Disappointed - POFQ Pool Closure

[sapper1]

I guess the closure of the pool at POFQ means that the pools at POR will be extra crowded in early March.

Temperatures in the low seventies are perfect for this snowbird!!!

 

[CanadianGuy]

I'll warn everybody on the board now..

I've booked Pop Century for June 3rd to 10th.

So watch for the refurb notice on the pool to come out shortly for something including those dates!

Knox

 

[mardi]

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.

We tried to change resorts, but there are absolutely no rooms available at any of the value, moderate or deluxe...couldn't believe it. The reservations agent said to keep trying the disney website. So, I guess we'll see - we arrive on February 5th.

 

[abner1776]

If they offer you a nice room at Boardwalk, don't jump at it too quickly...the room is probably available because someone cancelled after receiving a notice that the Luna pool will be closed for refurb during Jan -Feb.

I will admit that the notices went out to ressie holders in early Nov, but that still only gives someone 2-3 months lead time...much too late for shifting ressies.

WDW needs to notify the reservation agents no less than 6 months prior to a scheduled pool closures.

 

[simonkodousek]

I don't mean to complicate matters, but in my experience, e-mails won't do any good with Disney. I would call and demand to talk to a manager. Make sure to tell them how disappointed you are, and how much you saved only to have the pool close without notice.

 

[maxiesmom]

I don't mean to complicate matters, but in my experience, e-mails won't do any good with Disney. I would call and demand to talk to a manager. Make sure to tell them how disappointed you are, and how much you saved only to have the pool close without notice.

Can I ask what good this would do? Disney will probably just tell you that you are within walking distance to the POR pools. So in their eyes, no problem.

 

[PhenoSteve]

mardi - That does indeed suck when an ammenity you were looking forward to is planned to be closed. Not that it'll help you any, but we stayed at POFQ last week and I found the pool to be quite mediocre. You might actually be better off at the Riverside pools.

Also, about changing rooms...try outside agencies and see what they say. We went to the Office Convention recently (for work purposes as I'm an editor, but for fun too) and were told by all the hotels that they were full. A quick call to our travel agent revealed that there were about 10-15 rooms at each hotel wide open. If that's an option, and you really do want to switch resorts you should still have time to do so.

 

[penpalkelly]

It's not as issue of planning around swimming. If I was planning around swimming I would go to the Carribean!


FYI - the CBR pool is closed as well. We booked 3 weeks ago and we not told that the CBR pool was closed for refurb as well. So, after that being the 3rd peeve off, we complained and got a reservation at PoR. However, wish we had been told that we would be sharing the pool with PoFQ, guess it will be busier than usual. We chose Feb for that fact it would be slower

Our first peeve off was that we wanted PoR from the start but disney would not confirm our room even though they had space. So we were forced to go a week later to CBR (which we did not want) and this week later turns out to be a long weekend in the USA and will make it busier than we wanted.

Anyway, we are back to the PoR as we first wanted, sharing a pool with FQ, and it is a long weekend which we tried to avoid.

DH said there is no reason that we should not have been notified of the pool being closed at CBR seeing as how it pops right up on the screen of the person making the reservation.

Hope the rest of the trip goes better. I am REALLY not looking forward to the transportation on the busses now that I hear all the nightmares at PoR.

See you all in Disney Feb 14th! 2008

 

[labattblue]

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.

February temps may be too cold for locals to want to go swimming, but with average highs in the low to mid 70's and heated pools, it is plenty warm for the snowbirds to go swimming.

 

[SplashMom]

Well, I called today and was able to move our reservation from POFQ to POR. It took a little while and the CM I was speaking with had to have someone from Guest Services assist her. Apparently, since we booked with the package code and the deadline for that code has passed, it was showing no availability. Once someone assisted, we were able to move. I was disappointed but POR does look beautiful and we will have a car which will avoid any bus issues. I'll have to read the POR thread and get excited!

 

[Cindy B]

I don't mean to complicate matters, but in my experience, e-mails won't do any good with Disney. I would call and demand to talk to a manager. Make sure to tell them how disappointed you are, and how much you saved only to have the pool close without notice.

Not true. We recently emailed Disney about our dissatisfaction with a horrific stay at Port Orleans Riverside and they listened to our comments and offered solutions.

Our letter had verifiable details and no emotion.

 

[notfrostyjosh]

Ok, does anyone know the exact dates it will be closed? We'll be there Jan 24-30.

 

[mardi]

Well, I called today and was able to move our reservation from POFQ to POR. It took a little while and the CM I was speaking with had to have someone from Guest Services assist her. Apparently, since we booked with the package code and the deadline for that code has passed, it was showing no availability. Once someone assisted, we were able to move. I was disappointed but POR does look beautiful and we will have a car which will avoid any bus issues. I'll have to read the POR thread and get excited!

It took 3 phone calls to change to the POR....I hope it was the right thing to do. First no rooms, next CM flat out said we would lose our code if we changed resorts and finally the third changed our reservation - with the code in tact. You are absolutely right, the POR does look beautiful... it was our second choice, so we can start to get back into the Disney mode.

Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas!!!

 

[DisneyBride2000]

We were just at POFQ Dec 9-14. We are from NJ and the weather was around a high of 80 during the day, but that pool is not what we consider to be heated. If the sun was blazing it was bearable, once the clouds came over it was cold. Alot of people were asking the lifeguards if this is considered heated and they said yes. In February unless you are lucky enough to have 80-90 degree weather you wouldn't catch me in there. I did notice it was a little warmer in the section without the slide, I think because they are constantly filtering in new water from the slide. However they have a nice hot tub.

It is just a short boat ride to Riverside if you want to use their pool.

 

[SplashMom]

I'm glad you were able to change Mardi! Now we can get "pumped" about POR! Merry Christmas to you as well!

 

[Evil Princess]

It took 3 phone calls to change to the POR....I hope it was the right thing to do. First no rooms, next CM flat out said we would lose our code if we changed resorts and finally the third changed our reservation - with the code in tact. You are absolutely right, the POR does look beautiful... it was our second choice, so we can start to get back into the Disney mode.

Wishing you a Very Merry Christmas!!!

If it makes you feel any better, I find POR to be much more of a relaxing, beautiful resort than POFQ. It is bigger, but the landscaping is gorgeous, and it really feels like a RESORT. IMHO the pool is better too, and yes it has a slide!

Plus there are many quiet pools if you don't need the slide that are often less crowded and have more adults hanging out.

 

[jmpellet]

I was at POFQ in August and visited the pool at POR and I like the pool at POFQ much better. The slide area at POR is partly in the shade so it will be cooler even in the sun. Also, it takes at least 10-15 minutes to walk between the two -- harder with kids in toe. We got stuck in a rainstorm (no boats running) at POR and the shuttle was no where to be found. For those planning to stay at POFQ I would make sure they are guaranteeing a "scheduled" shuttle. Personally, I would call and ask nicely to be upgraded to one of the DVC resorts like Saratoga Springs or Old Key West. They always have availability over there.

 

[notfrostyjosh]

Ok, does anyone know the exact dates it will be closed? We'll be there Jan 24-30.

anyone?

 

[CanadianGuy]

anyone?

Here's all the info that out there currently..

Disney Port Orleans French Quarter
- Doubloon Lagoon Pool - 1/28 - Mid-March
- Guests can use Riverside's "Ol' Man Island" Pool. Shuttle service will be provided

 

[Buzz2001]

thanks for sharing the dates.