Anyone have a child under 3 go into Oceaneers Club?

[Faith&Hope]

Hi! I just got off the phone with Disney. We rebooked on board last year and are going May 3 (the last 7 day before heading to CA). My daughter will be 2 years 9.5 months. The reservation person on board said that they would allow her into the oceaneers club if she were potty trained. She is potty trained, very tall for her age and interacts well with other children.

Disney just told me that she would probably have to go to the nursery. If this is the case, why did the reservation person have us reserve knowing our concern about going into the nursery? We've cruised with her 2 times already, and as much as we liked Flounders, she is way too big to go there now. There is nothing in there for her. She is very active and outgoing. She would trample the babies in there and be climbing on the changing tables!

I am so pissed right now I am in tears because this has been planned for a year. Disney told me I could change to August for the CA cruise. Duh...why do you think we booked for May 3? We wanted to do the Caribbean again, not CA. We live in CA and are not interested in this itinerary. Not to mention, we would have to pay the price difference between the cruises and we've already bought plane tickets, hotel and car for this cruise.

Has anyone had their children just under age 3 go into the Oceaneer's Club? What did you do to get them in?

I forgot to mention that I have an older daughter that is 5 that will also be in the Oceaneer's Club.

If I were told that this trip would be an $8,000 gamble when I booked it, I wouldn't have booked it! There is a chance that they might let her in the club but we won't know until we get onboard. If she can't go in, we need to cancel our cruise We will not enjoy ourselves at all. But I won't know until we get onboard....what am I supposed to do?

Need to pay balance off in the next couple of days...time is ticking too quickly!!
Thanks!

 

[Fizzgig]

You can accompany your 2 year old child to the Oceaneer's facility.

My two year old had a blast at Flounder's, so I can't help you further.

 

[cruisecrzy]

My daughter did this twice when she was in her 2's. Once when she was 2 years and 3 months and agin when she was 2 years and 7 months.

They require a little test so to speak prior to allowing them in unaccompanied. Having an older sibling/friend (in the case of the first time my daughter did this) helps.

Here is the test...during one of the "programs" on Sunday. They have the child go participate while you are out of sight. They make sure that the child will stay alone and participate and of course is potty trained. That means they must not be wearing pull ups. With an older sister in the club area I would think you would not have a problem.

However, my daughter has always loved Flounders and last October even though she was three we let her go there while we were in Palo's.

My guess is the second person was reading you the strict rule so to speak.

I suggest just talking to them once you board. The staff are very understanding of the kids and their need, IMO.

 

[kcashner]

Kids under 3 can go IF they are fully potty trained. THe counselor will meet the child and talk with you. Then they will "try it out." As long as there are no behavioral problems or more than a rare accident, you are golden. As a suggestion, you might want to drop in on the Club every hour or so and escort your child to the bathroom. The staff is usually understanding about the first accident, but more than that and they start to question things. ALWAYS take the child to the potty as you are dropping them off (whether they say they have to go or not!).

The problem is that the child needs to be able to handle the clothing, wiping, etc...not just tell someone that she needs to go. That's why it is a good idea for you to appear occasionally while she is in the Club.

Children over and under 3 who are not trained can play in the Club area when accompanied by a parent.

 

[atinkerbellmom]

First off, do not get upset...... The one rep was just reading the rules and the other is probably a seasoned crew person. Sounds as if your daughter will be 2 months shy of her birthday. If this is the case and the club is not to it's max with the numbers, she is fully potty trained in panties (not pull-ups) and is toliet independent wiping and dressing, they will let her participate as long as she is able to socially handle it. They will do a little test and see how she does. If all of the above is met and she does fine, they will let her go. Now if she requires 1:1 staffing or need of more staffing than the club provided, then they will tell you it does not work. You will not be able to register her until you get on the ship though as the price you pay for a two year old is almost nothing. You pay for port fees and taxes. They do not even charge you for transportation for them. So, just relax and if your daughter is as well as you say, she will be just perfect. Now if I were you, I would reserve Flounders at the same time I have Palos just in case she does not do well and they say no, then you know you are covered. The truth is, you will probably be fine and have a wonderful cruise.

 

[cats mom]

If she can't go in, we need to cancel our cruise We will not enjoy ourselves at all.

I guess I'll be the lone voice of dissention.

If the above statement is true and you really would not be able to enjoy your cruise if your DD is not allowed in the Oceaneer's Club... maybe choosing another date, one where you know she meets the age requirement, would be best.


Yes, it sounds like DCL does work with people and has allowed younger children in at their discretion. But they certainly don't have to.
What if the Oceaneers Club is at capacity that sailing? My guess is that it wouldn't even be an option in that case.

I'm sorry you've been put in this position. Good Luck with your decision.

 

[Faith&Hope]

Thanks for all the responses! Anyone else with an experience to tell me?

In response to changing the date, I originally mentioned that we live in CA but don't want to do the CA cruise so we booked the last week for the Caribbean. Not to mention that we would have to pay almost double the amount to now change to the CA cruise because of the price difference!

