Pool gear for kids

[impsmom]

Well be staying at AKL in June with our 3 kids. DD7, DD4 and DS2. None of them have ever been to a real pool before so they don't have a clue how to swim but the girls are so excited about getting to go to a pool and DH said he'd take them on the slide. I've read that the pool is only about 4 1/2 feet deep which is good. I think I read someplace that AKL has life vests for the kids but in case they don't, can anyone recommend some type of floatation device for the kids? Are those water wings any good? DH and I don't plan on letting them get far from us in the water and the rule will be they have to be able to touch the bottom with their feet but we all know kids so I'd feel a little better if they had some type of "protection"
TIA

 

[larklynn]

I stayed at Saratoga springs and they did have life vests and towels available. If they don't the arm floaties are nice as long as some one is with them for the two older children.

 

[Schmeck]

The great thing about the AKL pool is that it has a zero-entrance section. It's like walking into the water at a lake.

The bad news is, most likely your husband will not be allowed to go down the slide with your children - at the same time, that is. The kids will have to go down by themselves, so you can have one adult go in line with them, and just have the other adult waiting at the bottom to assist the kids back to shallow water.

They had life jackets at the pool when we were there last August. They do limit the flotation devices guests bring with them. I think the inflatable armbands were OK, but I don't think swim rings were permitted.

For the youngest ones, how about those swimsuits with the built in flotation sections?

 

[Stimpy]

The bad news is, most likely your husband will not be allowed to go down the slide with your children - at the same time, that is. The kids will have to go down by themselves, so you can have one adult go in line with them, and just have the other adult waiting at the bottom to assist the kids back to shallow water.

Just to let you know, you may not be allowed to do this. We stayed at several of the Disney resorts over the last 5 yrs and did this for DS all the time. DH waited at the bottom of the slide and helped him get to the shallow end. We never had a problem doing this until our last day at the BC in December. The whole week he was allowed to do this but the last day we were there, the CM told DH he could not do it. She told him if DS could not get to the side of the pool by himself, he could not go down the slide. BTW, it was not crowded at all and all morning he was allowed to do it. We only had a problem when they changed to the one CM. It wasn't a big deal b/c there was still plenty to do at the pool.

 

[3mickeys&me]

We usually bring the blow up water wings for my youngest ds, he is just learning to swim. They are easy to pack and the kids love them. Not sure if they sell them there or not, we brought our own.

 

[impsmom]

I'll let DH and the kids know that they may not be able to do the slide. I'll also pick up a couple sets of the armband floaties for the older kids.

 

[MandM-Mom]

Do they allow you to use the arm floaties in the resort pools? Can you use your own floats of any kind in the pools?

 

[3mickeys&me]

We have never had a problem using the arm floaties, we have used the several times.

Don't recall seeing any other type of floates or raft type things. I have a feeling the might not be aloud. But I am not 100% sure of that.

 

[CEDmom]

We have a Speedo vest for DD that we take with us anytime we'll be at a pool including WDW. We've never had a problem with them not allowing her to use it. Last time we were there some kids did have inflatable rings and there didn't seem to be a problem with them.

 

[minmate]

A few weeks ago we were at Pop and saw people with small blow up beach balls. One of them even looked like it had faded writing on it indicating that it belonged TO the pool. We also saw two people with the noodles.

 

[Stimpy]

We were able to borrow a life vest for DS at the Poly and BC pools at no charge. You just have to ask the lifeguard or someone else in the recreation area. We needed to leave one of our licenses in order to get it but got it right back when we returned the vest. I'm pretty sure they do this at all the resorts.

 

[experiment626mom]

Can I advise that you at least teach your kids to float on their backs? (You can teach this in the bath tub) It may save a life.

 

[LauraAnn630]

What about other pool toys. What is allowed at the resorts? Can we bring any floatation deviced like tubes, rafts ect...

 

[momx2]

Since none of your children know how to swim, I would recommend getting a life vest for each for free from the resort. We have done this several times. They can use these on the slide, so maybe the older ones will be comfortable doing this. Good luck!