I think its time we opened a new pool temp thread

[lilstint]

The last two posts sound promising. I hope the problem has been remediated. I'm already worried about February pool temps. Last year was no fun at all.

 

[jade1]

Very promising reports, hope it wasn't just for holiday weeks but even that would help a lot for those of us forced to go during holidays.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

The day beofre Thanksgiving and Thanksgiving day we swam in the very warm "quiet pool" at the BWV's. I didn't have a thermometer but it had to be at least 85. On Friday it started getting cooler and by Saturday was cool. A CM said that someone complained that the pool was too "hot" on Thanksgiving so they "had to lower" the temperature.

I used to belive that it was a Disney conspiracy to save energy by lowering pool temeratures. I no longer believe that. I now just think they are clueless and reactionary. I just wish they would settle on a temperature and leave it there.

As I pointed out in another thread, the amount of energy wasted by lights left buring in the day time outdoors at WDW could provide enough energy to light up a third world nation. They don't need to turn the pool temps down 2 degrees to save energy, they just need to turn off a few lights.

HBC

 

[ttepsich]

Returned from Beach Club last night. All pools were nice and warm. In fact, the warmest ever. We swam in Stormalong, Beach Club quiet pool and the BCV pool. The water wasn't even cold when you came directly from the hot tub. ( just as an aside, I'm ALWAYS COLD) Hope they keep the pool temps up for those of you going in December!
Tina

 

[DVCDAVE]

OK, I'll weigh in on this matter. First, We were at both BWV and VWL this past March 2006 and were major complainers to the CM's by the pool and front desk on how cold the water temps were. Especially in the "Hot Tubs"......there was nothing warm about them, let alone hot.

Well, we just returned from a Thanksgiving stay last week, spending 3 nights at VWL and 3 nights at BWV. I am pleased to report that all seems back to normal. The hot tubs were hot at both resorts, and the pools were warm.

Now, on to another issue. We've noticed an issue with the hot tubs over the past couple of years. Several of the nozzels in the water jets are missing in ALL the hot tubs, so that instead of spraying airiated water only water comes shooting out. When we asked a maintance worker about it, he told us that guests take them as souveiniers and they can't keep up with replacing them as fast as people steal them !!!

 

[Chuck S]

Now, on to another issue. We've noticed an issue with the hot tubs over the past couple of years. Several of the nozzels in the water jets are missing in ALL the hot tubs, so that instead of spraying airiated water only water comes shooting out. When we asked a maintance worker about it, he told us that guests take them as souveiniers and they can't keep up with replacing them as fast as people steal them !!!

Doesn't surprise me at all. I the early years of OKW, the bent in the canal where it turns into the resort had a pirate theme. It was named "Pirate Cove" and had props of skulls, maybe a little treasure chest, etc. Nothing particularly fancy, but "cute" to go with the Florida Keys theme. The props kept "disappearing" and they finally stopped replacing them. Some people have to ruin it for everyone.

 

[trainfun]

We were at OKW from 10/28 - 11/3. We went to the quiet pool by the 50's buildings almost every day. When we arrived the pool was very warm and comfortable and the hot tub was hot. But after 2-3 days, the heater was turned off and the pool got progressively colder. It was uncomfortably cold for the last few days.
Air temps were in mid-70's.

From 11/3 - 11/12, we were at Vero. The pool here was uncomfortably cold the whole time we were there. People would go in for a few minutes, then get out. Of course, little kids seem immune to the cold and had a grand time. Someone complained to the lifeguard and was told that the temperature would be raised two degrees in December.

We have been to Vero and OKW many times in the past and at many times of the year and the pools were always much, much warmer.

This takes a lot of enjoyment away from the resort experience.

 

[LisaS]

We were at BWV Dec 6-13. The weather was too cool for swimming in the early part of our stay but we stopped by WL early on in the trip and the pool water there felt nice and warm to the touch. The lifeguards were all bundled up, keeping watch over a mother duck and some ducklings who were using the pool.

It warmed up enough for swimming (mid 70s) during the last two full days of our stay. The first day we went in, the pool temperature at BWV was a few degrees cooler than I would have preferred, but not bad. It was warm enough that I got right into the pool without hesitation. The water being pumped into the pool felt even warmer so it appeared that they were trying to raise the water temperature a few degrees.

The second day the pool was a bit cooler and I had to ease myself in. The water being pumped into the pool was no warmer, so it appeared that they had lowered the pool heater by a few degrees. We still got in and enjoyed the pool but due to the temperature difference, we didn't stay in very long. Those few degrees made it noticeably less pleasant and less enjoyable to swim around in the pool.

Fortunately the hot tub was nice and toasty. On our second swimming day there were a few very disappointed young kids hanging out in the hot tub because their parents felt the pool was not warm enough to allow them to go swimming. It's amazing how much of a difference a few degrees can make.

 

[Ksp]

We were at BWV Dec 6-13. <snip>
Fortunately the hot tub was nice and toasty. On our second swimming day there were a few very disappointed young kids hanging out in the hot tub because their parents felt the pool was not warm enough to allow them to go swimming. It's amazing how much of a difference a few degrees can make.

Having all the kids from the pool come into the hot tubs is another down side to the cooler pool temperatures; has anyone else noticed that?
Our last visit to BCV in November didn't have too many kids in the hot tub with us -- really, only one time that I can recall -- but it opens up the discussion on kids staying in the hot tub for too long, not to mention it makes it difficult to relax/have a conversation sitting in the hot tub while the children want to play and splash.
I don't blame them for wanting to play, but I do wish that the pools were warmer so they had the room to spread out and play/swim in the pool to their hearts content.

