Life-Vest in pool info!

[CK1]

SO life-vests are permitted and even given to DVC members upon request for their small kids? I posted an earlier thread asking what floatation devices are allowed... but I didn't know resorts had them for us to use. Are only THEIR vests allowed? My youngest could bring one from home (and she's sooo small, I wonder if the resort would have one that really fits her), but it would be a waste if they tell me it's not the "right kind" !!

Poly pool sounds GREAT for my crew, but so does BW too... what's easiest WDW transport to those from VWL? Boat to MK / Monorail for Poly? Best route to BW is ...what?

And tell me this, for my smallest fry, do they permit parents to ride down with their kids together on the slides? Or is it a case of only those who can go by themselves can go at all?

We always have visited OKW (and always in Dec - Jan during bizarre cold snaps!) so we're very un-savvy in the slides department !! All help WELCOMED!

THanks --

Cindy, DH, and our 3 sliders...

 

[Desperado]

Unfortunatly, only one rider at a time is permitted on the slides. It's a big bummer for us.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

My son turned 4 in June. Last December we had a quick Poly trip and he was making me crazy--he loves to throw himself underwater! So I got one of their life vests and was able to rest a little easier--I was still right with him, but less afraid he would drown himself!
It worked out so well we bought a small life jacket at Target for $20--I took it with us to WDW and used it in all 3 resort pools we stayed at--BWV, Poly and VWL. Didn't use it at TL because I had read on the boards that I couldn't, but used one of theirs. I also use the life vest at our city pool and he is all over it. Best $20 I ever spent!
Oh and they are allowed to wear the vests on the slides!
One tip about the VWL pool on a hot day---SWIM SHOES!!! We all about burned our feet off last Monday.
As for transport to Poly from VWL, I'd take the bus to TTC and get the monorail, or take the boat to MK and get the monorail, but I think busses can be quicker than boats. I really don't know a quick way to get from VWL to BWV--I even asked the DVC rep at VWL the best way (so we could look at BCV) and she said take the bus to MGM and then get the boat to BWV.
Robin M.

 

[shelly3girls]

I am not sure how little you mean for your youngest but this may help a little. Our oldest was 2.0 when we used the vests for the first time. If I remember correctly, she weighed around 25-26 pounds, but she is tall for her age. It worked great. Our youngest wore a similar vest at home this summer. She is 16 months, 21 pounds, around 31 inches. I would say the vest is too big for her, but she insists on wearing it. I hope this helps a little. The vests are wonderful and I feel very confident with my older daughter wearing one. Now that she is 3, I would allow her down the slide with one on as long as I was near the bottom. She is also very comfortable in the water which is probably the determining factor in any child around the pool.

 

[Mouse Ears]

I was just wondering about this over the weekend. Looking at some of the DVC info and noticed a picture of a toddler coming down the water slide with a life vest and wondered if they really allowed that. Sounds like they do which is a relief. My girls are so-so swimmers, but the life vest will make me much more comfortable with the slide.

I always find answers to my questions on these boards; sometimes even the ones I don't remember to ask!

M.E.

 

[DVC-LEROY]

We never had a problem with my son wearing water-wings or his own life jacket at the Wilderness Lodge main pool, the Contemporary's pool or at Blizzard Beach. In fact, we bought a pair of water-wings at WDW when we forgot them. We were told that we could get one of Disney's lifevests if we didn't have our own - I think they just take a deposit and charge you if you don't bring one back- I don't recall.

 

[Jo-Anne]

It is ok to have a lifevest on the BWV slide. However, I was told by the lifeguard that if you were at Stormalong Bay, you were not allowed any flotation devices on their slide...you need to be able to swim away from the bottom on your own steam.

 

[ralphd]

Think the vests are free to DVC members at DVC resorts. We get them for our grandchildren for the length of stay at BWV by showing the room card with DVC member on it.

ralphd

 

[crisi]

On slides.....

In the past year I know of two people who snapped their child's femur by having them on their lap while going down a slide with them. If their leg gets caught between your body and the slide, the force will break their leg. These were both regular playground slides, but I'd expect the same with a water slide.

Not something I ever though about before (and I used to put my kids on my lap going down slides), but perhaps now we know why this isn't allowed.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Just a note that you can get a vest for free at any Disney resort, not just the DVC ones, by leaving your room card.
Robin M.

 

[shelly3girls]

On the past two visits at the WL and the GF we did not even have to leave our card. We just showed our room key. We kept the vest for the length of our stay then returned it on our last day. And yes, there were plenty of vests available every day so we were not preventing anyone from being short a vest. The resorts had more than what were needed. Maybe this was because we tend to go in the off season, but I am not sure.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by shelly3girls
On the past two visits at the WL and the GF we did not even have to leave our card. We just showed our room key. We kept the vest for the length of our stay then returned it on our last day. And yes, there were plenty of vests available every day so we were not preventing anyone from being short a vest. The resorts had more than what were needed. Maybe this was because we tend to go in the off season, but I am not sure.

When we checked out a vest for my nephew at BWV, the CM told us to keep it for our entire stay. No need to check it in at the end of each day.

 

[Tagrel]

Great info everyone! My DDs thank you (as do I) and look forward to wearing vests, and enjoying the slides and pools!

 

[Lesley]

We borrowed a vest for my dd when she was 6mo. when we stayed at the Polynesian. They tell you to keep them for the entire stay and return them before you check out.

I have considered getting my kids their own vests....but since most of our swimming is done at WDW I've been holding out. My dad has a new pool though, so if I find that we're there often I may get my little one a vest of her own.

 

[Synonymous]

As for getting to the other resorts, going from one resort to another is usually a pain. We normally take a cab. It's under $10 to go just about anywhere on property, I think.