Pool Day Question

[teamhayes]

Weather Permitting, how many days do you plan for or days you end up going to the pool for a few hours?

I am trying to schedule time at the pool into our itinerary and I am having a hard time stomaching taking time out of the parks. 

I know my boys will love the pool as much as the parks and it will hopefully help calm them down (and the babies can nap properly). 

So do you take time out for the pool? How many days? Do you go back to the parks after? Generally when is pool time, after lunch?

Thanks!

[littlenoodie]

We were there 9/20 through 9/26- we stayed at the Polynesian partly because I thought my kid would enjoy the pool. Our Epcot day we left the park around 5pm, went swimming until about 830, and my daughter and I got dressed again and went to MK for the extra hours.

On our HS day we spent the morning at the pool and hit the park around 2pm. I think total we spent time at the pool on 5 days of our trip.

We were kind of all over the place, but we did not feel like we missed out on anything else, but mostly because we spent a lot on the hotel so we wanted to get the most out of our money.

[littlenoodie]

teamhayes, also, "weather permitting" is subjective, because one of our funnest pool days it rained off an on for about an hour. Because there was no lightning they didn't make anyone get out.

[lala]

We swam more days than not. We take breaks from the park every day from about 2-5 or so, and we often hit the pool for part of that.

[L From The D]

We were there for 8 days in July and I thought the kids would want to swim most days. In reality, we only went to the pool once because the kids wanted to stay in the parks and do more attractions/meets.

We're going again next July and I'll probably make similar plans (PPO breakfasts, FPs through the morning, a couple of lunch and dinner ADRs, and flexible afternoons/evenings).

[revolution]

We usually hit the pool up one evening when we get back a little early (like dinner time) and we don't close down the parks. But, we also go in Jan/Feb when it isn't always warm enough to swim.

[ilikedonuts]

My kids want to swim but we honestly rarely fit it in (maybe 1-2 times a trip) because once they are in the parks when given the choice stay or leave to go swim they choose stay in the parks.

ETA: our last trip in December was only warm enough to swim 2 days and we didn't swim either day.

[teamhayes]

Right now I have arrival and departure day swimming scheduled in but I keep wondering if they will crash and want to go swimming

We spend so much $ on hotels that it makes me second guess it if you are really only there to sleep.

Decisions.

[lala]

Do you really intend on being in the parks every day all day w/ a 1, 3 & 4 year old? I would definitely spend some low key time in the pool. The 1 year old can sleep in the room or stroller while the older kids swim. Or they might all nap.

[was5]

We've only been once as a family and we were only there 4 nights (3 days in the park). We were thetr in hot weather (August). We didn't take the 1 year olds to the pool at all, but I took 6yo DD to the pool 2 or 3 times. I know we swam for quite a while on the day of arrival and we swam the day we went to HS. It poured mid-day so we left the park. Once it cleared up we went swimming. We might have gone our last night there too. As exhausted as I was, I knew the pool was one of the things DD was most excited about and didn't want her to feel like she didn't get to swim enough.

[Deleted]

Depends on the trip. If it's hot we swim every day. Also if we are staying close to the parks we swim every day.

If it's cold or we are far away from the parks 1-2 times a trip is more likely.

[mmmomof2]

Unless we're there in December we swim almost everyday. I like to get to the parks super early then take a mid-day break and then go back to the parks for dinner/evening activities.

[egishere]

Oct 10, 2016 13:07:39 GMT -5 lala said:

Do you really intend on being in the parks every day all day w/ a 1, 3 & 4 year old? I would definitely spend some low key time in the pool. The 1 year old can sleep in the room or stroller while the older kids swim. Or they might all nap.

this is what I was wondering too.  I just took my triplet five year olds and they could only last 4-5 hours tops in the parks but it was also hot as hell when we were there.  I thought we would do a lot more but they couldn't hang so don't be disappointed because you wont get to do everything you want.  Flexibility is key!  

They asked to go back to swim a lot lol  We swam almost everyday for an hour or two in the afternoon or after dinner.  

[foodiemom]

We are not huge Disney people but have gone 3 times in 11 years. We love days and time at resorts and pools. Our norm is to spend 4-5 hours at a park and the rest of the day at the resort, mainly at the pools but sometimes partaking in other activities they offer. We try to do an 8-9 day trip and often take a day or even two off from the parks, or maybe just go back to Epcot for dinner and fireworks or something. My kids are not Disney crazy and equally enjoy both and we come back from there relaxed and happy - which works for our crew.

[rainbowchip]

Oct 10, 2016 15:37:22 GMT -5 mmmomof2 said:

Unless we're there in December we swim almost everyday. I like to get to the parks super early then take a mid-day break and then go back to the parks for dinner/evening activities.

teamhayes I think this would be a good idea to plan on for your family. The babies can nap in the room with one of you while the other takes the older boys swimming. Then after nap you can shower and head back to the park (or another resort) for dinner.

[Deleted]

I have 7 days planned and 2 of the days are open until 4-5pm for swimming or relaxing. We're going in November though so it won't be too hot. If I was going when it was hot we'd go back everyday to relax/swim. I also do not plan on staying out late or going at RD any day.

[ECB]

Late to this - when we went, we did 5 days of park and 2 "off" days where we hung at our resort. DS was 5 at the time and he wouldn't know what he was 'missing' by having down time. As much as he loves the water, this was not an issue at all. He loved the time hanging out at the pool. And actually, one of those days, we also did Gatorland.

[jeaniebueller]

The pools at Disney are amazing and they usually do kid activities by the pool throughout the day. I know that one of my favorite memories as a kid at disney was the pool day. So definitely schedule at least 1. You will be sick of theme parks and standing in line by the end of your trip and will want a laid back day.

[kaycee]

I'm late to this too, but I think you know your kids. My kids aren't nappers. We have access to a pool at home and I'm really not interested in unloading the stroller and going back to the hotel mid day. We don't leave the parks unless it is to hop to another one.

My kids are 3 and 1, and we opened and closed the parks most days doing about 26,000 steps a day. We go hard, but we weren't waiting in many lines and we were having a blast.

If my kids were nappers I would definitely consider going back when the crowds are highest and swim/nap. It just wouldn't add any fun for us to do it that way, so we don't.