Pool slide observation.

[KNWVIKING]

The intent of this thread isn't to start another ugly pool slide debate, we've all been in enough of those. For the record our home is OKW. DW and I are in favor of adding a pool slide, but it isn't an issue with us that it doesn't have one. Now the point of the thread:

Our trip to VB was our first trip where we actually spent entire days at the pool area. We have been to the pools at OKW,VWL and BWV but for minimal amounts of time. The crowds at the pool ranged from heavy-to-light depending on the day and time, but kids were always a constant. One of the biggest reasons OKW owners who don't want a slide give is "THE NOISE". Well, DW and I sat by the pool at VB and listened. When the slide was empty, we could hear kids and adults having fun. When the slide was loaded, we heard the same noise. If we didn't know there was a slide there, the noise level would not have tipped us off.In other words,the slide did not cause the pool area to be any noisier. The pool slide was a great asset, not a noise maker. And believe it or not,we never heard "MARCO" "POLO" once.

Let the flames begin.

 

[WDWDad]

C'mon not one single MARCO - POLO ! Are you sure you were by the pool? I hear the tubs are very large there.

We too would be in favor of adding a large pc of pool play equipment at OKW (our home). I just don't see how it would negatively effect the overall enjoyment of the pool area.

On our last visit I saw two small girls climbing into the dolphin area to play. There are electrical wires running through that area. These children were looking for an area to play and thought they had found something (hey, from outside it looks like a splash -around area that's part of the pool).

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by KNWVIKING
....... Well, DW and I sat by the pool at VB and listened. When the slide was empty, we could hear kids and adults having fun. When the slide was loaded, we heard the same noise. If we didn't know there was a slide there, the noise level would not have tipped us off.In other words,the slide did not cause the pool area to be any noisier. The pool slide was a great asset, not a noise maker. And believe it or not,we never heard "MARCO" "POLO" once....

Our VB experience was the same as KNWVIKING reports. We've spent a total of 7 nights since last November at VB. The bulk of the day time hours were spent by the pool. We didn't notice any extra noise due to the slide and not one "MARCO POLO", the entire time. We're BWV owners but have spent only a little time at Luna Park. When we were there, we did not notice any extra noise that could be attributed to the slide. No "Marco Polo" games at Luna Park either. Maybe we visit at the wrong times, or maybe "Marco Polo" is a game kids play when there isn't anything else to do!

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Since we are speaking of pool slides, I wish that you were allowed to take your little child down the slide on your lap. The only one at a time is too restrictive, and limits that parent/child fun for me.

 

[Dean]

I don't recall the noise being a major issue on past "discussions" but I may not remember since it isn't an issue to me. I think the ambience and cost were the big issues. Remember that the pool at VB is a far more important area to the whole of the guests as compared to even SAB. There's just not a lot to do otherwise, read, no parks to attend.

I can't remember a thread that started, "I don't want to start the arguement again" that didn't start the arguement again. So be prepared just in case.

 

[Nanajo1]

I don't remember noise being the driving force of the the "no slide" faction. Rather it was an increase in dues to cover the cost of life guards. Also who wants to pool hop to OKW? there's no slide!! Keeps the crowds away. LOL

 

[SueM in MN]

I also had heard the big reason for not putting one in at OKW was that if you have a side, you also need a lifeguard.
Also, the question about not allowing a perent to go down a slide with the child is a safety reason. When you get to the bottom, it's very easy for the adult to end up either pulling the child under (if they are holding on tight when they come off the slide) or landing on top of the child.

 

[KNWVIKING]

Nan, from the "discussions" I've participated in, it seemed most of the nay sayers avoided the cost & dues issue because they didn't want to appear cheap as many of the yea sayers were trying to imply. They stuck we noise and ambiance as their main reasons against a slide.

Dean, I already tok into account your last statement before i posted my thread. In the past I had no first hand knowledge about the noise argument against the slide- just never hung out around the pools long enough to notice. Now I do because I did, (that make sense?). From what I observed at VB, noise is not a valid argument against a slid at OKW- IMHO, (must have the obligatory disclaimer).

As for a lifeguard,other then cost it's hard to find a negative for having a guard,especially if you have children, and not neccasarily young ones-parents watch them. I was always more concerned about my more independant,daredevil 11 & 13 year olds which I didn't always watch like a hawk.

 

[Werner Weiss]

Originally posted by KNWVIKING
As for a lifeguard,other then cost it's hard to find a negative for having a guard,especially if you have children, and not neccasarily young ones-parents watch them. I was always more concerned about my more independant,daredevil 11 & 13 year olds which I didn't always watch like a hawk.

At a typical waterslide, there are either one or two lifeguards, depending upon the size of the slide and the visibility of the end of the slide from the beginning of the slide. If you watch such waterslide lifeguards, you'll see that they keep their full attention on the safe use of the slide. They're not in a position to focus their attention on the rest of pool.

My point is that parents should not think that having lifeguards at a waterslide means they don't have to watch their children in the rest of the pool.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I think the noise level at Luna Park is high. But I don't think it has anything to do with the slide. It would be noisy without it because its in a "box canyon". To be honest Luna Park will be a disincentive for me to stay at BWV in the future. ..solely because of the box canyon effect. BCV will have the exact same advantages without abutting directly on the major hotel pool.

I find the comments about lifeguards interesting because it leads me to believe that Disney won't put in slides in locations where there isn't a hotel to offset the cost of lifeguards...which doesn't bode well for EP or DI.

