Pool etiquette

[ScrappinGran]

then why wear a REGULAR disposable diaper IN the pool...not a swimmie...why not just wear a bathing suit? That is what I saw, a regular disposable diaper in pool...and another time I saw a Mom just take her toddler's wet disposable diaper off, wiped child with a wipe, disposed of wet diaper and then took her in the pool naked. I left the pool. These two instances were NOT at Disney resorts, and I complained to management but nothing was done.
What about skin problems? Anyone have observations in this line?
Has anyone seen Disney pool people take care of violations?

 

[MartDM]

Sorry to be gross...but are there health/hygienic/safety rules posted? Is there specific Disney pool etiquette...and how are rules enforced?

If you are worried about health and hygiene, I'd avoid the pools. Numerous people don't follow the rules and many times the resort doesn't enforce them either. I've seen too much gross stuff - I look at public pools and see sesspools.

 

[Oreo Cookie]

Here's my "chair hog" story.

It was July 4th, 2004. We were at the BC, and were moving to the Polynesian later that day. Around 8:15am (the pool opened at 9:00am) I went downstairs to SAB and claimed two PRIMO chairs. Right next to the chairs I grabbed were five chairs with towels neatly folded on them and no one around. At the time there was no one in the water, and only four or five other people in the entire pool area. DH joined my a few minutes later--he had stopped to get us some coffee--I was not holding his chair for hours on end. The lifeguards checked room keys and gave out wristbands. We spent the next couple of hours relaxing at the pool. alternating between the chairs and the water.

By 11:00 Am the pool area was packed, and there were maybe a dozen single seats scattered about. Of course the five seats next to us were still empty save those five folded pool towels.

About 11:30 we had to leave, it was time to take a really quick shower and change before checking out and heading to the Polynesian. There was a family just coming into the pool area, looking around for seats. DH and got up and packed up our stuff, including our pool towels, and motioned for the family to come over and get the seats. And as I was walking by the five still unoccupied seats with white folded pool towels, I figured I'd be a good do-bee and help tidy the area, so I picked them up off the empty chairs and tossed them in the towel return on my way out. As I was picking them up a few other people in surrounding chairs started to applaud.

I have absolutely no regrets for my actions, and hope that some family had a good time because of it. To this day I've hoped that someone would come on the Disboards and complain about how the towels they had left on their chairs "for a few minutes" were gone when they came back.

Anne

I agree with you and would have done the same thing!

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

Here's my "chair hog" story.

It was July 4th, 2004. We were at the BC, and were moving to the Polynesian later that day. Around 8:15am (the pool opened at 9:00am) I went downstairs to SAB and claimed two PRIMO chairs. Right next to the chairs I grabbed were five chairs with towels neatly folded on them and no one around. At the time there was no one in the water, and only four or five other people in the entire pool area. DH joined my a few minutes later--he had stopped to get us some coffee--I was not holding his chair for hours on end. The lifeguards checked room keys and gave out wristbands. We spent the next couple of hours relaxing at the pool. alternating between the chairs and the water.

By 11:00 Am the pool area was packed, and there were maybe a dozen single seats scattered about. Of course the five seats next to us were still empty save those five folded pool towels.

About 11:30 we had to leave, it was time to take a really quick shower and change before checking out and heading to the Polynesian. There was a family just coming into the pool area, looking around for seats. DH and got up and packed up our stuff, including our pool towels, and motioned for the family to come over and get the seats. And as I was walking by the five still unoccupied seats with white folded pool towels, I figured I'd be a good do-bee and help tidy the area, so I picked them up off the empty chairs and tossed them in the towel return on my way out. As I was picking them up a few other people in surrounding chairs started to applaud.

I have absolutely no regrets for my actions, and hope that some family had a good time because of it. To this day I've hoped that someone would come on the Disboards and complain about how the towels they had left on their chairs "for a few minutes" were gone when they came back.

Anne

That's because you are "always very tidy" Anne!
This seems to happen too often at BC. I usually go down to the resort pool and drink coffee REAL early. Sometimes there were already towels on the tables/chairs and almost everytime, I would see someone do it when I was sitting there.

Also, I remember that we were at the POLY at the same time with you during those dates and didn't realize it.

 

[WantToGoNow]

sorry unless you can guaranteed she won't have an accident. the swimming diaper is still a RULE>>>>

kids not to mention parents act differently at Disney than at home. At home she may be fine - but remember Disney feels different....

I am pretty sure this is a public health department rule - which means you can be fined if caught.

