Why do parents let their kids use the hottub as their own little pool?

[sameyeyam]

I don't think it's a "kids in the hot tub problem". It really is a problem of parents not making their kids obey rules.

My kids have been sitting in the hotel hot tubs for years. I am always in it with them and I try to make sure they are not bothering others. If they start splashing then I send them to the pool.

However, I try to recognize that while at Disney it is full of people. People that have different manners, people that come from different social backgrounds, and different countries. What might be rude in one part of the world is considered perfectly normal in another.

So while in Disney try to relax and be very, very tolerant of others.

 

[notnothin]

Disneyrsh, I understand you may disagree, but do you need to be rude with your disagreements? Telling people to vacation elsewhere or to go to an old folks' home...you're not exactly winning people over to your side. Whether you choose to believe it or not, not all kids are the way you've described. In fact, there are two living in my apartment complex that are not the way you described...they are also the types of kids who would rather have a piece of fruit than a cookie (and yes I know, I've babysat for them). Perhaps you've never encountered a child like that, but that doesn't necessitate insulting someone as a result. Being respectful of other people can go a long way.

-deleted-

 

[Disneyrsh]

Disneyrsh, I understand you may disagree, but do you need to be rude with your disagreements?

I don't feel I'm being rude. I have no patience for people whining about children not behaving like tiny little Miss Manners. Every time we've been to Disney and sat in the hot tub, I've gotten splashed by kids. Usually not my kids, since we have a hot tub and they think it's only for warming up until you can get back into a 'real' pool. But telling a 6 year old boy to "be careful" as he jumps in beside me is silly, frankly. Cut the kids a break; they're trying their best to behave in school all day long, don't they get a vacation too?

Telling people to vacation elsewhere or to go to an old folks' home...you're not exactly winning people over to your side.

If people want a quiet hot tub where they won't be bothered by children, then I suggested a more appropriate venue for them. If they're sooooooo peeved about it that they feel the need to vent here, well, I'm all about them takin' it to the old folks home, because the ladies over there love to b*tch up a storm. As for winning people over to my side Honey, I ain't runnin' for office, here. I'm just standing up for the kids.

Whether you choose to believe it or not, not all kids are the way you've described. In fact, there are two living in my apartment complex that are not the way you described...they are also the types of kids who would rather have a piece of fruit than a cookie (and yes I know, I've babysat for them).

Are they reading Descartes yet, or still working through Aristotle?

Perhaps you've never encountered a child like that,

Actually, I have. I work on getting them outside and running around like the wild little indians they should be at that age. Then I give them an Oreo.

...but that doesn't necessitate insulting someone as a result. Being respectful of other people can go a long way.

I see, bitterly complaining about kids running around and being loud is fine, but calling someone silly or unreasonable for feeling that wasy is insulting. Not in my world. That's called honest.

Anyway, onto my thoughts. Hot tubs were not designed to be smaller, warmer temperature swimming pools...whether they're located in WDW or anywhere else. They were designed for soaking, relaxing, massage, and/or hydrotherapy.

Did you design hot tubs for a living? Our hot tub at our house at times is EXACTLY a 'smaller, warmer swimming pool." One of humankind's greatest abilities is the talent for adaptation.

The nature of the safety concerns with each hot tub indicates it's not designed for the same frolic & play as a swimming pool is.

Well, yeah, you don't dive in it. That's what's called natural selection at work...

It's not an issue for me if a child wants to sit in the hot tub (with adult supervision), but it's also important that they remember that it's not meant to be a swimming pool and therefore one should not be "rambunctious" within it. Not only for the consideration of the other hot tub users, but also for their own safety.

We may disagree about rambunctious. I think splashing 'games' are not ok in the hot tub, but kids are not careful about getting in and out, sometimes they'll just stand up and you get splashed. It's water, it's a kid, it happens.

And I think if your kid's in the pool or in the hot tub and you're not keeping an eagle eye on them at all times, then you need your parenting license revoked. But my eagle eye makes sure they don't hurt themselves, not that they're sitting quietly in the pool, hoping that they don't offend anyone...

 

[yearbook50]

Lets not let this get into a flame war.

Because thats what it is looking like.

 

[eblondie]

This has the potential to be come popcorn worthy. Off to the microwave!

Think you may be right.

 

[mking624]

I don't feel I'm being rude.

