Balls at the pool?

[chloelovesdisney]

I'm a little surprised the boys weren't allowed to use the ball if the pool was mostly empty and no one was around them, but this is good to know for packing toys for our summer trip. The OP doesn't say that she or the boys argued with the lifeguard, there's no harm in clarifying what the rules are with the front desk.

 

[gwynne]

I'm a little surprised the boys weren't allowed to use the ball if the pool was mostly empty and no one was around them, but this is good to know for packing toys for our summer trip. The OP doesn't say that she or the boys argued with the lifeguard, there's no harm in clarifying what the rules are with the front desk.

As noted on this thread, the lifeguards are in charge of the pools, not the desk clerks. Hopefully all guests are mindful of others. Personally, I would avoid (or feel I had to leave) a pool with adults or teen passing a football back and forth. A "miss" could really hurt.

 

[cheapster316]

Trust me with the go pro, which is indeed a waterproof camera. We are not filming anyone's Tushie. We were in the Nemo pool in very shallow water and my kids were 5 and 8, a boy and girl so to the poster who commented about 2 young men, making a video that is not what was the case at all. My kids have just learned to swim, we were taking pictures of them learning to swim and playing in the water. I do not think it was a privacy issue as I have used as disposable water proof camera before and nothing was said. I do not think it was because of video because I could have filmed from theories of the pool or a pool chair.
My point was the life guard told us not to do something so we did.
I also want to add on the same trip we did DCL and I did encounter a rude lifeguard who yelled rudely at kids for splashing. They were not my kids and they were splashing when they were swimming ink by in the family pool. One kid asked nicely how to swim without splashing and she rudely told them to figure it out.

 

[goofyintoronto]

@Schucraig This isnt a new policy. Its been going on for quite some time (many years now). No matter which resort we've stayed at, we've always had the lifeguards crack down on the type of balls thrown around inside the pool and pool area.

They allow beach balls and soft foam material balls, but nothing too hard. The reason isnt because the balls would obstruct the lifeguards view (if that were the case, beach balls wouldn't be allowed)....the reason is due to safety. Which makes sense. A foot ball in the face hurts!

One time a friend had a mini volleyball type of ball in the pool, and we were told by a lifeguard we couldn't play with it, its too hard. Lifeguards are pretty good though as they've always offered an alternate ball to play with.

 

[Goofey Drool]

Maybe I am just talking crazy here but a 20 year old part time student who works as a lifeguard putting up with rude guests all day might not always (100% of the time) be kind and courteous to some semi supervised kids raising &%@ in the pool. I doubt they appreciate those same kids chucking a ball around with guests either having to move away to the other end of the pool or risk getting whacked in the face. Come on...that's rude! I have two teen boys and I certainly don't expect them to be able to carve out a large area of the pool for them to have a private game of catch.... while everyone else has to get out of the way to avoid them. It is what it is, a pool full of vacationing people of all ages. Its not a summer recreation program pool full of kids.

 

[goofyintoronto]

As it should be. The lifeguard is the final word at the pool. If they say to stop using something, you should obey, not go running to management to whine.

I agree.

this thread.... really??? I always figured if we're paying 2-300+ per night to swim in a pool for a while, they pretty much let guests enjoy themselves.... if no one is hitting others in the head with pool toys, or running around completely naked, then things should be ok(?) guess I was wrong..... and I say this thinking about both sides, my kids wanting to play,and my (middle aged) self wanting to not get hit with a (tiny) football..... OP I would have asked at the desk also, if the lifeguard behaved in a rude way. If it wasn't rude, I would just let it go- and move on to other games. It just seems wrong to have pp's call OP a 'whiner' to ask the question.....

Not everyone has good aim. Like me! if i threw a football around, i'd most likely end up hitting someone in the head. Accidents happen, people dont mean to hurt others, but it does happen. Which is what Disney is trying to avoid...hence the no-hard-balls-at-the-pool rule. I dont see why its such a big deal as disney always has a few balls floating around for guests to play with. Whining to front desk wont help since its the lifeguards call.

 

[Boopuff]

I doubt they appreciate those same kids chucking a ball around with guests either having to move away to the other end of the pool or risk getting whacked in the face. Come on...that's rude! I have two teen boys and I certainly don't expect them to be able to carve out a large area of the pool for them to have a private game of catch.... while everyone else has to get out of the way to avoid them.

I totally agree! Especially when the kids whack you with the ball and are less-than apologetic when they hit you! I love when you're hit in the face and the kid yells "throw it here!" Yeah....

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Maybe I am just talking crazy here but a 20 year old part time student who works as a lifeguard putting up with rude guests all day might not always (100% of the time) be kind and courteous to some semi supervised kids raising &%@ in the pool. I doubt they appreciate those same kids chucking a ball around with guests either having to move away to the other end of the pool or risk getting whacked in the face. Come on...that's rude! I have two teen boys and I certainly don't expect them to be able to carve out a large area of the pool for them to have a private game of catch.... while everyone else has to get out of the way to avoid them. It is what it is, a pool full of vacationing people of all ages. Its not a summer recreation program pool full of kids.

Not sure why you think they are putting up with rude guests all day, I've never witnessed any issues between a guest and the lifeguards at any resort, ever. The lifeguards should be kind and courteous, not everyone is aware of every single Disney rule, there's no reason for rudeness on their end either.