I think its time we opened a new pool temp thread

[rigsby25]

This really, really bothers me because we go in off season mainly October and January. I am so used to the weather not being quite so hot, but disney pools being nice and warm so you can actually swim. Last year there was trouble with cool pools. This year in October I encountered a cool pool at VWL. Being able to go in a pool when we are in Florida is a main draw for us. We live in the Midwest, and we own a pool. I am so distraught over this that if this continues, I don't know if I want to own DVC anymore. I think this completely devalues vacation satisfaction for me. What do others think? Have you encountered a chilly pool?

 

[Ksp]

We're about to go -- I'll make sure to update what temperatures are like at BCV and Stormalong Bay as soon as I can.
Cool pool temperatures will sure kill our enjoyment
I personally like a warmer pool anyway, but DD and DH are more tolerant to lower temperatures and love to swim together on our vacations; even they didn't get in the pools during our January visit. Water temp. at SSR was just too chilly to enjoy.

 

[toesmom]

We're going in January but I don't think the pool temps will be at a toasty 83-84 degrees of the past. We were really cold last January and it was a real problem because I have to get in the water with my kids, and I really didn't enjoy it at all.

I wrote letters to Disney management, DVC management and all that resulted was that they would heat the pools to Red Cross Standards of 80-82 degrees. So, I'm not holding my breath about the pools.

I expect them to be just lukewarm in that cool January weather. I hope they are warm, but I really doubt it.

And I do think it devalues DVC because swimming in December and January at Disney has always been a fun part of our family holidays.

 

[littlestar]

Yeah, cold pools are no fun. I can stay at any $40.00 hotel and get a cold pool. Disney definitely needs to rethink it - especially for winter.

Maybe the competition/off site hotels can use this to their advantage and take away some of Disney's bookings They could advertise that your children will be able to swim in the winter in their pools - unlike Disney's resorts.

 

[Cruelladeville]

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!

 

[littlestar]

Yeah, thank goodness the Marriott resorts still believe in heating their pools properly for their guests. We also own with Marriott Vacation Club.

I was going to book a DVC studio for my daughter the end of January and she actually asked me to please book at Marriott instead.

 

[Cruelladeville]

Littlestar, you are lucky--my DD felt "put-out" all week at Marriott, because she had to use a car to get to Epcot!! She ragged on Marriott, until I gave a week to her sister!

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Hey all. Dont just come back and complain about the cold/cool pool. Tell us how you complained to the life guard and front desk about it as well. Personally I think 82 degrees is adequate but that means they should be trying to heat the pools between 82 and 84...at least in the mid afternoon when the sun would give them a little help....if they are trying to achieve 82 degrees that means it will be regularly under that point.

 

[Cruelladeville]

The sun didn't seem to be helping much at POR! When the kids complained, I knew it wasn't just me!

 

[littlestar]

Littlestar, you are lucky--my DD felt "put-out" all week at Marriott, because she had to use a car to get to Epcot!! She ragged on Marriott, until I gave a week to her sister!

Yeah, she wants some pool time and doesn't want her body to turn blue at the pool in January - so Marriott Vacation Club resort it is this trip. Hopefully Marriott doesn't get a bean counter that lowers the pool temps, too.

I think my oldest daughter was born with a set of car keys in her hand. She'd rather drive than eat.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Im all for a new thread, but Rigsby, will you please put a link to the old thread in your OP?

We had great pool temps last Christmas and NYE at SSR but right after that it seems they lowered them.

I did send an email earlier this year and I am very concerned for our Dec/Jan trip this year. If it is bad, I will be dumping some contracts, because we will not return in prime holiday time for crowded parks and cold pools.

I will take a pool thermometer and maybe we need to start an exchange for each DVC resort to record pool temps daily and post here. If we stay on them and let them know how important this issue is to us and our guest satisfaction (which according to Jim Lewis is 95% for DVC and striving) they will reconsider.

For example, we could have a thread titled: SSR Pool Temps and those staying at SSR could pass on the thermometer (Calibrated of course) and post back on the thread with the temps.

