Will the safety drill make kids anxious?

[camdensmom]

We're excited to take our family's "maiden voyage" next week on the Fantasy. My girls are 7 and have the tendency to become anxious. At this time it has not crossed their mind that the ship could sink. I am wondering what is said at the safety meeting. Does it make kids fearful? The trip itself is a surprise so I won't have too much time to prep them beforehand. Thanks in advance. Jodi

 

[Dug720]

It is like an evacuation drill or a lockdown drill at school - so if those make them "anxious" then yes, this probably will. It is to prepare you for what to do IF needed.

Bottom line is, whether it "makes them anxious" or not, it is a requirement in order to cruise. Fail to attend and you will be escorted off the ship.

 

[WeLoveDisneyAlways]

They do not talk about the ship going down etc. The alarm starts to sound which yes is loud and can be scary it continues to sound until everyone is at their station. The one time we were right on deck 5 there we had to line up tallest to smallest and wait, 2nd we were in the theatre where we stood up against the wall I think others were sitting. The scariest part is the alarm and everyone running down the stairs all at once. My 6 and then 8 year old who also has anxiety and panic attacks was completely fine. She worries about things like school tests or things change

 

[chaseg03]

The alarm starts to sound which yes is loud and can be scary it continues to sound until everyone is at their station

I though it gives 7 short rings and 1 loud ring.

 

[Disneyteachers]

I'd say no. My kids were bored and antsy to be moving. They spent their time whining to me about when it was over and asking why they had to stand so close to other ppl.

 

[Chrislovesdisney]

I would just tell them that it's just like a fire drill at school. There's loud bells and everyone just practices lining up and walking out in lines. This way, it's compared to something they already are used to.

 

[OKW Lover]

If you treat it as just another activity your children will most likely take their cues from you. All the muster drills I've been at have been very calm things. The most annoying part is just standing there waiting for the demonstration/instructions. Oh, and the cattle herd trying to get back to your room afterwards.

Suggestion: Check the Navigator for the exact time of your drill. Look at the muster location on the back of your stateroom door. About 15 minutes before the drill is scheduled, make your way down to your station. That way you won't be walking past any blaring alarms (which are really, really loud) on the way.

 

[WeLoveDisneyAlways]

I though it gives 7 short rings and 1 loud ring.

Quite possible as it's been years since I heard it but it still sounds the same it's an alarm and loud

 

[owensamo]

We've been cruising with my daughter since she was just under 4, and she has never had an issue. They do treat it just like a fire drill or other emergency drills. When she was smaller, or if we are with her grandparents, we often get to the muster station early - however, I do also recommend at least one person actually follow the directions of the crew from the stateroom as well, if possible. Often times the areas you are taken through are backstage/crew areas, and it's both interesting to see usually off-limit parts of the ship, but also gives you an idea of how to get to your muster station effectively should there be an emergency. Crew is stationed throughout the ship to direct guests to muster, so there's no real way to get lost, but it's good to know where to go.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

They're less scary than lockdown drills at school.

Unless you're with my kid, who will tell you gory facts about the TITANIC and the EDMUND FITZGERALD during drills. He's a good lad but...

(I've also had to tell him not to chirp survival facts about plane crashes in airports. He has an entire book about How to Survive Anything! and he has it memorized. At least he's reading and I suppose it's useful.)

 

[msmama]

My scaredy cat 8 year old was fine. He did snuggle into me and covered his ears when they sounded the alarm but we had plenty of warning. We got there a little early and chatted with the people in charge of the muster station (ours was in the theatre) so I think by the time it started the people were friendly workers not so much "in charge" or anything. Do your kids get nervous about the safety thing on a plane? My son reads the safety manual every time, lol. But he doesn't worry about it.

 

[xlxo]

I would say disappointed..... they don't put the kids in the water.... with or without the lifeboat.

 

[we"reofftoneverland]

No, it won't, but they will get antsy. We have one who is very anxious and it doesn't bother him.

 

[bumbershoot]

The scariest part is the alarm and everyone running down the stairs all at once.

If anyone is running, they are choosing to run just because. People shouldn't be running. And I've never seen the ability to run, as the stairways get pretty packed! So seeing people running to muster shouldn't be an issue anyone will have to deal with.

 

[OKW Lover]

Agree with @bumbershoot above, there will be no running during the drill. The stairways and corridors will be packed with people.

 

[Shanti]

We're excited to take our family's "maiden voyage" next week on the Fantasy. My girls are 7 and have the tendency to become anxious. At this time it has not crossed their mind that the ship could sink. I am wondering what is said at the safety meeting. Does it make kids fearful? The trip itself is a surprise so I won't have too much time to prep them beforehand. Thanks in advance. Jodi

Just tell them that it's the ship's version of the fire drills they do at school. They are conducted with the same nonchalance as fire drills are at schools- nothing is scary. The association of the ship drill with school fire drills might help them register how extremely unlikely it is that they will need to enact the drill protocol for real.

 

[WeLoveDisneyAlways]

I didn't mean literally running like a marathon but thousands of people get jammed into stair wells all heading in the same direction gives the illusion of panic. And it was meant to not be scary but it is the worst part of the drill in my opinion which is not bad at all but hectic

 

[ladyofthetramp]

My son got a bit nervous. That was back when he was six and you had to wear the life vests to the muster stations. Once he saw what it was all about, he settled down. It wasn't a big deal and he was back to having fun. If you stay calm and explain, you should be fine. Nothing is said about the ship sinking. Just if there is an emergency, this is what you will hear and do. No one runs, never seen that.

 

[Rabb it]

Hmm, at that age I feel like they will probably not be paying attention. Most of the time the kids I see are doing kid things or chit chatting. But, the alarm going off is the only part that I would imagine might be scary, it's a loud alarm. I think it will also depend on where you are assigned for the drill, last time we were assigned to the Walt Disney Theater, so we were inside and comfy.

 

[cmph]

DD has anxiety too, and we have had a LOT of talks about how unique a situation the Titanic got itself into, etc. - but at home. And for that we can thank her facts-laden brother, like PP above. For some reason, she really doesn't associate any of those worries with the muster drill itself. I'm sure that's b/c of all the lockdown, fire, and tornado drills they have at school. They follow a procedure that is just "practice" 99.9% of the time, so it's easy to say "well, we've had fire drills 4 times a year for x years and not once had an actual fire." I think kids get that. The only issue you might have is if you homeschool and the whole "drill" idea is weird.