Well you are...and I'm not the only one who recognizes that. Stating your opinions is one thing...stating them in a way that's disrespectful of other people is something completely different.

I have no patience for people whining about children not behaving like tiny little Miss Manners. Every time we've been to Disney and sat in the hot tub, I've gotten splashed by kids. Usually not my kids, since we have a hot tub and they think it's only for warming up until you can get back into a 'real' pool. But telling a 6 year old boy to "be careful" as he jumps in beside me is silly, frankly. Cut the kids a break; they're trying their best to behave in school all day long, don't they get a vacation too?

No one is saying they a 6 year old can't vacation, but common sense doesn't all of a sudden get thrown out the window just because it's vacation time. Obviously that takes the form of the parents. And why wouldn't you tell a child to be careful? Just because you're on vacation doesn't mean safety is no longer a concern.

If people want a quiet hot tub where they won't be bothered by children, then I suggested a more appropriate venue for them. If they're sooooooo peeved about it that they feel the need to vent here, well, I'm all about them takin' it to the old folks home, because the ladies over there love to b*tch up a storm. As for winning people over to my side Honey, I ain't runnin' for office, here. I'm just standing up for the kids.

Your standing up for the kids is coming on here to insult people. That's just inappropriate. If you want people to take you seriously, then you should act mature enough to handle people disagreeing with you.

Are they reading Descartes yet, or still working through Aristotle?

This is what I mean...your need to insult. Really, what is your point in doing that?

Actually, I have. I work on getting them outside and running around like the wild little indians they should be at that age. Then I give them an Oreo.

Well that's great for you...I personally find it disrespectful to try and change a child if they aren't interested in being that way. The kids I watch anre't interested in being "wild little indians" (which by the way, nice stereotypical insult there as well)...being wild isn't in their interest at all. Just because you don't like that about a child doesn't mean they don't enjoy it.

I see, bitterly complaining about kids running around and being loud is fine, but calling someone silly or unreasonable for feeling that wasy is insulting. Not in my world. That's called honest.

No on is bitterly complaining except for you. Yes people have found a need to vent, but for the most part the only ones who have been responding have been able to do so without needing to insult people as a result.

Did you design hot tubs for a living? Our hot tub at our house at times is EXACTLY a 'smaller, warmer swimming pool." One of humankind's greatest abilities is the talent for adaptation.

I don't design hot tubs, but I know them well enough to know the proper use for them. More injuries and drownings have happened as a result of improper use. I seriously hope that doesn't happen to you. Adaptation is great, yes...but there's also common sense to not take something to a level other than what it's meant to be for. They simply are not meant for that and it's not safe to treat them as such. And one doesn't need to actually design a hot tub to know what they're used for. I don't design cars, but I know they're meant for driving and I know how & where they should be driven.

Well, yeah, you don't dive in it. That's what's called natural selection at work...

It's more than just diving in that people are taking issue with.

We may disagree about rambunctious. I think splashing 'games' are not ok in the hot tub, but kids are not careful about getting in and out, sometimes they'll just stand up and you get splashed. It's water, it's a kid, it happens.

No one here is complaining about kids making a little splash by getting in and out of the hot tub. People here are upset that parents are allowing them to treat a hot tub like a pool. If it was meant to be a pool, it would be called a pool and would be designed like a pool.

And I think if your kid's in the pool or in the hot tub and you're not keeping an eagle eye on them at all times, then you need your parenting license revoked. But my eagle eye makes sure they don't hurt themselves, not that they're sitting quietly in the pool, hoping that they don't offend anyone...

I think finally you and I agree on something...that the parents need to keep an eagle eye on their child. Ultimately this isn't a matter of offending people, but using common sense for the real intent for the use of a hot tub.

I'm not going to continue arguing with you about it. I think you could definitely make your case be heard a lot more if you simply took the time to share them more respectfully. I don't have any problems with you having a differing opinion, but there's no need to share them in a way that minimizes others or tries to squash how they feel. Whether or not it was your intention, responding to the debate (and continuing to "argue" about it) shows that you are interested in people agreeing with you. If you want to give kids a voice as you stated, it might be wise to do so in a way that's helpful, not harmful, to your image.

Anway, like I said, I'm done arguing about it. I'll join the popcorn eaters.

