News Walt Disney World Adds Water Park Perk for Resort Guests

[flynnibus]

If you want to talk about randos who can't pass the test.. you should have seen the IFC intramural swim meet my freshman year of college where they basically just threw all the pledges in the swim meet and forced them to "swim" the events they had no chance of doing.. hahaha that was a pretty pathetic showing

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Yes, and what it is is not what you keep insisting.

They provide less for a higher price…is the point. That’s really not an “opinion”

 

[plutofan15]

No there isn't. A lifeguarding class can be passed in 2-3 days. How do I know? My wife is a LGI and one of her responsibilities at work is to take new hires and get them lifeguard certified. They literally take people with no background and train the CPR and lifeguard certifications as they require a percentage of employees to be certified. Most randos have trouble with the 10lb brick or distance swimming and need to prep/train some for that. The lifeguarding certification is not expensive. Most employers will even offer it for free, even for summer hires. The criteria to be a lifeguard are pretty basic.. literally any kid who ever swam laps period (like age group summer clubs) can do it with ease and anyone with even basic fitness can train to do the distance swim.

It just takes people willing to do that work vs other roles - which means paying people enough to want to do that work. More people would rather do work they see as far less physical or risk being responsible for someone else.

I suppose I was unclear. The OP implied that Disney was unwilling to pick a random person from the college program, teach them to swim and then certify them. should have said that time needed to teach some 20 year old to swim would be too time consuming - my bad. Being a swim instructor and LGI previously, it is much quicker to train someone 5-7 years old to swim than someone in older.

It is true that the lifeguard class can be taken in rather short period of time. However, in my opinion, the lifeguarding class is too simple and easy to pass. Nobody has ever had to rescue a 10lb brick. I have seen people pass the class that I would never hire as a lifeguard. Just as there those who have a driver's license and are awful drivers, there are those with a lifeguard certificate who are bad guards. The conversation is in regard to finding enough competent guards for water parks. The skill level for a lifeguard at a water park or any other public location is much higher than a lifeguard at condo/apartment complex or private swim club. It would be foolish on many levels to pull a rando from the college program, teach them to swim, get the lifeguard certificate and have them work the water parks or even the hotel pools.

 

[plutofan15]

If you want to talk about randos who can't pass the test.. you should have seen the IFC intramural swim meet my freshman year of college where they basically just threw all the pledges in the swim meet and forced them to "swim" the events they had no chance of doing.. hahaha that was a pretty pathetic showing

That is true!!

 

[Tom P.]

They provide less for a higher price…is the point. That’s really not an “opinion”

Overall, yes. This discussion specifically, though, was about the water parks. You are indicating that the reason for Disney not having two parks open year-round is simply a matter of cost cutting, but I just don't think that's true. It would make absolutely no sense for both water parks to be open in January, for example. There simply is no demand for it. One park is more than sufficient to meet the needs of the customer base during the colder months. Not every decision Disney makes is some nefarious plot by the dreaded bean counters. Sometimes, the decisions actually do make sense.

 

[surfsupdon]

The tickets I see them selling are pretty advertised to only include one of the two water parks…


And as others have said, if there was the demand to have both open they would probably be more eager to do so, but there just isn’t much demand during the winter. Even with the free tickets on check in day, Typhoon Lagoon has been pretty abandoned when I’ve been recently!

So then allow the free perk each and every day, if demand is not there. Right?

 

[HauntedPirate]

So then allow the free perk each and every day, if demand is not there. Right?

Wait... that's logical.

 

[flynnibus]

It is true that the lifeguard class can be taken in rather short period of time. However, in my opinion, the lifeguarding class is too simple and easy to pass. Nobody has ever had to rescue a 10lb brick. I have seen people pass the class that I would never hire as a lifeguard. Just as there those who have a driver's license and are awful drivers, there are those with a lifeguard certificate who are bad guards.

You said "it is extremely difficult to find qualified lifeguards" and "There is a huge difference between learning to swim and be certified especially for a water park with a wave pool and lazy river." Truth is most LG hires everywhere are not prior lifeguards.. so this criteria you lay out isn't really accurate. Yes it's hard to staff these positions.. but not really because of the requirements.. That's the point being made. You also said it wasn't cost effective for them to train them - yet they already do.

