using pool slide/cant swim

[Dalpal]

Hi,
I am taking my grandaughters to WDW in june 04 and they would like to use the pool slide. We are planing on staying at CBR.
My youngest cant swim she is 7 yrs.
Do they have life jackets to rent and can she use the slide with one on?
If not, I am willing to stay were we could do this. do any of the other resorts do this?
I know that you cant at SAB in the YC/BC.
Any help on this subject would be great!
Thanks!

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

At The Wilderness Lodge, you can get life-jackets from the hotel (keep them for entire stay) no rental charge and children are allowed to use them on the slide.

You also have time for your grandchild to take lessons..I think all children need to be taught. If you swim you might be able to work with her/him on your trip. So make sure you remove the jacket and make them work at learning if they don't want to try tell them it is a pay-off for using the jacket on the slide

Don't mean to preach it's just that living here in Florida we have so many tragedies with children not being able to swim.

 

[Kimberle]

At WL, you can also stand at the bottom of the slide and catch your child. Don't know abt the other pools.

 

[n2mm]

I don't mean to preach either, but as Magicinmyheart said, there is plenty of time to get lessons. When my grandson was preparing for a trip when he was 5, I happily paid for his swimming lessons and it was money well spent!

 

[tink44]

At Boardwalk Inn (the Keister Coaster pool slide) they also lend life jackets for the length of stay. My daughter (7) didn't want to wear it, so my husband did also to make her feel comfortable. We had a great time, kept the jackets in the room and returned them the last day.

Have fun!

 

[mnmom22]

I have an 8 yo special needs boy who's not much of a swimmer. We've never had any trouble at any of the WDW pools. We've stayed at All Stars, boardwalk, Old Key West, Coronado Springs, and Port Orleans. I did however have trouble at the Grand Californian in Disneyland. The lifeguard wouldn;t let hin go down the slide unless he could prove he could swim the width of the pool---even if I was standing at the bottom of the slide.

 

[PaintedStuff]

<p><font face="Comic Sans MS">Everyone should be able to swim -at least be able to doggie paddle! How about a (grand)parent/child class at the local Y this winter as a fun Sunday thing to do? If your grandchild is a reluctant swimmer, maybe the "bribe" of something special at WDW, including the slide or a trip to Typhoon Lagoon would be an incentive. </font>

 

[SteveH]

Things must have chanced since our 99 visit (yep been a few years) but even at Disneyland they were pretty insistent on our son being able to swim to the edge. We couldn't wait at the bottom at CSR.

As a Y Director though I would highly suggest contacting your local Y or parks dept to see if you can get into lessons, at the age, and the time between now and then you should have enough time to get the basics down and even if there is a fear of water they can help. www.ymca.net offers a find your Y system.

Best of luck.

 

[goin2disneyagain]

AKL also has the vests for kids to use. They are in a bin by the pool.

 

[Schmeck]

My two daughters actually learned how to swim at WDW - we call it the world's most expensive swimming lessons, LOL!

When we were at AKL last October, the lifeguards were a bit more strict about pool rules than we've seen in the past. They did allow adults to be waiting near the bottom of the slide, but were warned to get back and not linger at the exact bottom of the slide. Children were sliding down, splashing in, and then being assisted by adults. As long as your granddaughter is comfortable about going under water for a brief moment, and wearing a life jacket, she'll be fine, I think. Those lifeguards at AKL were extemely attentive!

Schmeck