 

[Kath2003]

It's always the same old story with these "Disney is for kids!" vs "Stay out of the hot tub/restaraunts after 8pm!" threads.

The problem at the end of the day is not the children.
Children need to be set boundaries.
Parents need to set these, and to know the limits of their children's behaviour.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with a child in any part of WDW with the exception of those off-limits to children for good reason (late nights at PI for example).
The issue only arises when parents don't control their children in any area of WDW.
If a child was acting inappropriately in the HISTK Playground, it would still be inappropriate.
It is a PARENT'S responsibility to ensure that their child is behaving appropriately at each given situation. 95% of kids are just fine in the hot tub, because their parents are assuring they're behaving appropriately.
It's the minority who cause the problems, sadly.

*wisdom of a childless woman*

 

[Dolce27]

Thanks! You just helped make my decision if I should allow any pool/hot tub time during my next trip!

 

[taximomfor4]

We may disagree about rambunctious. I think splashing 'games' are not ok in the hot tub, but kids are not careful about getting in and out, sometimes they'll just stand up and you get splashed. It's water, it's a kid, it happens.

I don't think anyone has a problem with kids splashing them a bit while getting in and out of the hot tub. At least I hope that isn't the problem! Of COURSE that happens. I think the problem is mom and dad giving little 4 yr old a full swimming lesson in the hot tub every single evening, or 10 and 12 yr old siblings deciding that a busy hot tub is just the place for a "Dunk the Brother" contest, or a couple of 8 yr olds perfecting their mini-cannonballs into the hot tub by jumping over a honeymooning couple's head. Extreme examples? Not really, I've seen 'em all. At Wilderness Lodge.

 

[Mousema]

Gee I was thinking about going to a Mod for the hot tub...guess I'll stay at POP.

 

[DJ Disney Kid]

I'm not sure why you quoted me on this one. Disney is absolutely rife with children, it's not an adult playground.

Kids are loud; it has nothing to do with being well behaved or poorly behaved. Ever been in the school lunchroom at an elementary school? The roar is unbelievable! The kids aren't shouting, being badly behaved, or "hellions". They just ALL TALK TO EACH OTHER LIKE THIS ALL THE TIME!

Look at the pool area from a kid's point of view: I get to go down the water slide screaming like the excited child that I am, I hit the water, my friends are yelling with excitement, I get out and go over to "the warm pool" as my daughters refer to it, and I am instantly supposed to sit still and be completely quiet. It's a ludicrous and unachievable proposition for a kid.

Which is why I say, if you don't like sharing the hot tub with kids, who as a rule are LOUD and WIGGLY (and I don't think this is ill behaved; I think this is NORMAL behaved), then you shouldn't be at Disney, you should be at one of those grown-ups only resort in Jamaica.

Or the old folk's home.

So you accept the "RULE" that kids are just generally loud and wiggly, but not the "RULE" that hottubs are for relaxation?

Taken straight out of the dictionary:

hot tub
n.
A very large tub made of ceramic, acrylic, wood, or another substance and filled with hot water in which one or more bathers may soak.

The English Dictionary doesn't stop after the sentence "A tub made of ceramic, acrylic, wood, or another substance and filled with hot water". It continues to add "in which one or more bathers may soak."

Im not saying that I have a problem with kids being in the hot tub, I specified that I dont like kids swimming around and being loud in the hottub. As others have stated, just because you are in Disneyworld doesn't give you the right to lose your manners. There is a time and place for everything, and the place to be swimming and loud is at the main pool. If you dont like the loudness at the main pool, then Disneyworld has quiet pools. But in regards to hottubs, they are not for anything but soaking.

 

[Gabkatt]

Am I the only one with my mouth on the floor? Disneysh, I haven't read any post that was attacking children. No one has said anything about perfect children but you. I think we can all agree that we are just talking about maners & respect. If you see that as a problem then you need to ask yourself a few questions. What are my motives? Why am I so offended that children need to be supervised? Children should be expected to have a certain level of basic maners. Not perfection. Just a respect for others. If your young children are out of your sight at a pool & you don't have a problem with that then I am really concerned.

Now before all the comments start to roll in, my DW is a social worker for childrens services & I own an agency to mentor "at-risk-youth". I have Child psychologists who work for me. I am very aware that kids need to be kids & I appreciate your crusade here for adults not to be so "stuffy". However, rules are in place to be followed, not broken! If you allow your kids to brake them in the spirit of fun you have done them a great dis-service!

