AKV pool slides closed in cold weather!

[robinb]

This is my 9th late December vacation and I have never seen this happen. We are at AKV and they closed both pool slides. We're at Jambo House and drove over to Kidani and the slide was closed. I asked at the front desk if the slide back over at Jambo was open and the Recreation Director said it wasn't because of "safety issues" and that they don't send the lifeguards out in weather under 50-degrees. I pointed out that it was 55-degrees at 9:00 am so I didn't understand why the pools were not staffed. She didn't have an answer. I also mentioned that Stormalong Bay was open and staffed but she didn't have an answer for that either.

I KNOW 55-degrees is not ideal swimming weather, but I would say there are about 15-20 hearty souls here near the pool with me. Including my insane DD who was really looking forward to the slide. The weather does not appear that it will improve soon and the Rec Durector is sure to keep the slides closed while we are here. It's a real bummer.

[BWV Dreamin]

I don't believe people actually swim in 55 degree weather! A hot tub I can see. Noway I would have my children wet in those temps.

[Jason@dvcstore]

I KNOW 55-degrees is not ideal swimming weather, but I would say there are about 15-20 hearty souls here near the pool with me. Including my insane DD who was really looking forward to the slide. The weather does not appear that it will improve soon and the Rec Durector is sure to keep the slides closed while we are here. It's a real bummer.

I hope the slides open for you on Monday. They should be open if open at the Beach Club.

Jason

[robinb]

I don't believe people actually swim in 55 degree weather! A hot tub I can see. Noway I would have my children wet in those temps.My daughter was not the only one in the pool! The pools are heated, so it's really not a big deal and they won't get hypothermia walking up to the pool slide. In any case, we parents who will allow our kids to swim should have the option. Especially when it's warmer than the 50-degree cut-off. I think it was a cost-cutting staffing decision and I don't care if there are only 15-20 people in the pool. I hate to sound snarky, but my dues dollar is the same as someone who goes when the weather is warmer.

[KirstenB]

OP, I had to look to see where you were from, before I typed my original "are you nuts" response!!!:lmao:

You're a very nice mom for sitting out in 50 degree weather while your dd swims (seriously). I hope you guys have a great vacation!

[d-r]

The pool and slide is and has been open and staffed here at blt, but the past couple of days they have closed the pool bar. Which is sort of a bummer because I don't want to swim in this cold weather but I wouldn't mind a beer.

[robinb]

The pool and slide is and has been open and staffed here at blt, but the past couple of days they have closed the pool bar. Which is sort of a bummer because I don't want to swim in this cold weather but I wouldn't mind a beer.The pool bar was closed too. The other mom I talked to was bummed about that too since they had to go all the way into the lobby to get their mug refilled.

[cjs123123]

LOL at least the weather is warmer than it is here in wisconsin!!!! Bring 55 degrees home with you so we can be warm here!!!!!!

[Lexxiefern]

That is not right! You should have the option to swim (and go down the slide)! I hope the slides are open when I arrive in 2 weeks!

[ClarabelleCow]

Can you swim? Or is it just the slides that are closed? Though I do find it very odd that they would close the bar also, sounds like a definate staffing issue.

[vicki_c]

Disney pools close the slides when the lifeguards are off duty. But you can still swim in the pools at your own risk. I think the message was that they weren't going to ask the lifeguards to work when it gets below a certain temperature, apparently 55 per the OP. And I'm not surprised they would close the bar at any time when there are very low numbers of people at the pool, or expected to be at the pool. (Not that I would necessarily like it, just stating what I think is the reason).

[vicki_c]

That is not right! You should have the option to swim (and go down the slide)! I hope the slides are open when I arrive in 2 weeks!

The entire Uzima pool at AKL is closed 1/4 to 1/29. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news if you didn't know that.

[stopher1]

We're definitely looking forward to the pools when we're there in 3 weeks. 25-40 degrees warmer or more than what we have (will have) at home (to the cut off the OP quotes) and we'll still be enjoying the water. The pools are heated so it doesn't bother us. We're excited to enjoy the new Uwanga Camp & Samawati Springs at Kidani. We were originally bummed that Uzima will be closed, but no biggie since the other will still be open.

[hsmamato2]

this sounds strange,and something that definitely needs an official complaint made- seriously. last year at OKW, I sat by the pool at night in my winter coat and read a book while my kids had a ball in the pool. They'll swim no matter what! we're from the NE,and it's still way warmer than home there!
sounds to me like they didn't want to pay the lifeguards for a few people swimming,which is cheap and wrong. If the schedule says they're open during the day,then they should uphold that promise. at OKW, I've seen lifegaurds sitting out in all kinds of cold and jackets watching the slide.....:confused3

[drusba]

I do not think this is new. I know the last two years I have been at AKV in January, they had no life guard on duty when it was cold and without a lifeguard no one can use the slide. Just remember the lifeguards are from Florida and to them 50 degrees in the daytime is very cold.

