What if dd needs to nap during drill???

[Suzanne74]

I was wondering what others do with young kids the day they embark. My dd takes a nap usually from 3-5pm. I was hoping to get to port early, board early and go eat and even take a quick swim. I figured by then she will be exhausted. If I take her to the drill, she will melt and then forget dinner our first night there!! I was also thinking it would be nice to have her sleep before we leave port so she can actually see us leaving.

Can DH or I go to the drill and another stay with her in the room or do we all HAVE to go? What have others done with toddlers/preschoolers who need their sleep?

Thanks

 

[missmulan]

there are no exceptions, everyone has to be at this drill...even little ones. those life jackets are so uncomfortable! i remember seeing little ones being frustratrated over the bulky jacket. how can you blame them?

 

[clh2]

I believe that the safety drill is for everyone - no exceptions.

You didn't mention what your DD's age. Is it possible that she will be too excited to take a nap - on a cool looking ship, in a strange bed?

Also - are you on the same time zone? That might help things if you are on central time, instead of eastern time.

Also - does your DD have the opportunity to sleep in a little bit on your embarkation day? That might help too!

Good luck!

 

[mommasita]

Echoing everyone else. EVERYONE has to be there. I remember the first time my dd was just 4, and boy was it a challenge. It was not too fun, but once she saw everyone else (including babies) with them on, she settled in. I agree to try and get her to either sleep in, or nap earlier. Keep in mind, that this goes by rather quickly, and disney does everything they can to keep it as painless as possible...

 

[aprilgail2]

First cruise we had life boat drill in AP so she just slept in my arms. The next time we had it outside and she hated that life jacket, after they checked our names off the list they told her to just take it off and hold it. We were only out there all of 10 minutes anyway, if that, I think it might have been shorter!

 

[webray]

No Exceptions..everyone must attend the drill. They have to check your names off on a list before they let your group go. Don't mess it up for everyone else, be to the drill and be on time. Your daughter can nap after the drill.

 

[missyoh8]

Let me guess??????? You only have one child???


Missyoh8

 

[Suzanne74]

Yes I only have one child and no I am not trying to mess it up for everyone else. This is my first cruise with my child and I see no reason for harsh answers, I was just asking a question that I was unsure about. I am sorry if I offended anyone - geez!!!

To those who answered the question without being rude - thank you very much, I was just curious as I have never done this before and just wanted to know in advance - thanks!!!!

 

[b&j's_mom]

I will probably get in trouble for saying this, but my son was fell asleep about 30 minutes before the lifeboat drill. Sometimes you don't plan the naps, they just happen! I was worrying and worrying - should I wake him up or not? Should I just have my husband and daughter go to the drill and I would stay in the room with him? I decided to wake him up and looking back, I would have done it differently. He cried the whole time and then we grumpy for a good part of the rest of the night. I should have just sent my husband and daughter!

Julie

 

[kidzmom3]

I will probably get in trouble for saying this, but my son was fell asleep about 30 minutes before the lifeboat drill. Sometimes you don't plan the naps, they just happen! I was worrying and worrying - should I wake him up or not? Should I just have my husband and daughter go to the drill and I would stay in the room with him? I decided to wake him up and looking back, I would have done it differently. He cried the whole time and then we grumpy for a good part of the rest of the night. I should have just sent my husband and daughter!

Julie

that would not have worked because they have to check everyones name off, and if you are not there, you hold up everyone else at that lifeboat station while they find you.

 

[Rence]

Actually Julie, you did the right thing. If everyone does not show up, they have to hold up the drill until everyone is tracked down. Not showing up means that you drag out the drill for everyone else.

Think about how much worse it would have been with your crying son, if the drill were prolonged an extra 20 minutes because someone had decided that they did not need to attend the mandatory drill.

The drill is the one and only mandatory event in the entire cruise. Start your cruise schedule with the drill written in ink and then pencil in everything else around it.

