What if dd needs to nap during drill???

[ehtpnt]

Just finished reading this thread. Since the boat drill is maritime law, the U. S. Coast Guard can and does over see the drills. I believe they do spot checks of the drills on cruise ships. I wouldn't want to be the one who caused Disney that kind of problem.
And my first drill I had trouble with both knees and used a cane. The climb down from deck 7 forward to deck 4 was hard and standing for 15 minutes in one spot even worse. But skipping the drill never occured to me.
Second drill I had two new knees and everything went perfectly. And yes they should design new vests for everyone.

Estelle

 

[jrabbit]

For All of you parents out there that have read this whole thread ... have you noticed how almost everytime kids were mentioned in this discussion that they really didn't like the life jackets. So as creative parents, when the kids start acting up - just threaten them with having to wear the "jacket" for a while. I believe that they will straighten right up!!

And for those of us with teenagers, we might consider requiring them to wear the "jacket" anytime they will be staying out late at night "hanging with their friends" - Hey, another use for that duct tape, put your teen in a life jacket and then duct tape them in!!!

 

[jrabbit]

And yes they should design new vests for everyone.

They are designed for safety, and unfortunatly NOT for comfort. In case of emergency, I will prefer to keep my head above water rather than being comfortable.

 

[rejobako]

They are designed for safety, and unfortunatly NOT for comfort. In case of emergency, I will prefer to keep my head above water rather than being comfortable.

Excellent point, although I would suspect it wouldn't be all that difficult to re-design them to maintain the same safety rating while improving comfort and mobility for the wearer.

 

[inkkognito]

Rejobako, you must not be familiar with the fire onboard the Magic a few years back. Those people were at their stations and thisclose to getting on those lifeboats. It was only due to luck and highly trained firefighting crew members that they didn't have to abandon ship. It could happen more easily than you think.
Barb

 

[ldb1030]

I don't see what the big deal about the emergency drill is anyway. When's the last time a cruise ship went down in the Caribbean, much less a boat owned by Disney? Sounds like the drill's a good time to go take a nap. That way, everyone else will know what to do in the astronomically-rare chance of an emergency, and all I'll have to do is grab someone else by the arm to find out what's going on and where to go. From what I hear, those life-vests are cumbersome and ugly anyway; seems a shame to have to put one on before it's necessary in a real emergency. The whole drill procedure just sounds like an antiquated and irrelevant waste of time, and I'm planning on lodging my protest by snoozing soundly in my stateroom while everyone else is scurrying around for the amusement of the Captain.

I REALLY hope you are joking!!!

 

[rejobako]

I REALLY hope you are joking!!!

So do I. Otherwise, I would be a real jerk.

 

[ldb1030]

Yes, but there have been several of those on these boards from time to time so I can't be too sure!!

 

[QuiltTeddy]

Excellent point, although I would suspect it wouldn't be all that difficult to re-design them to maintain the same safety rating while improving comfort and mobility for the wearer.

This thread continues to totally amaze me.

Are you really going to care what it looks like when you are floating in the ocean because something happens and your life depends on it?

Things happen -- and you never know when -- 9/11 is the perfect example. Why people are acting like it is the end of the world to have to spend a mere 15-20 minutes on a US Coast Guard MANDATED drill is beyond comprehension. If it's such a big deal for people to have to participate, perhaps a non-sea vacation would be a better fit.

 

[missyoh8]

I don't see what the big deal about the emergency drill is anyway. When's the last time a cruise ship went down in the Caribbean, much less a boat owned by Disney? Sounds like the drill's a good time to go take a nap. That way, everyone else will know what to do in the astronomically-rare chance of an emergency, and all I'll have to do is grab someone else by the arm to find out what's going on and where to go. From what I hear, those life-vests are cumbersome and ugly anyway; seems a shame to have to put one on before it's necessary in a real emergency. The whole drill procedure just sounds like an antiquated and irrelevant waste of time, and I'm planning on lodging my protest by snoozing soundly in my stateroom while everyone else is scurrying around for the amusement of the Captain.

Could this be a sarcastic answer to everyone on here who gave reasons for not attending the drill???? Things that make you go hmmmmmmmm

Missyoh8

 

[mickeymo]

Thankfully, as the parent of older children (they were 9 and 6 when we sailed last year) they understood the importance and had also been through enough water and boating safety during swimming lessons to understand what the drill was about and were familar with life jackets before sailing on the Magic. But I have traveled enough with my children when they were infants to experience the embarrassment at not being able to calm my screaming children and the scathing looks of fellow airline passengers...It's a drill, it's mandatory, and as wonderful DISers, let's be a group of compassionate people who offer encouragement to frazzled parents or even help distract the kids from their discomfort...

 

[Dreamer04]

On our 2/19 Magic cruise, we were not even allowed into the muster area until DH caught up with us. He had allowed a large family group to come between us, and the CM wouldn't let us into Animator's Palette until we were all together. Then he checked off our stateroom number.

Hi Deb!

 

[suesings]

We are sailing in May with our just turned 5 year old and a will-be 22 month old. I plan to tell my 5 year old all about the safety drill before we leave and that day beforehand. I plan to even tell our toddler about it and maybe try on the lifejackets when we get in the room like it is a game.