 

[KNWVIKING]

I disagree with your lifeguard observation. While at VB they employed two lifeguards,one in the chair overlooking the main pool area and a 2nd standing at the south end of the pool watching the slide area,not four eyes on the slide. I also know that a Luna, the lifeguard sitting across from the slide in the big chair watches more then just the slide because of the one time I was actually in the pool. i have a habit of just doing a "dead man" float,face down in the water to relax. I can hold my breathe for quite awhile. While floating 2 ft in front of my DW sitting on the edge of the pool, this guard jumped down and was getting ready to "save" me till my wife intervened. I was no where near the slide. Its also not like hundreds of people are coming off the slide every hour. At VB the rule is you don't start till the person on the slide hits the water. To think a guard is only focused on the slide and nothing else doesn't give the guard much credit.

 

[Chuck S]

I just don't understand why no slide is such a big deal. The resort DIDN'T have a slide when we purchased, and now there is a wide choice of DVC resorts that DO have slides. Each DVC resort offers a different experience and ambiance. If a slide is REALLY important to you, you DO have other accomodation options (like BCV!), as well as poolhopping. Since you seem to have brought up the "Cheap" arguement...maybe those that want a slide are too "Cheap" to spend the few extra points to stay at another resort. See, cheapness can go both ways. As far as a lifeguard, while in and of itself, not a bad idea...why aren't the parents being parents and supervising their children? A vacation doesn't mean you can ignore your parental responsibilities (although we've all seen those that try.) When two 12 year old girls vacationed with us, we didn't leave them by the pool alone! They did feel awfully grown up when we let them go to Olivia's by themselves.

 

[KNWVIKING]

I didn't imply anybody was cheap.
I also own at VWL & soon BCV, but a slide had nothing to do with any purchase,including OKW.
How old does a child have to be before you stop following them to the pool- any pool,or lake,etc. At some point kids are not going to want to hang with mom & dad. That's where lifeguards are important.
As for people who bought OKW because they were too "cheap" to buy at a slide resort, OKW was the only choice many had till the other resorts came along.

My only point on this thread was to dispute the theory that pool slides mean more noise because now I know they don't.

 

[Chuck S]

Originally posted by KNWVIKING
How old does a child have to be before you stop following them to the pool- any pool,or lake,etc. At some point kids are not going to want to hang with mom & dad. That's where lifeguards are important.

That depends on if a child is with a group of children, or alone. Just because kids don't WANT mom & dad hanging around doesn't mean mom & dad shouldn't keep an eye on them. The "age" varies with the responsibilty and common sense of the individual child. A public pool area, for a lone child, can be dangerous for reasons other than water safety in todays society, even at WDW.

 

[Peterd]

"maybe those that want a slide are too "Cheap" to spend the few extra points to stay at another resort",

Well some of us bought at another resort, wanted to add on when we got home, and Okw was the only option because the newer resort wasn't approved in Ny yet. Would love to stay at the other resort at the 7 month window, (not too cheap), but most of the time the only resort open at the 7 month window is Okw.

I know at least 5 years ago on this board, when the topic of a pool slide would come up, one of the first things that would come out is "I'm not paying more dues for a slide and lifeguard". The others, we like it the way it is, or if you don't like it buy or stay elsewhere.

If they don't offer a slide, FINE, but at least upgrade the pool, fitness room, game room, and community hall. If it's supposed to be a deluxe resort, I would think they should keep up with the times. Our kids when they first saw the pool, said "look a dolphin spirting water!", as they got closer, "oh it's just a dolphin spurting water". Can't go near the dolphin though, Borrrring. We Have the same pool at home, just without the dolphin .
I also don't see the noise ever being too overbearing at WLV/BWV/BC slide pools, so that excuse doesn't wash.

 

[KNWVIKING]

Chuck, I agree with your statement, all kids are different. Next time your down at the pool, watch the parents-how many are actually REALLY watching the kids and how many are reading,sleeping,walking up to snack area,etc. As our kids get older we tend to relax and let them be more independant- this is neither right or wrong, just a part of the natural growing up process. Even without a pool slide- which I honestly don't care about- its hard to believe Disney doesn't require a lifeguard at the main pool at least. With the size of OKW membership,what could it actually increase our dues ? 0.10, 0.20 ? Anybody have a clue ?

 

[Chuck S]

I wonder too, how much a lifeguard would increase dues per point, If I remember correctly, I think the last estimate for the slide, insurance and lifegard was around 35¢ per year, plus a one-time $2 special assessment, and that was several years ago. Another thing to consider is the folks that have have a substantial number of points at OKW. Say those that have 1000 points or more. Even a small increase in dues would have a much greater impact on them. If someone owned the max of 2000 pts, 35¢ would be another $700 per year in dues, plus a $4000 special assessment for something they may not need or desire.

Maybe someone who is inclined to take the time to look all that stuff up could tell us that if something actually DID go to a member vote, would it be based on the number of points someone owns (like stock ownership) or would it be one member one vote (which would mean that someone with a 50 point add on would have as much say as a 2000 point owner). Would this also give someone with 2 contracts (different use years) two votes?

 

[RobDoc]

There was no vote of the members- it is not needed as DVD can make any changes they want without our permission.

You are referring to a survey of the members (non-binding). It was sent to a sampling of the owners at OKW- not to everyone. Those who got the survey and responded indicated that the majority didn't want a slide.

I don't remember the numbers involved, but it would have increased the dues on a per point basis besides the one time assessment to add a slide. The more points owned, the greater the annual cost to each member. The lifeguard is not required UNLESS there is a slide.

Whether a lifeguard would be a good safety feature is another discussion altogether.

 

[KNWVIKING]

The one time $2.00 pp assestment sounds way too high. How many hundreds of thousands of OKW points were sold. We're talking pool slide,not water park. Personally I don't think there will ever be pool slide at OKW but would still like to know what it would have cost.

 

[kel3420]

I just had to chime in on the "Marco Polo", lol. If you honestly can't stand this, don't be around the pool are in Vero at Thanksgiving, my three kids love this game