations, we go with our 3-1/2yr DS soon. He too can leave the potty till the last minute if he is having lots of fun, so I was hoping they did regular potty breaks. What other things did your twins get up to in the clubs?, did they have any favourites activities, not to be missed?. Did you decide there was a better time for them to go to the club?, and did they make new friends?. What seating did you do also!

Hope you can do a report for us, and tell us about more cruising stuff with preschoolers!, it would be great to hear about it. hint!hint! lol!!. As I have so many questions!?!?!

Glad you had a good time and are all eager to go again!

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

This was our 3rd DCL. We took our twins last year for their 3rd birthday's on the 7 day and again on the 4 day Wonder. DD is outgoing and always loved the clubs, but DS is shyer and wouldn't stay the first 2 cruises. Preschool helped a lot this year. We psyched him up this time telling him it was just like preschool. I have the navigator in front of me-my kids loved everything they attended:Flying off to Neverland, Where's Tink, Mouseketeers in Training, Picture This, Return to Neverland movie with club, Do Si Do with Snow White, Pumbaa's PJ Party, Flounder's Fish Tales, Discover the Magic Show. They went every day to a main event and received a waterbottle and lunchbag in our stateroom the last night. They had lunch twice and dinner once with the club. We finally made it to Palo's-DS wouldn't stay in the clubs the last 2 cruises-Palo's is worth it!!! At Discover the Magic they get a free t-shirt for attending-one less souviner to buy. We talked about what was going on every morning and let them decide what they wanted to attend. We wanted family dinner all the nights except Palo's-but they bugged us so much during dinner one night I took them there-they chose to skip dessert to be in the club. I'm sure they made friends, but since they're little I don't think they were as bonding as a 8-10 year old making a new friend. We had first seating. We tried both on our last cruises and decided first was better for us-our kids kept falling asleep during late seating.

I'll be glad to answer any other questions.

 

[cumickey]

Sounds great!, thanks for being so quick,

We hope to get to Palos's, I think we have a better chance of brunch or tea than an evening, as I think DS will crash out early. How did you work yours?, what time and day did you go and what did the twins do at the club at this time?. I imagine a meal there would be too good to rush!, so does it take long?

One last thing, , is there an area where you can observe your child in the club and see how they are getting on without them spotting you?. Say the first time you take them and you cannot stand another minute worrying after dropping them off so you want to go check on them after 10mins!!!!!.

TIA!

 

[floridaminnie]

thank-you so much for the valued info. I taking my 3yr dd on the July 20th cruise, so I'm gratefull for the info

 

[Tay N Evie's Mom]

We did Palo's Tues-Grand Cayman night. Our dinner rotation was PLA and that would have been our 2nd night at Parrot Cay. We had ressies for 6:30pm and were done around 8pm. The kids went to the club at 5pm-had dinner with the club from 5:30-6pm, then the club saw Return to Neverland, then had Do Si Do with Snow White. We didn't pick them up until after 9pm. They loved every minute-so did we!

There isn't a specific place to observe your kids, but when you enter the club there is a sign in desk with a gate. They have a tapering wall with various sculptured animals across from the gate. Inside the club they have a floor to ceiling sculptured "beam" that looks like shipping crates stacked up. On the inside of the "beam" they have a tv monitor that faces the inside of the club so kids can watch movies. The placement of the "beam" would make it hard for your child to see you if you were peaking over the tapering wall. (I know this may be hard to follow, but it will make sence when you get there and see the club). You'll see the kids running and jumping around and participating in the activities without being noticed.

I kept checking my pager at first, but only got paged once-DD was tired and ready for bed the first night around 9:30pm. After seeing the looks on my kids faces I knew they were having a great time and I wouldn't get paged, so I relaxed. DD even cried a few times when I came to pick them up-she wanted to stay. Our 1st cruise I actually went back to the club and insisted on a new pager because it hadn't gone off (actually DD never had me paged! LOL).