 

[nonzerosum]

I have a friend who is a counsellor in the Stack (teen club), but used to be in the Club. We will be encountering a similar situation so I talked to my friend about this at length and her comments are in line with what everyone else who posted has said. DCL doesn't have to bend the rules, but they make every effort to have everyone happy so my friend said they usually do let younger ones in provided all the potty training, behavioural issues, socialization issues are in check. Good luck. I too would be fuming if I received such mixed messages.

 

[Faith&Hope]

Thank you for giving me some hope! I hope it works out because if not, it would be an awfully expensive mistake or gamble! My daughter is a social bug and is preschool so has great skills with getting along. Thank goodness! Now....at home, with her sister, she is a whole different child! Oh, the terrible twos......!

 

[tinytink]

My DS went to the club while we were on the member cruise back in Oct and he was 2 year 8 months, fully potty trained. Granted he didn't stay in the club long before he was asking for Mommy but they did allow it. Good luck.

 

[riggins]

We travelled in March 06 when our youngest was a 1 week shy of her 3rd birthday. Just as others have said, they certainly didn't have to let her in the Club, but they were very willing to give it a shot. Our DD did great and had a blast. FWIW, our older DD was 4 at the time, so they were together. I think they are especially supportive of these kinds of things when other siblings are involved. On the first night, I would simply ask nicely if there is any way your DD can participate in the Club activities. They will call a manager who will likely do whatever they can to help make your vacation great.

On another note, while the 3-4 year olds, and 5-7 year olds are both in the Club, they do not spend a lot of time together. The older group spends a lot of time outside of the Club. I'm not sure if having your DDs together is an issue, but its something to consider if you are at all concerned about your 2 year old.

Good Luck!

 

[Faith&Hope]

Thank you so much everyone for your words of encouragement! It sure helps hearing other peoples stories to make one feel better!!

Any more stories for me?!??!

 

[Faith&Hope]

Thank you so much everyone for your words of encouragement! It sure helps hearing other peoples stories to make one feel better!!

Any more stories for me?!??!

 

[Melrosgirl]

We were in the same boat, no pun intended, last year. DS was going to be just shy of his 3rd birthday. Disney Cruiseline emailed me back and said basically what everyone else is saying.THey would not guarantee there would be space for him. I canceled and rebooked for a year later.

 

[CoryB2679]

Hi! I just got off the phone with Disney. We rebooked on board last year and are going May 3 (the last 7 day before heading to CA). My daughter will be 2 years 9.5 months. The reservation person on board said that they would allow her into the oceaneers club if she were potty trained. She is potty trained, very tall for her age and interacts well with other children.

Disney just told me that she would probably have to go to the nursery. If this is the case, why did the reservation person have us reserve knowing our concern about going into the nursery? We've cruised with her 2 times already, and as much as we liked Flounders, she is way too big to go there now. There is nothing in there for her. She is very active and outgoing. She would trample the babies in there and be climbing on the changing tables!

I am so pissed right now I am in tears because this has been planned for a year. Disney told me I could change to August for the CA cruise. Duh...why do you think we booked for May 3? We wanted to do the Caribbean again, not CA. We live in CA and are not interested in this itinerary. Not to mention, we would have to pay the price difference between the cruises and we've already bought plane tickets, hotel and car for this cruise.

Has anyone had their children just under age 3 go into the Oceaneer's Club? What did you do to get them in?

I forgot to mention that I have an older daughter that is 5 that will also be in the Oceaneer's Club.

If I were told that this trip would be an $8,000 gamble when I booked it, I wouldn't have booked it! There is a chance that they might let her in the club but we won't know until we get onboard. If she can't go in, we need to cancel our cruise We will not enjoy ourselves at all. But I won't know until we get onboard....what am I supposed to do?

Need to pay balance off in the next couple of days...time is ticking too quickly!!
Thanks!

So what did you decide? What ever happened?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So what did you decide? What ever happened?

As this thread is 5 years old, I don't know that OP will be answering you.

 

[lorenni]

Illustrating how useless some of the older threads are...sometimes that search function is not your friend

 

[CoryB2679]

Figured it was worth at least asking.

Oh well.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Figured it was worth at least asking.

Oh well.

Were you asking because you have a similar situation? Or just curious how their case came out?

 

[CoryB2679]

Were you asking because you have a similar situation? Or just curious how their case came out?

Similar situation. We sail on 5/4, and my DD's 3rd birthday is on 5/5. She's potty trained, has been in daycare since 12 weeks (and loves it), and has a 7 YO sister who'd be in there with her as well.
When we called to book, the reservation person said it wouldn't be an issue. I emailed to confirm, and the lady who responded didn't give me a firm yes or no whether she'd be allowed in.
Then another person on our cruise said that they'll usually take her as long as they're not at "max capacity," which has me worried that they won't have room for her now.
We've been planning this cruise for over a year, so it's got me worried.