Can kids wear life vests at Typhoon Lagoon?

[disneyfool_1202]

My little swimmers are 8 and 10 (or will be next trip) and we promised them last trip that we'll do a water park for our next trip as they are both finally tall enough to go on everything to make it worth the expense. They can both swim- my 10 year old stronger than my 8 year old. However, they are still what I would call "novice" swimmers and while I know both of them will LOVE shooting out of the end of a water slide, I do get nervous about it being into 5-6 feet of water, being disorented from the slide, and me not being able to be right there to help them if they need help. Do they have life vests for the kids that need a little extra "bobbing" support for some of the bigger slides? They do great at the water slides at the hotels, but Humunga Kowabunga is a bit different.....

 

[DisNikki]

I can't comment on the life vests but wanted to say that with 6 months left you still have time to get them in some swim lessons to be sure they're ready! If your city has a recreation program or a YMCA the swim lessons are typically very inexpensive! Just trying to help!

 

[Golf4283]

I agree with the above post about swim lessons. Never to late to start them, but to answer the question I've seen kids with life vests on in the wave pools but haven't seen them on slides. Not sure if they're allowed or not but just my observation when I've been there.

 

[disneyfool_1202]

We tried swim lessons but my son (10) has high functioning autism and all of the lessons around are in a group session. Last time we went he was "bored" waiting so decided to head to the deep end - and the diving board. We haven't been able to find a reasonably priced "private" lesson for the two kids. I guess I should start looking into it again! We have a 6 foot inground and they jump and swim all summer - I just get nervous because of the slides getting you all mixed up when you come out.

We went to Castaway Cay with DCL in 2011 and they did Pellican Plunge - the water slides into the ocean. But they had life-vests for the kids to wear so it was perfect for them. I was / am hoping that same type of option exists at Typhoon Lagoon for some of the more agressive slides.

 

[Golf4283]

Do you ride the water slides as well? You can't wait right at the exit of the slide but you can go ahead of your child and "take your time" getting out while checking to make sure they make it ok.

Also the Humunga Cowabunga reference won't matter. there's no pool at the end. the slides have like 6 inches of standing water and you just get up and walk out.

 

[Chrisrokc]

I am not sure about the life vest so I can't comment on that. I can say that at I have seen water parks provide life vest or allow the simmer to bring their own. The only restrictions were due to slide type (dont want to damage the slide, or rider due to drop). But as former swim team coach and swimming instructor I can tell you that there is nothing better than good swim lessons for a child, or teen for that matter. It will lessen your worries about them in deep water situations whether it be in your family pool or in a lake. You might check with your local city swimming pools. They should provide lessons and might even provide private lessons at a cheaper rate than the YMCA.

 

[disneyfool_1202]

Also the Humunga Cowabunga reference won't matter. there's no pool at the end. the slides have like 6 inches of standing water and you just get up and walk out.

Well that makes me feel MUCH better!
It's the slides that drop into more than 4 feet of water than worry me. Anything else I'm good with. I may ride them - it's been quite a while. I'm not as agile as I used to be but I most likely would ride before them. DH can't swim over his head so if he were to ride them, he'd have to land in less than 6 feet to be able to stand up and not drown either!

 

[ghtx]

According to this website: http://www.wdwinfo.com/wdwinfo/guides/typhoon/typhoon.htm, life jackets are provided at the water parks for free.

 

[delmar411]

life jackets are free at the water parks but I don't know if they are allowed on the water slides with them. I just can't recall seeing anyone wearing them on the slides. You can't have any buckles/rivets on your suit on the slides so I'm thinking life vests would be a no as well.

There is barely any water on the slides anyway and the water that is on them is blowing into your face so a life vest isn't going to help you anyway.

 

[disneyfool_1202]

Don't get me wrong- I am totally in agreement about swim lessons- as mentioned we tried that. We have a pool. My kids can swim. And yes, I'd like to get them more lessons so they become stronger swimmers. But even if they swim daily from now until we go, it will not lesson my anxiety about them zooming out of a 60 foot tube into water. I have been swimming for well over 40 years and when I am shot out of a tube into water I get water up my nose, get disoriented, and it takes me a minute to find the surface. I don't panic because I'm a grown up. They are 8 and 10. I want them to experience Typhoon Lagoon and I imagine Disney woldn't make it so dangerous that kids would be at risk at the end of every slide. I'm just trying to figure out if they offer those swim vests for the swimmers that are not as strong if the slide opens into a large pool of water. I thought some of them landed in a large pool of water and you have to essential swim back to "shore". I haven't been there in about 20 or so years so I can't remember.

 

[Golf4283]

The only ones you are worried about are the storm slides and the water coasters. The water coasters you can get double tubes so you could ride with youngest son and your husband can ride with oldest and you can monitor that way without the vest.

For the storm slides just do as I suggested and go down first and wait for them. Just go slow because the lifeguard will usually try to hurry you out of the way.

This all hinges on my assumption that life vests can't be used on slides of course which I'm just guessing based on the fact that the equipment could scratch the slide and lead to deterioration.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

My youngest wore one on the slides that have rafts or tubes. She removed it for the body slides.

I recommend everyone wear one in shark reef as it makes floating effortless.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Shortly after entering TL, and just before the first store, on your right will be a very large rack with child-size life vests in assorted sizes. There is no charge for borrowing/use of these vest.

And except for Shark Reef and the deeper parts of the wave pool, there is no water as deep as thee feet.

 

[RMulieri]

You can wear them on the rides that have the inner tubes..You can't on the body slides.At least that is what we were told

 

[Order66]

My kids also had no formal swimming lessons, just our back yard pool too where they learned from the time they were babies how to swim. They first went to a WDW water park at 8 with probably about the same skill level of swimming you describe your kids as having. They could swim across the city's pool at the deep end (the requirement to use the diving boards) but they weren't setting any olympic records. They had no issues getting themselves over to the side of the pool to get out. The lifeguards will yell out directions if the kids seem to be going the wrong way.

As stated before Humunga Kowabunga has no pool, so you're good there. The water coasters, I find you really don't fall off your tube unless you want to, so you generally can coast to the side, or you jump out and help your kids over to the side and then exit the rafts. The storm slides, YMMV but when I was at the bottom waiting for my kids to go down 10 or 20 times the lifeguards were allowing you to "catch" your smaller child, they just wanted you off to the side so you weren't hit by them. ETA: you really don't come down all that fast at the bottom.

regards

 

[DAZY3BYZ]

My youngest wore a life jacket for the slides during his first visit to TL. It did give me piece of mind. I also always went down the slide first though so I could be there for him as he exited the ride. It can be a bit disorienting for them at the end trying to get out. The CMs were always very helpful and this worked really well for us. My little guy was 3 at the time and had such a wonderful time and felt so grown up being able to ride the slides alone with Mom still there waiting at the bottom for him. Enjoy!

 

[disneyfool_1202]

Thanks everyone! Now I'll relax a bit!!