Taking our second Disney cruise with an older toddler, some questions

Hello, we just booked our second Disney Cruise with our now almost 3 year old toddler (last one was taken when she was almost 2 on the Magic and she loved it), and we have some questions, I appreciate if anyone knows the answers:

1. Bed rails. On the DCL website it has the option to request bed rails, but that option is grayed out and appears to read as if its only for toddlers who are 3+. Our daughter sleeps in a bed now and will not like a crib, will they honor a request for bed rails? Should I call in advance?

2. The kids club. I know that you need to be 3 for the kids clubs. Our daughter turns 3 literally the day after our cruise returns to port. Is there any flexibility here? She's going to be bored with the nursery program for kids 6 months to 3 years.

3. Swim Diapers. I have high hopes that our daughter will be potty trained by the time of this cruise (which is 5 months from now). However, in case we're still at the "wear swim diapers for emergencies / just in case" stage, what is she allowed to do as far as thhe water activities? Are swim diapers prohibited in the pools?

Thanks in advance!

Bed rails--ask your host on board. They will be supplied

Kid programming--you can take her during open house hours. Whether there is any flexibility or not has varied a lot thru the years, but the recent answer is "no." It's a legal thing. If you want to have a 3 year old who can be signed into programming, rebook the cruise for the following week. Actually, many 3 year olds are overwhelmed with the programming and hate it. Of course others love it.

Swim diapers--NO. Huge NO per USPH policy. Totally prohibited. Again, no wiggle room. If you consider her to be "trained," she can use the pools without a diaper of any sort. And if she, or any other kid has a recognized accident, the pool will be closed, drained, and cleaned. She is also free to use the splash area. Make your best judgement at the time as to whether she is trained or not....and use the pools early in the morning. They are drained each night and refilled.

Hello, we just booked our second Disney Cruise with our now almost 3 year old toddler (last one was taken when she was almost 2 on the Magic and she loved it), and we have some questions, I appreciate if anyone knows the answers:

 

1. Bed rails. On the DCL website it has the option to request bed rails, but that option is grayed out and appears to read as if its only for toddlers who are 3+. Our daughter sleeps in a bed now and will not like a crib, will they honor a request for bed rails? Should I call in advance? You should be able to have your room steward get them for you.

 

2. The kids club. I know that you need to be 3 for the kids clubs. Our daughter turns 3 literally the day after our cruise returns to port. Is there any flexibility here? She's going to be bored with the nursery program for kids 6 months to 3 years. No, your child must be 3 prior to departure.

3. Swim Diapers. I have high hopes that our daughter will be potty trained by the time of this cruise (which is 5 months from now). However, in case we're still at the "wear swim diapers for emergencies / just in case" stage, what is she allowed to do as far as thhe water activities? Are swim diapers prohibited in the pools? No diapers of any kind in any pools are allowed.

 

Thanks in advance!

Timing does make a big difference with Disney and they aren't flexible on age limits.

Not quite true that child must be of age prior to departure. If your child has a birthday during a cruise that allows them into a program or location, you can go to Guest Services on their birthday and get a new KTTW card and access to the new level.

Also, on DCL, the people who take care of your room are referred to as "hosts," not "stewards."

One of the reasons we first cruised with DCL is that they offer open houses at the kids club where kids who are not old enough to check in to the club can play there with a parent. It won't help you if your hope was to drop your daughter off so that you can enjoy some downtime. But my son enjoyed having the option to play in the kids clubs during the open houses. There was at least some open house time every day.

Even if your kid was 3, if they're not potty trained then it's still a no...

Even if your kid was 3, if they're not potty trained then it's still a no...

Not true. If a child is 3 they are allowed into Oceaneer's Club. You will be asked if they are potty trained. If the answer is "no", then you are asked to return frequently (about every hour/hour and half) to check on your child's toilet needs.

Not true. If a child is 3 they are allowed into Oceaneer's Club. You will be asked if they are potty trained. If the answer is "no", then you are asked to return frequently (about every hour/hour and half) to check on your child's toilet needs.

Nope.

Ugh, why do people insist on spreading wrong information /false hope on these boards?

On the form there is a box that asks if the kid is fully potty trained. If you lie about it then your lying on a legal document. Many do.

If your kid isn't potty trained best to say yes and come back regularly and check up yourself and either check them out and take them to the bathroom or use the family bathroom in the club.you say no, the majority of Counselors will send you in the direction of the nursery. A few might let it slide because they can't be bothered with the confrontation. If you manage to get the wrong manager and question your kids toileting needs (or lack of) they will personally escort you to the nursery and put a note on your kids file that will say nursery only due to potty training.

You'll be asked to come and check regularly on your kids is if they've been allowed in in a pull up or diaper becasuse of a medical need.

Anyway...that's just my multiple experiences, from three different ships, with numerous unpotty trained kids, from the inside! But feel free to tell me I'm wrong! :confused:

Nope.

Ugh, why do people insist on spreading wrong information /false hope on these boards?

On the form there is a box that asks if the kid is fully potty trained. If you lie about it then your lying on a legal document. Many do.

If your kid isn't potty trained best to say yes and come back regularly and check up yourself and either check them out and take them to the bathroom or use the family bathroom in the club.you say no, the majority of Counselors will send you in the direction of the nursery. A few might let it slide because they can't be bothered with the confrontation. If you manage to get the wrong manager and question your kids toileting needs (or lack of) they will personally escort you to the nursery and put a note on your kids file that will say nursery only due to potty training.

You'll be asked to come and check regularly on your kids is if they've been allowed in in a pull up or diaper becasuse of a medical need.

Anyway...that's just my multiple experiences, from three different ships, with numerous unpotty trained kids, from the inside! But feel free to tell me I'm wrong! :confused:

Not going to tell you you're wrong. How recently were you turned away from Oceaneer's with an untrained 3 year old?

I know, in the past, if you checked "no" you had to put your 3 year old in the nursery, but recently (like the last 6 months to a year) they've been letting 3 year olds in Oceaneer's regardless of whether you check "no" or "yes". With the proviso that you must return frequently. If you don't, and there is an accident, then you are required to put your 3 year old in the nursery.

My suggestion is that you always set your child up for success. They may have been fully trained for a year at home or at pre-school, but they can get involved in playing and ignore their "needs" until the last possible second. The ship is a different environment and things can happen.

Thus, I suggest that they need to go before they can be dropped off at the OC and then that the parent return every 60-90 minutes and escort them to the bathroom. After that, they can continue to play or leave with the parent. This also largely eliminates the issue of a child wanting to leave and staff being busy and not calling the parent. I know there are those who will claim that this never happens, but it happened to my child.

Bottom line--the young child has a successful time in the OC while on the cruise and looks forward to returning.