Grotto pool Closure (Dolphin)

[kandb]

I just off the phone with a manager at the dolphin. We are staying from 9/15 thru 9/22, and I was concerned about the pool being closed. He said the pool is slated to be closed from 9/24 thru 11/10, for renovations. We will miss the closure and he reassured me the pool is working and is fine right now.

 

[madge]

thanks for the update!

 

[Wolpenski]

Wow, we are staying there in October. I cannot change reservation, I would have paid more for a Disney hotel in boardwalk area if I would have known The Grotto pool would be closed.

 

[GC&S]

Wow, we are staying there in October. I cannot change reservation, I would have paid more for a Disney hotel in boardwalk area if I would have known The Grotto pool would be closed.

Ditto. This is our first time there and when I called for the reservation I even asked about the pool. No indication it would be closed. The pool is a main factor where we stay.

 

[cwt580]

as stated in other threads the pool is very nasty because of filter failures.....if it was me i wouldnt stay there if pool was important. Ive been hearing some issue with these resorts. Its a shame because they are nice resorts. Times are tough on the travel industry as a whole. Starwood(owners of swan.dolphin) may be a bit strapped for operating capital and are just keeping things running until the company as a whole gets stronger.

Maybe they should just sell them to disney for a nice chunk of change....

 

[kneedeep]

Yikes, we have stayed there the past two Octobers and almost booked Dolphin for weekend of 10/12 in case no AP discount came through. We wound up grabbing a discount for BC just last week.

The main reason I hesitated on booking the Dolphin was because the rate was significantly higher this year than in the past and I didn't want to get locked into a non-refundable purchase to save a little money. So now to find out that the pool will be closed- I would have been upset to find out I was paying more and getting less. :-(

I understand how maintenance issues arise, but I sure hope that those who booked before this was announced are offered some sort of perk.

 

[reiella]

If you're grumpy over it, I'd suggest calling the resort [now and not later] and talking to them about it. They may have a solution in place for the pool closure that's to your liking, and if not, they may be able to work with you to find a solution for your party.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I feel so bad for people staying there during this timeframe. So many do stay there since its cheaper than the other Epcot resorts and that timeframe for the pool closure is right during the Food and Wine festival.

The pool is a big deal for us, I'd rather stay in a value or mod with a working pool than a "nicer" resort with a closed pool.

And think of all the people who don't frequent boards like these and will arrive with no idea of what awaits them as far as the pool scene.

 

[LexiC123]

I feel so bad for people staying there during this timeframe. So many do stay there since its cheaper than the other Epcot resorts and that timeframe for the pool closure is right during the Food and Wine festival.

The pool is a big deal for us, I'd rather stay in a value or mod with a working pool than a "nicer" resort with a closed pool.

And think of all the people who don't frequent boards like these and will arrive with no idea of what awaits them as far as the pool scene.

Well, it's not as if the guests will be left completely high and dry...there are several other pools and three hot tubs that will be available for use.

I do agree, though, that guests need to be informed about the closure as soon as possible.

 

[madge]

Well, it's not as if the guests will be left completely high and dry...there are several other pools and three hot tubs that will be available for use.

I do agree, though, that guests need to be informed about the closure as soon as possible.

that's a very valid point. yes, there are other pools at the resort. but at the same time, there's a big difference between the Swan lap pool and the grotto pool.

for our stay, I chose the Swan for 3 very specific reasons: the pool, late checkout, and proximity to the Boardwalk. I have a one-night reservation in late September. Our plans include hanging out at the Boardwalk in the evening, sleeping in and spending the bulk of the following afternoon (up until the 4pm checkout) at the Grotto pool ... including my DH napping on a lounge chair behind the waterfall, LOL!

We'll watch the developments ... but the closure will factor into our decision, for sure!

 

[maxiesmom]

Well, it's not as if the guests will be left completely high and dry...there are several other pools and three hot tubs that will be available for use.

I do agree, though, that guests need to be informed about the closure as soon as possible.

Isn't the grotto pool the only one with a slide? I know I have booked certain resorts at WDW just because of their pool slide. The upgraded pool areas are part of the reason those resorts can charge what they do. At the least the guests should be notified of the closure, at best they should be notified and allowed to switch resorts with no penalty or given passes to a working themed pool.

