Disney Old Key West In June with Grand Kids

We've got a week in Old Key West at the end of June. We're trying to decide if we should go to a water park one day or simply use the resorts pool. We've never been to the water parks there or at this resort so we don't know what they are like. The kids are 7 and 8. Not great swimmers but love the water (not many 7 or 8's don't). They received their first swimming lessons last year and by the end of the year could swim the length of a pool. I'm not sure how they will do just out of school having not swam for almost a year.

What is your experience with kids that age and swimming ability and the water park versus the OKW pool?

larry

I have 3 kids who have all spent summers on our local swim team. It sounds like your grandkids have overcome any worries about putting their faces in the water and they should pick up right where they left off with swimming. If they are used to wearing swim goggles, you will want to make sure you take them with you (and a spare!) Put their names on them with a sharpie - those things grow legs and walk away and they are not cheap!

Look online at the OKW pool - we stopped by there on our last Disney trip to look around and I think I remember slides and sprinkler features that looked fun.

IMHO the issue would be whether a 7 & 8 year old would enjoy a full day at the water park without a break. Especially if you have long park days planned, they might be happier with a full morning at the resort pools, then a rest back in the room, and a return trip back to the pool in the evening or even a different activity. We saw little speedboats you could rent?

The water parks will still be there when they are older and "too cool" for the resort pool! Have a great time!

My kids are around yours ages and we enjoyed the waterpark when we went. However, they only hung out in the wave pool and road maybe 1 ride. There's not many rides that they can get on. And apparently summer it rains around 4pm quite often.

So if you want to save a bit of money, just use the resort pools where you can hang out all day at your leisure without fighting for a spot. Wait til they get older and can ride all the rides.

The grand kids do put their heads in the water.

Great idea about the goggles (first put down googles, name is ingrained). I had forgot about them but I'm fairly sure my wife remembered.

I'm thinking with you that the water park is going to be too much for them and won't get to use it fully. What I've seen of the pool at resort will be great for them. We plan to go to the parks during the morning and evening and come back for lunch, pool and rest during the afternoon.

We went to Typhoon Lagoon when my kids we 4 and loved it--and haven't been back in 8 years--LOL! That's about when we joined DVC and then there was just too much to do at the resorts!
OKW has a nice pool and great slide. The slide is fast and they will be dunked under the water when they come out--it's not deep, but you might want to get in the water for the 1st time down the slide. Also, remind them to keep their head up at the end, so they don't bump it on the slide. My kids like OKW slide the best. ps--the light house is a sauna.
Also, there is a community hall--near the pool, next to Hanks. you can go inside anytime and play games, color, etc. It is a nice thing to do if it rains or they just want some fun downtime. They have scheduled activities, but it is open 8-8 for hanging out. OKW should have a bonfire and marshmellows (provided) at least 1 night while you are there. But sure to check the activities schedule that they give you when you check in--tons to do at the resort.
At that age, my kids also loved to go over the Ft Wilderness campfire and outdoor movies (still do at 12)--you can get the schedule online around june 5--check on disboards.com under camping. It is a short car ride down the back road from OKW. You park in the Ft W lot and then take the shuttle bus to the Meadows trading post. You can also roast hot dogs for dinner at Ft W. Ft. W sells MM and sticks, but not hotdogs. There is fishing, as well. We take a little rod at Walmart with us. My 9 yr old son caught a little bass. They also rent poles/bait. Take lots of bus spray.

I vote for a leisurely day at the pool and just hanging out at the resort. Its a lot of work to pack up and head to a water park, but a day of sleeping in, swimming, and exploring the resort would be a perfect mid-week break. Have fun!

Note that you may sign out and borrow life vests for children who are not strong swimmers at the water parks. This is not a bad idea if they go into the wave pools, which can be tiring.

That said, for this age group, I'd add a second vote for a pool & resort day. While the water parks do offer kid-friendly areas, they are much more geared to the pre-teen, teen and young adult sets. Our kids were excellent swimmers by 6 or 7 years old. But a week at Disney can be exhausting for most families with kids under 10. By the 3rd day or so, you'll all welcome a more low-key day to relax by the pool at your resort.

The kids are bound to enjoy a day filled with with pool time, playing in the sand near the feature pool, the playground, community hall games, hanging out with family. Disney park days are filled to the brim with stimulation so don't be surprised if they say they thought the resort pool day was their favorite! If they seem to want more excitement that day, consider taking them to play mini-golf or to visit Fort Wilderness with all of its playgrounds, the rental bikes with many wonderful, shady paths, and the early evening campfire singalong with Chip & Dale. Our active kids loved these "downtime days" so much that we usually included two of them in a week.

I second the resort pool, we have been to all the water parks in Orlando, my kids/grandkids were all different ages and loved the waterparks, but the ones of the same age as yours would only go on the smaller rides which I feel are limited. So instead of using the entire park, your day will be staying only in the area they are comfortable with. Sounds like you can have the same joy at the resort pool and save a little, ok a lot of money.

OKW pool is a winner

My kids LOVE the OKW pool, their ages 5.7.8.11.17 .the pool area has different pool games throughout the afternoon. It was a highlight of my kids vacation.

OKW is great!

For their ages and traveling with the grandparents, you will absolutely enjoy just being at OKW. In addition to the larger feature pool, there are also several smaller "quiet" pools scattered throughout the complex. Consider that even the feature pool is small enough that the kids won't get lost or have to wait in long lines, and you can easily scoot back to the room for a meal.