Originally Posted By DVC_dad <<<I'll bet you can't name one time at WDW where you saw a parent drop their young child off by the pool and walk away>>> Depends on what you call "young" my friend. I see kids from 6 to 12 alone at the pool ALL THE TIME. Of course I don't think parents drop off 3 year olds, but even so they turn their backs long enough that the child falls in the pool. My case in point...--> 2 summers ago, at the Boardwalk, this parent didn't leave and go to like a park or anything, but instead headed to the pool side BAR ! He left his 4 year old in the care of his 10 or 11 year old son. He said, don't let him get in until I get back, and walked to the bar. I was sitting RIGHT THERE. I watched as the little fella wondered closer and closer to the edge while the older son began taking off his shirt, and flip flops. Well the little child fell in, I was in right behind him (fully dressed, watch, shoes and all) to pull him out. The lifeguard was on us even as I was climbing out with the boy. So, sure call me a liar, whatever, I see it all the time and you will too if you just watch people.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad So I felt like a hero, and the other guy felt... well as you stated, how would I know how he felt? But I assume it wasn't a happy feeling.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper People have an underserved sense of complete safety when they are at Disney. I used to see it all the time too. They let their kids do things there that they wouldn't let them do anywhere else because they just think it is the safest place in the world. It is no safer than any other place. But, people just aren't reasonable. I completely believe your story DVCdad b/c I have seen it countless times myself. I was at an outdoor concert a few weeks ago. (I may have told this already.) A couple of kids that were no more than 5 years old wandering around on the stage where all of the speakers/rack systems, etc were sitting. The kids were just crazy. I looked around for parents but could not find any. About 50 yards away is a restaurant with a ton of people both inside and on the patio. I go over there and ask if anyone is the parent to these kids. A guy chirps up that they are his kids. I tell him the kids are out of control and they might damage that very valuable equipment. He looks at me like I have two heads. I say, "you need to get a handle on your kids so they don't get hurt or do some expensive damage." Again he gives me a blank stare. I say, "listen...go get your kids already." Mind you, this stage was surrounded by three sides with water. 5 year old kids...if that. Yes, there are too many people in this world not deserving of the title "parent". And, Disney knows this too.
Originally Posted By t1lersm0m <<Why place that burden on a homeowner and not a massive commercial entity such as Walt Disney World? Aren't the same idiot parents who live in my neighborhood bringing their kids to Walt Disney World? Do they suddenly gain common sense when the pixie dust is inhaled?>> Here is my problem with this statement. In a typical neighborhood, if you go for a 1 mile walk you can pass anywhere from 10-100 houses, all within reach of your house. You can't just walk around WDW. You need a car to get everywhere. Can you park a car outside the gates of the Poly, and walk onto the property and go swimming? Is there someone to park your car? (aside from the parking lot?) I think comparing a residential area and WDW isn't quite fair. I'm not saying I disagree with you about lifeguards...I'm not really saying what my opinion is on that matter. I understand what DVC Dad is saying, that people would use lifeguards as babysitters. I do truly believe that happens, not just at WDW, but everywhere. But, I love the fact that many of the pools at WDW are open 24 hours a day. If we can't sleep and it's 11 Pm, it's nice to go take a dip in the pool. If WDW had the policy "No lifeguard on duty, pool is closed" then they wouldn't allow any pools to remain open 24 hours. They would probably have hours like 10 Am -8 PM or 10 PM. We are a bunch of night owls. We love staying up late and (when we're at home) sleeping in. However this woman drowned, it is an unfortunate accident I am sure. If it had been a 3 year old child that had drowned, I'm sure people would be moaning about "where were the parents". If my son drowned at WDW, it would be more my fault than WDW's (IMHO). So why when an adult dies are we sort of casting blame on Disney saying they should have round the clock lifeguards and fences around the pools. If this woman was a guest of CS then having a fence around the pool wouldn't have made a difference as she had every right to be there.
