How crowded are the pools?

[Donna3271]

The pools are very crowded. I find the classic ships more palatable for swimming. Almost half the people and the pools are about the same size.

I find less and less people (especially repeat cruisers) get off on port days (with the exception of CC). Nassau day is very crowded around the pools as well.

There are plenty of things to do! Don't stress.

 

[Donna3271]

Do the pools clear out any while the ships are in port?

I've been on 8 cruises, and the only day I've seen it "substantially emptier" was at CC (with of course the exception of Alaska!!! LOL!)

 

[Prose]

The adult pools are much less crowded than the family/kid pools. On the Dream/Fantasy, I much prefer Satellite Falls as a spot to relax, sun and cool off. It is very quiet and relaxing. On the Fantasy, there is a family area upstairs from the main pool with a small wading pool that doesn't get used much.

DD has used the family pool, but she is more of a "stand, bob and chat" person, which is about all there is room for.

Saving lounge chairs for an extended period of time is frowned upon, and you may find your stuff moved.

 

[phinz]

The adult pools are much less crowded than the family/kid pools. On the Dream/Fantasy, I much prefer Satellite Falls as a spot to relax, sun and cool off. It is very quiet and relaxing.

There is no Satellite Falls on the Dream. There is an upper deck where the radomes are, but it doesn't have the Falls part.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

On the Wonder, DD only wanted to swim twice, and her biggest goal in life might just be to live in a pool. The family pool was just way too crowded. I went in with her once, but I only lasted 3 or 4 kicks in the ribs before I got out. There was never an issue finding a chair.

On the flip side, the adult pool was almost always empty when I walked past it.

We did really enjoy the hot tub at night during the movies on the pool deck. That was the highlight of our late evenings and filled our water quota.

 

[3Down1Up]

We use the pools during two times: first thing in the am, when the pool opens, and the crowd is thinner, and if the kids want to see a movie on Funnel Vision and they are basically standing/bobbing and watching the movie and having the fun experience of watching a movie while being in a pool LOL. We have never survived a pool past about 2pm, because as many have said, it turns into "people soup" and movement, let alone real swimming, isn't even possible. In fact, we are mainly done by lunchtime, unless they want to watch a movie later. The number of activities pick up in the afternoon on the ship, especially in port days, and so there is plenty to do around the ship after a few hours of swimming.

 

[Prose]

There is no Satellite Falls on the Dream. There is an upper deck where the radomes are, but it doesn't have the Falls part.

Ah, you're right - always forget that. I haven't been on the Dream, and the Falls is my absolute favorite spot on the Fantasy.

 

[wajones2]

I have only been on the Magic. On a sea day the pools will be packed very early. I can't speak to getting a chair because I don't feel comfortable letting DD (4 1/2 last cruise) out on the pool deck without being right with her. I also insist on her wearing a life vest the entire time we are out there even if she is just in the splash area. It is crowded enough that I could lose sight of her long enough for her to make it back in the pool, so the life vest is my "safety net" if this happens. We stayed on the ship on a port day, and she had the run of the pools for a long time because the slides do not open until later in the day while in port...she LOVED it. I think she swam 3-4 hours and I actually sat on the side of the pool and enjoyed watching her swim.

 

[E ticket rider]

We have never been on a Disney cruise (let alone a cruise). How early do we need to get to the pool in order to get a few chairs and how crowded are the pools? We would be going during a non-peak time of year at the end of April. Do they let you hold your chairs if you go to breakfast/lunch?

The pools are small on all 4 ships. It's not as bad on the Magic & Wonder as the crowd is smaller, but the pools are no bigger on the Dream & Fantasy and the crowd is much larger, so it is worse on the new ships. DCL really screwed up here. They focused so much on the classic profile of the ships that they failed to realize the extra funnel gobbled up prime real estate on the top deck. Don't plan on swimming in any of the pools on the Dream-class ships. The Mickey (kids) pool is only 2 feet deep, the Donald (family pool) is far too small for the number of passengers and is little more than a plunge pool with flying kids all around, and the Quiet Cove (adults) pool is split into 3 (round) parts (a pool with seating around it (like a hot tub, but no jets or higher temps), a plunge pool in the middle and a wet deck with misters by the pool bar).

Strictly speaking, saving chairs is not allowed. You're not supposed to grab chairs then go have breakfast and you should take your things with you if your entire group heads out to lunch. But, other than embarkation day and sea days, it's not too hard to find seats. Prime locations may me a little harder to find at times, but still manageable.