Water wings on Stormalong Bay Slide?

[SnowWhiteIsDreaming]

I just got back from the YC and there were lots of kids using the big slide that had water wings and speedo life vests. The only rule that the life guards were enforcing was that the child needed to be able to swim away (wearing floation devices) by themselves from the slide when they got to the bottom of the slide. No adults are allowed to help them swim away. When a little child with water wings couldn't swim away quickly, the life guard told her parents that since she couldn't swim away by herself she couldn't use the slide again. All others with waterwings and life vests that did swim away quickly were allowed to use the big slide.

I tried the slide too! It was a fun slide... I didn't realize that there were 2 little waterfalls to go through ...that surprised me!

Have fun!
Karen

 

[okck]

I just got back from BC yesterday and my 6yr old used her water wings all week. Last year we were told no, however this year I saw many children with them as well as life jackets on the slide. I asked the lifeguard myself if it was ok for her to use the slide with her water wings and he said it was ok.

 

[CarolA]

I used to be a lifeguard and I am know I am going to get flamed, but if your child cannot swim away under his/her own power without floatation devices he/she has NO business going down that slide. Every time I am at Disney I am shocked at the situations parents put thier kids into in the water. Child can barely dog paddle, but can go down the slide while mom "catches" or "watches" Of course mom gets distracted by kid two or dad who wants a photo of child etc.....

I have seen the Disney lifeguards use thier skills and they were great, but....after junior has nearly drowned figure he/she is traumatized for life!

Just because you can do something doesn't mean you should!

If you don't think your child can swim safely to the side unassisted this is not a slide for them.

 

[CharmedLife]

I used to be a lifeguard and I am know I am going to get flamed, but if your child cannot swim away under his/her own power without floatation devices he/she has NO business going down that slide.

Ditto CarolA. I'll get flamed along with you because I totally agree with you. Parents underestimate the current at the bottom of slides and the speed that kids come out of them. I'm really surprised that Disney is allowing them on slides at all.

We don't let our kids ride on rides 'til they're tall enough, they shouldn't go down the slides until they can swim away on their own. There are just some things in life you have to wait for! I use it as an incentive to get my child to pay more attention in swim lessons!

 

[okck]

I felt I needed to clarify. I never sent my dd off on her own with her wings to go down the slide. The first time I went ahead of her and waited for her to come after me. I made sure at that point that she was able to swim away on her own with her wings on. After that she could only go down if I was in the pool (behind the rope) watching her. And no, she did not walk to the slide on her own she always went with her older sister who can swim. I would never put my child in a dangerous situation.

 

[CharmedLife]

It's the parents who drop off their kids and then go read a book for hours that cause the guards the most heartburn. Honestly, when I was a guard we would have parents that literally used us as a cheap babysitting service. They'd drop off their kids (some as young as 5 or 6) at 1:00 and pick them back up at 8. Really!!

If all parents were like you and would take the time to be sure their kids could swim on their own, there probably wouldn't be rules against floaties anywhere! I'm sure that everyone who would take the time to post on a topic like this is probably a careful and concerned parents. It's the "other kids parents" who don't pay attention that cause the problems!

 

[okck]

Thank you!