Dream - pools are WAY too small

[BibbidyBobbidyBoo]

Oh.
I wish they'd done something more like the RCCL pictures shown above.
Seriously.
I'm not a big pool person- in fact in all our cruises I have yet to set foot in the adult pool and rarely spent time sitting around any other pools- only when I had do LOL (issues with skin and sun- long story)
HOWEVER... it would definitely put a crimp in some of my other family members plans if they can't just decide to go swimming anytime they want. DH and youngest dd at the pools was a common occurence and son does it often as well. That's definitely not gonna be cool if some of the times they decide to go swimming they can't because it's too crowded and/or over some limit enforced. They've NEVER had a problem swimming on our previous cruises, so if they do on the new ship... that's definitely a problem they added with a new ship and that's uncool. Things are supposed to be BETTER, not worse, with a new bigger ship recently built.
sigh

 

[smb6]

I have not cruised at all yet.... We are looking forward to our very first cruise on the Disney Wonder this summer. We are off to Alaska, so I'm thinking my kids should have plenty of room in the pools. But I have noticed how small the pools seem also; both on the Magic, Wonder, and now the Dream.... From most everything I have read during the last year about different cruise lines and looking at tons of pictures; the pools seem to be the only thing that look better on some of the other cruise lines.... Were super excited to be sailing with Disney and I think the pools will be fine for us.... But there really isn't much doubt that the pools will be crowded on typical summer sailings...... Hopefully it's not too bad...

 

[BethA]

One of the things RC does better is the pool and lounge chair area. I don't like the salt water in their pools but even when wewere on the enchanment-not a large ship-the pools were much bigger. I really dislike the adult pool set up with no seating there, but nothing to be done but make the best of it.
The Goofy pool was alwasy so crowded anddisgusting on sea days-guess this will be no better

 

[Luvstocruise]

Yes, the photos posted by a cruiser that had gone on the Dream Preview cruise showed the pools up close. What was interesting though, looking at the demographics of the people at the sailaway and other gatherings, there were very few kids in the pictures. It is possible, that on that cruise it was mostly adults that were more interested in the whole ship than swimming. TA's writers, marketing types. etc.

Also maybe Disney takes to heart too many comments such as on the DIS boards about how "all the kids are in clubs". From some comments I had read, you would think that some kids spend every waking moment in the kids clubs. Of course, I don't really believe that-maybe 4 year olds or something. But I would think kids from 4-12 would enjoy the pools.

Of course, if you live in Arizona or Florida or many parts of California, having a pool is like having a bathtub in your house-everyone seems to have one. Up here in Canada, outdoor pools are only practical for about 3-4 months of the year or so. So, I know kids up here would spend more time at the pool on a ship.

I thought too from pics of RCCL and Carnival ships that Disney's pools are way to small, especially for a ship the size of the Dream. Maybe it is function of using freshwater (a better idea as I was disappointed on our last cruise which was on NCL where the pool was empty in port -ugh). At least since we are going on the Magic in a few weeks, we know what we are dealing with. kids swim either early morning or just before supper. I shudder at the thought of what those pools on the Dream would be like.

FWIW
Luvstocruise

 

[Disney On A Dime!]

Just to let folks know...some of the newer RCI ships have fresh water pools. The Liberty of the Seas is one of them. I don't have time to research exactly which others...but know first hand about this ship...


Here's to still wishing that the photos aren't doing the size of the pools on the Dream justice!


Crystal

 

[OrcaPotter]

While I am one of those who are from Florida, and so does not really care about the pools seeing as I have access to them whenever I want, I am sure that once the routine cruises begin we'll have more accounts of how the pools are laid out and cope with crowds. Spazzing about them now when we only have a few preliminary reports and photos is a bit silly. Same with the hot tubs. While the actual construction of the pools and tubs most likely can't be changed until dry dock, I'm sure if there are any outstanding issues during the first few official cruises, DCL will modify things according to guest comments. I am surprised that given how other new ships put a great deal of design into their pool areas, the Dream's pools are a bit underwhelming. Regardless if teens and toddlers get their own pools. Frankly, it's the rest of the ship that's more exciting and stimulating -- I wouldn't want to spend too much time swimming around anyway!

I still stand by my observation that they seemed to have designed the Mickey and Donald pools with the deck parties in mind. That is, easily swept "under the floor" and maximize the square footage for dancing and moving about.

 

[smb6]

I know a lot of folks are saying that people from warmer climates would not use the pools a lot..... For our very first trip to WDW- I figures we would swim once or twice at best as we had our very own pool that the kids swam in every single day from April through September plus we had season passes to the local water park.... I thought they would want to focus on the parks more..... Nope, they were dying to get in the resort pools! I don't know why they were so excited to use them, but they were and I guarantee they will be the same way when we cruise even though they are use to swimming in bigger pools and going down bigger slides- they will be dying to get in those ship pools! I suspect I'm not the only one with kids like this....