Dolphin Grotto pool closed...can we use another pool?

[patty57]

So they fixed the issue? So why the closing in 2013?

Most likely for scheduled maintenance or some kind of refurb. All hotels on WDW property close their pools occasionally for this.

 

[gwynne]

Disney won't simply let Swan/Dolphin guests use the Yacht/Beach pools, but there could be a reciprocal arrangement when they could each send their guests to each other's pools during pool refurbishments.

Has this happened in the past? Disney to Starwood franchise? or vice versa?

The only reciprocal arrangements with the Disney Epcot resorts that I can remember have between Disney owned and operated properties.

(I'm not asking about sending a guest or two, to SAB or Grotto, I'm wondering about large scale, gifting of pool access)

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Disney won't simply let Swan/Dolphin guests use the Yacht/Beach pools, but there could be a reciprocal arrangement when they could each send their guests to each other's pools during pool refurbishments.

I've been thinking this as well. I'm sure there have been times guests at Y/BC have enjoyed the grotto pool when there were problems with SAB.

As a matter of fact, I recall SAB being closed on one of our stays at the Dolphin and for all I know, their guests were among us in the ghetto, er, I mean grotto pool.

(Possibly with a limit to how many guests are involved on any given day.)

Yes. I cringed when this information was being broadcast on the original thread, knowing it was going to cause a public relations nightmare and resort wars that will probably live in infamy, unfortunately.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

I've been thinking this as well. I'm sure there have been times guests at Y/BC have enjoyed the grotto pool when there were problems with SAB.

As a matter of fact, I recall SAB being closed on one of our stays at the Dolphin and for all I know, their guests were among us in the ghetto, er, I mean grotto pool.


Yes. I cringed when this information was being broadcast on the original thread, knowing it was going to cause a public relations nightmare and resort wars that will probably live in infamy, unfortunately.

If I recall correctly when they were refurbishing SAB guests were permitted to swim at the Boardwalk - not S/D. When BWI pool was refurbished guests were permitted to swim at SAB. The reason behind this is that they are both DISNEY owned properties.

 

[Mousemommy1]

If I recall correctly when they were refurbishing SAB guests were permitted to swim at the Boardwalk - not S/D. When BWI pool was refurbished guests were permitted to swim at SAB. The reason behind this is that they are both DISNEY owned properties.

This is how it works, SAB goes to BWI and vice versa. Not S/D. S/D is NOT a Disney property. No matter how you boil it down, Disney has no obligations when it comes to S/D, as they do not own it and they do not run it. They have no obligations to S/D anymore than they have obligations to the Holiday Inn in Kissimmee.

The S/D has more than one pool, and they have said the other pools will be available. If that is not feasible, than a switch can be made.

Believe me, if I find out that the Poly pool is closed in April but we can use the GF pool, I may just switch to another resort, because maybe I don't want to go in the GF pool. The point is, there are options. I would rather switch to a resort that would make me happy, rather than stick with it and going in with an attitude that someone owes me something. That does not make for a very happy vacation.

 

[madge]

While Disney may not have an obligation to the S/D, the possibility does exist that there is the possibility that there could be a business agreement reached between the two. Disney worked out an arrangement with the Department of Defense when Shades of Green was under renovation 9 or 10 years ago. They leased the North Wing of the Contemporary Resort. (man I miss those days. CR for $99. )

This is ALL speculation, anyway ... and the title of this thread is misleading.

As far as I know, the grotto pool is currently open with no official refurbishment dates released. It's amazing how quickly things spread around here

 

[Pea-n-Me]

While Disney may not have an obligation to the S/D, the possibility does exist that there is the possibility that there could be a business agreement reached between the two. Disney worked out an arrangement with the Department of Defense when Shades of Green was under renovation 9 or 10 years ago. They leased the North Wing of the Contemporary Resort. (man I miss those days. CR for $99. )

This is ALL speculation, anyway ... and the title of this thread is misleading.

As far as I know, the grotto pool is currently open with no official refurbishment dates released. It's amazing how quickly things spread around here

Absolutely.

It doesn't matter if they are DISNEY owned properties or not. As EPCOT RESORTS, they are neighbor resorts and probably more "sharing" goes on than we realize.

