Swim Floats

[qcmommy]

Do you take any swim floats with you to the pools? I don't know what kind to buy and would love advice. I have a 7 and 4 yr old who don't swim.

Thanks

 

[RMulieri]

You can take the arm floats( water wings) , noodles ,and small rings to the Disney pools.They do not allow large floats.Considering the ages on your children and that they don't know how to swim, I would rent life jackets at the resort pools for swimming in

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

My DD has been in swimming lessons since she was an infant. The best type of floats are the ones that go around their body or are built into a bathing suit. Worst thing you can get is those arm floaties. They aren't as safe and could tip your child forward

We used to bring DD's bubble from swimming lessons with us because she's used to it BUT all the Disney resorts have floatation devices for you to use. They are styled like a life jacket though and DD didn't care for those.

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

I would rent life jackets at the resort pools for swimming in

Even better, they are free...you don't have to rent them!

 

[qcmommy]

yay one less thing to pack

Thank you

 

[DISNEYNV]

Yes, you can borrow them at the Disney pools or we bring our own speedo life vests from home. They take up some room in the luggage, but the kids do best with them. The arm floaties are not that great. They dont even let us use them at the YMCA pool!

 

[claryche]

Just look for the large box of life jackets at the pool and grab one for your kid's size. We had a hard time a couple of times locating the box, but we finally found them. You can always ask, we just didn't. It's great to not have to worry about bringing a life jacket.

 

[WantToGoNow]

Worst thing you can get is those arm floaties. They aren't as safe and could tip your child forward

How could they tip forward in arm floaties? It holds their upper arms level with the water - unless you are talking a baby that is so young that they have no head control, their face will not be in the water. Now I have seen (and had my own children) tip forward in some life vests.

 

[DISNEYFOS]

Would anyone be able to describe the life vests they have at the pools? I was going to bring my own for my 2 year old. Its a vest type but it has a head support type pad keeps their head up.

Its a big overkill as it was purchased for bringing my oldest sailing with us when she was little...but I've noticed the ones with just the vest she can still get face down.

 

[Cadiewampus]

Would anyone be able to describe the life vests they have at the pools? I was going to bring my own for my 2 year old. Its a vest type but it has a head support type pad keeps their head up.

Its a big overkill as it was purchased for bringing my oldest sailing with us when she was little...but I've noticed the ones with just the vest she can still get face down.

yes they are just a basic life vest. The are yellow foam and are the type you slip on like a jacket with snaps in the front.

 

[sheilaf]

We used the resort life vest for my nephew. You are also allowed to hold on to the vest for your entire length of stay. You just have to return it before you leave. If I remember correctly, I think all we had to do was sign it out.

I have a good picture of what the vests look. I just need to figure out how to add it to my post.

 

[tink76]

I am so glad to have found this! One less thing to worry about bringing.

 

[DISNEYFOS]

We used the resort life vest for my nephew. You are also allowed to hold on to the vest for your entire length of stay. You just have to return it before you leave. If I remember correctly, I think all we had to do was sign it out.

I have a good picture of what the vests look. I just need to figure out how to add it to my post.

Thanks so much for the picture!!

 

[Mlissa88]

You can take the arm floats( water wings) , noodles ,and small rings to the Disney pools.They do not allow large floats.Considering the ages on your children and that they don't know how to swim, I would rent life jackets at the resort pools for swimming in

First I want to thank the original poster for asking the question and next I want to say thank you to RMulieri because I've been wondering if I can take a small float for my son to use with us in the Disney pools. He will be 18 months old when we go and too little for a vest. I'm not big on water wings but saw some infant floats that would allow him to feel more secure in the water with us holding him.

If you are sure we can use it, I'll bring one along.

 

[RMulieri]

First I want to thank the original poster for asking the question and next I want to say thank you to RMulieri because I've been wondering if I can take a small float for my son to use with us in the Disney pools. He will be 18 months old when we go and too little for a vest. I'm not big on water wings but saw some infant floats that would allow him to feel more secure in the water with us holding him.

If you are sure we can use it, I'll bring one along.

For infants ,They usually do not have a problem..But the lifeguards can decide against letting you use them if the pool is exceptionally crowded.

 

[bumbershoot]

The arm floaties are not that great. They dont even let us use them at the YMCA pool!

Although I was once (for a couple days) an arm floaty user, I am no longer, and our Y won't allow them either!

The Y employee when we signed up gave a simple and graphic demonstration of what can happen with a tired child with arm floaties. It involves the arms going up over the head, where the floaties would be ABOVE the head, and of course the head would be under water.

I hadn't been able to picture that, but I had seen the difficulties my son was having with the floaties, and once they sprung a leak I knew it was a *sign*, and got a Speedo brand vest the next day. He did MUCH better.

They don't even allow THAT at the Y, b/c it doesn't have a Coast Guard approval number and doesn't have a neck float thing. Of course, the neck thing prevents him from *swimming* properly, which is keeping him from learning to swim withOUT the vest, so that's annoying, but swim lessons were one of the biggest reasons we joined the Y so it's no big that he has to use an awkward vest until lesson registration is open again.

Anyway, just use the ones at the resorts.

Love that picture!!!!!

 

[Mlissa88]

For infants ,They usually do not have a problem..But the lifeguards can decide against letting you use them if the pool is exceptionally crowded.

Thank you so much! I'll bring one along!

 

[CLR4321]

We use arm floaties. As a PP said, they do have lifejackets available at some if not all resorts. They were free, however whenever we needed them, the marina was closed at POR...so we just used the floaties every time we went swimming. Arm floaties pack easy...the packs are about 6x5" and 2" thick, very easy. You could find some great deals in stores with most of them clearing out summer and bringing in the back to school stuff.

 

[stella27]

arm floaties or a speedo vest from Target here. I am assuming you would be watching these children and aware if there were an equipment malfunction, right?

 

[disneymom626]

Last time we were at a moderate resort they sold cute mickey mouse head swim floats. I would take some just in case that way you are covered.