I can't guarantee that my dh won't poop in the pool. How are you supposed to guarantee something like that? She hasn't pooped in her pants in 7 months -- she will be just wearing a swimsuit. She has been to water parks, swimming pools (indoor and outdoor) and water play areas all summer long. She doesn't even pee in the pool - which I can guarantee a lot of older kids/adults do -- we have to get out and go dripping to the bathroom.

 

[Sammie]

I can't guarantee that my dh won't poop in the pool. How are you supposed to guarantee something like that? She hasn't pooped in her pants in 7 months -- she will be just wearing a swimsuit. She has been to water parks, swimming pools (indoor and outdoor) and water play areas all summer long. She doesn't even pee in the pool - which I can guarantee a lot of older kids/adults do -- we have to get out and go dripping to the bathroom.

dh= darling husband, you might want to rethink that one.

 

[fitzperry]

sorry unless you can guaranteed she won't have an accident. the swimming diaper is still a RULE>>>>

kids not to mention parents act differently at Disney than at home. At home she may be fine - but remember Disney feels different....

I am pretty sure this is a public health department rule - which means you can be fined if caught.

Does that mean I have to wear a swim diaper too? At what age would you find it acceptable for a child to be in the pool sans swim diaper?

If there is a health department rule, I'm confident that it would only apply to children who are not potty-trained. My 3.5yo was quite a challenge to potty-train. But now that we've reached that milestone, she won't even pee in the lake, so we've crossed swim diapers off the shopping list.

 

[Miller1412]

Stuff like skin problems, sores, zits, rashes, etc. Just can't be policed by CM's. I suppose to avoid all potentially disgusting health situations, people would need a complete physical before entering the pool.

Public pools are just that, for the public. I'm sure all kinds of germs and bacteria end up in the water, but that is what chemicals are for!!

 

[goofie4goofy]

This thread has me Everyone is concerned with kids swim diapers.....Do you have any idea how many adults pee in the pool?? Not to mention the ever so gross farmers handkerchief nose blow. No, that is not jelly fish in the pool....it's the Florida snotfish. How about getting into the pool after a long hot stinky sweaty day in the parks and not showering before entering....(well that is a pool rule in my club anyway).

I don't know if the chemicals in the pools are strong enough for this stuff.

 

[jultomzach]

You can not guarentee a toddler will not poop in the pool but you can guarentee that is will not float around the pool by putting a swim diaper on them. While children may be potty trained, having the skill to leave the pool when you need to go to the bathroom takes even more skill and comes later (and sometimes, much later if ever!). I handled this when my child was younger by keeping a swim diaper on him until he was about 3 and then taking regular potty breaks (making him get out of the water for a brief period) My son is 7 now and I can pretty much guarentee you that he will not go poop in the pool!

 

[notnothin]

This thread has me Everyone is concerned with kids swim diapers.....Do you have any idea how many adults pee in the pool?? Not to mention the ever so gross farmers handkerchief nose blow. No, that is not jelly fish in the pool....it's the Florida snotfish. How about getting into the pool after a long hot stinky sweaty day in the parks and not showering before entering....(well that is a pool rule in my club anyway).

I don't know if the chemicals in the pools are strong enough for this stuff.

Haha, that is a good one!

 

[frayedend]

So I have to put in my $.02

First of all, the biggest problem possible would be an organism called cryptosproridium and it isn't readily killed by chlorine. Most bacteria are killed by chlorine (as long as the pool is properly maintained).

Secondly, swim diapers don't do a lot to contain a leak, especially if the poop is loose. And if the kid has cryptosporidium, or E. coli, or Salmonella, well it will be a loose poop, ya know. It's kind of interesting, the cruise ships don't even allow un-trained children in the pool. On the cruise message boards you will see arguments about the use of swim diapers.

Thirdly, I wish that everyone entering the pool washed their butts completely before entering, but I have a feeling that even some of the adults that go in aren't clean to the point of sterility.

4thly Pee is sterile. So while it is nasty if someone pees in the pool, unless they have a urinary tract infection, nothing to worry about.

Our best hope is that adults that are sick don't go in the pool, and kids that are sick (diarrhea) are not put in the pool. Other than that we have to hope the pool is well chlorinated and kills all the nasties.

And lastly, since I have read there is Sulfur in the drinking water and Sulfur has a "laxative" effect, well maybe we all need to wear swim diapers, no matter how old we are

 

[jennbug]

My daughter just turned 3 has been potty trained for a year and a half. We own a pool and still wear a swim diaper. Little kids wait until the last minute to let you know they 'have to go' when they are having fun. I'd rather be out a few bucks than feel warm water run down my leg. Gross!