This is how it works, SAB goes to BWI and vice versa. Not S/D. S/D is NOT a Disney property. No matter how you boil it down, Disney has no obligations when it comes to S/D, as they do not own it and they do not run it. They have no obligations to S/D anymore than they have obligations to the Holiday Inn in Kissimmee.

Obviously, I disagree. They are no doubt less segregated than you think.

 

[gwynne]

While Disney may not have an obligation to the S/D, the possibility does exist that there is the possibility that there could be a business agreement reached between the two. Disney worked out an arrangement with the Department of Defense when Shades of Green was under renovation 9 or 10 years ago. They leased the North Wing of the Contemporary Resort. (man I miss those days. CR for $99. )

This is ALL speculation, anyway ... and the title of this thread is misleading.

As far as I know, the grotto pool is currently open with no official refurbishment dates released. It's amazing how quickly things spread around here

Speculation, exactly. When any of the Disney Epcot pools are under reno, the only hopping or sharing I've hear Disney utilize is between their pools at BWI and BC/YC.

Has anyone taken recent pictures of the Grotto? Sharing photo updates might be the most helpful thing to reassure folks that are concerned about the pool.

 

[Mousemommy1]

Absolutely.

It doesn't matter if they are DISNEY owned properties or not. As EPCOT RESORTS, they are neighbor resorts and probably more "sharing" goes on than we realize.


Obviously, I disagree. They are no doubt less segregated than you think.

I guess the point of my post is about managing expectations. There are posters who automatically think that they should be moved to one of the Disney resort pools, and being one that is quite frankly tired of the "entitlement" attitude that is so ever present...I think that options should be explored. If there is a business agreement in place, great! But, knowing that you did not book a Disney resort, and then expecting Disney to somehow make it right for you is not the correct attitude, IMHO. I'm not trying to start a fight, I just would never, ever think that way.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I guess the point of my post is about managing expectations. There are posters who automatically think that they should be moved to one of the Disney resort pools, and being one that is quite frankly tired of the "entitlement" attitude that is so ever present...I think that options should be explored. If there is a business agreement in place, great! But, knowing that you did not book a Disney resort, and then expecting Disney to somehow make it right for you is not the correct attitude, IMHO. I'm not trying to start a fight, I just would never, ever think that way.

But then there is the opposite attitude of automatic anger if someone gets something they feel they shouldn't have. I mean, really. It's vacation. Can't we all just get along?

 

[Mousemommy1]

But then there is the opposite attitude of automatic anger if someone gets something they feel they shouldn't have. I mean, really. It's vacation. Can't we all just get along?

Yes, lets. I know that not every person is going to be happy at all times. I will just continue to solve my own problems instead of expecting someone to do it for me. Because my vacation is my vacation, and I take ownership in making it great.

 

[disneyba]

If Disney had such a problem with a hotel pool, the pool would be shut down, period. Yes, you would be without a pool for awhile, but your family and you would not be getting potential illnesses from swimming in a pool that the hotel management knew was unsafe but left open anyway.

We've stayed at lots of hotels in Orlando, on and off property, over the years but have never encountered anything like this.

I would be reluctant to stay at either the Swan or Dolphin due to the manner in which the grotto pool problem was handled by management. Makes me wonder what else they would let slide.

An experience about pool sharing...We've stayed at POR when the POFQ pool was closed for maintenance. Have to say it was an inconvenience. The main pool at POR was slammed every day. If it were not for the quiet pools, there would have been no place for the kids to swim because the main pool was too crowded. The POFQ guests needed some place to swim, so one can understand why this was done. It just isn't that great for the guests of the resort on the receiving end. We all got along okay, I guess. But I can see why the guests at YC/BC would not be happy with an influx of poeple at SAB for several days or weeks.

Not saying the Swolphin guests should be left without any alternatives, but giving them SAB privileges? Not sure about that. And the management at the Starwood hotels, or whoever in the chain of command failed to act in a timely manner, needs a serious tune-up.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Not saying the Swolphin guests should be left without any alternatives, but giving them SAB privileges?

