traveling with 2.5 yr and 4 yr old Questions

[sami90tsi]

We are taking a 7 day Western Cruise in October. Does anyone know if they will allow my DD (3 in Feb) will be allowed to go into the camp instead of the hursery?

[mom x4,grandma x4]

Hi, this is a difficult question to really get an answer.
First your DD has to be 100% potty trained, NO pull ups allowed.

Next normally it is 30 days from their birthday when they can be moved up.

However, this is the tricky part, sometimes if there is an older sibling there and the child is potty trained the counselors will let them in. Ths is solely up to the counselors to say yes or no. Often it depends on how many kids they have in the club already. Some cruises are busier than others.


You can take her in and stay with her, when the other kids are out of the club for an activity sometimes. This too is up to the counselors to decide. But usually they have no problem with this, just ask them about it and ask what the time will be and show up then. Sometimes if the older child is shy and you say you want to come in as a visitor to let your child adjust you can often bring the other kid in too.
Some older kids want their parents to come in because they are afraid to be left, so parent visitors are very common.

As I said it is hard to answer because there are lots of variables to consider.

mom x4,grandma x4

[sami90tsi]

Thank you. I booked some time in the nursery but my DD act older than 2.5 and does everything with her brother. Do you know anything about the nursery? Also does the club keep the children during shore excursions?

[mom x4,grandma x4]

Hi,
I know that the nursery is $6 per hour, minimum 2 hours.
It is very clean and they do have a good selection of toys for the kids which they bring out a few at a time.
They do have a time the first day for you to check it out and ask any questions you may have.
Also there is a 2 way mirror window where you can check on your child without them knowing you are there. Plus it gives you a chance to check on the counselors too.
I personally have never used it but I do know several people who have used it and all loved the care their kids got. If my kids were little I wouldnt hesitate to leave them there.

Yes you can leave your kids in the clubs while you go on the islands, if the kids are very comfortable with the clubs because the beepers wont work on the islands to reach you. Lots of people do this.

mom x4,grandma x4

[sami90tsi]

Thank you again all the information is a godsend. My DD is in the process of Potty training now. Hopefully she will be done by our cruise in October.:) Any other information you can give me about what to expect cruising with my DD (2.5) and DS (4). Anything you suggest will be greatly appreciated. Thank you again

[mom x4,grandma x4]

One other tip is one of the Mickey ears is just jets of water for kids who are not potty trained, swim diapers are required!! So take swim diapers along and she can play in that area. If she is potty trained the other ear is not very deep and is great for beginner kids who arnt ready for the big part of the pool.
They do sell swim diapers on board,but they are expensive and do sell out sometimes. We just brought extra for our grandson and boy was I glad, he went through everyone of them!!

Another fun thing little kids like on board is the shows. Disney Dreams and The Golden Mickeys have lots of characters in them so the kids love that. They usually have a matinee performance around 2 P.M. for those shows so not too late for kids to stay up. The are the exact same show as the night version, they dont leave out anything!! Dont worry about your kids making noise, this is Disney, 1/3 the audience is small kids and they do talk and make some noise. If people dont like that they need to do another cruise line!!!
Ihave only been on the Western once so the only place I can think of off the ship for an excursion besides the beach is at Key West they have an aquarium that is walking distance from the ship. It is across from the Ship wreck museum.

If I think of anything else, I will let you know,
mom x4,grandma x4

[sami90tsi]

Thanks again for all the valuable information. We are so excited about this. Last October we took the Legend from NY and i was very disappointed.

[mom x4,grandma x4]

Hi again,
character meets in the atrium can have long lines which are hard for little ones, so arrive 10 minutes early so you can zip right through 3 or 4 characters before it gets too long of lines. Sometimes characters will stroll along on decks 9 and 10 in the afternoons, so always have your camera with you and keep an eye out for them. No lines there, just walk right up to them.
Your Navigator will post times for this under character meets, so keep an eye out for it.
Also on Castaway Cay as you go to the beach there will be characters in a few places for pictures and autographs. Starting at the post office, times will be in your Navigator!! This is the best time for a nice picture. Never any long lines, but what lines are there move very quickly since everyone is on their way to the beach and are in such a hurry!! This is the perfect time to let young kids see a few characters without those long lines. Photographers will always be there to take pictures but bring your camera too, they dont mind if you take all the pictures you want to.
There was also one place where Captain Jack Sparrow was taking pictures with you with the Flying Dutchman behind you. This is an awesome picture setting!!!
Plus you can have your picture taken with captain Jack on the ship on pirate night. If you or the kids dress as pirates it makes for an awesome picture with him!!! He is more popular than Mickey for pictures so expect a long line, arrive 15 minutes early to make sure you will get your picture. They will limit one picture per family so the line will go faster. We skipped dessert at dinner so we could be there early, boy was I glad we did!!! we were 2nd in line, 5 minutes later i couldnt even see the end of the line!!!

Besides there was dessert at the buffet at the pirate party that night.
Oh, if you stay on CC to the end of the day there will be characters greeting you as you get back on the ship too for pictures, again, no line, so it's a great time for a quick picture and a hug for the kids and you too!!

mom x4,grandma x4

[sami90tsi]

Thanks again for all the information. Its great when someone has all the little tricks to make your trip special. If there is anything else you can think of let me know. We intended to dress up for pirate night. I think my little one will love this.:) I also wanted to ask you about princesses. Do you get to see them all? My DD loves all the princesses. I keep telling her that she will get to see them. Hopefully I am right.

[mom x4,grandma x4]

yes they have princesses.
In fact there is a special princesses only greet in the atrium. Lots of girls wear their favorite princess outfits and the pictures are really great.

Cinderella
Snow White,
Sleeping beauty (Aurora)

sometimes they also have Pocohontas and Alice at these meets.
arrive 15 minutes early, the lines get very long for this meet!!

mom x4,grandma x4

[jaina]

when in oct. are y'all going? my husband and i are taking our 3y/o and 10m/o on the 10/14 magic cruise, so i've had many of the same questions as you about potty training, the nursery....just wondering! jaina watson

[sami90tsi]

We are going to be on the October 21st 7 day Magic

[crusinmama06]

Thanks again for all the information. Its great when someone has all the little tricks to make your trip special. If there is anything else you can think of let me know. We intended to dress up for pirate night. I think my little one will love this.:) I also wanted to ask you about princesses. Do you get to see them all? My DD loves all the princesses. I keep telling her that she will get to see them. Hopefully I am right.

BRING her princess costume! When we travel to WDW (every year) and on the Disney Magic once, my daughters wore their princess costumes to a few things. The staff always address them as the princess they are dressed as. For instance, my oldest daughter wore her Belle costume. Everywhere she went she heard "Good morning pricess. And how is the Beast doing today?" And when she met Belle, Belle said to her "Oh if you attend the ball, the beast won't know which one of us is the real Belle."

My daughter ate it up. :D

[mruhaak]

There were all kinds of princesses and "princes" in costumes on the Wonder cruise we were on!

Just a warning. Don't count on Flounders Nursery for your 2.5 year old. We tried to leave our 2.5 yo DS in there and he did not last long. It really is focused on infants and younger toddlers. He is used to being with older kids. I think he was bored and also a little scared and uncomfortable in the new surroundings. It might work for you, but just wanted to advise you not to count on it.

[sami90tsi]

I am hoping that they let my daughter into the 3 year old club. She is potty training now. But she will only be 2 years 9 months. She already goes to pre school. It is my understanding that the children have to be in 1 month of their 3rd birthday. Does anyone know if they take younger children? My DS in 4 so he is already in the club.