Read This About Pool Depth!

[ajea89]

For all of you headed to Coronado Springs with small children, PLEASE note that the depth of the pool goes no less than 3 foot, 6 inches. I was so exicited for my 5yo DD to experience the dig site after reading about the hotel, but she hated it because she couldn't touch!! Even the quiet pool by our Rancho was too deep. If you have small children you MUST bring water wings or something! My DD is a great swimmer, and didn't want to use water wings, but thankfully, I'd stuck them in at the last minute. But, I wanted to make sure all of you knew before you went! There were many other mothers sitting around the pool who also were disappointed, but none of us thought to research ahead of time the pool depth.

We were so disappointed, and I can't figure out why on earth Disney would build a pool that deep, but know the rest of you know!

 

[~Sparkly~Zoe]

They do have the kiddie pool that isn't that deep!

 

[epcotfan]

It is that deep so people can actually swim. There is a kiddie pool adjacent to the Dig Site (with fountains) for small children. The only pools with zero entry are The Polynesian, AK Lodge, Grand Floridian and a portion of Storm A Long Bay at the Yacht/Beach Club. Personally I didn't enjoy the AK Lodge pool because it was too shallow and bottlenecked with small kids. Made it impossible to actually have a swim.
The majority of WDW resorts do not have pools that start out at a depth of less than 3 feet.

 

[married2grumpy]

We chose not to stay at CS this time around because of the pool. The pool looks great but not for little ones. The pool slide is too large for them. I didn't even know about the pool depth. Zero entry is nice but most of the pools have a shallow end that at least you can stand in with the kids. Families like to swim together. I think the kiddie pools are fine for kids 3 and under but my 5 & 4 year old think it is boring . As long as there is a shallow end that is less than 4 feet that is ok with me. The pool slide was the issue with me not the pool depth.

 

[*Fantasia*]

We enjoyed the main pool at CS. My kids and I don't know how to swim. I am only 5'1", so I know where not to swim. We only stay at 3ft or 4ft. I can walk across from the post where it spits water to Mayan steps without any problem. The kids like the kiddie pool, but they love the big pool better! We stayed mostly of course in the 3ft, and I think there are plenty of area that is 3ft and 4ft. The pool is huge and it is never crowded. We loved the pool here. And the kids love the Dig Site.

I am very quite sure that CS is not the only one that has a deeper areas for those who seriously would like to dip their whole body and be able to swim.

Wherever we stay, we are always prepared for the pool, whether it be deep or shallow, the kids always have their floaties on.

But other than the depth of the pool, did you like the themeing of the pool? What did you think about CS resort? How did you like the place overall?

 

[palmtreegirl]

I can't figure out why on earth Disney would build a pool that deep,

Because pools aren't just for little kids, they're that deep so people can actually swim. 3"6 inches isn't that deep anyway.

They provide a kiddie pool, I don't understand the fuss. I have a 2 year old and he didn't like the pool at the CR so he played in the fountains or sat on the ledge, the thought that it was wrong there wasn't a place for him never occured to me. My 6 year old, as well as many other children and adults loved the pool, when he gets older he will too.

I'm sorry(I'm not being sarcastic) but I just don't understand this type of complaint.

 

[KathyTX]

3'6" is a pretty standard starting depth for the shallow end of a pool. Kids who are too short to be comfortable at that depth would be a lot better suited for the kiddie pool...

I guess I don't understand what your expectation was, either.

 

[DVC-Don]

I agree. Unless it is a zero entry pool, 3.5 feet is pretty standard for shallow ends of pools.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The CS pool (the Dig Site) is great. We loved it and spent most of our two days at CS at the pool.

 

[crs7568]

Thanks for the information. I am personally not staying there on this trip, but I am sure that many people will appreciate the heads up on the need for swimmies.

 

[~Sparkly~Zoe]

CS has wonderful theming and has one of the most beautiful views in the early am across the water. I also enjoyed the pepper market which had a wide variety of meals for my family to choose from.

We also had been pleasantly surprised at how great the bus service was as opposed to some of the deluxes.

 

[ajea89]

Hey - I was just trying to be helpful to others who may be headed there by giving them a fair warning about the depth! I could care less about the rest of your opinions - I obviously was aware of the baby pool, but what 5 year old wants to swim in literally zero depth.

Back off all you critics! The only reason I posted there is because I didn't know about the depth, hadn't read about it anywhere, and wanted others to know. Hopefully someone out there can appreciate what I was trying to do.

And to those of you who said 3'5 is typical depth, it's not - - I've been a pool manager and swim professional at six different pools, and none of them started at 3'6" depth.

 

[*Fantasia*]

Whoa!!

I think we should all warn the parents with young children that all the pools at Disney have a deep ends somewhere, however, there are kiddie pools too for the little ones to enjoy.

On the big pool, some of us are just more limited to where we can swim. Like I said for instance, I short, I can't go to 5ft, but I can do 3 and 4ft. My son can do 3ft and 4 ft if he has the floaties on him. If was only taller...sigh. My late husband can go to 5ft and 6ft, he is tall enough and besides, he can swim too.

Disney thought about the tall and the short ones...so they have the depth for the tall and the short and for the little ones too!

Blah...blah...blah...

