There is a reason parents like us tour commando style. It isn't because we like to tour commando style. It's because you don't get to relax when you are a parent of young kids anyway. Whether you are sitting or standing or walking or touring, you are still working your butt off. So this was to be our "off day" where we chill at the resort. But we are parents. So we don't get to chill. That's how it works. So truth be told, Suzy and I really dislike resort time as swimming & playing at playgrounds is WAY more work for us than touring where we at least get to sit down in a.c. every once in awhile and the children are entertained every second of the day instead of being entertained for a little while and then being thirsty, hungry, fighting, or most annoying of all, BORED. And if you are in a hotel room "relaxing" you get to listen to Spongebob Squarepants. Ugh.
Once back at our campsite, it was pure chaos as bathing suits were grabbed and thrown on STAT! Because heaven forbid the children have to wait a single second while another child gets a swimming suit/sunblock on. We did our walk through the woods and over the bridge walk to the pool.
The pool was a zoo. Which, as you parents know, means lots of kids. And where kids elsewhere might be nice and polite and obedient, kids in a pool are all about them, mean spirited, and VERY splashy. Public pools bring out the worst in both adults and kids. Everyone, even those who are normally loving, feel that in a pool they are the most important person in the world. And no rules apply to them. And they are vocal in pointing out our flaws. This means that no matter what choice you make, someone will point out that you are annoying them.
For example, we got in trouble this week for: swimming, running, throwing a soft, small football, splashing, laying on a chair while saving the chair beside us, getting our towels incorrectly (later in the week, we had our own towels here), etc, etc. Whereas elsewhere at WDW people who are disapproving will give you disapproving looks, in the main pools they are more than willing to actually yell at you and yes, swear words are acceptable.
I, personally, hate public pools like this. That's why both Suzy & I are willing to do the work to have our own pools at home. Much more peaceful.
Really, I suppose, it isn't THAT bad, but you can see we don't spend a lot of time in Disney pools. It isn't because we are bad parents and it isn't because our kids don't love pools. It's because there isn't a lot of Disney magic in Disney pools at mid-day. My opinion, my opinion. You may have totally different results.
So we get to the pool and Suzy and I find a little spot in the shade. Milo finds himself a spot WAY far away from us so he can be in the bright sunshine and actually get to relax without having to perform any duties that might come if he sits near the moms. Donald and Charming took the rest of the kids into the big pool.
First, I fixed my kid's goggles. Then Milo offered to get Suzy & I pina coladas. He arrives back with them at the same moment that McQueen comes and says he doesn't have his goggles. I say I have an extra pair. I get them arranged for his head but he then decides they just won't do. Suzy then volunteers to walk the 20 minutes round trip back to the campsite to get them. Me? No way I would have done this. That's why Suzy's kids are luckier than mine.
While back at the campsite she took these photos, while it was nice and calm:
And I took these from my chair:
My view of the pool:
My view of the sidewalk right next to me and the river:
My view of the single worst pina colada I've ever had. SKIP THIS DRINK!
Right after I took these pictures McQueen came over and asked about his goggles. I told him it was going to be a LONG time and not to pester me. So he gave me about 30 seconds and came back and asked me again. I said not yet. He came back about 6 times before I said, "Sit down." He didn't. Then I said, "Listen. If I were your mom I wouldn't have gotten you the goggles. So you are VERY lucky your mom did that. And if she comes back and you have an attitude about HOW LONG SHE TOOK she will never be this nice again. So you can sit here and not talk to me again till she comes back. Or you can go away and not come back until you actually see her. Those are your choices. And again, I better hear a grateful attitude when she gets back here. I mean it. A real 'thank you'."
He chose to go away.
Then Boo needed me. Then I went and took pictures that turned out blurry. Then McQueen asked me about the goggles again. Then Ariel came to tell me a story about how horrible all the kids in the pool were. And then, and then. I did relax for about 2 minutes. It was really nice.
Then Suzy did come back and McQueen was there instantly. The goggles did make him happy and it was probably the right choice. But I still wouldn't have made it.
