Disappointed - POFQ Pool Closure

[mardi]

We have planned this vacation for a very long time and saved like crazy....did all the research and decided to stay at the POFQ. Liked the size of the resort, the boat to downtown Disney, the pool, etc. I booked back in October and the disney reservation agent didn't tell me the pool was going to be closed for the month of February - I just found out reading the forums today.

I just called to change resorts and of course nothing is available in any of the moderates, value or even the deluxe resorts. I am angry...shouldn't Disney tell their guests of such things as pool closures? What about everybody else vacationing during February?

I am still excited about our very first trip to disneyworld!! Just a little miffed at all my planning turning somewhat sour.

 

[caroline1851]

Wow, that sucks. They should've told you. I doubt it, but i wonder if you call and complain and ask to be upgraded to a deluxe, they might help you. I guess you don't know unless you try. Maybe it will be too cold Feb to spend a lot of time in the pool anyway? Either way, i'm sure you'll still have a fantastic trip

 

[alldiz]

WELCOME TO THE DIS

Thats a real bummer....

I would keep trying for a cancellation.....I bet you get it.
Kerri

 

[Allison]

I doubt the booking CM back in October knew about the closing. Wasn't this announced recently?

I do feel bad for you. That wouldn't be fun if you planned to do make use of the pool.

If it helps at all, you can use the POR pool.

Good luck.

 

[SuzieN]

I'm right there with you! I booked in July though. I believe they will be providing shuttles back and forth to thr POR pool. It's not a far walk either.

 

[diseverestfan]

This has happened to us 3 times now. Twice we have gone and the main pool was closed. This past trip, the food court at POR was closed for our entire trip. This has become a joke with our kids. They can't wait to see where Mom and Dad are gonna pick to go next so Disney can plan their next big resort rehab!
I just want to point out that I called POR directly 1 week before our last trip ( the food court was closing the day before we checked in ), and the girl from the "front desk" knew NOTHING about the food court closing. I told her it had been announced about a month and a half before that, and she was clueless(?).
Anyway, I feel bad for you, I really do. But I honestly believe the person you made ressies with truly new nothing about the pool.
Have a great trip anyhow!

 

[Lilolvr]

You can always use the pool at POR since they are sister resorts.

 

[disnut8]

Your reservationist probably did not know about the pool closure when you boked your trip. It is a shame that the pool is closed but you can use the one at Riverside. All the pools at Riverside. Think of it this way - if the French Quarter pool hadn't been closed, would you ever tried the pool at Riverside? The pool closure is salt. Make margaritas.

 

[Amyshubby]

We're angry as well. Going down the Jan 26-Feb 3rd. You can use the POR pool, but I don't think it has a slide. Also, if the temp is 70 degrees and the pool is heated, it's one thing if your room is 3 minutes away from the pool, but if it's 15 minutes the kids are going to get pretty cold.

Your travel agent didn't know, because it was just annoounced. My AAA agent was furious when she found out. The Carrebean Beach resort pool is also closed but that was announced with enough time so people knew when they were booking their trip. The short notice on this is lousy and you have to wonder if Disney purposely held the info so people would still book.

 

[gardenia]

Pool rehabs are frequently done in January and February, because it's usually too cold to swim anyway. There's only a 50/50 chance of the weather cooperating. If you want to plan a vacation around swimming, try June/July/August.

 

[mardi]

How far is it from POFQ to the PORiverside? We chose the FQ because of all the reviews about not too far from pool, food court, etc. no matter where you stayed at the resort.

I have sent an email to Disney, just to let them know how disappointed I am...

Thanks all for your comments!

 

[Allison]

We're angry as well. Going down the Jan 26-Feb 3rd. You can use the POR pool, but I don't think it has a slide. Also, if the temp is 70 degrees and the pool is heated, it's one thing if your room is 3 minutes away from the pool, but if it's 15 minutes the kids are going to get pretty cold.

Your travel agent didn't know, because it was just annoounced. My AAA agent was furious when she found out. The Carrebean Beach resort pool is also closed but that was announced with enough time so people knew when they were booking their trip. The short notice on this is lousy and you have to wonder if Disney purposely held the info so people would still book.