What Disney and others struggle with is finding WILLING and ABLE bodied people to do the work for the pay and working conditions they offer. The 'requirements' are not the screening portion to be worried about.

The conversation is in regard to finding enough competent guards for water parks. The skill level for a lifeguard at a water park or any other public location is much higher than a lifeguard at condo/apartment complex or private swim club. It would be foolish on many levels to pull a rando from the college program, teach them to swim, get the lifeguard certificate and have them work the water parks or even the hotel pools.

Maybe you'd be suprised then? Disney isn't out there headhunting lifeguards...

 

[surfsupdon]

I still will contest that we keep talking about swimming. A Disney lifeguard is probably positioned at the end of a water slide, along a lazy river, or at a pool, all which have a depth of about 4’6 or less. Most adults (who guard) are taller than that and can jump in the water and get to the victim for a rescue safely.

The only places where water is over the head of the adult guard is at Stormalong Bay and Typhoon Wave Pool. Maybe BB bobbing pool too.

But when I’m sitting (for example) at Bowling Pin pool which is shallow, and there is one sat guard and two pacing maniacally on the sides, they can easy jump in to get to the victim without needing to swim.

I live at the beach. On an island. I surf and bodysurf. The majority of our beach saves include no swimming at all by the guard. But rather running into the water, making a dive, then moving through the water to the victim for a nice save.

I am not arguing with anyone here, but rather saying that a guard at Disney need not have swim lessons and be proficient because they will have easy access to help a victim.

 

[Tom P.]

I refuse to believe being a life guard is anything other than what we saw on Baywatch.

 

[DisneyFanatic12]

So then allow the free perk each and every day, if demand is not there. Right?

Oh yea for sure! Something like summer and winter could work quite well. Maybe year round with blockout dates over spring break and other major holidays, but I think adding blockout dates could make it difficult/confusing to use.

Only major hurdle they have is that the parks need maintenance, and this lasts until the spring. They need to manage crowds in some way so that what happened last spring doesn’t happen again, where day tickets and APs are not able to fully enjoy their passes because of heavy crowds.

 

[DisneyFanatic12]

I still will contest that we keep talking about swimming. A Disney lifeguard is probably positioned at the end of a water slide, along a lazy river, or at a pool, all which have a depth of about 4’6 or less. Most adults (who guard) are taller than that and can jump in the water and get to the victim for a rescue safely.

The only places where water is over the head of the adult guard is at Stormalong Bay and Typhoon Wave Pool. Maybe BB bobbing pool too.

But when I’m sitting (for example) at Bowling Pin pool which is shallow, and there is one sat guard and two pacing maniacally on the sides, they can easy jump in to get to the victim without needing to swim.

I live at the beach. On an island. I surf and bodysurf. The majority of our beach saves include no swimming at all by the guard. But rather running into the water, making a dive, then moving through the water to the victim for a nice save.

I am not arguing with anyone here, but rather saying that a guard at Disney need not have swim lessons and be proficient because they will have easy access to help a victim.

I agree with most of this, max depth of most pools is 5’ or less (shallow water). The deep water positions (waterparks and Stormalong Bay) do require a more difficult test (2 min tread without hands being the trickiest part IIRC), but the test for shallow water positions has minimal swimming and no treading required.

At the end of the day, finding someone who can swim isn’t the hardest part they probably face. Rather, finding someone who wants to be a lifeguard when they could be paid roughly the same amount for an easier role with less expectations.

It’s not a problem that is impossible to solve, theoretically if you paid a high enough wage people could be lined up to become a lifeguard. But I don’t think significantly increasing operating costs is really feasible when the waterparks are already desperate for guests.

 

[Keladry84]

I still will contest that we keep talking about swimming. A Disney lifeguard is probably positioned at the end of a water slide, along a lazy river, or at a pool, all which have a depth of about 4’6 or less. Most adults (who guard) are taller than that and can jump in the water and get to the victim for a rescue safely.