 

[WantToGoNow]

My daughter just turned 3 has been potty trained for a year and a half. We own a pool and still wear a swim diaper. Little kids wait until the last minute to let you know they 'have to go' when they are having fun. I'd rather be out a few bucks than feel warm water run down my leg. Gross!

You are aware that swim diapers (Little Swimmers, Splashers, generic) don't hold urine -- they aren't made to. That's why they don't swell like a regular diaper - there is no absorbancy in them. They are made to hold solids only - and they don't always do that. So you will still feel the warm water run down your leg even with it on. If you don't believe me, let one of your children wear one outside of the pool and wait until they pee.

 

[5DisneyNuts]

Ok, after reading this I'm ready to go back to the bedbug thread

 

[frayedend]

You are aware that swim diapers (Little Swimmers, Splashers, generic) don't hold urine -- they aren't made to. That's why they don't swell like a regular diaper - there is no absorbancy in them. They are made to hold solids only - and they don't always do that. So you will still feel the warm water run down your leg even with it on. If you don't believe me, let one of your children wear one outside of the pool and wait until they pee.

I'm laughing because I remember the day I found out they don't hold urine. I was carrying my son to the pool with them on. I was all confident, holding him right up against me. It ran down my belly, legs, everything. You are correct, they don't hold urine

 

[jennbug]

Oh my, I totally didn't know that! For what those things cost for such a small package. Ok I am NEVER getting in a pool again!

 

[MEM]

We were in the same boat with our DD!! I can not say how many nasty looks we got for taking her into a pool without swimmies! So I got pretty used to saying loud enough for all interested to hear just how proud I was to be the parent of such a smart child that had been potty trained since she was 18 months old!!

I feel the need to address this statement - PLEASE let's not equate intelligence with the age at which a child was potty-trained!!! In my opinion that is an antiquated attitude that has made millions of children feel inadequate.

With regard to whether your child should wear a swim diaper, I am not aware that pool rules are open to interpretation or negotiation. As someone else posted, at least the child should be wearing a swimsuit and if you feel the need to disregard the rules, then at least no one will be able to tell. From your post, it sounds like you took her into the pool naked?

 

[DisTeach1]

In May of 2002, my son came down the the nastiess case of poison oak that I have ever seen. It was on the back of both legs and looked horrible-a crosse between being badly burned or something. No matter what I did it didn't clear up, so after a week, and 5 days before our WDW trip, I took him to the doctor. She said that poison oak is not caught from skin to skin contact, so he was not contagious. He just looked awful and got funny looks. He went on some antibiotics and steriods, but it took a long time for his legs to look better, although he felt better right away. We swam constantly that trip, and I didn't worry about it at all. While poop and throw-up are obviously nasty, I try not to let other things bother me. That's what chlorine is for.

 

[mlwear]

So I have to put in my $.02

First of all, the biggest problem possible would be an organism called cryptosproridium and it isn't readily killed by chlorine. Most bacteria are killed by chlorine (as long as the pool is properly maintained).

Secondly, swim diapers don't do a lot to contain a leak, especially if the poop is loose. And if the kid has cryptosporidium, or E. coli, or Salmonella, well it will be a loose poop, ya know... that adults that are sick don't go in the pool, and kids that are sick (diarrhea) are not put in the pool. Other than that we have to hope the pool is well chlorinated and kills all the nasties.:

There have actually been quite a few publicized cases of public pools causing serious illness and even death because of cryptosporidium and E. coli likely caused by fecal issues.
If your child is potty trained fine. When I have seen young child in a swim suit not wearing a diaper, I assume she is potty trained (and I absolutely agree with pp, it isn't because the kid is intelligent. My son has a gifted IQ and wasn't potty trained until he was 3. Lots of other factors at play, but who cares.) If a child is in a regular diaper or naked, someone needs to tell so that the child is taken out. That is just disguisting. As are most other "infractions" brought up in this thread. With that being said, I will tell a couple years ago, youngest DS swallowed a bunch of water and threw up a little at our community pool. (After reading all the gross stuff in the water, I can now guess why he threw up ). Anyway, no one noticed and I could have not said anything and no one would have known. But, I immediately told a life guard. The pool was cleared and shut down for a couple of hours. Everyone was mad and pointing at us. It was SO embarrassing. But, I would absolutely tell again and go through the huge scene because it was the right thing to do. I bring up the story only to encourage others who are in a similar situation to notify a life guard or attendant. It may be humiliating and make others mad, but you shouldn't chance making others sick. Off my soap box now and dumping my "holier than thou attitude"