Pool games: Take them or leave them?

[baymenxpac]

alright, i'm 13 days out from my next trip, but i wanted to go over something that i ran into last summer. it seems like this has become standard practice for all the resorts lately, but from the hours of about 1:00-4:00, there are "pool games" at most of the main pools.

not too much of a problem if you're, say...staying at old key west, where there are two quiet pools. different story if you're at bay lake, where there's only one pool.

my question is this: do you guys like them? does anyone? keep in mind, i don't have kids yet, so this may make me biased. but i do remember being a kid, and i'm almost sure i got along without having organized disney trivia screamed at me over a microphone. my parents, ya know...watched and entertained me.

i ask because i feel like it detracts from the ambiance of certain hotels. i do enjoy the main pool at old key west, even after the addition of the slide, which made it a touch more kid-heavy. but part of what i like about staying there the very laid-back feel. i like the sound track, i like to be able to kick back, have a drink, and relax, and i sort of don't want to hear, "WHO ARE DONALD'S THREE NEPHEWS?!?!" while i'm trying to do that. at bay lake, there's no escaping it, since they do the same stuff about 30 yards away at the contemporary pool, too.

i just feel like they could do that at SOME resorts, and not others? i'd imagine typical grand floridian or polynesian guests may feel the same way? i don't know...just feels very "one disney"-influenced to me.

 

[Spikerdink]

I actually don't mind the pool games - it beats hearing kids scream, "Mommy watch me! Mommy watch me! Mommy, are you watching me? Mommy, are you watching me?" for the entire time I am near the pool.

Some of the games they play that involve parents are actually quite funny to watch... I enjoy watching the reactions of the kids and parents while vegging out....

But I can see your point if you wanted to sit by the pool and enjoy a moment of zen...and getting bombarded with noise and more noise.

 

[Pooh Lover]

Not a fan of the pool games. Call me too old for it or a jaded cruiser who has seen way too many hairy chest, belly flop or run with a coconut between your leg contests but I really enjoy a pool without ADDED noise and distraction.

 

[wdwmagic]

Add me to the list of "would rather they didn't do that" LOL. I understand some guests really like it, so I guess we are in the minority.

 

[maryszhi]

i would bring them just in case, but there are activities at all the pools. also did you know you can use alll of the contemporary pools?

 

[Nemo14]

i would bring them just in case, but there are activities at all the pools. also did you know you can use alll of the contemporary pools?

bring what?

 

[maryszhi]

*pool games as in stuff to do if they are going on so that you can be entertained. or i would go to one of the quiet pools

 

[plaz10]

I think it would be better for all parties if they scheduled them like "Tuesdays and Thursdays are pool game days" or something to that effect. They put out schedules for everything and they post them on your resort TV - it wouldnt be hard to say "oh pool games TODAY from 1-4"

 

[Nemo14]

*pool games as in stuff to do if they are going on so that you can be entertained. or i would go to one of the quiet pools

But the question was whether we liked the pools having those organized pool games, so why would you bring your own pool games? I'm sorry, but this confuses me.

 

[maryszhi]

i meant like if u didn't want to participate, bring stuff to do like magazines or go to the quiet pool. if you want you can stay and participate. if none are going on , you can make your own . i meant its a persons taste. i personally don't mind them. i am sorry my post was confusing my computer is not liking me today lol.

 

[wdwfan22]

The pool activities are fine as long as they are not allowed to use the mic and blare music that disrupts other guests. I have noticed at the Grand Floridian now they don't use the mic's and the music anymore. it's not as disrupting to others which is a good thing.

 

[MissingDisney]

Hmmmm, so the "typical grand floridian or polynesian guests" are different from the other guests? This could be interpreted so many ways. I'm going to choose to not be offended, Grand Floridian/Polynesian/BC/CBR/POFQ/Pop/or wherever I decide to stay-guest-of-Disney-that-I-am. So if I have kids, who happen to love the pool games just as much as I love a couple of hours of chillin' by the pool while they're entertained, and also happen to be keen on deluxe accomodations, no go? I'd be forced to stay with the a-typical Grand Floridian or Poly guests? What resort might that be?