Each Resort would have their own thread and thermometer. (I am not kidding! )

 

[goofy4tink]

We just got back from BWV late last week. The pool temp was fine. It was the air temp that was a bit nippy!!! Mid-week it was chilly but we all went swimming anyway. The water was glorious and very warm. It was only a problem when you got out of the pool and had to dry off quickly. Perhaps I got lucky this time with the pool temp!!!

 

[madcoco]

82 sounds pretty good. Didn't use the pool at BW. A little OT Was over at VB on Thursday for lunch at Shutter's and the Ocean Temp was 78. Surf was low but the YellowFlag was out next door at Wabasso(dangerous conditions) and baitfish running nearby. (Predators are chasing mullet this time of year. Mainly BlueFish and Spanish Mackerel in the surf around Disney ) That didn't appear to keep a few families from heading out in the surf. People appeared to be having a great time at the pool.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

82 sounds pretty good. Didn't use the pool at BW. A little OT Was over at VB on Thursday for lunch at Shutter's and the Ocean Temp was 78. Surf was low but the YellowFlag was out next door at Wabasso(dangerous conditions) and baitfish running nearby. (Predators are chasing mullet this time of year. Mainly BlueFish and Spanish Mackerel in the surf around Disney ) That didn't appear to keep a few families from heading out in the surf.

Vero Beach

I have noticed on many occasions their yellow flag out when I didn't think the conditions (currents) were that bad. I think with that area being an entrance for the general public they are particularly cautious.

To me the yellow flag means WALK don't RUN to the water. The red flag means STOP look both ways, BEFORE you jump into the water.

Tolerable ocean water temps in my book are 70-80 (I've done 68 though). Pool temps 76-82. Just call me Mr. blue lips.

 

[rocketriter]

This is the kind of story that the resort managements need to hear.

 

[Inkmahm]

Anything above 80 would feel like bath water, I think. I grew up at the local pool where the water temperature was usually around 67. Still a lot warmer than Lake Michigan.

I'm not a big pool person in Florida so I doubt if it will matter to me what the water temperature is. Most of my time is spent in the parks or maybe the hot tubs. I can understand families with kids that want to swim though. You don't want the kids turning blue.

 

[dumbo71]

This really, really bothers me because we go in off season mainly October and January. I am so used to the weather not being quite so hot, but disney pools being nice and warm so you can actually swim. Last year there was trouble with cool pools. This year in October I encountered a cool pool at VWL. Being able to go in a pool when we are in Florida is a main draw for us. We live in the Midwest, and we own a pool. I am so distraught over this that if this continues, I don't know if I want to own DVC anymore. I think this completely devalues vacation satisfaction for me. What do others think? Have you encountered a chilly pool?

I couldn't agree more and yes I've encountered very cold pools lately at WDW. The last time was May 2006 at Stormalong Bay. The water was in the high 70's at best.

Warm pools really set WDW apart from the competition. If the pool situation doesn't improve I might unload my poinyts and (GASP!!!) look into a cheap resale off site.

We travel off season for the most part and loved the fact we could swim comfortably even if the weather was only in the 70's.

Very dissapointing.

 

[dumbo71]

Yeah, thank goodness the Marriott resorts still believe in heating their pools properly for their guests. We also own with Marriott Vacation Club.

I was going to book a DVC studio for my daughter the end of January and she actually asked me to please book at Marriott instead.

You must not own Marriott Grande Vista then because all except one dinky section of one of there pools is freezing. I mean high 60's freezing. Even my son wouldn't go in. Marriott is famous for freezing cold pools.

 

[dumbo71]

We just got back from BWV late last week. The pool temp was fine. It was the air temp that was a bit nippy!!! Mid-week it was chilly but we all went swimming anyway. The water was glorious and very warm. It was only a problem when you got out of the pool and had to dry off quickly. Perhaps I got lucky this time with the pool temp!!!

We've always found the BWV pool to be the warmest of the DVC pools. Maybe that creepy clown is good for something!

 

[shellbelle1971]

When we were there in October, we experienced pools that felt very cold to us. We pool-hopped all over, looking for one that would feel okay, but the pools at SSR, OKW and CSR were all brrrr...freezing! My kids love to swim, but I made them get out when their lips started turning blue--usually after just a few minutes.

I expected better from DVC. It didn't ruin our vacation, but it was definitely unpleasant.