Can you swim in January?

[summersalt]

I've been told that the pools at the resorts are heated, but are they really warm enough to swim in January? I have a trip planned for Jan 19 - 26 at Pop but I'm considering switching to POR for the pools and slides. Any advice would be greatly appreciated?

 

[EPCOTDUDE]

The water is always warm, but sometimes the air gets chilly, especially when the sun is in. Seems like the northern folks from MN, WI and Canada will swim anytime, but I perfer to use the pool when the sun is out so I do not freeze when gettin out.

 

[CoolPool]

We were at the AKL last January on exactly those days. Of the seven days, 3 or 4 were over 80 degrees and were swimmable to us Southern Californians. We also used rashguards for the kids. The water was kept warm and in the evenings you could see steam rising off the surface. On any day, the hot tubs would have been fine, of course.

 

[Wooden Eye]

Salt, it's difficult to predict the weather for January in Florida. Dude is right - the pool water is always warm. However, in January, it's anyone's guess what the air temp will be. It's not uncommon for it to be 75-80 degrees in January. However, if a 'cold front' blows through, it could drop to 50 or so. The thing is, if it does drop to 50 or so, it'll probably warm up in a day or two. POR is a beautiful resort - you can't go wrong even if you don't get to swim.

 

[ADisneygirl]

The pool water is warm enough but the air to me isn't! If my hair gets wet my head freezes while I'm in the water in January. And forget about getting out of the water.

Only hardy souls are in the pools when the temps are in the 50's.

 

[BamaFan121s]

I know that the heated pools are really warm and even have steam coming off of them, so you'd be warm swimming. But, you gotta get out sometime....and it's going to be mighty chilly when you do....

 

[Kitka]

We were there 12/26/04 - 1/1/05 and there was onlhy one day we could justify swimming. That is, the kids could - I never did! We wore sweatshirts most every morning and evening and jeans most days.

 

[believen]

I have a picture from last January, I was just getting our view from the room.It shows everyone in jackets, hats and gloves, and a random girl in a bikini! I didn't even notice until I got the pictures developed.

 

[Mrs. Bee]

We are also planning a trip at the same time...to POR. We plan on swimming...especially since the parks close so early. We'll be enjoying the pools at night. Even if it's 50...that's going to see a lot warmer than the weather we'll be coming from in Iowa. Besides...you only have to be cold for a few minutes on the walk back to your room. Then you can jump in a warm shower and that is a fabulous feeling.

 

[Machta]

I know this is off-topic a bit, but it seems to me that if you really want to swim and the water's warm enough, you can swim anywhere. My kids and I are water doggies, and last winter we swam extensively on a trip to Keystone even though the outside air temperature was below zero. Ya just gotta be FAST getting to the dressing room!

 

[IWISHFORDISNEY]

I would base the switch on resort preference not the pool use. The weather is crazy in January. We were there a few years back and one day it was 85 and 3 days later 58 and freezing at night. You just never know.

 

[Hopefully]

If you know how to swim in July you should still know how to swim in January
Sorry, I couldn't resist.
We have swum in January, but as the others have said, it is hard to predict.
I personally would not plan on it, but if a warm day came along, I would be ready and pleased.

 

[tmkdmom]

Hi,
We have never been to Disney in January(acually it's our first trip), but I know my kids will swim at some point. Their friend was there at the same time last year and talked about the pool as one of her best things at Disney...that's one of the reasons why we chose POR(oh, and we're a family of 5).... On that note, I am sure wherever your stay, your pool will be heated and the kids will love it!!!!

Are you as excited as WE are???!!!

 

[silvergoldberry]

So are all the pools heated? Even the values? I'm staying at Pop end of January and I know my daughter wants to swim....heck she wants to do the water park too. (We got the water park ticket upgrade, but I'm not sure that's gonna happen)

We used to live in FL and at that time I wouldn't swim in the winter, but when friends would visit from up North....well it's all relative. 60 degrees to us was cold, to them it was certainly warm enough to swim.

Barb

 

[Shorty82]

So are all the pools heated? Even the values? I'm staying at Pop end of January and I know my daughter wants to swim....heck she wants to do the water park too. (We got the water park ticket upgrade, but I'm not sure that's gonna happen)

EVERY pool at WDW, the one's in the resorts and the one's at the water parks, are heated

 

[robinb]

I've been told that the pools at the resorts are heated, but are they really warm enough to swim in January? I have a trip planned for Jan 19 - 26 at Pop but I'm considering switching to POR for the pools and slides. Any advice would be greatly appreciated?

Welcome to the DIS!!!!
​

It depends on where you live. If you are a northerner like me then you swim in January. If you are a southerner, you think the northerners are nuts . The pools are heated and comfortable as long as you are in the water. It can be a very chilly walk to the pool and chillier back to the room. Getting out of the pool to slide can also be chilly. My 8-year old doesn't care, though.

 

[D&R love Disney]

You never know what the weather will be. This past January DH and I were there for 2 nights before our cruise and it was nice during the day but pretty chilly at night. A few years ago I was with a group of my girlfriends and it was very warm. We swam at night and the air was very comfortable to sit out after being in the water!

 

[silvergoldberry]

EVERY pool at WDW, the one's in the resorts and the one's at the water parks, are heated

Cool! I mean *warm*

Thanks for answering my question!

Barb

 

[branv]

When we stayed at POP in early Jan. 2006, we tried to swim one night in the 50's pool. I had read they were heated, and could see steam coming off the water. But man oh man, I got in as far as my hips when I started shaking uncontrollably. It wasn't the air b/c I wasn't cold walking to the pool in my bathing suit and a pair of shorts. It was just the water temp! Now maybe it's just that pool, maybe it wasn't heated as much as normal, etc. But if that's the "normal" temp, no way would I go swimming in January again.

 

[MarkLem]

We were there in early Jan a few years back. Spent 4 days at the parks, all days got up into the 80's during the afternoon. Needless to say swimming was great. Then went on a 7-day Disney Cruise right after, and when we got back, daytime temps were in the mid-50's with 20 mph winds!

You take your chances with the weather...