The only places where water is over the head of the adult guard is at Stormalong Bay and Typhoon Wave Pool. Maybe BB bobbing pool too.

But when I’m sitting (for example) at Bowling Pin pool which is shallow, and there is one sat guard and two pacing maniacally on the sides, they can easy jump in to get to the victim without needing to swim.

I live at the beach. On an island. I surf and bodysurf. The majority of our beach saves include no swimming at all by the guard. But rather running into the water, making a dive, then moving through the water to the victim for a nice save.

I am not arguing with anyone here, but rather saying that a guard at Disney need not have swim lessons and be proficient because they will have easy access to help a victim.

Have you actually seen adults who haven’t swam before learn to swim? I have at adult swim lessons.It doesn’t go easy.

Just because water is shallow doesn’t mean someone doesn’t need to be proficient in swimming to be a lifeguard. I can float forever, am comfortable in deep water, can shred water without hands indefinitely, and have no fear of drowning. I’ve had years of swim lessons, both as a kid and as an adult. But you would NOT want me as your life guard. I would NOT be able to get to someone in 4 feet of water quickly, would NOT be able to rescue someone panicking and get them safely back to shore without coming into duress myself. Efficient forward propulsion in water escapes me despite years of trying and practice.

To be a lifeguard you need a strong stroke and need to be able move through water proficiently. I can float forever, but I don’t have the ability to do either of those well.

At adult swim lessons, I looked like an expert swimmer compared to those just learning. And no, they could not move through 4 feet of water easily either, and no they weren’t able to learn it in just a few days or lessons. Even simple things like just floating, or jumping into 4 feet of water from the side of the pool were challenging for them. I watched several of the lifeguards teaching the group have to rescue some of those learners during lessons multiple times. I was standing right next to some of those swimmers when they needed help, and I would not have been able to safely help them to the side of the pool or out of the water myself.

Even in shallow water, lifeguards need to be able to swim proficiently. And lifeguarding is not a skill set you can learn in just a few days unless you already have solid swimming skills.

 

[plutofan15]

You said "it is extremely difficult to find qualified lifeguards" and "There is a huge difference between learning to swim and be certified especially for a water park with a wave pool and lazy river." Truth is most LG hires everywhere are not prior lifeguards.. so this criteria you lay out isn't really accurate. Yes it's hard to staff these positions.. but not really because of the requirements.. That's the point being made. You also said it wasn't cost effective for them to train them - yet they already do.

What Disney and others struggle with is finding WILLING and ABLE bodied people to do the work for the pay and working conditions they offer. The 'requirements' are not the screening portion to be worried about.



Maybe you'd be suprised then? Disney isn't out there headhunting lifeguards...

I stand by what I said. All companies hiring guards for water parks (Disney, Universal, Great Wolf, etc.) will ALWAYS look to hire guards with previous experience. The requirements to work in a water park require skills over and above the basic skill level to pass the American Red Cross lifeguarding class - which is the most common class in the country. Like every lifeguarding job I have had, there is an evaluation/test. I mistakenly lumped the Ellis certification which Disney requires into part of their evaluation testing - my bad. Not everyone who passes the Red Cross test will be able to pass the Ellis test or be able to pass the skill evaluation needed to work in a water park. As far as being cost effective, it was implied here (my someone other than yourself) that Disney could take a random college program person, teach them to swim, certify them and throw them out as a lifeguard. What I said is that it would be a waste of time and cost to teach someone to swim..

The requirements are certainly a challenge when trying to find qualified guards to operate two water parks during the winter months.

As far has Disney "headhunting" lifeguards, they do look for experienced guards when they do campus visits for the college program. Just as the look for culinary students for the restaurants or hotel management/hospitality majors for their hotels, they look for the experienced guards. It is a skill that is in demand for a high liability part of their operations.

 

[plutofan15]

I still will contest that we keep talking about swimming. A Disney lifeguard is probably positioned at the end of a water slide, along a lazy river, or at a pool, all which have a depth of about 4’6 or less. Most adults (who guard) are taller than that and can jump in the water and get to the victim for a rescue safely.

The only places where water is over the head of the adult guard is at Stormalong Bay and Typhoon Wave Pool. Maybe BB bobbing pool too.

