Water park safety

[kreckl]

I am thinking much more about this due to some horrific news lately. I'm thinking I can't be the only one. I've always been concerned about a local park as the sides on the turns are not high and you go up on the sides....been looking at Disney slides and they seem much better. Are there any that others have found to be a little risky? I know we were thrown around at the wave pool but once we moved back 20 feet it was a blast.

 

[tex2328]

I live near Kansas City (if that's what you're referencing) and WDW doesn't have any slides that are built in the manner as the "water coaster" at Schlitterbahn in KC where the accident happened. I wouldn't worry. The wave pools are more accident prone then the water slides and as long as you have good situational awareness and your family members are swimmers all should be well.

 

[Alicenwonderment]

I worked at a water park in high school and college. The wave pool was the most dangerous. I don't know who the park where the accident has to train lifeguards. My park used Ellis and Disney uses Ellis too. Ellis is very strict.

 

[TheJuiciestOfJs]

I'd also imagine Florida has much more stringent theme park ride regulations due to how many there are in the state.

 

[wilkeliza]

None that I can think of. Crushin Gusher uses the same water coaster technology as a Schlitterban ride but I've never felt unsafe on it. It is the same as the aqua duck on the cruises. The wave pool is the only place that was risky. I've scrapped up my feet and knees in that thing.

 

[gioiamama]

And don't forget about what could be in the water! I unfortunately got meningitis from legoland water park in CA this past July. I may never put my head under water in a public pool again!

 

[Klayfish]

If they were "risky", I don't think they'd be rides at Disney. Tragic accidents happen at amusement parks every single year, without exception. No matter how slight, there is some degree of inherent risk. The wave pool at TL is very strong, so there's some inherent risk that you could injured by other guests toppling over you. Of if you flip over on a tube slide or mat racer, you could get a bump or bruise. I think everyone in my family has experienced that. The biggest risk is probably drowning of those who don't know how to swim and go into places they really shouldn't. Other than that, possible bumps and bruises...maybe. But am I really "concerned" because there were a few isolated incidents scattered around the country? Heck no.

Wait, let me back up. The biggest risk at a Disney water park is either a wedgie (male or female) or potential loss of bathing suit (typically women bikini tops) on the big slides.

 

[adisneyaunt]

Risks at Disney water parks ... Yup sure they r there, but I feel like they'd be less.
Use common sense, follow rules/guidelines, be sure kiddos do the same and Always go with ur gut feeling!
Have a safe wonderful visit!

 

[kreckl]

I know Disney is probably the best as far as planning. We just saw this and honestly I am on the bigger side and always feel like I go too fast and up on the sides! http://abcnews.go.com/US/man-flies-off-water-slide-rocky-cliff-fail/story?id=40698353

 

[Shanti]

The Typhoon Lagoon wave pool is the only Disney attraction that ever worries me, safety-wise. Last year we saw a small boy have to be rescued from it by a lifeguard. Knowing how to swim isn't enough for that extreme wave pool: if the child isn't a strong swimmer, he or she should be wearing a life jacket.

The Disney lifeguards are vigilant about safety and I applaud them for that. I've never understood the logic of the few on these boards who complain about Disney lifeguards being too strict. They need to think about what the word "lifeguard" really means.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

We love the wp's. We do Summit Plummet at 50 plus. The only damage we ever sustained was getting slammed into the ground after the wave hit at TL. Kind of like road rash.

 

[DLgal]

And don't forget about what could be in the water! I unfortunately got meningitis from legoland water park in CA this past July. I may never put my head under water in a public pool again!

What? We were at Legoland CA this July and spent several hours at the water park. We went on all the attractions. What kind of meningitis did you get from the water? From my understanding, the only way to do that is to contract the N. Fowleri parasite. I have a hard time believing that was the case since you are alive an well, presumably. Is that what you got?

Or did you have bacterial or viral meningitis. I would have assumed if you contracted parasitic meningitis, the park would have been shut down and investigated, like that park in NC.

 

[Mitzicat]

At Disney I have worried more about stepping on a fire ant than the water slides. But agree with other posters. I have never felt scared or worried on the slides at Disney. From what I can remember Crush and Gusher is covered with a net or in a pipe and you are sitting up on the raft. (Not sure the position of the one in Kansas City. I do worry about the wave pool, but I stick close to shore and I'm fine.

 

[DLgal]

Water parks are inherently pretty dangerous. We spend a lot of time at them these days because our kids love them so much.

Earlier this year, my husband fractured his hand on a tube family slide. His hand hit the plastic handle of the tube with a lot of force when he momentarily let go and the raft went down a hill and shot back up.

My son, on our next trip, slipped and fell and scraped off a good chunk of skin on his shin in a zero entry pool.

