Question about a 4 yr old on a cruise...

[need2go2wdw]

Hey everyone! We're thinking of going on the Dream sometime in 2012 and have not been on a Disney cruise since 2003...since then we have had our daughter, who's now 3 1/2. I really, really, REALLY need to go on another cruise soon and in a bad way...! I know my daughter would love it, but my question is, and this may sound silly, but I'm really nervous about leaving her with someone else, but how safe are kids left in the oceaneer clubs? I mean, I know the CM's are probably great with kids, I mean as far as her getting out without them knowing about it. I have this fear of her climbing the rails on the edge of the ship! Anyway, I'm sure it's safe, but I just wanted to hear from people who have left their kids in the clubs before. I'm a stay-at-home mom and we live 1300 miles from any of our family, so I never leave my DD with anyone else, so I'm sure my nerves about leaving her with someone else and her being safe are a little over-inflated...

 

[Disneyfalcon]

Hey everyone! We're thinking of going on the Dream sometime in 2012 and have not been on a Disney cruise since 2003...since then we have had our daughter, who's now 3 1/2. I really, really, REALLY need to go on another cruise soon and in a bad way...! I know my daughter would love it, but my question is, and this may sound silly, but I'm really nervous about leaving her with someone else, but how safe are kids left in the oceaneer clubs? I mean, I know the CM's are probably great with kids, I mean as far as her getting out without them knowing about it. I have this fear of her climbing the rails on the edge of the ship! Anyway, I'm sure it's safe, but I just wanted to hear from people who have left their kids in the clubs before. I'm a stay-at-home mom and we live 1300 miles from any of our family, so I never leave my DD with anyone else, so I'm sure my nerves about leaving her with someone else and her being safe are a little over-inflated...

We have left our kids before. They are very safe. There is a gate they must go in and out. There are always CM's monitoring who goes in and out those gates so she won't be able to sneak out.

The kids club on the Dream is amazing. I could have stayed there and played all day! :lol:

 

[Crush Dude!]

Hey everyone! We're thinking of going on the Dream sometime in 2012 and have not been on a Disney cruise since 2003...since then we have had our daughter, who's now 3 1/2. I really, really, REALLY need to go on another cruise soon and in a bad way...! I know my daughter would love it, but my question is, and this may sound silly, but I'm really nervous about leaving her with someone else, but how safe are kids left in the oceaneer clubs? I mean, I know the CM's are probably great with kids, I mean as far as her getting out without them knowing about it. I have this fear of her climbing the rails on the edge of the ship! Anyway, I'm sure it's safe, but I just wanted to hear from people who have left their kids in the clubs before. I'm a stay-at-home mom and we live 1300 miles from any of our family, so I never leave my DD with anyone else, so I'm sure my nerves about leaving her with someone else and her being safe are a little over-inflated...

We had our first Disney Cruise a few months ago and we were a little nervous leaving our 8 year old there! After the first day any worries were gone, she would have stayed there all week no problem, great cm's and some amazing times were had!

Getting into the terminal after getting off the Magic she ran to hug 1 cm she had loved and told her she couldnt wait to come back! :lol:

Cant say enough about the clubs and their cm's!!

 

[ChuckElias]

I first left my daughter in the Oceaneer's Club when she was 6. My nephew was 4. There were no problems at all. The kids all loved it, the crew members were great. We had some anxiety and visited the Club just to peek in on our daughter, and she was perfectly fine every time.

 

[Phonedave]

Hey everyone! We're thinking of going on the Dream sometime in 2012 and have not been on a Disney cruise since 2003...since then we have had our daughter, who's now 3 1/2. I really, really, REALLY need to go on another cruise soon and in a bad way...! I know my daughter would love it, but my question is, and this may sound silly, but I'm really nervous about leaving her with someone else, but how safe are kids left in the oceaneer clubs? I mean, I know the CM's are probably great with kids, I mean as far as her getting out without them knowing about it. I have this fear of her climbing the rails on the edge of the ship! Anyway, I'm sure it's safe, but I just wanted to hear from people who have left their kids in the clubs before. I'm a stay-at-home mom and we live 1300 miles from any of our family, so I never leave my DD with anyone else, so I'm sure my nerves about leaving her with someone else and her being safe are a little over-inflated...

1) She cannot get out of the club without a three way match. Your room card, her electronic bracelet, and the password.

2) There is no access to external areas of the ship from the kids clubs.

So there you go, no worries.

-dave

 

[need2go2wdw]

Thanks guys, for all the info! I have no doubt my DD will LOVE the clubs onboard! Thanks to your input, I feel better about leaving her there! I'm sure she will not even miss us, :lol: !