But when I’m sitting (for example) at Bowling Pin pool which is shallow, and there is one sat guard and two pacing maniacally on the sides, they can easy jump in to get to the victim without needing to swim.

I live at the beach. On an island. I surf and bodysurf. The majority of our beach saves include no swimming at all by the guard. But rather running into the water, making a dive, then moving through the water to the victim for a nice save.

I am not arguing with anyone here, but rather saying that a guard at Disney need not have swim lessons and be proficient because they will have easy access to help a victim.

Holy cow!! Where to begin with this??

Let's start at the beginning. Guards are stationed all around pools and attractions. Lazy rivers, by the way, are one of the most stressful places to work especially during busy times. Nothing worse than seeing a mass of tubes with people on and around them and trying to see underneath to make sure nobody is trapped. You say that someone can jump in "and get to the victim". And how are they going to get there?? Especially if the victim is in the middle of a pool. Walk? No, trying to walk through water even three feet is difficult. Considering the average height of a female in the US is less than 5'6", that would mean that female lifeguards would be less than a foot taller than the depth of the pool. A person cannot move very fast by walking in water up to their chin. Ther fastest way to get to a person is to swim.

You almost got it when describing your beach situation. I spent a lot of time at the Jersey shore in my younger days crashing with friends some who were beach lifeguards. Your description was close when a rescue is needed. A guard will first grab a torpedo buoy (or possibly a life ring), run into the water and then dive when the water depth gets too deep to run. You then say the guard will move through the water. How do they do that?? Answer: by swimming.

Your last sentence is ridiculous in and of itself.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I stand by what I said. All companies hiring guards for water parks (Disney, Universal, Great Wolf, etc.) will ALWAYS look to hire guards with previous experience. The requirements to work in a water park require skills over and above the basic skill level to pass the American Red Cross lifeguarding class - which is the most common class in the country. Like every lifeguarding job I have had, there is an evaluation/test. I mistakenly lumped the Ellis certification which Disney requires into part of their evaluation testing - my bad. Not everyone who passes the Red Cross test will be able to pass the Ellis test or be able to pass the skill evaluation needed to work in a water park. As far as being cost effective, it was implied here (my someone other than yourself) that Disney could take a random college program person, teach them to swim, certify them and throw them out as a lifeguard. What I said is that it would be a waste of time and cost to teach someone to swim..

The requirements are certainly a challenge when trying to find qualified guards to operate two water parks during the winter months.

As far has Disney "headhunting" lifeguards, they do look for experienced guards when they do campus visits for the college program. Just as the look for culinary students for the restaurants or hotel management/hospitality majors for their hotels, they look for the experienced guards. It is a skill that is in demand for a high liability part of their operations.

You know a good place to find people with previous life guarding experience?

…colleges

Give them a room in a NSFW apartment complex that only requires 40 hours of work…leaving 128 hours of free time…and see if it sticks?

You do the math

 

[MisterPenguin]

can shred water without hands indefinitely

Gnarly dude!! But don't most surfers don't use hands to begin with?

 

[Disone]

But that’s a different argument…

They sell tickets that include both waterparks every day of the year…within reason

Not running them saves them costs…but provides less value

I don't think this is accurate. A Disney water park seasonal pass just came back and that does include both parks but if you buy a one-day water park ticket it's just for the water park you're at. You can't park hop to the other water park.

 

[Tom P.]

I don't think this is accurate. A Disney water park seasonal pass just came back and that does include both parks but if you buy a one-day water park ticket it's just for the water park you're at. You can't park hop to the other water park.

Correct. And I have never seen any sort of water park ticket, even the "Park Hopper Plus" passes, that doesn't specifically indicate that you are limited to whatever park(s) are open during your visit and that there may only be one water park open at a time.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I don't think this is accurate. A Disney water park seasonal pass just came back and that does include both parks but if you buy a one-day water park ticket it's just for the water park you're at. You can't park hop to the other water park.

I agree

Not talking about one day tickets

Waterpark passes
Multi day tickets (the majority sold) with the WP feature
Annual passes with the upsell