Aulani Pool Questions - w/Toddler

[Dugette]

Getting excited for our Aulani visit in less than three weeks!

Thinking through some logistical things, I realized I have some questions about the pool situation. We're not big sit-at-the-pool people, but we do want to spend some time enjoying it. A lot of that time will probably be just me and my 25 month old daughter, so I am trying to figure out a few details:

1.) What do you do with your room key card while at the pool? When my husband is there, he can put it in his velcro pocket, but I won't have anything like that. Can you punch a hole in it and wear it around your wrist? Would I need to get one of those waterproof pouch lanyards? I wish they had Magic Band functionality there, as that would be simple. I would leave it with our other stuff, but the charging privileges scare me if someone were to take it.

2.) Speaking of other stuff. I will probably not bring much down to the pool, as we can go up to the room anytime. However, I'd like to bring our swim cover-ups and some sandals/water shoes to wear while walking around. I'll leave my phone in the room and I might buy a waterproof camera, but I'd carry that with in the pool. Is this stuff okay sitting out in a cheap bag? Rather than hogging a chair I probably won't be sitting in, is there any other place to store your stuff nearby?

3.) I just read a suggestion online about bringing your own pool float for a young toddler to use in the lazy river (we have one - the Swimways baby spring float). Is this allowed? I was planning to attempt to have her ride in my lap, but this could be a safer alternative. I just don't want to bring it unless it's okay to use there.

4.) As far as safety gear goes, wondering what makes the most sense for my 2-year-old? She's never worn a life jacket or floaties and she's taken swim lessons and has been fine in the pools with me holding her (if too deep) or catching her if she jumps in. However, she is 2 and I worry that she could run off and jump into the pool before I'm ready to catch her or something. Just use a lifevest provided by Aulani? Or do toddlers fight them? I also read about the Puddle Jumper vests being good and toddlers liking them - is it worth getting one and bringing along, just in case? Also, we're planning to do a catamaran ride with Hawaii Nautical - does she need a lifejacket for that?

5.) How appropriate is the Menehune Bridge for a young 2-year-old? I'm having trouble getting a good visual of it. Are the slides too much for a little one? It seems like it could be fun for her (loves slides and playgrounds and climbing), but I don't want her to be taking on too much when I'm not allowed to climb up and help her.

Any other advice on toddlers and the pools, I'm all ears!

 

[tripletsmama]

Our DS was 18 months when we went to Aulani (ignore whatever my signature says!) He did great in the pools. However, he did not care for the menehune bridge. He was overwhelmed by it and a bit scared. He loved the splash pad. This area was always filled with kids around his same age. He spent hours there. He also sat on my lap in the lazy river several times. We didn't bring a separate float for him, so I can't comment on that, but having him in my lap worked well for both of us. The other thing he loved was the part of the pool that was zero entry. This gave him a chance to sit and splash, or walk in a bit if he wanted. The pool area at Aulani is fabulous. Your little one is guaranteed to find an area she loves Have a great trip!!

 

[wdrl]

1. The room keys are waterproof, so you don't have to worry about it getting wet. We saw some guests who punched holes in their room keys and wore them on a lanyard around their necks. You can also buy a small waterproof plastic safe case holder that comes with a neck strap and is large enough to hold a room key, charge cards, cash, etc. They sell them at Aulani.

2. No, there isn't anywhere in the Aulani pool areas to store and lock things. We made friends with those sitting near us and agreed to watch each other's stuff. Maybe not the best arrangement, but we made sure not to leave any valuables in plain sight.

3. There are limits the sizes of floatation devices Aulani allows in the main pool and lazy river. We saw some very small children (under 18 months?) in little floating seats in the water, but none of the items were very big. I Googled Swimways baby spring float and I think (but I'm not sure) it would be allowable.

4. Aulani has children's vests of various sizes, which many little kids were wearing. You won't know until you try a vest on your daughter whether she'll want to wear it or not.