 

[b&j's_mom]

They didn't ask for our names, just called out to see if someone from our room number was there. They didn't ask for room 8572's mom, dad, son and daughter. They yelled out from a bullhorn "room 8572". My husband raised his hand. Actually, when we got there (before the drill actually started), one of the CM's said to me that I could take him back to the room if he was too upset. We would have been fine.

 

[kidzmom3]

They didn't ask for our names, just called out to see if someone from our room number was there. They didn't ask for room 8572's mom, dad, son and daughter. They yelled out from a bullhorn "room 8572". My husband raised his hand. Actually, when we got there (before the drill actually started), one of the CM's said to me that I could take him back to the room if he was too upset. We would have been fine.

i respectfully disagree.

 

[Talking Hands]

They didn't ask for our names, just called out to see if someone from our room number was there. They didn't ask for room 8572's mom, dad, son and daughter. They yelled out from a bullhorn "room 8572". My husband raised his hand. Actually, when we got there (before the drill actually started), one of the CM's said to me that I could take him back to the room if he was too upset. We would have been fine.

No, you would not have been alright. The drill is mandatory. The castmember saw you and could confirm you were there. It was his call to allow you to go back. If you had not shown up it would have delayed everyone and standing out there on deck wiating to find one or 2 people is not fun. Delays everyone. Castmembers can make it easier on you but you need to show up and it is the castmember's call.
A good example is that everyone must don the life jacket but immediately after I put it on I was given permission to remove it and hold it because it was causing me a lot of pain and it was obvious. But I didn't ask, it was the castmember's call.

 

[b&j's_mom]

I know that everyone is supposed to go and that everyone should go. I am saying, in our particular case, wrong or right, there would have been no problem. They barely even looked in our direction, the CM was WAY on the other side of our line, they were in a huge rush (which I am thankful for!) I am not trying to be disrespectful, I see your point and to be quite honest, if we were to cruise again and we were in the exact same situation, I'm sure I would be to chicken to actually do it. I am not brave. But are you saying that they go through and ask for everyone's name and check them all off the list? I know they didn't do that. Don't be mad at me for asking!

 

[b&j's_mom]

talking hands-

The cm had no idea who I was or what room I was in.

 

[Talking Hands]

Then they would have been searcvhing for you or your husband would have had to explain. This is not Disney's ruling. It is maritime law. Everyone must be at the drill. Castmembers can make it easier and do but they have to follow maritime law. Because I am hard of hearing we were actually checked in when we arrived at the station. The interpreter asked our cabin number and the went ahead and checked us off. They also moved me to the front of the line we were in so I could see the interpreter as I depended on her to make sure I got all the information since the castmember speaking was not in front of me but down a ways. Of dear husband could have given me all the info later but it was better I got it direct through the interpreter. That way I missed none of the message.

 

[depomas]

I am going to but my nose in ( as usual)...

I don't think anyone is trying to be too harsh.. I think if you have the unfortunate opportunity to have the drill outdoors in like 100degree sunshine, and you have to WAIT and WAIT for some people to show up, then you may realize why people are responding like this. I do not mean this with any personal criticism towards anyone in particular. Picture half the boat outside, and they repeatedly call certain staterooms over and over, and ALL of you MUST wait until everyone shows up.....

p.s. Muster stations are so fun when they are indoors...

 

[alexandrew]

Trust me, my little DS has stayed with DW in stateroom during the drill on some of our cruises...no 20 lashes,no walking the plank, not even a sideways glance from the CMs conducting the drill....They shout stateroom number, you reply, and if they ask where rest of your party is, tell them DS/DD is asleep in stateroom....No big deal.....There is no way they will call you out on this....CMs are trained to be gracious....

 

[HappyLawyer]

Yes I only have one child and no I am not trying to mess it up for everyone else. This is my first cruise with my child and I see no reason for harsh answers, I was just asking a question that I was unsure about. I am sorry if I offended anyone - geez!!!

To those who answered the question without being rude - thank you very much, I was just curious as I have never done this before and just wanted to know in advance - thanks!!!!

Why are you apologizing, you asked a valid question, never apologize for questions asked-keep your head up