 

[KirstenB]

I was at POR the first week in October. The air temps were around 90 degrees, and NO ONE was in the pool! It was just too cool! The adults sat on the side of the pool, and got their feet wet, but that's all. It was just uncomfortable--someone from the front desk finally walked around the pool to tell everyone that they were going to raise the temp 2 degrees to make it more comfortable. It was still quite cool, but warm enough once you got used to it, and several people used the pool after that. Apparently you have to complain to get the pool up to even a moderately cool temperature. In order to swim, I crashed Marriott's pool at the Grand Center(that tall building with the golf course in front). Their pool was plenty warm enough!

We visited POR one day to pool hop during our mid-November stay. I have to agree with the above poster. The water was freezing, so we just left. No kids were swimming, not even Canadians

We went back to OKW and the water was at least 10 degrees warmer. It was fine for swimming.

 

[jmhillrph]

Spent last week at BCV (Dec 10-16)-- the SAB water temperature seemed ideal to me (I would guess mid-80s).

Mike

 

[3DisneyKids]

Having all the kids from the pool come into the hot tubs is another down side to the cooler pool temperatures; has anyone else noticed that?
Our last visit to BCV in November didn't have too many kids in the hot tub with us -- really, only one time that I can recall -- but it opens up the discussion on kids staying in the hot tub for too long, not to mention it makes it difficult to relax/have a conversation sitting in the hot tub while the children want to play and splash.
I don't blame them for wanting to play, but I do wish that the pools were warmer so they had the room to spread out and play/swim in the pool to their hearts content.

In about every resort (not at DIsney) where I have stayed, it seems that there are posted signs that children under the age of 17 are not allowed in the hot tubs. Is there any such policy at WDW? I still won't let my kids in them, though, regardless of the policy.

 

[rigsby25]

I finally received a reply from member services:

Thank you for contacting Member Services.

I appreciate your taking the time to write concerning the pool
temperatures at the Walt Disney World Resort. When setting our pool
temperatures, we consider several factors including the season, the
daily weather conditions and overall guest comfort. There is not a
standard recommended pool temperature within the aquatic recreation
industry, we have however taken into consideration the guidelines set
forth by the American Red Cross, which recommends temperatures between
78 and 82 degrees.

Based on guest feedback, we are going to maintain our pools at a minimum
of 82 degrees. We continue to monitor Member feedback on this topic and
take these comments very seriously. We realize that everyone has a
different preference when it comes to pool temperatures, which is why we
try to strike a balance to find a temperature that is comfortable for
the majority of our guests.

Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are glad you are a Member of
our Disney Vacation Club family, and we look forward to welcoming you
home again very soon.

Sincerely,

Jon Garcia
Member Satisfaction Manager

 

[DVC-Don]

OKW's pool sure did feel cooler than I like on Friday (12/22). Air temp was 83 but the only people in the pool were my son and I and only for 10 minutes. Hot tub was nice though. Have not been back to the pool since.

Merry Christmas from building 64 at OKW!

 

[Laurabearz]

I finally received a reply from member services:

Thank you for contacting Member Services.

I appreciate your taking the time to write concerning the pool
temperatures at the Walt Disney World Resort. When setting our pool
temperatures, we consider several factors including the season, the
daily weather conditions and overall guest comfort. There is not a
standard recommended pool temperature within the aquatic recreation
industry, we have however taken into consideration the guidelines set
forth by the American Red Cross, which recommends temperatures between
78 and 82 degrees.

Based on guest feedback, we are going to maintain our pools at a minimum
of 82 degrees. We continue to monitor Member feedback on this topic and
take these comments very seriously. We realize that everyone has a
different preference when it comes to pool temperatures, which is why we
try to strike a balance to find a temperature that is comfortable for
the majority of our guests.

Thank you for sharing your feedback. We are glad you are a Member of
our Disney Vacation Club family, and we look forward to welcoming you
home again very soon.

Sincerely,

Jon Garcia
Member Satisfaction Manager

So if it's not 82 degrees who do we tell it should be 82 degrees?? I mean having them say it is one thing... doing it another.

 

[dwelty]

We were just at SSR December 16th thru the 22nd. pool temp was between 82 and 85 all week. We had a ball, and spent 4 different mornings using the pool.

 

[madcoco]

Just returned from a very short stay at the GF. Never attempted to put a foot in. The bathtub was fine though.

 

[jade1]

Main pool at WL was 87 degrees XMAS day and the quiet pool was 82 and that was enough to make a big difference-obviously we stayed in the main pool which was great-had the pool thermometer along by the way.

 

[Markstudy]

Last year the temp drop in the pool happened when the Christmas/New Years guest left.... about Jan10th.

Is that the same time they drop the rates at the resorts for off-season?

Maybe the cold temps were timed with the cheaper prices for the resorts ?

 

[LisaS]

Main pool at WL was 87 degrees XMAS day and the quiet pool was 82 and that was enough to make a big difference-obviously we stayed in the main pool which was great-had the pool thermometer along by the way.

Thanks for providing some hard data. We stopped by WL in early Dec and I put my arm in the pool and the water felt very warm. I spoke with one of the lifeguards and he said the WL pool was warmer than other pools in the area. He mentioned the pool at the Contemporary was quite cool by comparison. Hope the WL pool stays nice and warm for those staying there after the holidays.

Santa left a pool thermometer in DH's Christmas stocking this year. Since we don't have a pool, I figure Santa must have given that to him so he could bring it along on our DVC stays. I'm looking forward to being able to provide more than just my subjective impressions of the pool temps in the future.