Originally Posted By sweetpea70 We are staying at the Grand with kids aged 6 and 8, not really experienced swimmers but they can bob around and dog paddle etc. I've heard there is a swim test by the lifeguards to go on the slide. Can anyone give me the details on this and do they allow arm floaties?
Originally Posted By PJTinkerbell We were just there this week. If you try and go up with any flotation devices, you are not allowed on until you do a swim test. My son, who is a pretty good swimmer, put on a life vest, I will never know why, and tried and then was asked to do a swim test. He is 10 and fell apart, embarassed. He went a couple days later and had no problems because he went without the life vest. My daughter went the first day and is a weaker swimmer and had no problem, but my husband went with her the first time and was there when she came down.
Originally Posted By fidoprincess They have a big container of these nice lifevests by the pools and the kids just can't resist getting them even if they don't need them! They all want to try one at least once because it is so tempting. It really is nice that Disney supplies these. My 6 year old played with one until it was time to go down the slide and she had to do the "Swim Test" too but all she had to do was show she could make it across the pool. They didn't even make her put her face in and "really" swim. They let her wear goggles on the slide though. The slides are so good because there is a lifeguard up top who makes sure the one just down is out of the way. That is really the only way to get hurt, if someone coming down slams into the one still in the pool. They keep a close watch but train your child to move quickly away from the bottom of the slide and they will be fine.
Originally Posted By tinkerbell77 Any one know if these pools are heated, or open in the winter months? We live in Hawaii, and all my daughter wants to do is swim. So, it would have to be in the pool. But I dont want her to be disapointed when we get there and they are closed. So any help would be great. Thanks in advance.
Originally Posted By 4Disnee Yes the pool are heated and they have been open every time we have been at the hotels. Feb thru Dec. Our DS loves to swim also so we find our self at the pool even when its raining. LOL
