I think its time we opened a new pool temp thread

[littlestar]

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.

We prefer Marriott Horizons or Cypress Harbour in Orlando to supplement our DVC point stays. Pool temps have been decent at these resorts. I just thought it was really something that our daughter was requesting one of these resorts over DVC for a winter trip - never thought I'd see the day.

 

[MLK-RI]

The pool at Wilderness Lodge certainly felt cold last year at this time. We are headed down next week and bringing a pool thermometer. We shall see.

 

[beagle744]

We were at SSR and BC Oct 22-29. The pools at both resorts were very warm.

 

[LIFERBABE]

Everyone please keep in mind, that in Jan 2006, DVC and WDW lowered their pool temps. You really will not experience cooler pools this time of year, but when the air temps only reach mid 60's is when the colder pools will be an issue.

Right now, solar heating is in effect with warmer night temps, but that will all change in the cooler months. Bath water will be great when its 60F outside.

FWIW, We were at BCV on Oct 21 and spent all day in the pool and it felt great. Not sure how great it will be on Christmas Day.

 

[rigsby25]

Everyone please keep in mind, that in Jan 2006, DVC and WDW lowered their pool temps. You really will not experience cooler pools this time of year, but when the air temps only reach mid 60's is when the colder pools will be an issue.

Right now, solar heating is in effect with warmer night temps, but that will all change in the cooler months. Bath water will be great when its 60F outside.

FWIW, We were at BCV on Oct 21 and spent all day in the pool and it felt great. Not sure how great it will be on Christmas Day.

The temperature was almost 94 on the days I felt that the pool was cool. If the pool felt cool in hot weather, what will it feel like in 60 degree weather? I used to have a minumum 80 rule for my kids in our pool. 80 was the absolute minimum I would let them go in.

I'm sorry - I don't know how to link to the original thread. I just know a few people were adding to it this year, and it has an awful lot of posts to get though. I am hoping to somehow tackle this problem this year before it gets too far. Who can we write to? How can it be that some pools are warm and others are cool? How can it be that a pool can be warm one day and not the next?

 

[keishashadow]

We're from the north & have an unheated pool, soon as it hits 68 degrees were good to go...

In June the BW Luna pool was just fine Hot tubs so-so as to temp.

2nd week of Oct.:

@ CR - both pools were comfortable late afternoon into the early evening hours & hot tub was hot.

@ SAB - rather chilly, as long as you remained submerged it was tolerable. Very few attempted the waterslide... kids were complaining they were cold. Temps were in high 80's so air temp wasn't a factor, sun was shining & no appreciable winds (sound like a weathergirl). BTW, hot tubs were luke warm. We too, ran to our towels, brrr.

 

[LIFERBABE]

The temperature was almost 94 on the days I felt that the pool was cool. If the pool felt cool in hot weather, what will it feel like in 60 degree weather? I used to have a minumum 80 rule for my kids in our pool. 80 was the absolute minimum I would let them go in.

I'm sorry - I don't know how to link to the original thread. I just know a few people were adding to it this year, and it has an awful lot of posts to get though. I am hoping to somehow tackle this problem this year before it gets too far. Who can we write to? How can it be that some pools are warm and others are cool? How can it be that a pool can be warm one day and not the next?

In the summer months, it is my understanding, that the pool heaters dont operate at all. Solar heating is the primary. Disney does not cool their pools either so it is what it is in the summer time. One reason the pool may have seemed cooler in 94F temps was they pumped fresh water into the pool. It would take time for the sun to heat the pool back up again.

In the winter months, is when the pool heaters kick in to keep the pools at 80-82 (the old standard was around 84).

I too am concerned about the winter pool temps and do believe that anything less than 83F will be too uncomfortable when its 60-65F out.

On the member website you can email DVC.

 

[dumbo71]

We prefer Marriott Horizons or Cypress Harbour in Orlando to supplement our DVC point stays. Pool temps have been decent at these resorts. I just thought it was really something that our daughter was requesting one of these resorts over DVC for a winter trip - never thought I'd see the day.

Hmmmm, I haven't tried either of those, I'll have to look into it. It may be frowned upon here but there are some mighty fine resorts off site in Orlando for far less money.

If DVC wants to price themselves above the competition that is fine. They need to provide at least as much to justify that price. Warm pools is one of those things. Now they offer less activities for kids, terrible food and cold pools. Getting harder and harder to justify paying that premium just to be on site.

 

[Lexxiefern]

We were at VB, BWV and CSR in October. VB 10/13 - 10/17 pool temp was perfect for me but might have been too cool for some of you. I don't like swimming in bath water.

BWV 10/17 - 10/21 pool water was too warm. After a little while I swear I was sweating in the water. Granted it was in the 90's outside when we were there.

