Fences around deluxe resort pools. why did they do this?

[Ava]

I was surprised to see that the new fencing around the quite pool at the BWI has no locks or scan areas for bands. Just a simple latch so I didn't have any problems taking a quite early morning swim.

The quiet pools do not typically have lifeguards so this makes sense if the fences were installed just to meet new safety codes. There's also probably not much of an issue with pool hoppers at the quiet pools, so no need for the Magic Band scanners.

 

[Ensusieasm]

Last year there were no fences around the deluxe resorts pools that we visited, Animal Kingdom Jambo, and Beach Club. We vistited in early December and they now have fences enclosing the pool areas. Beach Club was always mostly enclosed due to the popularity of SAB. Animal Kingdom Jambo had no fence at all. The new fencing at Animal Kingdom Jambo House is ugly, in my opinion. It totally takes away from the beautiful, lush pool area. I assumed that there may have been an incident with a child and I asked a lifeguard why they put the fence up. She said it has nothing to do with any incident or accident but was because locals were going to the resorts and spending the day at the pools. The fencing was to deter this from happening. However, after more questioning, she told me that they would not be scanning Magic Bands to get into the pool area or doing any ID checking. I thought this was strange. How will putting up a fence deter anyone if nobody is checking who goes through the gates.? I suspect there is more to this. Perhaps it was too much of a liability to keep the pool areas open. Anyone have any thoughts or know why they did this?

They started putting up pool fences after a child drowned in a Disney Resort pool.

 

[Dave006]

Unfortunately there have been a couple of drownings in recent years: 1 in 2013, a 13 yr old boy at Pop Century and 1 in 2015 in AoA, a 3 year old boy.

However these were not the driving force to the recent new fences popping up around the Resorts. Pool barriers or fences are now required by Florida Building Code. The general requirements: A barrier of at least 48 inches high with any gate requiring a self closing door that opens out with a latch located on the pool side at a minimum of 54 inches from the ground or 3 inches below the top of the gate.

As a PP indicated above, new construction and certain upgrades of the facilities trigger the requirement to meet the new Code. For example, they even have a new limit of of the depth of a "river ride" aka lazy river feature of a maximum of 3 ft.

These types of changes to the Building Code have also mandated the changes to drains to help prevent yet another safety risk to swimmers.

Dave

 

[DisneyRobin]

It's to keep the alligators out of the pool areas. They started working on this after a boy was killed by an alligator last spring at the grand flo.

 

[cutigerlady]

Unfortunately there have been a couple of drownings in recent years: 1 in 2013, a 13 yr old boy at Pop Century and 1 in 2015 in AoA, a 3 year old boy.

However these were not the driving force to the recent new fences popping up around the Resorts. Pool barriers or fences are now required by Florida Building Code. The general requirements: A barrier of at least 48 inches high with any gate requiring a self closing door that opens out with a latch located on the pool side at a minimum of 54 inches from the ground or 3 inches below the top of the gate.

As a PP indicated above, new construction and certain upgrades of the facilities trigger the requirement to meet the new Code. For example, they even have a new limit of of the depth of a "river ride" aka lazy river feature of a maximum of 3 ft.

These types of changes to the Building Code have also mandated the changes to drains to help prevent yet another safety risk to swimmers.

Dave

When we were there last week at the BC, a lifeguard told us it was a new FL code requirement. We have a similar code in GA and my neighborhood pool had to move the entrance to our pool to comply with the new law.

 

[AngiTN]

It's to keep the alligators out of the pool areas. They started working on this after a boy was killed by an alligator last spring at the grand flo.

No, the fences going up around the pools was well before that. Started several years ago, just taking a while to get them all done. The fence around the lakes has been installed due to the alligator situation.

 

[AngiTN]

Unfortunately there have been a couple of drownings in recent years: 1 in 2013, a 13 yr old boy at Pop Century and 1 in 2015 in AoA, a 3 year old boy.

However these were not the driving force to the recent new fences popping up around the Resorts. Pool barriers or fences are now required by Florida Building Code. The general requirements: A barrier of at least 48 inches high with any gate requiring a self closing door that opens out with a latch located on the pool side at a minimum of 54 inches from the ground or 3 inches below the top of the gate.

As a PP indicated above, new construction and certain upgrades of the facilities trigger the requirement to meet the new Code. For example, they even have a new limit of of the depth of a "river ride" aka lazy river feature of a maximum of 3 ft.

These types of changes to the Building Code have also mandated the changes to drains to help prevent yet another safety risk to swimmers.

Dave

When we were there last week at the BC, a lifeguard told us it was a new FL code requirement. We have a similar code in GA and my neighborhood pool had to move the entrance to our pool to comply with the new law.