Originally Posted By t1lersm0m <<Here is my problem with this statement. In a typical neighborhood, if you go for a 1 mile walk you can pass anywhere from 10-100 houses, all within reach of your house. >> all within reach of your WALK. <<Is there someone to park your car? >> Is there SOMEWHERE to park your car? Sorry for the typos.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper If the pools are open 24 hours then they should be guarded 24 hours. Insurance companies have asked WDW to do a lot more seemingly meaningless things in the name of safety. Perhaps the fact that I am in the recreation business makes me a little more stubborn on this topic. I can't even imagine having a City pool open but without lifeguards. Why should Disney be any different than your local community pool?
Originally Posted By t1lersm0m ^^I don't know, i understand what you are saying..but there is obviously some loophole that allows them to do it. With how sue happy Americans are, I'm sure if someone got hurt at a WDW pool while a lifeguard was unstaffed, if there wasn't a loophole Disney would have been sued. Who knows, I really don't have all of the facts on the local laws in Orlando, or whether or not WDW has ever been sued for an injury at a WDW pool that does not have a lifeguard on duty.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip According to information at Deb Will's site, lifeguards are on duty from 10 AM to 10 PM. That seems pretty reasonable to me. Young children certainly shouldn't be swimming after 10 PM anyway, and adults should be responsible for themselves. How many hotels have you stayed at where they had a pool? How many of them had lifeguards? My answers are many and none.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I haven't been to too many resorts that catered to children that didn't have lifeguards and/or fences to lock up when the pools are closed.
Originally Posted By demderedoseguys > So, sure call me a liar, whatever, I see it all the time and you will too if you just watch people.< DVC Dad- I didn't call you a liar. I just questioned whether you were right or wrong. BTW, it looks like you are right and I am wrong, judging by some of the responses I've seen here.
Originally Posted By Coachbagfanatic1 There are a lot of irresponsible parents and I see it everyday. It happens all over but you seem to notice it more when you are in Disney for some reason. I guess because my son never leaves my site and I think to myself, how can people just up and leave their kids. It baffles me beyond belief. It is no one else's responsibility but mine to look after my son. Was there a time of death given for this woman? I was just curious as the subject has trailed to the 24 hour life guard and a fence around the pool. I thought maybe I missed something. I also liked what T1 said about not being able to sleep and if you wanted to go take a dip at 11PM you can due to the pools being open 24/7.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad Oh my fault, didn't mean to direct that at YOU, but at everyone per se, the general public as it is. Thanks Demderdosguys.
Originally Posted By MinnieSummer I would really like to know two things that I haven't seen addressed anywhere. What time was it and were they in the main pool or a quiet pool? The quiet pools never have a life guard on duty, only the main pools. Also, I to live in FL and am required to have a fence around my pool. I have never really thought about there not being a fence around the WDW pools. My understanding is that the pool must be fenced in if the property is not. If I have a fence around the perimeter of my yard then I do not have to fence in my pool as well. I guess that is how WDW gets away with not fencing them in -- the property is enclosed somehow. But doesn't the pool at POFQ have a fence around it?
Originally Posted By DVC_dad I guess since the resrots are "gated" that must serve as a "fenced" property. Obviously, Disney isn't breaking any state law.
Originally Posted By DVC_dad And now that I think about it, I am pretty sure the Grand Californian has a fence around it's pool.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I would imagine they put a fence around the pool at the GCH because of all the pedestrian traffic flow around the resort... it would be far too easy for anyone to jump in the pool, with the hotel being right next to DCA, DtD, etc.
Originally Posted By t1lersm0m ^^Are you kidding? I've seen much worse spelling and lack of punctuation, but I'm not about to call people out on it.
Originally Posted By Chelledun >>I guess that is how WDW gets away with not fencing them in -- the property is enclosed somehow. But doesn't the pool at POFQ have a fence around it? I think so, and the one at Beach Club does as well although I am not sure if it ever is completely closed. When we stayed there, though, I was constantly getting confused trying to make my way around it.
Originally Posted By Labuda Do the pools at Ft Wilderness, Contemporary, the Poly, and Wilderness Lodge have fences around them? Or does the fact that you have to go through the MK toll plaza to get there mean that you don't have to fence them in?