CSR 10/21 - 10/24 pool water a little cooler than BWV, but still warm.

Now when I am there in January, I would like disney to heat the pools well. But in October and May when I go I like the water to be refreshing.

 

[BeccaG]

Vero Beach
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.

Oh how I miss a 80 degree ocean. Here in CALI we are lucky when it breaks 70 it seems! But that is so So as far as pool temps, I would hope are dues are significant enough to keep pool temps in the low 80s! I very much enjoyed my night swims on my honeymoon and would love to continue the tradition on my trip home!

 

[rigsby25]

I just sent an e-mail to member services. I didn't know who else to send it to: "Please pass this on to any interested party. I am sending this message to plead with DVC to keep the DVC pools warm. I am willing to pay the MF to keep the pools warmer, especially in the cooler months. I bought DVC to lounge in the hotel and visit other hotels and restaurants on the property. We go to the parks at our leisure. We don't go necessarily for the parks. If swimming in the pool is not enjoyable, to me, it greatly reduces the value of DVC for our family. You might as well take it out because a cool pool is not enjoyable. Thank you." I will be bringing my pool thermometer with me in January to BCV to see if it is my imagination or not. And it might just be the last vacation to WDW for a while. I remember way back when we stayed at the Contemporary, the main pool seemed coolish, but the Marina pool was nice and warm. Guess where we always went.

 

[rigsby25]

If any one is interested, this was the response:

"Thank you for contacting Disney Vacation Club Member Services.

We appreciate your message. Based on the nature of your comments, I
have forwarded your message to Jon Garcia, our Member Satisfaction
Manager, for further review. You may expect to be contacted again with
regard to your message within the next several weeks.

Thank you again for writing.

Have a great day,"

 

[JimC]

Exactly, if you want change you need to voice that to DVC. Let's see what they ultimately say. Keep us posted.

 

[dvc-NE]

DW and DS think anything less than 84 degrees is cold.
Personally, I will swim in a pool @ 78 degrees, but that is in warm months, not January. I would think that in winter months the range should be 82-84, IMO.

 

[MLK-RI]

Just wanted to follow up on returning form our trip. We were at VWL Nov 5 to 11 and while I wasn't able to get a pool thermometer to bring, the pools were warm enough to swim and play in. The weather was warm (mid 80's during the day), one day of rain. The adults didn't stay in the water as long as the kids, but we never do. In the evenings the temp did dip, but the routine then is to hot tub, then back to pool, hot tub then back to pool.

So the bottom line is that the pool didn't seem as warm and comfortable to our taste as in years gone by, it was not as cold as I remembered it last year.
Whether this was due to the weather or the heated water??? But we had a lovely time either way.

 

[Ksp]

We're just back from BCV; since both DD and DH were down with a cold, neither tried the pools, sorry to say.

I was in the hot tub at the DVC pool and it was lovely. (I like a "hot" hot tub)

The pool over at the villas was on the cool side; a number of kids only stayed in a short time saying that it was cold; I did not bring a thermometer, so I'm not sure of the actual temperature of the water.

Sorry not to be able to update SAB; hopefully, the family won't get sick on our next visit and we will be out at the pool more often.

 

[saschab]

BCV 11/5-11/10

Didn't have a thermometer, so all this is relative:

Kids 12&14 thought SAB was a bit chilly. The adults passed.
They believed the villa quiet pool was warmer. We dipped our toes.
The hot tub was perfectly hot. We all spent most of our time here.

We stayed at the Hilton at DTD one night at the beginning of our trip.
Their pool was definately warmer than SAB, about the same if not a bit warmer than the quiet pool. Hilton's hot tub wasn't very hot.

Again, all comparables, no facts.

 

[fishermouse]

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.

If the heater is working properly a setting of 82 should cycle on at 81 and off at 83. At least thats how mine works. In Jan with cooler air temps 80-82 should feel fine. In the summer with air temp in the upper 90's, 80 can seem cold at first but after your in a while you get used to it.
Must admit I'm an old Jersey guy used to swimming in 60-70 ocean water, even mid summer low 70's is as good as it gets.

 

[Machta]

Good afternoon, folks! We've just returned from the BCV, and I'm very pleased to say that the water in SAB was PERFECT! We swam before Thanksgiving when it was chilly outside (why did everyone laugh at my tuque & gloves?) and the water was wonderful then. Yesterday morning we went for one last swim before getting on the plane, and it was really nice. Very difficult to leave. I just figured you'd all like to know!

 

[HUFF590]

We also just returned from SSR and I found the pool temp to be great, at first my wife said its cold but I said get in and in a few minutes she said wow it is warm. I believe the lifeguard said the temp was 81.