Codes is what what I have always thought too. I thought the drownings were the catalyst for the state changing their fence requirements
We have fence requirements here too. I was surprised that there has been anyplace that didn't requirement them. Seems common sense to me

 

[michelleiada]

We live in Massachusetts. It's been a law for a long time here that pools have fences with a locked gate. I thought Disney governed themselves in Florida. I'm all about keeping children safe even if the fencing is not very attractive.

 

[AngiTN]

We live in Massachusetts. It's been a law for a long time here that pools have fences with a locked gate. I thought Disney governed themselves in Florida. I'm all about keeping children safe even if the fencing is not very attractive.

I believe they did. Until such a time they did any modifications or rehab to an existing pool, then they had to add the fence. I guess they did all of those fence installs and once they got those done they moved on and added a fence even when the pool wasn't getting a rehab. I'm sure the liability got to be ridiculous when some had fences, some didn't.

 

[Lynne M]

It's to keep the alligators out of the pool areas. They started working on this after a boy was killed by an alligator last spring at the grand flo.

The fences started going up years ago. The alligators don't come into the pool areas, or roam the resort. They're in the lakes, ponds, and canals, and occasionally hang out at the edge of the water.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

I thought Disney governed themselves in Florida.

Disney don't "govern themselves" in Florida. While they have their own fire district and can enact local zoning laws, they are still subject to all state rules. Most zoning rules have a state minimum guideline; a local district can be more strict, but cannot violate the state guideline.

This is actually true of any municipality. Disney exist by those same rules.

It's no different from minimum wage. If Disney want to pay more than minimum, great. But they must pay the state minimum wage, pay into state UI and follow state work comp rules, etc.

 

[WEDWDW]

Disney don't "govern themselves" in Florida. While they have their own fire district and can enact local zoning laws, they are still subject to all state rules. Most zoning rules have a state minimum guideline; a local district can be more strict, but cannot violate the state guideline.

This is actually true of any municipality. Disney exist by those same rules.

It's no different from minimum wage. If Disney want to pay more than minimum, great. But they must pay the state minimum wage, pay into state UI and follow state work comp rules, etc.

Reedy Creek Inprovement District.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

Reedy Creek Inprovement District.

Yep.

But even within Reedy Creek, they are subject to state law. Anything they enact within their District must conform with state and federal regulation.

 

[GreatLakes]

Preventing access during non-lifeguarded hours is one of the reasons for sure.

I was under the impression all Disney pools, or at least quiet pools, were 24/7, it was juts swim at your own risk when there were no lifeguards. Did that change at some point? I remember doing plenty of 1:00am swims when I was on property.

 

[Quellman]

They all have magic band scanners that open the doors for entry, as far as I know.

Not yet. Was at Contemporary a few weeks back, no scanners on the gates. Grand Floridian doesn't have them yet either. Bay lake tower at the Contemporary DOES have them.

 

[WEDWDW]

Yep.

But even within Reedy Creek, they are subject to state law. Anything they enact within their District must conform with state and federal regulation.

Definitely.

And the lesser known "cities" of Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista also "control" some things RCID does not.

 

[Polydweller]

Somewhere I saw that it was a code requirement. Existing pools were grandfathered in until any refurb/modification was done and at that time a fence had to be added.

There are probably other reasons but you're right on here. Any new or refurbed pool must meet current Florida regulations and lose any grandfathering.

 

[WEDWDW]

Did that change at some point?

Yes,most Pools are now gated and they are locked as soon as the Lifeguards leave.

The days of 24/7 swimming are gone(although reports are some Guests are still able to access the Leisure Pools 24/7).

 

[Deb & Bill]

I was under the impression all Disney pools, or at least quiet pools, were 24/7, it was juts swim at your own risk when there were no lifeguards. Did that change at some point? I remember doing plenty of 1:00am swims when I was on property.

Nope, they all had posted hours on the signs at the pool. Usually until around 11 or 12 at night.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Yep.

But even within Reedy Creek, they are subject to state law. Anything they enact within their District must conform with state and federal regulation.

Disney gets what Disney wants in Florida. If they really, really wanted to not have the pool fences, they wouldn't have the pool fences. For 45 years, they have had an army of lobbyists focused on Tallahassee and state legislation, and they make multi-million dollar political donations to local candidates.

For example, Disney opposition is why resort-style gambling is never able to get off the ground in Florida. Not to mention neutering the infamous 1989 "Carnival Ride" safety insepction law with a provision that specifically exempted WDW. (CA can fine and close rides at DLR if it wants to do so over safety--and this happened in 2013/2014. FL can't do the same thing at WDW because Disney essentially said no, it wouldn't be subject to that level of state interference.)