5. The Menehune Bridge should be very appealing to a two-year old. Even if she doesn't climb on the bridge itself, it has lots of places to splash and squirt water. Although parents don't climb on the Bridge, we saw several parents shepherding their toddlers around the base of the Bridge, which sits in about 6" of standing water. There is also the new Keike Cove water play area which is very popular with toddlers. Plus, you have the lagoon that you can play in the sand.

One other thing: I was pleasantly surprised to see how many kids wear rash guards at the pools. The sun can be quite bright and there isn't much shade when you are in the water.

Here is a photo of the Keiki Cove water play area:

Menehune Bridge:

 

[torrey]

Just got back with a 25 month old a a 4 year old. We brought our own floaties which we got at Costco and saw numerous other people with the same set, but the supplied lifejackets should work just as good. Our 25 month old didn't like the Menehune Bridge. It is loud and splashy and she was overwhelmed, but a more adventurous toddler might have fun playing around the base. Even our 4 year old had a hard time at first but warmed up to it. Parents are not allowed on the structure and there is no way for the kids to get onto it without getting water dumped on them. But she did love just floating in the pools and the Keiki cove and the beach. She also like going to Aunties in the morning and doing the Menehune Trail.

There is no place to put your stuff other than on chairs. I wouldn't have any problem leaving stuff on chairs (if you can find an open one) short of wallets or electronics. We had the waterproof pouches for our phones and put the room keys in there. The pouch we had allowed you to use the phone to take pictures, so no need for an underwater camera.

 

[CailinFig]

Great suggestions above. Just one comment regarding your puddle jumper question. We lug them to Aulani when we go. They have more freedom than a life vest and more buoyancy than floaties. There is a weight minimum of 30 lbs, so your 2 year old would need to be almost 30 lbs to use it. Also, target will sell them for around $13-15. I've seen them at that price several times since I bought them a couple years ago.

And...none of my young kids really went up the bridge either. They'd play in the water part under the bridge but since we couldn't go up with them they were scared to climb and use the slides. They loved the lazy river and the pools.

 

[AZMermaid]

There is no place to put your stuff other than on chairs. I wouldn't have any problem leaving stuff on chairs (if you can find an open one) short of wallets or electronics. We had the waterproof pouches for our phones and put the room keys in there. The pouch we had allowed you to use the phone to take pictures, so no need for an underwater camera.

Do you know what pouch you have?

 

[torrey]

Do you know what pouch you have?

There are a bunch out there, I used this:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00AW2QT8I

I figured if it was rated to 100 ft, it could handle pools and snorkeling. It fit 2 iPhone5's with credit cards, room keys and cash. I could put it in the pocket of my board shorts but my wife had to wear it around her neck. One time it came out of my pocket in the pool and floated up next to me.

With one phone in the pouch we had real problems texting or taking pictures. Just put the cards and such on the opposite side as the phone screen. You obviously lost signal when the phone went under water.

 

[DenLo]

We saw a lot of cell phone pouches like this at Aulani this month. http://www.amazon.com/G-Cord-Univer...&sr=1-14&keywords=waterproof+cell+phone+pouch

And for a toddler, many parents were using the wings that includes a body vest. Like this - http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1P9XTAY5H4Z7VZN56BBQ

But the above item usually require 30lbs minimum weight for the child.

 

[Dugette]

Thanks for all the responses! Great input and really helps!

Thoughts on each of my original points, based on the feedback:

1.) Will probably order a cheap lanyard thing. Might not use it, but it can't hurt to have. I think my first choice is to punch a hole in the key card and wear it, leaving my phone in the room. But it would be nice to have the lanyard if I change my mind and I'm guessing it will be cheaper to order one in advance rather than buy one at Aulani. Thanks for the suggestions on which ones.

2.) Hopefully I'll be able to find a chair to throw our stuff on. I really don't plan on lounging around in the chair at all, so location doesn't much matter. Think we'll be okay and I won't have anything of value in there. My dad just offered to let me borrow his waterproof camera for the trip, so I'm going to plan on bringing that into the pool with me.

