we want to be able to swim in the evenings, but fear the pool will be very crowded during our August stay. we hope to be able to watch the fire works while being in a nice cool pool. Do the pools get overly crowded in the evening during the summer? what is the best time to get in to the pools? I do not want to waste valuable disney time so during the day is out, but how about during the fire works, are most people at the park watching?
thanks

We like using the pool during an afternoon break, then shower up and get ready to go back to the parks. I think it depends on your hotel to how busy the pool gets also. When we stayed at Carousel(that's where you're staying right?) we didn't do the pool, we went and checked it out but ended up not going in. But I do remember it wasn't too busy.

The Carousel Inn has a really tiny pool, so if there are even 3 or 4 other people in it, it's going to seem crowded.

From my experience, hotel pools are really crowded in the middle of the day (around 2 o'clock or so) and around dinner time (6-7 o'clock)

But during the fireworks, most people are at the parks, so it shouldn't be too bad.

Hope that helps! Good luck!

Thanks so much dsnylndmom and emma , I feel better now since I think pool time will be a must after a long day walking, and especially to watch fire works since my little one would do better from farther away. I will have to find out how late the pool stays open so we can get in around 9:00 pm.

I think most of the hotel pools are open till 10pm.

Have fun!

I think pool time will be a must after a long day walking, and especially to watch fire works since my little one would do better from farther away. I will have to find out how late the pool stays open so we can get in around 9:00 pm.

Karla, just a heads up based on my experience with little boys at Disneyland:

After a day at Disneyland, I don't know if I'd count on him being awake for fireworks, let alone swimming. Usually mine are asleep in the stroller by then or very cranky if they're still awake.

Now, yours may do better than mine would, but I would hate to see you disappointed if your plans don't work out. I suggest you have a plan B in mind. I don't know what your son's normal bedtime is but don't plan on it being too much later than normal after a long day at Disneyland, even if you take a mid-day break!

Adrienne

A couple other issues that you need to think about while making your plans, factor in the time difference, if you're from a different time zone, you're already an hour or two later into their normal routine that you might think about, and secondly, I notice you're concerned about how close/far you will be from the fireworks. I don't want to assume anything here but if you're concerned about the loud noises involved with the fireworks, being outside the park doesn't lesson the sounds at all, in fact depending on where you are they are actually louder than IN side the park. Just a few things to ponder.

I think it definetly depends on the child. My husband spent a good hour down at the pool with our daughter when we got back to the hotel each night on our last trip to Disney.

But I think Adriennek is right.. most of the kids down at the pool at night were a little bit older than my daughter (probably age 6 or so and up) And Adriennek is right when she says he will be exhausted!!!

How old is your little boy?

Hi all,

Having just returned with our 3 year old, I can say this: our afternoon pool visits kept us cool, refreshed and most of all SANE in the sometimes hectic world of park hopping, getting up early and running around a bit (at least running around more than normal) etc, etc, etc.

The previous posters thoughts and opinions are echoed right here as well.

FYI - even with afternoon breaks daily, we didn't make a fireworks display or even attempt to.

Take care and good luck! Let us know how it works out for you.

Bob

Karla, just a heads up based on my experience with little boys at Disneyland:

After a day at Disneyland, I don't know if I'd count on him being awake for fireworks, let alone swimming. Usually mine are asleep in the stroller by then or very cranky if they're still awake.

Now, yours may do better than mine would, but I would hate to see you disappointed if your plans don't work out. I suggest you have a plan B in mind. I don't know what your son's normal bedtime is but don't plan on it being too much later than normal after a long day at Disneyland, even if you take a mid-day break!

Adrienne
I do have a plan, its to sleep LOL! My kids are very active so I thought if they slept at noon time for a few hours they would be up for sure for the fire works. I do hope though they sleeP :) I aM not getting any younger and look forward to 8 or nine hours. we plan on being up very early ( we get up at 6:00 am 7 days a week) If they are sleepy by nine I will be just tickled pink! I love fire works, but here right now the firework season begins and so I will see awsome fire works for a whole month. I want to see them at Disneyland, but like you say, you have to go on what the kids want, not what I want. Thanks Adrianne, good advice as always.:)

A couple other issues that you need to think about while making your plans, factor in the time difference, if you're from a different time zone, you're already an hour or two later into their normal routine that you might think about, and secondly, I notice you're concerned about how close/far you will be from the fireworks. I don't want to assume anything here but if you're concerned about the loud noises involved with the fireworks, being outside the park doesn't lesson the sounds at all, in fact depending on where you are they are actually louder than IN side the park. Just a few things to ponder.
LOL! I never thought aboput the time change! we are one hour differnt, so I am sure we will be in bed long before 10:00 PM there. Thanks Mamasilva !

Emma, My boy is 3 (will be 4 in November) He is very active, and does not ever want to go to bed as he is afraid he will miss something. But you know I am thinking he will walk so much during our time there ( we also plan on bringing a stroller) that he will be extremly tire( I hope it works this way and he is not over stimulated LOL!! ) Thanks gang for opening my eyes,**Karla