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Original poster

Waterpark holiday & DS' friend can't swim

166 replies

LittleMissSandy · 14/07/2016 10:15

DS(10) is an only child and so for our holiday this year we invited a friend of his to come along at our own expense.

We're going to an all inclusive water park in Spain, great slides, lots of water etc so I just naturally assumed that the friend could swim, until this morning at the gates when friend's Mum asked if he'd be able to wear arm bands on the water slides Confused

I was so taken aback, I said I wasn't sure & that I would double check. Their doesn't actually seem to be anything about it on the website, does anyone know if children can wear arm bands on large water slides? Their are lots of small rides that I'm sure they could go on but the whole point of inviting a friend was so that they could spend the days together and go on all the rides.

We leave on Saturday, so far too late to do anything now.

OP posts:
queenoftheboys · 14/07/2016 11:34

How I'd feel about taking him really depends on what kinds of things there are at the water park. The last one we went to (not in Spain or anywhere near it) had almost no rides ending in deep water. Most slides just ended in a flat section in a foot or so of water. Complete non-swimmers would have been fine. There was a wave pool which he can stay in the shallow part of, and a lazy river which would be fine for less confident swimmers.

Is there a website where you can check out the attractions, then decide what to do? I'd actually be a lot happier taking a non-swimming 10yo than a toddler - and the place was full of toddlers.

Really annoying of the other Mother not to have told you before this, assuming she knew it was a swimming holiday.

Cheby · 14/07/2016 11:35

I'm sorry but NFW would I be taking a non swimmer child with me. I wouldn't relax at all, would end up following the kids round all day and have an awful holiday myself.

What if he drowned? Its not hard to get into trouble in a plunge pool at the bottom of a slide.

So I would sit down with his mum today, without the kids, and ask her to explain exactly what his swimming ability is. TBH if he needs armbands i think it's a no go.

If he's not a good swimmer I would apologise but then say it's not happening, maybe you could take him next year to something else. Make it clear to her and to your son it's because she was not honest about his swimming abilities and you are concerned about safety.

I know you will have paid for this already; can you transfer tickets? Does he have another friend or cousin who could come?

KoalaDownUnder · 14/07/2016 11:38

I don't think I'm being over-dramatic at all.

It's not like sitting by the side of one swimming pool at a hotel. It's supervising a non-swinming child amongst a labyrinth of pools, ladders, slides, lazy rivers...on top of keeping some kind of eye on her own child.

Armbands or a life jacket (even if they are allowed, which is doubtful) are not a substitute for being able to swim.

I think taking him is a ridiculous proposition.

Hiddenaspie1973 · 14/07/2016 11:38

Any chance of you raking child to local pool to see what you're letting yourself in for?
In your situation at this late stage, that's what I would do.

ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 14/07/2016 11:39

A re you able to say which water park op? If you were, people may be able to give you more specific advice?

I definitely remember going on a water slide designed for speed/,,drop and it ended in about 6" (yes inches) of water - so there may be some slides ok for a non swimmer. I would be a bit doubtful about being allowed to wear a float jacket/armbands though .

Has this been discussed with the friend? Does he know he is going to a water park,a and how does he feel?

feathermucker · 14/07/2016 11:41

Why on earth didn't the other parent say earlier on that he can't swim?! Bloody hell; that's bonkers!

Is there any way you can take him swimming with you before you go... just to get an idea what he's like before you're suddenly abroad with no idea whether he's actually a bit nervous or really can't swim?!

Unless there's a very good reason for it, all parents should ensure their child can swim...whether by lessons or teaching them themselves! It's a basic life skill!

firawla · 14/07/2016 11:46

In the pool at our hotel where we went in May, they didn't allow any arm bands on the slides, but they landed in a self contained bit so a non confident swimmer should still be okay. Depends on the set up obviously, hope he can swim a bit!

JsOtherHalf · 14/07/2016 11:50

Swim jacket aged 10-12

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000T78OXO/ref=twister_B004J6C5IG?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Original poster
LittleMissSandy · 14/07/2016 11:52

Because we're leaving so soon, I'd feel awful to disinvite him, he's a lovely child & he & DS are really excited. I am fuming at the Mum though, I've been looking at pictures and not a single child is wearing any sort of floating aid, the place is jungle of water slides, we're going to PortAdventura, here's a link to the rides www.portaventuraworld.com/en/aquatic-park/rides

I'd feel safe leaving DS to run around but certainly not his friend, at least not without checking to see how well he can swim.

The Mum also got a brochure and she knew the plan was to let them run around the park unsupervised a lot of the time, so I just naturally assumed he was a very able swimmer, I didn't feel like it was something I had to clarify.

OP posts:
PatriciaHolm · 14/07/2016 11:54

PortAdventura don't allow armbands, they require non-swimmers to wear the swim jackets.

Original poster
LittleMissSandy · 14/07/2016 11:57

A lot of the rides do seem to end in shallow water, so that's a plus.

