Pools - need help

[colleen mcmaster]

Does anyone know if parents can ride the water slides at BWV and VWL while holding their kids? We've been to some resorts where the lifeguards say the kids can ride down with parents and others say they must go alone. Also, are the kids allowed to wear water wings while going down the slides. Thanks.

 

[DVCDAD]

The lifeguards at VWL did not allow me to ride down with my kids! This was in December.

 

[Granny]

colleen....I'm not familiar with the BWV pool, but the WL pool slide comes down to a fairly deep spot (4 1/2 ' ?) I have a feeling the life guards might not be comfortable with a water-winged child coming down.

One of the reasons is that, as you might imagine, this slide is very busy with tons of kids. They are pretty good at not coming down on top of each other, but if your child can't swim quickly away from the bottom of the slide, it could pose a safety risk for him/her and the other kids.

 

[ohiominnie]

We were at VWL in December and swam at the main pool. My ds came down with a swim belt on multiple times and nothing was ever said. I stayed close to the exit of the slide and he'd swim to me. There was never a problem with another kid coming right behind him, but then again, the next kid in line was always my dd who is extra cautious about that sort of thing.


ohiominnie

 

[QueenAnne]

I don't know about WDW, but at HH my DH was scolded by a lifeguard for going down with my 2 year old DD. I wish they would have signs posted for that kind of thing!

 

[kewlteacher]

You were not allowed to go down with child at BWV. I was very nervous (non-swimming 3 1/2 year old) so my husband went up and i stayed at bottom. He gave me the signal when she was going down (she had on lifevest). I went to the middle and grabbed her. The lifeguards aren't very good about you staying there but once they saw I got out of the way, they were fine. Some are easier than others.

Hope this helps!

BTW- My daughter loved the slide!

 

[Cinderella]

They are allowed to wear water wings or a life vest at both resorts. My son had no problems on the slide at VWL when he was four but, it you are concerned u could wait at the bottom for him. One thing to note is that you have to lie on your back going down the slide. If you don't - you kind of get thrown backwards anyway! My 2 year old daughter got on the slide herself one day, whilst I was getting towels and got a huge shock when she was thrown backwards but, she survived!

I haven't used Boardwalk pool but, I know they allow them, as children who are staying at the Beach Club are allowed to use the Boardwalk slide, if they need to wear water wings. Water wings aren't allowed at the yacht and beach club, incase the child gets stuck in the tunnel, according to one of the lifeguards.

If you are still worried, you could wait and assist him as he hits the water.

 

[Lisa D]

We are members at BWV - at the Community Hall (by the quiet pool) they will provide you with a high quality life vest your child can use for the duration of your trip. All they do is take your name and room number and you can keep it until you check out. They are really great for the water slides, since they bring your child right back up to the surface. We have gotten them three times for our youngest son, since he has a habit of going down the slide about 10 times each time we visit the pool! They do not let you slide down with your kids. What DH and I did when they were real little was one of us waited by the ladder out of the pool, and the other went down right after our son.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Just to second that last post about life vests. My 3 year old DS loves to go underwater and that can make swimming very stressful for me. On our last trip I got him a life vest and it made our lives a lot easier. He LOVES the slides at all the pools we've been to!
Robin M.
Poly 6/2000, 12/2001
BWV 6/2001
BWV/??/VWL 7/2002