[Anal Annie]

I don't believe people actually swim in 55 degree weather! A hot tub I can see. Noway I would have my children wet in those temps.

:thumbsup2 I'm with ya on that one!! My cut-off air temp for getting naked enough to go swimming is about 73 degrees!! Hot tubs are a different animal but at 55 degrees I'd be wearing gloves & a coat not a bathing suit and I would not be surprised to see the pools closed & not staffed at those temps!!! :cold:

[hsmamato2]

you know- it doesn't matter what the lifeguards think of the weather! what matters is they have a worldwide base of people coming in for VACATION expecting to have full use of the much advertised amenities. to shut them down randomly,to cheap out is unacceptable!
shutting down for maintenance,etc is understandable,but not just b/c they think no one should swim in that weather- we're not talking lightning storm.... some may say its too cold,other think it's just fine
lg's should put on a jacket and do their job IMO

[BWV Dreamin]

I do not think this is new. I know the last two years I have been at AKV in January, they had no life guard on duty when it was cold and without a lifeguard no one can use the slide. Just remember the lifeguards are from Florida and to them 50 degrees in the daytime is very cold.
I am from Maryland and 50 degrees is cold!!! :wizard:

[Tiger926]

I guess I'm confused about why the OP is irritated? You need to use a Disney pool; therefore, you need to abide by the policies of said pool. They have an inclement weather policy - Aquatica has been closed for the past 2 days due to cold weather. An entire park has closed down for which I'm sure people have purchased passes for - I'm wondering what Sea World has done, if anything, as they don't control the weather temps, so not much to be done? Disney has decided to close down the slides due to cold weather, and that's the policy. This has nothing to do with you as a mom choosing for your daughter to use the slide - you don't own the slide; therefore, you have to abide by those rules.

I happen to think 55 degrees is way too cold to swim in for most people. Your daughter can still swim, she just can't use the slide, so at least she can use part of the pool. I can understand why you are frustrated as you are paying dues, but there are all kinds of things that we all pay dues for, that we might not take advantage of, so this is just one of those times.

Sorry your daughter couldn't use the slide - hope she still had a good swim, Tiger :)

[LisaS]

I agree this isn't new. I remember on our Dec 2006 stay at BWV the weather varied quite a bit. On the really cool/cold days there were no lifeguards at the BWV pool and the pool bar was closed. The pool itself was still open and there were a few hardy individuals in the pool no matter what the weather was like but no lifeguards and no food/drink available at the pool unless the weather was warm enough to draw a decent sized crowd.

[KAT4DISNEY]

I guess I'm confused as well but not the same way. I understand the cool weather policy but don't understand how it apparently was too cold at AKL/AKV but not at other resorts. And the OP posted the temperature was above the range stated for the closure and there seemed to be no answer for that.

Of course the AKL/AKV pools are the only ones that are open 24 hours so I considered that a huge plus for the resort but it seems more like this was a staffing decision and that bothers me since people do come expecting to use amentities that are advertised and the conditions didn't meet the closure "rules". :confused3

[bobbiwoz]

I doubt that SAB can be opened without lifeguards, but the other pools in other resorts can be, just the slides aren't in use when the lifeguards aren't there.

Bobbi:goodvibes

[Lexxiefern]

The entire Uzima pool at AKL is closed 1/4 to 1/29. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news if you didn't know that.

Thanks, I am staying at BCV and BWV this trip. But I do feel bad for those staying at Jambo.

[robinb]

Let me clarify things. I have no problem with the rule as long as it is enforced both appropriately and fairly. If the rule is 50 degrees as I was told by the rec director, I'm perfectly OK with that. But it was warmer than 50 degrees so I am confused why the pool slide was not open. Secondly, the pool rules should be the same for all the DVC resorts. If it's too cold for lifeguards at AKV it is too cold for lifeguards st SAB. Sure, SAB cannot open without lifeguards but Y&BC has more than one quiet pool that need no lifeguards.

[ktbugsmom]

We have been to Disney for the last 5 years in January. A couple years, it was down right cold, but we swam every day at the various resorts we stayed at over the years - BCV, BWV, WLV and AKV.

I guess compared to Wisconsin, 50 degrees is warm. :goodvibes Last year, we were at AKV and the poor lifeguard was bundled up in his parka telling me that my husband and daughter were crazy because they were swimming. It was definitely under 50 degrees that night and the pool and slide were open.

So - I think the issue is that the policy is not enforced very consistently - which is the frustrating part.

And, while some may feel it is too cold for our children to swim (my daughter is now 9 years old - and has been going to Disney in January since she was 4), I guess to each his own. I grew up in Wisconsin on part of Lake Michigan. Our ritual each spring was to go swimming (had to get your head wet) before all of the ice was gone... (I guess we don't have much else to do around here. ;)) So - swimming in a heated pool in 50 degree weather is down right balmy to my family! :rotfl:

So - this year, I will be at AKV Jambo house during the closure of Uzima pool... but at least I can try out the Kidani pool. Now - that could be a little chilly heading back to the room. Oh well - good excuse to buy a new Disney sweatshirt! :woohoo:

[Rochester Disney Fan]

We'll be at AKV in July so the air temp will be the other extream and we won't want to get out of the water and roast on the way to the slide. ( but it better be open when i get to the top).:)

[sskem96]

We were at Kidani over Thanksgiving, and didn't realize before we went that the slides are only open when the lifeguards are on duty. I think it was 9pm that the lifeguards closed the slides and left. We normally only swim at night after we get back from the parks, so generally not til after 10pm at the earliest. After 2 nights of not being able to figure out why the slide was closed, we finally asked in the lobby and decided to leave the parks early one night just so the kids could use the pool slide. It would be much better for our family if the pool slides, not to mention community hall, were available til midnight. I realize every family is different and Disney has to base their hours on what the majority of people do, but other than a quick trip to the room for dinner, we're in the parks from rope drop til they kick us out, so we do miss out on a lot of other activities. I guess one of these days we'll have to try a more leisurely trip and take advantage of some of the free activities instead of worrying about getting our money's worth out of our park tickets!

[thelionqueen]

I think that all rules for all pools should be consistent, I would be annoyed as well. We are in CO and 55 degrees is downright balmy. Keep in mind we are doing the Polar Bear Plunge on New Years Day, (jumping into an icy lake) so take that information as you will :lmao:

I thought that all pools were open 24 hours :confused3 In fact, our boat driver used that as a trivia question which is why I pose the question. At every DVC and non DVC Disney resort (CA excluded) we've been able to swim whenever we want. The latest we swam was 1:30am, without a lifeguard. Anyone have credible information on this?

[JMLBrats]

I remember wondering at one point why Disney doesn't have indoor pools at any of their resorts and of course the answer is that they would rather have people out at the parks spending money on a cold or inclement weather day than have them lounging around in a nice comfy indoor pool. I know this doesn't directly relate to the OP's original statement....but this does:
2 years ago we were at SSR in November and it was around 50 degrees or so and the wind way blowing and I'm pretty sure they did shut the pool slide down although the pool and hot tubs were open. We ended up swimming at one of the smaller pools and using the hot tubs a lot. It was mighty cold when you came out of the water. I think the kids were a little upset that the slide was shut down but they had fun anyway. I do think that if they close them at one resort, they should at all of them. Why should the pool slide be open at Beach club but not Kidani?

[Sandisw]

Is it possible that they base it on the forecast in determining things? I would imagine that they must have to let the lifeguards know ahead of time.

It certainly does put a damper on things not to have the slide available during the visit.

Hope things warm up before you head home.

[JCW]

I agree with others that the opening of pools/slides should be consistent from resort to resort.

But my guess is (and this is truely a guess), Disney may leave the decision up to the recreational director for each resort. And, the directors may base their decisions not just on weather, but resort occupancy, number of CMs required and how it effects the budget etc. It may not just be a straight decision based on temps, there could be more to it so each resort may make different decisions (but of course Disney isn't going to tell guests that the slide is closed due to money savings or low resort occupancy issues etc).

Just my thoughts.

[LindaBabe]

I agree with others that the opening of pools/slides should be consistent from resort to resort.

But my guess is (and this is truely a guess), Disney may leave the decision up to the recreational director for each resort. And, the directors may base their decisions not just on weather, but resort occupancy, number of CMs required and how it effects the budget etc. It may not just be a straight decision based on temps, there could be more to it so each resort may make different decisions (but of course Disney isn't going to tell guests that the slide is closed due to money savings or low resort occupancy issues etc).

Just my thoughts.


I wondered if that might be why they suddenly announced a pool closure for January. I'll be REALLY upset if it's closed and I don't see any construction action going on!