If it helps, POR does have a slide.

I seriously doubt Disney withheld the information. Unfortunately, this is always going to happen to someone because you can book so far in advance.

Sorry this is a pain for you. I understand completely.

 

[Amyshubby]

Pool rehabs are frequently done in January and February, because it's usually too cold to swim anyway. There's only a 50/50 chance of the weather cooperating. If you want to plan a vacation around swimming, try June/July/August.

It's not as issue of planning around swimming. If I was planning around swimming I would go to the Carribean! That doesn't mean I don't want the option of going swimming. I'm just disappointed that when my youngest is taking a nap, we can't use the pool (with the slide) at our actual resort. AND I'm annoyed that the closure was not announced until 5 or 6 weeks out, making it seem very likely that the info was held so people would be more likely to book at the resort not knowing the pool will be closed.

Hey- I didn't book this vacation around Spaceship Earth but I'm still disappointed it's going to be closed!

 

[Amyshubby]

If it helps, POR does have a slide.

I seriously doubt Disney withheld the information. Unfortunately, this is always going to happen to someone because you can book so far in advance.

Sorry this is a pain for you. I understand completely.

I want to make sure my feelings on this are clear. I said I was disappointed and annoyed. HOWEVER, if this was not regularly scheduled maintenence, i.e.-if they were planning on doing it at a later date but for some reason they couldn't and it HAD to be done now, then I totally understand. So I guess in that situation I would just be disappointed but not as annoyed.

Hey- I understand these things happen. If they couldn't control the date then they couldn't control the date. Only they know for sure. However, my understanding is that this isn't the first time they decided to add a renovation at the last minute.

BTW- I didn't realize there was a slide at POR. That actually makes things a little better. Thanks for the info!

 

[sapper1]

How far is it from POFQ to the PORiverside? We chose the FQ because of all the reviews about not too far from pool, food court, etc. no matter where you stayed at the resort.

I have sent an email to Disney, just to let them know how disappointed I am...

Thanks all for your comments!

It is just a comfortable stroll.----or about three minutes by boat.

 

[SuzieN]

I just wanted to say something to the person who posted about planning a trip in warmer months for swimming. We are from Western New York and even if it is only 60 degrees my kids will think that is plenty warm enough for swimming! We will most likely be leaving temps that are in the single digits or teens so they'll think we're walking right into summer!

 

[maxiesmom]

Imho, the pool at POR is much nicer! And the gift shop is huge compared to the one at POFQ. So be sure to check it out too.

 

[Sammie]

Completely understand the disappointment, but do not understand how they can do repairs to pools and such and not disappoint someone.

As to telling someone, at what point do you tell.

They don't tell because truly at times they are not sure of the starting dates and think of the mass confusion if they did tell and then the project is delayed or even cancelled.

 

[SplashMom]

I totally understand. We booked POFQ several months ago for our anniversary trip and now no pool. We will be there in March but it isn't scheduled to reopen until mid-March, just as we are leaving. I realize the other pool isn't too far but my DH likes to have a quick swim before bed or early morning and we choose this resort because it was smaller and we would be closer to everything. Our second choice was Caribbean Beach and the pool there is closed as well. There are smaller pools but they will likely be much busier since the main pool is closed.

I know it can't be planned but it is still disappointing. I am going to try changing resorts as soon as I decide where I would like to stay! Hopefully, there will be some availability.

 

[Buzz2001]

We have planned this vacation for a very long time and saved like crazy....did all the research and decided to stay at the POFQ. Liked the size of the resort, the boat to downtown Disney, the pool, etc. I booked back in October and the disney reservation agent didn't tell me the pool was going to be closed for the month of February - I just found out reading the forums today.

I just called to change resorts and of course nothing is available in any of the moderates, value or even the deluxe resorts. I am angry...shouldn't Disney tell their guests of such things as pool closures? What about everybody else vacationing during February?

I am still excited about our very first trip to disneyworld!! Just a little miffed at all my planning turning somewhat sour.

I'd be upset too. You never can plan for closures though.