Isn't it obvious, though, that if the S/D *had* wristbands to give out to SAB (which we know they did), they do have some type of reciprocal agreement among them? If so, then Disney is as much a party to it as anyone. They must have their reasons.

 

[Alabama Minnie]

IMO Swan/Dolphin guests should at least receive some $$ reimbursement for this inconvenience since this pool seems to be a "big draw", especially over their other pools. If it is not safe to swim, it's not the patrons fault IMO.

This kinda reminds me of a thread I read about people being upset with non-hotel guests viewing the fireworks from the Poly beach.

Also, sorry but IMO all caps and bold lettering kinda provokes angry responses.

 

[gwynne]

Isn't it obvious, though, that if the S/D *had* wristbands to give out to SAB (which we know they did), they do have some type of reciprocal agreement among them? If so, then Disney is as much a party to it as anyone. They must have their reasons.

S/D may have access to (a few? some?) wristbands, we're pretty sure of that. Why? Maybe for VIP's, S/D does a ton of convention business.
I do think that if S/D were giving wristbands out like free candy bars, we'd hear about it on the DIS. I don't think that is the case. Whether they will continue to be able to get some bands in the future, after all this, who knows?

I think whatever reciprocity there is, it might not be what folks would typically think of as a reciprocal agreement. I have yet to read of a YC/BC guest being sent anyplace but BWI when SAB was down.

 

[madge]

I guess the point of my post is about managing expectations. There are posters who automatically think that they should be moved to one of the Disney resort pools, and being one that is quite frankly tired of the "entitlement" attitude that is so ever present...I think that options should be explored. If there is a business agreement in place, great! But, knowing that you did not book a Disney resort, and then expecting Disney to somehow make it right for you is not the correct attitude, IMHO. I'm not trying to start a fight, I just would never, ever think that way.

the OP who pointed out the current problems with the grotto pool got wristbands for SAB. That's the connection between S/D guests and the Disney resort pools. Again, that's somehow turned into the grotto pool is closed and the S/D guests are crashing Stormalong Bay.

There have been no reports (that I have seen) of other guests being given the same privilege or, for that matter, if the grotto pool is in better shape this week. I hope it is. We have a room booked later this month, with the intent of lounging by the grotto pool during the day & hanging out at the Boardwalk in the evening. If the pool is still unsafe, then we'll cancel and switch to another resort. Easy peasy.

 

[magsmum]

I disagree. After some initial confusion, augmented in part by some conflicting/speculative posts on these and other threads, the S/D has made it clear on Facebook, Twitter and to those of us who have called the property for clarification, that the original pool refurbishments scheduled for October are now in 2013.

And from what I can tell, the short term issue caused by the malfuntioning filters, appears to have been addressed through immediate remedial actions.

Cheers,

Those of us booked for 2013 don't know whether or not our dates are affected. I am holding a reservation for Feb. 2013 and I am eagerly awaiting news as to the 2013 dates.

 

[Hyperspace Hoopla]

We're staying at the Dolphin in Late November. Although obviously not staying on points, we are DVC members.

If the Grotto pool is nasty or closed, we can use the Boardwalk Pool, but not BC/YC, correct?

 

[Deb & Bill]

We're staying at the Dolphin in Late November. Although obviously not staying on points, we are DVC members.

If the Grotto pool is nasty or closed, we can use the Boardwalk Pool, but not BC/YC, correct?

No, you cannot use the Disney owned pools. If you are not staying on a points reservation, you cannot pool hop to any pool. You can only use the pool you pay to use. Thus, the Swan and Dolphin leisure pools.

Pool hopping is not just a perk of DVC membership. You must be staying on points at a DVC resort to pool hop. You won't have a room ID from a DVC resort.

 

[kaysmommie]

What excitement will there be for kids to swim in a lap pool or a kiddie pool. I am hoping that the dolphin/swan does something for the guests who will not be having their main pool open during their stay.

What else can they do? Refurbishments occur; I would roll with it.

Both the Swan and the Dolphin have unthemed pools as well as the joint Grotto pool. So you'll still have a pool to swim in.

But they aren't Disney operated, so you can't use Disney operated pools.

At least they have 3 other pools. If a themed pool is a must, can you just switch to a Disney owned resort?