I'm a Good Parent, Really...

[Tony M]

but,
can you leave your under three year old at "Flounder's Reef Nursery" and your other 8 Year old DS at the Oceaneer's Lab while we skip away to Nassau (Atlantis Casino) without them?

 

[eagmommy]

My husband and I left our 4 year old and our 2 year old on the ship when we went to Nassau. They were fine and I'm sure had a much better time on the ship then with us. On our first Disney Cruise, we took the kids with us into Nassau and they were miserable! So this time we decided to leave them and all was well. I was a little worried, but they take such great care of them on the ship! We just got back from the Eastern cruise and my kids couldn't get enough of the Oceaneer's Club and Flounder's Nursery. If you have and questions feel free to e-mail me. I live in Valrico.

 

[inkkognito]

Sure...go ahead!!
Just make sure you are back before the scheduled sailway time (I know that sounds like a no-brainer, but believe me, people have left 'em there and lost track of time, making the rest of us all wait).
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

["Ginger"]

Not sure about your under 3 year old but I would be willing to bet that your 8 year old thinks you are the greatest parents in the whole wide world just for taking him on a Disney cruise.

I felt bad about leaving our, at the time 5 year old DD, at the Oceanears club while we went to Mr. Sanchos in Cozumel. When we got back to the ship I ran to get her thinking she missed me. AHHH!!! Yeah!!! Right!!! she wouldn't leave the club. No Mom, I'm having to much fun you and Dad go find something to do.

Remember it's their vacation too.

Have a great time.

 

[keith & co.]

We left our DD2 and DD6 (at the time of last cruise) in the nursery and the clubs while we island hopped from St. Thomas to St. John........

Their grandparents were on and off the ship during the day and when they went to get the little one she cried when she had to leave!! My DMIL said the only thing that calmed her down was a trip to the mickey pool. When we took her back that evening, she ran off to play and never looked back!!

Our DD6 flat out told her grandparents she would go and do ONE TOUR with them but then they had to take her back to 'HER CLUB'.

Long story short..... ours loved the club and nursery and the staff gives them so much attention in the nursery you almost need to 'un-spoil' them when you get home!!

GO & ENJOY!!!

Barbara

PS........ We are all WONDERFUL parents I mean these cruises are 'ALL FOR THE KIDS'........ right?

 

[floridaminnie]

eagmommy...I live in Riverview...It's a small world afterall...

I was wondering about living kids onboard too. I know that we sign a release allowing DCL to take care of them medically, But I'm the type of parent that wouldn't be able to relax knowning that I couldn't get ahold of in a case of an emergency. We got off at Freeport during our last cruise, but we went to the small "straw" market right next to the pier.

 

[Favorite Auntie]

I wasn't sure if you could leave the ship with the kids in the clubs either. I don't think the "beepers" work off the ship, but I am sure they would be fine. Do you need to tell the counselors that you will be leaving the ship??

 

[floridaminnie]

If you are leaving the ship, you will need to let the counselors know.

 

[Tigfanjeff]

Originally posted by sdoane
eagmommy...I live in Riverview...It's a small world afterall...

I live down the road as well. The world keeps getting smaller.

 

[Masonpips]

The first night the kids were eager to try the club (DS-5, DD-3) and when we went back to pick them up DS yelled at us "you're not here to pick us up are you?"

This was repeated 2 other times during the cruise.

Leave them, have a fabulous time and you'll all be happy!

 

[ohiominnie]

My daughter was a bit disgusted that they closed the Lab every night at midnight or 1:00. She couldn't understand why the counsellors needed to sleep. After all, SHE wasn't the LEAST bit tired!