 

[higgin704]

I, for one, appreciate the heads up. We won't be staying there, but this is good info to know. And, I agree, most public pools around our area start at a depth of 1 ft. 6 in - 3 feet. In fact, I can't think of a public pool in the 20 mile radius surrounding our house that begins at 3 ft. 6 inches.

As to those who make the kiddie pool comment, while you are correct that they are available, would you want an extra short 5 or 6 year old causing havoc around babies and toddlers? Around here, the kiddie pools are usually designated for those 5 and under. A short 6 year old wouldn't even be allowed in the kiddie pools. While I don't recall seeing that restriction at WDW, I can understand people's hesitation to put a much older child in a pool intended for small children. Availability of a gradual entry pool is a handy thing in a place marketed toward young children.

angie

Originally posted by ajea89
Hey - I was just trying to be helpful to others who may be headed there by giving them a fair warning about the depth! I could care less about the rest of your opinions - I obviously was aware of the baby pool, but what 5 year old wants to swim in literally zero depth.

Back off all you critics! The only reason I posted there is because I didn't know about the depth, hadn't read about it anywhere, and wanted others to know. Hopefully someone out there can appreciate what I was trying to do.

And to those of you who said 3'5 is typical depth, it's not - - I've been a pool manager and swim professional at six different pools, and none of them started at 3'6" depth.

 

[zulaya]

Perhaps CSR is old enough that when it was built 3.5 ft was the norm. I too have been a pool manager, and there are a lot of standard swimming pools that start that depth. I live in the Twin Cities area and while I can't say I have been to every public swimming pool, the indoor ones I have been to, I can't think of any that start at less than 3.5' OR if they do start less, they have zero depth entry. I don't think it was until theme pools and water park pools came into norm that zero depth and really shallow starting depths were real common.

Also, keep in mind that CSR is also a convention resort...that may have played a factor in its construction.

 

[Vlahakis2001]

AJEA CALM DOWN!!!

Nobody was being nasty with you, I read the thread through twice to make sure. Yes, there is a kiddie pool there, if they can't have floaties on, then obviously that's where they have to go. I understand your thought of bringing that here, and as some other poster said the pools aren't for toddlers only. I think your nasty comments only make matters worse, settle down. Couldn't you swim with them?? (Not a sarcastic question, just wondering if that was a problem)

 

[KathyTX]

Yes, calm down! No one was attacking you...

I guess if having a zero-entry or extremely shallow pool is this important to one, one should do a little research before making a reservation. While those pools do exist, I have not found them to be the norm.

You also make an interesting statement in your original post:

Even the quiet pool by our Rancho was too deep.

I would expect the QUIET pool to be targeted toward adults, not children, simply by definition of "quiet!" I'm curious why this surprises you?

 

[*Fantasia*]

Quoted by...hmmm...sowwie...I forgot...but anyway...

As to those who make the kiddie pool comment, while you are correct that they are available, would you want an extra short 5 or 6 year old causing havoc around babies and toddlers? Around here, the kiddie pools are usually designated for those 5 and under. A short 6 year old wouldn't even be allowed in the kiddie pools. While I don't recall seeing that restriction at WDW, I can understand people's hesitation to put a much older child in a pool intended for small children. Availability of a gradual entry pool is a handy thing in a place marketed toward young children.

angie

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My quote:
I guess vice-versa. Maybe the 5 and under or even 6 and under should stay in their destination...the kiddie pool and don't belong in the big deep pool, if the 6 and over can't dip in the kiddie pool. I myself jump right in the kiddie pool just to play with my kids sometimes. He he he...btw, I had a great time at the kiddie pool at HRH! The kiddie pool there is huge and it even have the water squirting from the bottom. I did saw a couple of Moms there with their toddlers and preschoolers. Awwwww...that was nice!

Hey ajea...you will love the main pool at HRH. I think they only have one small area that is deep which is I think 4'7". The rest are about 3'6" which is just perfect for my 6 yrs old and also good for my 4 yrs old. They have a 0 depth entry. This is my kids favorite resort cause of their pool.

 

[marijeff]

I think it is good to post these type of details for newcomers who just havent thought about such things or how they might affect their family. We are all trying to provide as much information as possible so that everyone has the best time possible. For our family, we took our kids life jackets and they could go down the big slide at the dig site. At the time, they were 6 and 8 and everything went fine. Sometimes we find ourselves in an 'in-between' stage and just have to make the best of it, but I think it is nice to see such items posted - if it was important to one family, there is sure to be another out there who needs to know this info. Thanks for the post.

 

[NotUrsula]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but don't all the WDW resort pools offer life vests for the use of guests' children? My DS can swim, but he prefers to wear a vest when playing in a deep pool with me.

I always get into the water with my child, but sitting in a foot of water is rather low on my list of fun things to do. We stayed a night at HRH on a recent trip, and I absolutely HATED that pool because 95% of it was so wretchedly shallow. (At HRH, even the water at the base of the slide is shallow, which seemed rather dangerous.) HRH's pool is pretty, but it is useless for actual swimming.

CSR was designed to service convention guests, and most convention guests are going to be adults, who presumably are going to want to be able to swim in water that is deep enough to keep them easily buoyant. Most adults prefer to submerge at least up to the waist, but if the water is really shallow, you have to put your knees or tush on the bottom to do that. Since many pools today have the shallow floor roughened for traction, that can get painful. Personally, I prefer a shallow depth of no less than 3 ft.