Kids wearing wetsuits at the waterparks (due to the cold weather)

[brergnat]

Ok, so seeing how the temps are going this "spring", I'm a bit worried about going to the water parks at the end of March/early April. And, we can't simply skip them. Our sons are really looking forward to the water parks on this trip. It's a huge part of it for them. Our older son has autism, and the waterparks are something about the trip we cannot change. We'll have to brave the weather!

I'm thinking of purchasing them some wetsuits so they will be a bit warmer than if they wear traditional swim trunks. I know DH and I will be cold, but we can deal with it.

Has anyone done this? Does it really keep them warmer? And, how about on the slides? Does it really slow them down?

 

[NotUrsula]

Well, a REAL wetsuit would certainly keep them warmer, but I'm thinking that neoprene would perhaps not be the best surface on a slide. A long sleeve rashguard shirt and long jammers would probably be easier, but would still be a bit chilly if it were wet on a cloudy day. (I see suits like this on Australian kids at WDW all the time.)

Remember that the water is heated; it is just when you're out of it that it can be chilly.

 

[mrs. magoo]

Just to let you know when we visited 3 years ago it was a 63 degree day at the water parks. We did fine with water shirts. The water was really warm so the lazy river was great. When the kids got really cold we laid in the sand at typhoon lagoon. The place was empty and we got to do anything we wanted. The shark swim thing had no one so I actually got to swim around in it for about 20 minutes going back and forth. The photographers took some great action shots of the kids as well.

We had a great time. The lifeguards were very nice. They thought we were crazy,but oh well.

Kathe

 

[cm8]

Just to let you know when we visited 3 years ago it was a 63 degree day at the water parks. We did fine with water shirts. The water was really warm so the lazy river was great. When the kids got really cold we laid in the sand at typhoon lagoon. The place was empty and we got to do anything we wanted. The shark swim thing had no one so I actually got to swim around in it for about 20 minutes going back and forth. The photographers took some great action shots of the kids as well.

We had a great time. The lifeguards were very nice. They thought we were crazy,but oh well.

Kathe

, I can just imagine what they were thinking!!

 

[scuba]

I'd be careful, I'm not certain about Disney but our local amusement park here in Cincinnati has rules against suits(wetsuits?) with zippers. I'm not certain if there is a zipper police but the fear apparently is with zippers putting deep scratches in the slides.

As for the neoprene slowing someone down, It doesn't. The jammers and a rash guard will do nothing to keep one warm. A wetsuit provides warmth by allowing only a thin layer of water between your skin and the inside of the wetsuit, your body warms that very thin layer and that is what insulates you, some folks believe that wetsuits keep you dry underneath, they don't and a poor fitting wetsuit that allows water to freely enter the suit does nothing for insulation.

For diving, there is a semi-dry wetsuit that completly, or almost completly prevents water from entering or exiting the suit. For completely dry diving divers will use...well you guessed it a dry suit.

certainly this is way too much information, however if you choose a wetsuit, make certain it is a properly fitted one, if not the wetsuit is worthless. Certainly the zippers and Disney policy would also be important as well to check on. Then I would call around to some dive shops, it will most certainly be more expensive from a dive shop, but at least it will fit. This is kinda taboo in the dive community but you could go and try on a suit at a dive shop then buy on-line, huge debate about this being ethical, but it's pretty common. Most dive shop operators feel the internet sales are driving them out of business.....sorry, way too lengthy

 

[brergnat]

Scuba,
Thanks for the detailed post. I checked on Disney's site and they don't have any rules regarding zippers on swimwear. However, the "wetsuits" I ordered have FRONT zippers, and they are plastic. They don't have that long strap to help pull down the zipper, which is found on the backzip suits. THAT would be a hazard, I'd assume.

The ones I bought are by Speedo and made for young kids. It's called something like a Thermal Suit. It's one piece, but it's a shorty (legs and sleeves are short). It's made of a combo of neoprene and nylon. It's meant to be used in cooler weather, or in a pool that's not heated adequately. I think they will work alright. I'm not looking to necessarily keep them warm IN the water, but OUT of the water, when we are waiting for/riding on slides. I'm sure the 83 degree water at the water parks will be fine. I'm not so sure about potential air temps in the 60's.

 

[vettechick99]

I really don't think you will need anything other than a swimsuit. It's already started to warm up down here. It's been in the 60s and 70s all week.

 

[james'mommy]

As a former surfer, wetsuits aren't cheap.

 

[brergnat]

I really don't think you will need anything other than a swimsuit. It's already started to warm up down here. It's been in the 60s and 70s all week.

. That is COLD to us! We live in southern CA and it's 70 degrees and sunny here today. There is NO way I would take my kids swimming today at our heated pool. The air is way too chilly. They are used to swimming when temps are in the 90's. They STILL get cold even when it is that warm!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

PP, I agree. Even an 80 degree day is nice while in the sun and dry but when walking around from one slide to another with no towel and through areas with no shade it's chilly.

 

[vettechick99]

. That is COLD to us! We live in southern CA and it's 70 degrees and sunny here today. There is NO way I would take my kids swimming today at our heated pool. The air is way too chilly. They are used to swimming when temps are in the 90's. They STILL get cold even when it is that warm!

Oh it's cold to me too! I usually won't get in the water til May.

But by the end of March, it should be in the upper 80s or 90s. We were there in early March of last year and that's what it was. Just fine for swimming in a heated pool!

 

[brergnat]

Oh it's cold to me too! I usually won't get in the water til May.

But by the end of March, it should be in the upper 80s or 90s. We were there in early March of last year and that's what it was. Just fine for swimming in a heated pool!

Unfortunately, right now it's looking like we'd be insanely lucky to get to 80 degrees. We'll be there in two weeks. There is supposed to be stormy weather starting the day after we arrive, and bringing temps back down to the 60's.

 

[HermanTriplets+1]

You should be good with the Speedo suits. We have used them a lot. They do add some warmth in the water. However, when the kids come out be ready to take the suits off of them i.e. a change of clothes or suits because they will be cold out of the water. Have Fun!