Now, just to pick a week and BOOK IT!!!

 

[erstwo]

We left our 4 year old (well, she turned 5 on the cruise.... so 5 year old?) in the kids clubs in July. I'm the most paranoid person in the world at times - the worst case scenario always goes through my mind in parenting situations, so I totally understand!

Once you are on the boat, and see how secure things are, I have no doubt you will feel safe leaving your child. However, you should also know that you can participate in all the Kids Club activities WITH your child if you choose. So if for some reason (and I can't think of even one ) you should not feel comfortable leaving your child, she can still participate in all of the activities.

Finally, since so many rooms on the Dream and Fantasy are exterior rooms with balconies I want to mention that you should try to book one of the smaller rooms (the ones that sleep only 4 and have no chair at the end of the room near the sliding glass doors.) There is an awesome child proof lock on the sliding glass doors, but I once caught my daughter trying to open it by pushing the chair up to the door and standing on the chair - TOTALLY freaked me out! I moved the chair to the far end of the room next to the bed, and that took care of the problem (as well as a loooong lecture! :lol Next time we are getting a room with NO moveable furniture. At least until they are big enough to know what's best for them.

 

[happymom52003]

I'm probably one of the most overprotective, paranoid parents you will ever meet....and I had no problem leaving my kids in the kid's club on DCL (my youngest had just turned five on our first cruise). There are kids clubs on other cruise lines and at hotels, etc. that I would not let them go to....but I felt 100% confident about DCL's clubs.

 

[need2go2wdw]

We left our 4 year old (well, she turned 5 on the cruise.... so 5 year old?) in the kids clubs in July. I'm the most paranoid person in the world at times - the worst case scenario always goes through my mind in parenting situations, so I totally understand!

Once you are on the boat, and see how secure things are, I have no doubt you will feel safe leaving your child. However, you should also know that you can participate in all the Kids Club activities WITH your child if you choose. So if for some reason (and I can't think of even one ) you should not feel comfortable leaving your child, she can still participate in all of the activities.

Finally, since so many rooms on the Dream and Fantasy are exterior rooms with balconies I want to mention that you should try to book one of the smaller rooms (the ones that sleep only 4 and have no chair at the end of the room near the sliding glass doors.) There is an awesome child proof lock on the sliding glass doors, but I once caught my daughter trying to open it by pushing the chair up to the door and standing on the chair - TOTALLY freaked me out! I moved the chair to the far end of the room next to the bed, and that took care of the problem (as well as a loooong lecture! :lol Next time we are getting a room with NO moveable furniture. At least until they are big enough to know what's best for them.

I'm probably one of the most overprotective, paranoid parents you will ever meet....and I had no problem leaving my kids in the kid's club on DCL (my youngest had just turned five on our first cruise). There are kids clubs on other cruise lines and at hotels, etc. that I would not let them go to....but I felt 100% confident about DCL's clubs.

Wow! Thank you guys for the feedback! I am SO glad that am not the only paranoid parent out there! Fearing the worst in parenting situations at times is something that I just can't help doing, though I wish I could! I feel much safer about taking her on a cruise at such a young, curious stage! Thank you!!!!!! :wave:

 

[Phonedave]

Wow! Thank you guys for the feedback! I am SO glad that am not the only paranoid parent out there! Fearing the worst in parenting situations at times is something that I just can't help doing, though I wish I could! I feel much safer about taking her on a cruise at such a young, curious stage! Thank you!!!!!! :wave:

No worries. I had been on two DCL cruises with outside balconies, but this time I booked a porthole room because my 10 y/o scares me to no end. That kid has no sense of self preservation (I think she gets it from me). She would climb the rail just to see what would happen.

Well, DCL in their infinite wisdom upgraded us for free, to a verandah room. :hammer:

The doors do lock very well, and the rails are faced in plastic so nothing can go through and they are difficult to climb over. Needless to say, the rule of nobody is on the verandah if I am not on the verandah was enacted as well.

-dave

 

[need2go2wdw]

No worries. I had been on two DCL cruises with outside balconies, but this time I booked a porthole room because my 10 y/o scares me to no end. That kid has no sense of self preservation (I think she gets it from me). She would climb the rail just to see what would happen.

Well, DCL in their infinite wisdom upgraded us for free, to a verandah room. :hammer:

The doors do lock very well, and the rails are faced in plastic so nothing can go through and they are difficult to climb over. Needless to say, the rule of nobody is on the verandah if I am not on the verandah was enacted as well.

-dave

Oh my! Well, that's a good thing I guess...!!! Too funny! :lol: