Adult hot tubs now close at 10 pm?! Anyone else upset?!

[Happy100]

6 pm closing for pools is ridiculous. There are plenty of second seating cruisers that enjoy having early evening swims with less crowded pools.

Adult hot tubs closing at 10 is too early.

 

[MinnieMouse64]

one of the reasons we are almost done with DCL.

I know people are going to have plenty to say about my post but I agree with your post. My DH and I decided we are done with DCL as well. If it wasn't for my grandson asking to go see Mickey's ship, we would have been done with them last year. We told his parents not to even mention Mickey's ship to him, unless they are going to take him. We (DH, grandson, and I) could have taken one of the newer ships with another cruise lines for about half the price, plus the cruise was longer and offered just as much entertainment (with the exception of Disney movies and characters). I know of one cruise line that is now offering kids clubs to attract more families, so the parents can have some adult time. The other cruise line we have cruised with had just as good as food and more options of places to eat on the ship, great adult entertainment, etc… I realize DCL has no problem filling their ships, but this family is done paying DCL's high prices.

 

[MunFam]

I realize DCL has no problem filling their ships, but this family is done paying DCL's high prices.

I have not...and will not ever pay full price for a Disney Cruise. We use my husband's military rate, my travel agent rate...or sail on a *GT discount. That's it. I still feel the prices are too high...even with our discounts. I currently have a 25% off a future sailing coupon good on any cruise plus a 10% coupon and I can combine them with our discounted rates, and Im still not sure we will sail again.

 

[cgolf]

Not really a huge deal for us, even though we had used them after 10 on past cruises because nobody else was in them. Once in a while we would see one other person. I am guessing they are shutting them down because that area is a ghost town that time of night, at least during off peak cruises.

Too the cost, our last two cruises have been very reasonable, if anything we have gotten better deals. I think the high prices must be really hitting the peak season and holiday cruises, maybe not the rest.

 

[tinkerone]

i'm sort of surprised by all this. any time we have used the hot tub after dinner it has been empty, which is one of the reasons we enjoy the hot tub in the evening. having said that, we are normally out of it and back into dry clothes by 10 so not sure what happens after we leave.
i just wonder how many people actually did use the hot tub late at night. not that it matters, if even one person uses it and its there anyways, whats the point of closing it early.

 

[hubbard53]

wait, the main pools dont close at 6pm do they? I remember sitting there at night watching movies on the big screen. 6pm is REALLY early...

 

[DisneyDiva4ever]

I understand that evening swimming is not for everyone, but for those of us that really do use the pools / tub later in the day, it's a huge disappointment.

When I last spoke with guest services, they used excuses about the European itinerary we were on & that having to do with the pool hours changing. This is a great excuse, except the Disney Dream sitting in Port Canaveral has also adapted early pool closure hours. Really DCL?

The next excuse given to me buy guest services was that the staff needed more time for maitenance. In 15 years of strolling the decks late at night, I have never seen any maitenance being done on the pools after midnight. Just sayin.

One last reason I'm upset by this whole policy, is that my mom is a shy person who is only comfortable in her swimsuit, sans-crowds. I'm sad that she is losing her best chance to enjoy the pools / tubs when she is most comfortable.

I guess my only real power here is writing DCL and letting them know that they are upsetting my group of veteran DCL cruisers. I encourage anyone else to do the same if we have a prayer of getting this early-pool-closing policy turned back around!

Thanks in advance to anyone who wants to write to DCL and explain your perspective on this matter. It's worth a try!

Go to the disneycruise.com website. Click on the "contact us" link. Then fill in your info.

 

[kuhltiffany]

wait, the main pools dont close at 6pm do they? I remember sitting there at night watching movies on the big screen. 6pm is REALLY early...

We did a 7 night on the Magic in March, the family pool was closed from 6 to 8 pm every night . Totally disappointing for those on late seating! My kids are 9 and 10 and too big for the wading pool...

 

[PrincessShmoo]

So how do we write into DCL? Anyone have the email? I'm in.

You can just use the "Contact us" link on the DCL website. I've gotten a response from that within a couple of days.

 

[cgolf]

With seeing how little it has been used on our cruises, it kind of makes sense, a lot of times I feel bad for the bartender in the quiet cove area, knowing how much they work overall, it would be nice to let some of them get a bit of a break if very few are using the area. Maybe it is different during the summer cruises when it is warm out, and the area is busier than when we usually cruise. From experience growing up though cool evenings and nights are the best time to swim because the water feels super warm compared to the air.

Could the reactions be more based on needing a reason to justify us switching cruise lines, where someone can point to this and some other changes as a justification for the switch. I am not trying to stir the pot, but after reading the reactions to the NCL changes it is really similar to this. I have also noticed that the hot tubs are really open in the morning, so that option is always available.

 

[Weedy]

A suggestion to Disney.... Be able to book an evening swim or hottub??? I know I have rarely see any adults in the pool at night. So Disney doesn't see a need to keep it open. But for the few guest that want it maybe this could work??

 

[tlynk]

Maybe if enough people voice concerns to Disney they can compromise a little and keep the pools/hot tubs open an hour or two later? DH and I enjoy using the hot tub during the evening when it is less crowded and for the pool to close at 6 p.m. that is just too early! We are on vacation.

 

[DISNEY FANTASY]

DCL is taking pool and water safety seriously with lifeguards on long shifts, life vests, and high pool safety, hours have to be reduced for that, and the abuse that can occur at night, booze parties, ( yes adults on our cruise), and getting drunk. A lifeguard told my don, there was a near incident in the pool recently he had to jump in and undertake CPR, A child in the pool, no parents there.

It's a balance.

 

[MunFam]

I think Disney Fantasy hit the nail on the head. The pools and hot tubs are not used that much in the evenings...the few times we went at night, we were the only family there and we spent a lot of the time chatting with the life guard on duty. We even asked if we left, could he leave early...the answer was no, so we stayed and we got out about 5-10 minutes early and they started the shut down process. I think if they are scheduling staff for *maybe* one family a night for a few hours, that is excessive and wasteful and that staff member could be better utilized elsewhere. IF there was a demand, they would definitely supply.

 

[MinnesotaMouseketeers]

I am with other posters that are not bothered about it personally, DW and I rarely get in the pool or hot tub.

But for what it's worth I am on your side. It really is ridiculous that they would close it down that early. I would think the only time that it would need to be closed down is for cleaning. Certainly no earlier than midnight; maybe even two am.

So DCL executive CMs that are reading this, keep it open later!!!!!!

 

[mcd2745]

I am with other posters that are not bothered about it personally, DW and I rarely get in the pool or hot tub.

But for what it's worth I am on your side. It really is ridiculous that they would close it down that early. I would think the only time that it would need to be closed down is for cleaning. Certainly no earlier than midnight; maybe even two am.

So DCL executive CMs that are reading this, keep it open later!!!!!!

Completely agree. All pools/hot tubs - not just the adult ones - should essentially be open 24/7. Close one at a time for maintenance/cleaning, starting after midnight, only closing the next one after re-opening the just cleaned one.

 

[bumbershoot]

Last week, adults couldn't even get in the hot tubs for all the young kids in there since they closed the pools early too.

The only hot tub I've been able to get into on a cruise has been in the Solarium on Royal. None of the hot tubs in areas open to all have ever had a spot in them that I felt OK going in. And I don't want to be in a hot tub with a bunch of kids without their parents. (and while my son hottubs with us at my brother's place, he can read the age signs on the cruise ship hot tubs and won't set foot in them, so I'm not even wanting my kid in with me)

 

[princessnicchia]

The only hot tub I've been able to get into on a cruise has been in the Solarium on Royal. None of the hot tubs in areas open to all have ever had a spot in them that I felt OK going in. And I don't want to be in a hot tub with a bunch of kids without their parents. (and while my son hottubs with us at my brother's place, he can read the age signs on the cruise ship hot tubs and won't set foot in them, so I'm not even wanting my kid in with me)

Is there an age limit for the "non-adult" hot tubs on the cruises?

 

[Empress Room]

Yep, totally one of the reasons we are almost done with DCL. Our cruise in March on the Magic was a huge disappointment because of the pool and hot tub hours. We are from the West Coast, so 3 hours behind in time. We were looking forward to using the pool and hot tubs after dinner…closed! We're not bar people and they're wasn't much else to do. Even the family pool was closed from 6-8 when our kids could have used that, but with late seating it wasn't an option, only the wading pool was open.

We're doing Alaska because we can drive to port, but after that we are done

Seriously?

 

[mcd2745]

Seriously?

What was wrong with what she said, if she views this as one more nail in the coffin? It's a big "negative" in my mind as well. Why even have pools/hot tubs if they are only going to be open about 1/3 of the time?