My will-be 5 year old is very safety conscience and I can't imagine she will have a problem with wearing the lifejacket and going to the muster station. Plus, it really doesn't matter what she thinks about it as we NEVER negotiate safety with our children. That is the way it is, like it or not. It is just another item in the list of life's rules. Better get used to it now

Of course our toddler might cry but crying isn't the end of the world. Not having her lifejacket fit or knowing where to go in an emergency, now that could be the end of the world for us. Not to mention the lesson that is given on following the rules.

Just my 2 cents - But I would NEVER take a chance with my kids safety. Period! Not to mention if some BOZO makes us stand there with two little kids for longer than need be because they are so inconsiderate and think they are above the rules, I will be VERY ticked off. They will definitely hear about it.

 

[rejobako]

This thread continues to totally amaze me.

Are you really going to care what it looks like when you are floating in the ocean because something happens and your life depends on it?

Things happen -- and you never know when -- 9/11 is the perfect example. Why people are acting like it is the end of the world to have to spend a mere 15-20 minutes on a US Coast Guard MANDATED drill is beyond comprehension. If it's such a big deal for people to have to participate, perhaps a non-sea vacation would be a better fit.

Actually, I was considering the scenario of an actual emergency, not a muster drill. I agree with you, in that if we're just talking about a slightly-inconvenient drill on deck before it's off to the bar for a mai-tai, then it doesn't matter whether the vests are a bit bulky and unweildy. But in an actual emergency, the design of the vest is indeed important.

I did not comment on how fashionable the vests are (except in my lengthier tongue-in-cheek post above. I simply believe that the vests that are currently in use are of an outdated, overly bulky, physically restrictive design. They aren't easy to put on, they are not easily adaptable to differences in size, and they severely restrict physical mobility to the extent that they are not as functional as they could be, especially for persons who already have ailments or disabilities that necessarily restrict or inhibit mobility or dexterity. No one (to my knowledge) has suggested that Disney redesign the lifejackets to add mouse-ears and cup-holders -- that is not what was intended by suggesting that they should be made more "comfortable". Rather, I think some of us are simply advocating that Disney (and cruise lines in general) investigate whether newer designs might make an actual emergency easier for the passengers to deal with, by allowing them to put the vests on themselves (and their children) more efficiently, and by allowing them greater physical mobility to move about the ship as they respond to the emergency.

 

[DIS NURSE]

THANKS TO REJOBAKO"S REPLY #100 to this ever-so-crazy thread, WE CAN ALL EXPECT DCL TO CHANGE THE THE PROCEDURE FOR COMPLIANCE reagrding this issue....they DO read these boards.

I have some proposals for the DCL crew to "punish" those who choose to be sour grapes.....

If you fail to show up for the drill....
You will not be eligible for the pre-booking discount of future cruises

You wil have to stay in your stateroom (and sleep) during the Pirate Nightime party

You will not be let off the ship at CC

You will be entered in the Talent Show and have to sing "Sailing"...that geeky early 80's song

You will have to eat ALL of your meals via room service (and tip well!)

You will have to spend 3 hours a day in the Oceaneer's Club playing with 5-7 year olds, followed by a two hour shift changing diapers in Flounders Nursery

You cannot consume any alcohol onboard

You have to sleep in your lifejacket the last night aboard

And possibly the worst punishment of all, you must consume 20 Uncrustables with 20 cups of Nescafe during you cruise
(EEWWW! GROSS!)

DIS NUSRE from Oregon

 

[ldb1030]

DIS NURSE-

 

[crzy4dsny]

You know what.... It's the only thing you will HAVE to do all week!!!! You will not HAVE to go to work. You will not HAVE to cook dinner. You will not HAVE to clean the house. You will not HAVE to do laundry. You will not HAVE to do the dishes. You will not HAVE to mow the lawn.....But you HAVE to go to the drill. JUST DO IT. WHO CARES, IS IT REALLY THAT BAD?????? I've done it before, I do things that are alot worse everyday. Like going to work. If your kid is sleeping get him up and go

 

[rejobako]

THANKS TO REJOBAKO"S REPLY #100 to this ever-so-crazy thread, WE CAN ALL EXPECT DCL TO CHANGE THE THE PROCEDURE FOR COMPLIANCE reagrding this issue....they DO read these boards.

I have some proposals for the DCL crew to "punish" those who choose to be sour grapes.....

If you fail to show up for the drill....
You will not be eligible for the pre-booking discount of future cruises

You wil have to stay in your stateroom (and sleep) during the Pirate Nightime party

You will not be let off the ship at CC

You will be entered in the Talent Show and have to sing "Sailing"...that geeky early 80's song

You will have to eat ALL of your meals via room service (and tip well!)

You will have to spend 3 hours a day in the Oceaneer's Club playing with 5-7 year olds, followed by a two hour shift changing diapers in Flounders Nursery

You cannot consume any alcohol onboard

You have to sleep in your lifejacket the last night aboard

And possibly the worst punishment of all, you must consume 20 Uncrustables with 20 cups of Nescafe during you cruise
(EEWWW! GROSS!)

DIS NUSRE from Oregon

Actually, if you omitted your alcohol ban and allowed me to drink heavily while on diaper changing duty, I don't think I'd have a big problem with any of that.

 

[dwkwootton]

If rejobako agrees to sing "Sailing" at the Talent Show, I may consider reconsidering my decision to cruise other-than-Disney for now.

 

[Rob1559]

JUST DO IT! Follow the rules. NO exceptions. GEEEEEZ!