 

[kandb]

To be honest, I am almost more worried about using the pool before the refurb because who knows if the filtering system is really working properly. I have a 3 year old that will want to go down the slide and that always results with some water going into his mouth. I am concerned about him drinking any water in a pool that is not operating properly.

I am a health inspector in NJ and inspect pools. In NJ pool water results are public record. I am going to ask the facility to provide me with bacteria reports for the grotto pool when I am there. I will call the Orlando health dept before I arrive to see if they have to provide the report to a customer, if the customer requests it.

The manager stated this am to me that the pool is operating satisfactorily, but I still want proof that the water is free from bacteria.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Yes, for sure there are other pools, but having the main pool with the slide closed would be a deal breaker for us. If I have to be using a pool without a slide, a value pool would be better and I'd be cancelling and trying to get in one of those.

I can only imagine how crowded those smaller pools and the hottubs will be if the bigger grotto pool is closed.

And I would not swim in the grotto pool right now knowing what I know. I remember years ago we went to a waterpark near us that had its big wave pool closed the day after we went when a bunch of people got very ill from I think E coli. I was a nervous wreck since ds was about 3 at the time and we spent hours in that pool the day before it closed. He was fine thank goodness. Of course he also drank unfiltered apple cider from an apple farm that got a bunch of other people sick. I guess he is pretty tough but that also gave me a heart attack and it was just weeks after the wave pool thing!

 

[GC&S]

Well, it's not as if the guests will be left completely high and dry...there are several other pools and three hot tubs that will be available for use.

I do agree, though, that guests need to be informed about the closure as soon as possible.

Well for us the pool is for our dd. She likes all the "stuff" at the pools - the slide, waterfalls, etc. A lap pool just wont be as exciting to her. And it is her vacation too. If it were just DH and myself, I wouldnt care in the least.

 

[tbssenterprises]

We are scheduled for the Dolphin during the closure time. Anyone know what the compensation will be? I'm using Starwood points, so I'm not looking for a $$ compensation...more like being able to use the Disney pools.

And the LAP pool is NOT the same as the grotto pool. No way. The grotto pool is a fantastic area and is one of the nices pools in the Disney area (OK, nothing like SAB, but really really up there).

 

[tbssenterprises]

Just got off the phone with Dolphin reservations. They said as of now, the grotto pool will NOT be closed for refurbishment. I guess they are evaluating the timing issue, etc because of F&W and Gardiner. Jan and Feb would be a better time.

However, it is my understanding that they were closing the pool to make it a zero entry style pool etc.

They still will have filtration problems if they don't quicly address that issue.

 

[kandb]

Just an fyi, when I called this am I called the hotel directly, not the reservation number.

 

[tuckerkeys]

Just an FYI you are going to get a different answer from every different person you speak with. Someone in "reservations" isn't going to know what the plan is, as from what we know it is changing almost hourly based on parts availability and contractors schedule as well as the resorts inability to make a decision on what to do

Ask for Sean who is the operations manager at the dolphin. He is also the CPo ( certified pool operator ) for the resort. Every pool needs a CPo legally to run.

The thing is that management doesn't want to let the public know it's going to be shut bc they know they will get cancellations I think we
Opened up a big BIG can of
Worms with the pool condition
When we called them to the carpet

 

[BLTtinkerbell]

We are scheduled for the Dolphin during the closure time. Anyone know what the compensation will be? I'm using Starwood points, so I'm not looking for a $$ compensation...more like being able to use the Disney pools.

The Dolphin isn't owned by Disney. I would think Swan/Dolphin would give room credit, discounts to their restaurants or maybe upgrade room.

 

[robinbutterfly]

Just got off the phone with Dolphin reservations. They said as of now, the grotto pool will NOT be closed for refurbishment. I guess they are evaluating the timing issue, etc because of F&W and Gardiner. Jan and Feb would be a better time.

However, it is my understanding that they were closing the pool to make it a zero entry style pool etc.

They still will have filtration problems if they don't quicly address that issue.

I called this morning and they said it would be closed for refurbishment!