OP posts:
Floggingmolly · 14/07/2016 11:58

It's a very strange holiday to send your non swimming 10 year old on, in someone else's care. I wouldn't even contemplate either sending mine or taking someone else's.
Will he even be allowed in the pool? At a recent swimming party ds2 went to (for 9 year old's), they had to do a sort of swimming proficiency thing before being allowed in the deep end where the inflatables were.
One poor little sod was forced to splash about in the shallow end on his own! The play leader sent the other children down to join him, one at a time, but it was massively embarrassing for him.
God knows why his parents sent him to a swimming party... Confused

Aeroflotgirl · 14/07/2016 11:59

Even with the flotation device suggestion, he might not be allowed to go on the slides with any of them. I would arrange a meeting with the mum to assertain how is swimming ability is, and don't be afraid to say no to her, if its going to be too much, at the end of the day, he will be your responsibility, and it will ruin your holiday as you might probably feel you have to hover after him.

Why the hell would she think its ok to bring this issue now silly irresponsible woman!

Excited101 · 14/07/2016 11:59

I do reckon it's a last minute panic on her part. I would expect children of that age to be able to make their own way around a waterpark without much input tbh so I'm not surprised you're pissed off at her. Have you been able to find out exactly what she meant when she said that? I would have also thought that if he lacked confidence, he wouldn't be so keen on going but obviously some children don't think quite that logically!

Cinderbloom · 14/07/2016 11:59

I didn't see any slides going directly into plunge pools but second the advice about a swim jacket.

Also when they turn the waves on it can get dangerous in the deep water. DS is a strong swimmer and he struggled a bit.

Not sure about the two biggest rides but the wavy slide ends in no water and the dinghy one ends in waist-deep water with a lifeguard in it so they are quite safe.

completecliche · 14/07/2016 12:02

Looks a fantastic choice, my ten year olds would be in heaven.
I think you need to ring her and have a frank chat about his swimming capability and her expectations.
No way can you supervise 2 10 year olds on all those slides.

JsOtherHalf · 14/07/2016 12:03

The mum can get that jacket I linked to earlier direct from the company. They may be able to do tracked delivery by tomorrow if she contacts them now.

www.funswim.co.uk/shipping-postage/

Tiggles · 14/07/2016 12:08

His Mother said "he can't really swim" I would use this as a description for my 9 year old - he can swim, but only maybe a width of the pool. I am quite happy with him going down water slides etc but if I knew he was going to go to a water park where he wouldn't be supervised at all I would definitely be happier with him wearing a swim jacket.
My 7 year old can't swim and I would happily say 'he can't swim' but then I wouldn't take him to a water park - he hates getting his face wet and it wouldn't be his 'thing' at all.

LagunaBubbles · 14/07/2016 12:13

I wouldn't be taking a non swimming friend of my DS to a waterpark, no way. It doesn't matter that his Mum should have told you earlier it is you that is responsible for his safety. I get he will be disappointed, but it's not worth the worry and the risk. I know it's late but I would see if any of his other friends could go and pay the amendment fee.

DiddlySqeak · 14/07/2016 12:27

If you google PortAdventura Water slides there looks to be loads and loads to do that would be ok for a non swimmer. I wouldn't worry about this at all.

It looks like a fantastic place to take two ten year olds. I'm sure they will have a blast even if there are a few things the friend can't do such as playing in the deep water in the wave pool.

Scarydinosaurs · 14/07/2016 12:30

On the upside, OP, I didn't even know hotels like this existed and I'm in the process of booking a holiday for next year now ☺️.

I'm sure one of the swim vests will suffice. I hope you have a lovely holiday.

DiddlySqeak · 14/07/2016 12:40

I had a look on tripadviser and someone posted the following a week ago.

You aren't allowed to wear sunglasses at all on any of the rides or the swimming pools and children aren't allowed to wear armbands and can only wear the life jackets that are provided by the park for a deposit of 30 euros that is refundable

There were a comments about not being allowed to wear tops unless they are neoprene (?).

KoalaDownUnder · 14/07/2016 12:40

I think what some people are missing is that most of those slides shoot out into fairly deep water. They have to, because of the force with which you exit. People would injure themselves flying into a foot of water.

It's really not a matter of 'just tell him to stay out of the deep pools / wave pool'.

I have been on slides at watermarks like this, and you often come out a) upside down and disoriented, b) at high velocity, and c) in the middle of a large pool of deep water. Then you have to right yourself, get your bearings and swim to the edge.

The fact that the child is 10 is not going to help, tbh. The lifeguards are more likely to assume he's a confident swimmer, and less likely to look out for him as they would a smaller child.

Obviously, do what you think is reasonable. I think the mother is an irresponsible fool.

Cinderbloom · 14/07/2016 12:43

Koala I know the ones you mean - my local pool is like that and it's what I was scared about for my DS when we went. But there aren't any like that.

DiddlySqeak · 14/07/2016 12:45

Koala. If you look at the photos then lots of the slides shoot out into shallow water.