 

[Tony M]

The DS(8 year old) could have cared less where we were the entire cruise as long as he could get to the Lab ASAP. The DD(Under 3) was another story. When we signed up at Flounder's, they explained to us that the pagers would probably not work off ship anywhere in Nassau. They explained that it was no big deal if the DD did not like it very much and expressed her displeasure. It was expected. Afterall even under ideal circumstances something could go awry.
Signing up at Flounder's was the best. After fretting about getting time there to coincide with our other needs(Palo, shore excursions, etc.) it was a relief to be able to get any and all times that we wanted. When you sign up, you request three times that you want and you get them(at least we did, and our cruise was sold out).
DD's experience was quite varied though as she had difficulty adjusting to the excitement and being away from Mommy & Daddy. First day at Nassau went well just a little adjustment period and then the rrest of her session went well.
Mommy & Daddy's Date night at Palo was a different situation. With Ressies at 8:00pm at Palo we decided to put her in at 7:00pm to allow maximum primping without interuption. At about 7:40pm, while Daddy was putting the finishing touches to his tie, a pager sounds to totally change the evenings.
"DD would like to see you in Flounder's Reef Nursery"
With Fingers crossed Daddy makes his way to Flounder's while Mommy maintains hope and continues final touches of her own.
At 8:30pm the evening was officially over as initially planned.
Flounder's was very understanding and instead of charging us for our fully reserved session, they only charged us for the hour and a half that she was actually their.
Palo was also very undertanding. With Mommy & Daddy dressed to the Nines toteing their beautiful yet puffy eyed and red faced DD in her Tinkerbell PJ's they completely understood. They even scratched our name off the list and did not even charge us for the night even though it was cancelled.
The night as originally planned was over, but that's what parenting is all about...flexibility.
But what to do now? We had early sitting for Dinner, Our Restaurant was to be Triton's and we were toteing a now happy, but PJ clad tot. It was now 8:45 and we sought out our head server. Once again, totally understanding our situation he was even able to find us a table with our assigned wait staff.
Evening was not over just yet.
But it was now her evening.
And she was really wallowing in it. She was the belle of the ball. The entire restaurant felt our saga. Winks and nods from all parents acknowledging our plight as if they were to say
"Hang in there man. Been there, Done that"
Meanwhile, the Princess was now holding court. And now for her close up. Triton's is the formal "regular" restaurant in the rotation and of course they want you to remember your cruise with a photograph of your wonderful formal night out. There we were, Mommy & Daddy formally attired but now looking worn by their experience, a missing family member(DS) oblivious to the fun we were having and who could care less about it right now due to his Lab time fun, and DD who now is relishing the attention from her now captured Mommy & Daddy.
This pictures were her best of the cruise. Her eyes sparkled brighter, Her dimples were deeper and her smile was wider than ever before.
All is well that ends well.

 

[mom jenny]

I have a question...

My youngest dd will be 3 the week after our cruise. I have all along been planning to take her to the Club instead of Flounder's Reef because our oldest dd, who is 5 will be there. Do you all think that this would be ok, or is DCL really strict about the age limit rules. DD3 is completely potty trained and is really a laid back child and I think she would be just fine. She doesn't have a problem staying with other people or anything like that. What do you guys think? Should I try it, or just book times with Flounder?

Thanks is advance for your suggestions.

 

[Tony M]

Do not let any child that is potty trained, regardless of their age, do Flounder's. Don't get me wrong, it is a great place, but if your child is that advanced, they will be bored at Flounder's. They are really geared for infants and toddlers. There is really nothing for older kids to do. If your child is going to have issues, it is not going to matter where they have them and they will more than likely have them due to being bored at Flounder's. The Club will keep them occupied and not missing their Parent's.
In retrospect, our problem was due to a combination of things. Too much sun & Fun the day of "the Problem", Not spending too much time away from Mommy & Daddy yet, and probably being bored and not having fun stuff for her to do at Flounder's. The Staff at Flounder's is great but there is only so much you can do.

 

[lomillerin]

I had the same experience with my then 1 year old daughter. We were at Palo's, just sat down and our pager goes off. She was crying. We went to get here and she refused to stay.
The best part of this was that Palo delivered our meals to our room, even the souffle.
I love Disney.