3.) I think I will see how full our luggage is and then decide if I should bring the baby swim float based on that. If it fits, I'll throw it in. If not, we'll be okay. I'm not sure if she'd want to use it anyway, but I just like having the option available in case she fights staying in my lap on the lazy river and wants more independence. Just never know with a toddler.

4.) Regarding the puddle jumper, my DD is about 26 pounds or so. A bit under the recommendation. However, after reading up, it seems that she might be okay to use it in the pool (vs. for boating), so long as her arms aren't slipping out of it. I'm thinking I will either buy one in advance or get one at the Target there (I just checked and they have them in stock). If she's too small, I can always hang onto it and use it when she's bigger. One question - are they bulky in the luggage?

5.) Good to know that she would get water dumped on her on the Menehune Bridge. I don't think she'd enjoy that. However, she loves climbing and play structures and slides. I might have her play around the base and watch the other kids and see if she's inclined to join them. If not, the splash pad could be fun too. I know we won't be bored with all the options there!

My husband has a work obligation for part of our trip, so it will just be DD and me for a few days, so I'm trying to get a good handle on what will work for her/us. This helps a bunch! Thanks!

 

[3monkeys4me]

4.) Regarding the puddle jumper, my DD is about 26 pounds or so. A bit under the recommendation. However, after reading up, it seems that she might be okay to use it in the pool (vs. for boating), so long as her arms aren't slipping out of it. I'm thinking I will either buy one in advance or get one at the Target there (I just checked and they have them in stock). If she's too small, I can always hang onto it and use it when she's bigger. One question - are they bulky in the luggage?

We haven't been to Aulani yet, so I can't answer a lot of your original questions but I can answer this. My youngest is 5 and just about 32 pounds. She has been using a puddle jumper since she was 2 1/2, right about 22 pounds. We don't use it for boating though, we use a regular life jacket for that. I am always right there with her when she is/was using it, so I am not at all nervous with her using it. She is very timid around the water (she wont even take baths) so swimming lessons have been very slow with their progression with her.

We do travel with it. All 5 of us take 1 carry on sized suitcase when we travel. Since dd is 5, her clothes are small enough that I can pack for about 10 days and still have plenty of room for her puddle jumper (if needed) and any snacks or other things to keep her occupied at the hotel or during downtime. The puddle jump can fold on to itself. It is slightly bulky, but it doesn't take up too much room, though that probably depends on what you are planning on bringing as far as luggage.

 

[Dugette]

We haven't been to Aulani yet, so I can't answer a lot of your original questions but I can answer this. My youngest is 5 and just about 32 pounds. She has been using a puddle jumper since she was 2 1/2, right about 22 pounds. We don't use it for boating though, we use a regular life jacket for that. I am always right there with her when she is/was using it, so I am not at all nervous with her using it. She is very timid around the water (she wont even take baths) so swimming lessons have been very slow with their progression with her.

We do travel with it. All 5 of us take 1 carry on sized suitcase when we travel. Since dd is 5, her clothes are small enough that I can pack for about 10 days and still have plenty of room for her puddle jumper (if needed) and any snacks or other things to keep her occupied at the hotel or during downtime. The puddle jump can fold on to itself. It is slightly bulky, but it doesn't take up too much room, though that probably depends on what you are planning on bringing as far as luggage.

Great, thank you for sharing your experience, that helps a bunch! I did order a puddle jumper and tried it on DD and it seems to fit okay. She sure liked it - after I took it off, she demanded to have it back on and wore it around the house:



I plan to use it how you mentioned - always being with her, etc. I did pack it into one of our bags and it doesn't take up too much space. And we have a crazy generous luggage allowance due to getting first class tickets during Delta's price glitch (for $70/each, total! ), so we can check up to 9 bags of 70 pounds each for free. Obviously, we're not going to do that, as we still need to handle them and fit them in cars, but I think we'll be fine with that in one of the bags.

Hope you have a great trip too - coming up soon!