Disney is not a place for a quiet getaway. That's for sure. But talk to us in a few when you have some offspring running around screaming your name like it's the only word they know and think about how much you love a few hours of pool games then! You'll be thinking "OMG, thank God and Disney for pool games!" while your little ones play happily and you sip on a cocktail, reminiscing about your younger, less tolerant years. Then you'll think "turn it up louder-it drowns out the screaming kids!" You'll smile. Trust me.

 

[Goofycanuck]

But the question was whether we liked the pools having those organized pool games, so why would you bring your own pool games? I'm sorry, but this confuses me.

I think the thread title could be misconstrued as a question in itself, as to whether or not to bring pool games on your trip. At least that's what I thought when I read it.

 

[Joshua&CalebDad]

I know that Disney caters to all sorts of guests but do we now need to come down on the pool games too. It's a family based resort, so yes pool games a few hours out of the day should not be such a huge inconvenience.

 

[Lucky]

alright, i'm 13 days out from my next trip, but i wanted to go over something that i ran into last summer. it seems like this has become standard practice for all the resorts lately, but from the hours of about 1:00-4:00, there are "pool games" at most of the main pools. they

We're always in the parks during those hours, so they could be doing Olympics trials in my resort pool for all I know. Doesn't matter to me.

 

[DisneyDebNJ]

Another reason why I like the Poly. Although my son is over 21, we still get a kick out of the pool games at the Volcano Pool, then, when it gets really busy with participants, we all head to the quiet pool. I don't know what a *typical* Grand Floridian or Polynesian guest is, quite honestly, but the ones I have always seen, seemed to enjoy the pool games for a while, then did the same thing we did .... hit the quiet pool.

 

[wdwfan22]

Hmmmm, so the "typical grand floridian or polynesian guests" are different from the other guests? This could be interpreted so many ways. I'm going to choose to not be offended, Grand Floridian/Polynesian/BC/CBR/POFQ/Pop/or wherever I decide to stay-guest-of-Disney-that-I-am. So if I have kids, who happen to love the pool games just as much as I love a couple of hours of chillin' by the pool while they're entertained, and also happen to be keen on deluxe accomodations, no go? I'd be forced to stay with the a-typical Grand Floridian or Poly guests? What resort might that be?

Disney is not a place for a quiet getaway. That's for sure. But talk to us in a few when you have some offspring running around screaming your name like it's the only word they know and think about how much you love a few hours of pool games then! You'll be thinking "OMG, thank God and Disney for pool games!" while your little ones play happily and you sip on a cocktail, reminiscing about your younger, less tolerant years. Then you'll think "turn it up louder-it drowns out the screaming kids!" You'll smile. Trust me.

I can't speak for all Disney Resorts, but i do know at the Grand Floridian from talking with the bar staff that Guests have complained about the music and mic being used. I also have noticed from my most recent stay it has been tonned down quite a bit. They still offer the games for the kids and play them, but they don't make a big production out of it anymore. So the kids still get the games, and the adults get a little quiet time.

 

[crispy]

I have two little girls so the pool games are fun when we decide to have an afternoon at the pool. They think they are great. We also love the movies and other night time activities, too. It's a fun addition to the resorts, IMHO.

 

[Zummi Gummi]

Anything beats hearing (you know what's coming...):

"Marco!"

"Polo!"

over and over and over and over again.

That game should be banned permanently from all pools everywhere, WDW or otherwise.

 

[Firepath]

Last time we stayed at POFQ the games were so loud we could not converse without yelling. Sadly, on our next trip we are staying at POR simply for the option of a quiet pool where we can read a book or just relax by the pool. If they'd pull the plug on the mic we would be back at POFQ in a heartbeat.