 

[DMRick]

We tell our grands no, because we thought young children weren't supposed to be in a hot tub, because, er, well, they are hot. I thought it made their temperature go up.

When they do get to the age when we feel they can safely use a hot tub, it will be to sit and soak, not play. The pool is fine for playing.

I do find it interesting at Disney, that sometimes manners go out the door, (adults and kids) and not all parents pay attention to their kids..they think that is the lifeguards duty. However, most lifeguards are facing away from the hottub..and so do I, since it makes me nervous, seeing the little kids jumping in an out. I'm so afraid one of them will trip, slip in and hit their heads.

Ah, I heard the microwave ding..the popcorns ready!

 

[DJ Disney Kid]

Am I the only one with my mouth on the floor? Disneysh, I haven't read any post that was attacking children. No one has said anything about perfect children but you. I think we can all agree that we are just talking about maners & respect. If you see that as a problem then you need to ask yourself a few questions. What are my motives? Why am I so offended that children need to be supervised? Children should be expected to have a certain level of basic maners. Not perfection. Just a respect for others. If your young children are out of your sight at a pool & you don't have a problem with that then I am really concerned.

Now before all the comments start to roll in, my DW is a social worker for childrens services & I own an agency to mentor "at-risk-youth". I have Child psychologists who work for me. I am very aware that kids need to be kids & I appreciate your crusade here for adults not to be so "stuffy". However, rules are in place to be followed, not broken! If you allow your kids to brake them in the spirit of fun you have done them a great dis-service!

As someone stated, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. DisneyRsh is immature by being rude and disrespectful, and she thinks its ok for her children to be the same way. Not a surprise at all.

 

[tinker&belle]

As someone stated, the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. DisneyRsh is immature by being rude and disrespectful, and she thinks its ok for her children to be the same way. Not a surprise at all.

DisneyRsh has stated in other posts that she enjoys arguing for the sake of the argument and for material for her writing, so take everything with a grain of salt.

 

[Naisy68]

My DH and I like to get into the hot tub to sit and relax. It is our belief that that is their purpose. It usually feels pretty good if we'd had a long day. That being said, we tend to stay away from them if they are too crowded or if there are kids playing in there. That's our choice. We will find somewhere else to relax if need be.
If we do get in though, chances are, our DD (5 now) is with us but we have her sit on the side, on our laps or stand beside us. We have taught her that hot tubs are for relaxation and not for playing in. However, anyone who knows kids know that it is awfully hard for a little one not to splash even just a little. The important thing to remember is, if you are going to let your children get into the hot tubs, have enough common courtesy to watch them and keep them calmer than they would be in the regular pool. However, IF there are no particular rules stated about this then there is not much we can do about it or complain about. It's as simple as that.
--Renee

 

[notnothin]

DisneyRsh has stated in other posts that she enjoys arguing for the sake of the argument and for material for her writing, so take everything with a grain of salt.

Indeed, I was thinking the same thing. She's well known 'round these parts for that very thing.

 

[freckles and boo]

I ask out of sincere curiosity - are there any "adults only" Disney resorts for those who really don't want to be around children? Most of the people posting here have been clear in stating that they don't mind being around well-mannered children, but on other boards I have occasionally seen some ugly "anti-kid" attitudes.

 

[DJ Disney Kid]

DisneyRsh has stated in other posts that she enjoys arguing for the sake of the argument and for material for her writing, so take everything with a grain of salt.

Oh ok, thanks for the tip. Then I'll just remember to ignore her posts going forward.

 

[MermaidsMom]

There are some people with huge chips on their shoulders who like to use their children in the same way that some people like to use their pit bulls: To intimidate and annoy other people. They seem to get a real kick out of annoying others, it's a real passive-aggressive way to live their lives. You can see it in restaurants with the kids that are running around from table to table bothering the waiters and waitresses and with the kids that are cannonballing over the honeymooners heads into the hot tub while their parents are smiling. I actually talked with a woman at work who said she and her husband get a kick out of watching the faces of people in restaurants as their kids bump into them and their tables. Real funny, huh? No way are these "kids being kids". These are kids that don't know any better. What possible reason could there be for someone allowing their kids to bother others like this?