Kids on pool slides with parents?

[kirasmom]

Hi,
We have a 4 year old who would love the pool slides at these resorts, but would be afraid to go alone. Can kids go down the slides with their parents or is this forbidden? We were looking at CSR or S/D, but were open to any mods.
Thanks!

 

[dismom73]

I would love to know the answer to this question. We are leaving the day after tomorrow, staying at CSR and my 3 year old is convinced that she will be able to go on the water slide, but I'm not so sure.

 

[ashef]

At CSR, only one person at a time can go down the waterslide. So a parent cannot go down with a small child. Several years ago, we stayed at POFQ and could go down that waterslide with our kids, who were 3 and 4 at the time.

 

[scottishduffy]

At CBR all the kids went down on their own. However, the area where the slide let out was not roped and was quite shallow. There was a small group of fathers huddled here catching their respective 3-5 yr olds as they came down the slide. The dad's were so well coordinated that most of the children barely even touched the water!! It was really pretty cute to watch....

 

[B.A.G.S.]

Thank you for this info! I was just looking around and saw this thread. My wife and I were wondering the same thing. Our 3 year old would love to go down the slide, and our fearless 2 year old would (I'm sure) love to follow close behind. We were thinking maybe if the child was young enough that they might ride with one of us. I will have to check further with the DVC resort we like to stay at.
I am loving this site more and more every second I am on it!!

 

[Ali]

We were at SS a few times this summer and I was yelled at by the lifeguard when I stood at the end of the slide to catch DS before he went into the water - was told to stand far away and wait for DH to come down first so I would know when to go up and catch him. DH didn't want to go on the slide again because it hurt his you know what bu sliding and DS couldn't go down by himself because I didn't know when he was going to come down. At SS the way to get up to the slide is hidden from view and the wait was so long I was worried for DS safety alone so I wouldn't let him go on by himself.

THe kiddie slide was fun for him, but he dosn't like to get his face wet and he could stand at the end of the slide. BUt he is ready for bigger slides, so it is hard for him to watch everyone else doing the big slides and me telling im no because he is not safe in the water when he won't get his face wet without crying.

At S/D they will not let you anywhere near the bottom of the slide to catch kids. They have the area roped off and you will be continually yelled at if you linger to long in the area. We didn't let him go down that one because it is deeper water and he couldn't do it by himself and DH couldn't wait for him at the bottom.

At POFQ the slide is open to see what is happening and DS can go up the ladder (which is out of sight but short so I am not worried), yell MOMMY when he sits down, and I can go catch him without being yelled at. My DS spent hours going up the slide, down the slide, and out of the pool to do it again. And I have the sunburn on my back and shoulders to prove it.

 

[sherabby]

At the CBR I never saw any parents go down with their kids. They do have lifejackets though and many kids were wearing them.

 

[blallred]

We were just at the Poly and my hubby took my 2 year old son down the slide. The lifeguard scolded him when he got to the bottom, lol. I actually have a pic of the lifeguard getting onto him after they started to exit the pool. The rule is that you can't go down with them but you can wait at the bottom and catch them. Hubby had no trouble with doing that.

 

[Nancyg56]

We had my DGD at POFQ and the Poly last year and could not go down the slide with her at either resort.

 

[themilesfamily]

Are there any lifeguards out there who can explain the safety reasons behind Disney not allowing a parent to ride down with a small child?

I'm sure there's a reason, just wondering what it is.

At our local waterpark -- indoors, in a hotel, three waterslides -- they allow parents & kids to go down together. I wonder what's different at Disney hotels?

 

[Cindy's Mom]

Are there any lifeguards out there who can explain the safety reasons behind Disney not allowing a parent to ride down with a small child?

I'm sure there's a reason, just wondering what it is.

At our local waterpark -- indoors, in a hotel, three waterslides -- they allow parents & kids to go down together. I wonder what's different at Disney hotels?

I'm not a lifeguard - but I would imagine that what is something happened to the parent and they both go under, the parent would then be on top of the child when they are both under water, thus making it more difficult for the life guards to do their jobs. Or how about when the slide ends and they hit the water and the parents head hits the kids head and knocks someone out.

I believe its the same principle as to why you can't ride with a child on your lap. Its just not safe.

I've never ever been on a slide that allows more that one rider at a time. I'm sure its a HUGE liability issue to have more that one rider at a time. I would imagine that waterparks just don't have the staff to man each slide so I'm sure that a few riders slip through the rule - but I would bet that its against the rules at all the places you mentioned.

Disney lifeguards are top notch and play by the rules. Disney is the only place that I feel safe enough that if I don't have my eyes on my darlings for a second, they are in great hands.

Funny story: this summer at the WL me and DS5 we going down the slide. Me first, then I would catch him when he landed. There was a dad and son behind us. The boy wanted to go first (he was about 3 and COULD NOT SWIM). I of course told the father that it would be better if dad went first because then he could catch him) The dad said, that he would immediately follow the son and pick him out of the water.

Well, I go down, my son goes down, we start to swim/walk away, then the little 3yo boy comes down and goes underwater....the liefguard dives over my head, gets the kids and swims him to safety. Dad now comes down the slide, and tell the lifeguard "I had him you know"....and the lifeguard says, "oh yea, how come I have him?" LOL.

about a 1/2 hour later, the mother comes down from her room- (she wasn't there yet). Me and DH see that panic in that dad's eyes, as their little boy is running to mommy (apparently to tell her that the lifeguards saved his butt) then that dad intercepts the kid and says "those life guards are crazy, they pulled Mitch out of the water and I WAS RIGHT THERE"....my dh looks at me and we bust out laughing, but decided to keep our mouths shut.

We happened to be seated next to this family, now all day we hear this woman mocking the lifeguards - it killed me not to tell her the truth - but I didn't want then to have a Disney arguement. Mitch was safe afterall.

Wow, that was long.....sorry.

 

[debster812]

Are there any lifeguards out there who can explain the safety reasons behind Disney not allowing a parent to ride down with a small child?

I'm sure there's a reason, just wondering what it is.

At our local waterpark -- indoors, in a hotel, three waterslides -- they allow parents & kids to go down together. I wonder what's different at Disney hotels?

Former lifeguard, and current mom here.

I suspect the rule is in place because it's MUCH easier to enforce one blanket rule (single riders only), than to have the lifeguards take time to determine who can and cannot ride together. (parent and child, older sibling, small child, two tween kids together, etc). This way, if EVERYONE has to go solo, it is what it is.

And if they did get into trouble, it's MUCH easier to rescue one swimmer, than 2.