On our visit to Typhoon Lagoon two weeks ago, the wave pool was evacuated as a man was rescued during the "big wave" portion of the hour. He looked to have a very serious leg injury...the pool, to me, seemed overcrowded, and I made my kids come out to the very shallow area after I watched people pile on top of each other in the whitewater where the waves were breaking. I had a bad feeling and just as we were leaving because my 10 year old had been knocked down and scraped up, and he was hysterical crying from the shock and the pain, the whistles started blowing...

Nevertheless, we still love water parks and will continue to go to them, just be cautious each time.

I do wonder whether Disney will be modifying Crush and Gusher, seeing as how it uses those same metal net supports that were used on Verruckt.

 

[gioiamama]

What? We were at Legoland CA this July and spent several hours at the water park. We went on all the attractions. What kind of meningitis did you get from the water? From my understanding, the only way to do that is to contract the N. Fowleri parasite. I have a hard time believing that was the case since you are alive an well, presumably. Is that what you got?

Or did you have bacterial or viral meningitis. I would have assumed if you contracted parasitic meningitis, the park would have been shut down and investigated, like that park in NC.

I was lucky and contracted viral meningitis, caused by the common enterovirus which usually goes as quickly as it comes and causes diarrhea and vomiting -- and commonly mistaken for food poisoning. Unfortunately the virus entered my spinal fluid and hence the meningitis. It was awful -- wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Anywho, the post is about water park safety and my point being is that water quality can be misleading and that it's something I'll always think about. They don't encourage those "potty breaks"/ close the areas in legoland every hour for fun lol. In fact I haven't swam since then and that's not an easy feat living in Hawaii!

 

[DLgal]

I was lucky and contracted viral meningitis, caused by the common enterovirus which usually goes as quickly as it comes and causes diarrhea and vomiting -- and commonly mistaken for food poisoning. Unfortunately the virus entered my spinal fluid and hence the meningitis. It was awful -- wouldn't wish it on anyone.

Anywho, the post is about water park safety and my point being is that water quality can be misleading and that it's something I'll always think about. They don't encourage those "potty breaks"/ close the areas in legoland every hour for fun lol. In fact I haven't swam since then and that's not an easy feat living in Hawaii!

Thanks for clarifying. Glad you are okay now! That must have been awful.

 

[HopperFan]

The only similar ride is indeed Crusher Gusher as far as design (see video below) but it is no where as tall, so won't meet those types of speeds - it really isn't that thrilling, no more than slides at BB.

The three big drop slides (2 at BB and 1 at TL) are the only ones that worry me. I don't do them but the family does so I watch. Some of the bigger folks go airborne especially on the one slide at BB, and while I've never heard of it, I always wonder if they could end up in the bushes.

I would say at Disney parks if you got hurt on a slide it's likely you were not following proper ride rules. Once on the BB Raft ride a kid jumped out of raft in front of us. If my DH had not reached down and quickly grabbed him, throwing him in our boat, we would have run him over and he would have been hurt.

TL Wave pool is scrapes waiting to happen.

 

[bryanb]

But oh man that wave pool is so much fun!

 

[mousefan73]

Typhoon's wave pool can get dangerous. Not from the wave but if crowded, the masssive pile-up of bodies, arms, hands,legs,feet coming at your head, face, body.

The wave though intense is not dangerous. Even if it knocks you over and under there is enough time to recover. There is no second wave. Now that would be interesting.

But seriously watch out for adults body surfing to you like a bullet from the deep end.

 

[aretha30]

Water parks are inherently pretty dangerous. We spend a lot of time at them these days because our kids love them so much.

Earlier this year, my husband fractured his hand on a tube family slide. His hand hit the plastic handle of the tube with a lot of force when he momentarily let go and the raft went down a hill and shot back up.

My son, on our next trip, slipped and fell and scraped off a good chunk of skin on his shin in a zero entry pool.

On our visit to Typhoon Lagoon two weeks ago, the wave pool was evacuated as a man was rescued during the "big wave" portion of the hour. He looked to have a very serious leg injury...the pool, to me, seemed overcrowded, and I made my kids come out to the very shallow area after I watched people pile on top of each other in the whitewater where the waves were breaking. I had a bad feeling and just as we were leaving because my 10 year old had been knocked down and scraped up, and he was hysterical crying from the shock and the pain, the whistles started blowing...

Nevertheless, we still love water parks and will continue to go to them, just be cautious each time.

I do wonder whether Disney will be modifying Crush and Gusher, seeing as how it uses those same metal net supports that were used on Verruckt.

I wonder if we were there the same day (8/5), we ran back to grab some more sunscreen and the wave pool had been evacuated. There was someone surrounded by lifeguards and staff and then RCFD came. We left the area so we never found out what happened but it looked serious.

We did the WP's the the first time this trip. We just made sure to keep the boys (13 and 8) with us and I wouldn't let our 8yr old venture very far out in the wave pool. We did all the slides, including the Crush and Gusher the boys had a blast. We will continue to go to the WP's we will just be sure to continue to exercise caution when we go.