Then Suzy sat down in our lovely spot in the shade and said, "This is the single worst pina colada I've ever had!" I just nodded knowingly.
Then Jack-Jack came over with Charming as he wanted to go to the little kid pool and Charming wanted to play football. So Suzy went over there. Then I saw Boo dashing off to go there so I moved over there too.
The slide on this thing was crazy crawling with kids so it took some parenting to keep the children from getting injured because, of course, it's a public pool so it's every man for himself and if I have to shove you head first down the slide, so be it.
Do you see the hidden Mickey's on my toes?
Mulan throwing the tiny, soft football that made the people at the Dolphin later in the week proclaim Charming to be the evilest, least considerate person ever born.
And that's all the photos I have of the pool. I took a bunch but my camera was really starting to break and it was taking awful photos when it did work.
My conclusion: Pool time at WDW is essential. Your kids will demand it and it's hot out. But it isn't very fun for Mom. I did enjoy our September time in the POR pool but that is because it was empty. I actually got in the pool. Here, I refused. This would probably be enjoyable in September and early December. But not on a peak week.
After this we went back and changed, hung our bathing suits up on the lines, and headed back past the pool to the marina. Here is the walk we took many times:
And this is where Suzy's week went a little of course for 12 hours. It still had some Disney magic, but not quite as much.
Milo and Donald got some alcoholic beverages and took the kiddos to the playground while Suzy and I stood in line at the carry out line at the Trails to Go place. We came up with a genius plan to use some CS credits and a bit of money and get our families great meals. But there was about a 20 minute wait. There was no place to wait and they don't call you, you have to just stand there in this tiny area. It was the opposite of fun. And for Suzy, who had been on "MomPatrol" at the pool and walked an extra mile, it was REALLY not fun.
Meanwhile, Donald, who thought it would be funny, sent me the following photo:
The caption was "We're waiting too long so we got our own food."
This was not really very funny. And so I told him so. He immediately texted back that a family had given them the pizza for free and since the kids were starving, they let them have some. Well, ok. Free pizza? I guess that's ok.
So I was fine with it. Plus, Donald had done his dad duty at the pool and taken care of my kids 50/50 with me so we were fair.
Milo, on the other hand, had chilled the entire time at the pool. So they were NOT in a fair area of the mom/dad ratio.
And instead of sensing the emotional tension oozing off Suzy, Milo would NOT let it go. Not via text and not in person.
In this photo Milo is off to Suzy's left chanting, "free pizza, free pizza."
To my shock, he even mentioned that stupid free pizza in the quick family prayer he said before eating. Seriously. Milo can drive something into the ground. And when you're a mom who has spent 4 days living in a tent taking care of 5 men, being a pack horse, being the FP collector, and taking care of needy, introverted men who refuse to ride public transportation you don't really need to have "ha, ha, you worked so hard and we don't need you one twit" rubbed in your face.
Plus, Suzy can't really let things go. Me? This is when I fall 100% silent. Which is odd because silence isn't really my thing. But in my head I was just willing her to not say another word so he'd just go away. But it didn't really work. He didn't listen to me willing him to stop being mean and she didn't listen to me willing her to give him the silent treatment. People don't normally obey my mind powers. Guess I'm not a Jedi.
This food is DELISH!!!
The setting isn't too shabby either:
Donald & I only had one little exchange of words here. It's when he said, "You guys got a LOT of food!"
To which I said, irritated, "We got the EXACT right amount of food. You got a free pizza. Let it drop." Evidently he had been eating and not really paying attention to what was happening in the other universe.
There are tetherballs everywhere at the fort:
Again, this wasn't as relaxing as it should have been. Resort time is stupid.
Thanks! I, too, have put aside a real book for a Trip Report. It's kind of like reading a travel book, I think, except with pictures. It's like reading a travel journal written for kids. And sometimes that's just what you need on a Friday night to escape from the work week!
. But it's been years since I've had the luxury to sit in the sun with a drink and a book. 
