Just booked Fantasy-worried about pool size

[sammydent]

I would appreciate help from any Dream cruisers. I just booked a 7 day cruise on the Fantasy for June 2012. I've been seeing a lot of negative comments re: the pools. My kids LOVE to swim and will want to spend most of their time in the pools on the at sea days. Are we in for a rude awakening?

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

Well I haven't been on the dream I would have to say it depends on what your defining swimming as, for example will they be able to swim lengths, probably not. But if they just want to float around and play with others and each other then they will probably enjoy the pool. Also it will be a good place to cool off too.

 

[sjsjbrook]

I just came off the dream. The pools are not large. On the first day my kids were "swimming" which is really stand in the water in a spot. On the day at Nassau it was better they had much more space.

On the sea day is was quite windy so the pools were rather empty.

The kids still had lots of fun.

At night the pools are quite empty, and that is a good time to hit the pools, plus you don't have to worry about sun burns.

 

[lbgraves]

The extent of any "swimming" in any of the pools -- even on the Magic and Wonder -- is that you can get wet but the kids won't be able to move around much or actually "swim" in the Goofy pool unless you go first thing in the morning. The Mickey pool is too shallow and they can't use the adult pool. With smaller pools on the Dream and Fantasy I would expect about the same.

 

[DisneyOHFan]

We were on the Dream in March and have also booked the Fantasy. About a month ago, the pictures of the pool on the Fantasy had the same pictures as the pool on the Dream, but they have since been taken down. So I called and they said that they received a lot of feedback on the Dream (they wouldn't say specifically what areas), and they were taking them into consideration as they built the Fantasy. I assume that the reason the pool pictures were taken down were to make changes.

 

[kcashner]

If you are planning to really swim, a cruise ship is not the place for it. If the goal is to get in and get wet, you'll accomplish that.

Adults can sometimes swim laps in the Quiet Cove pool. In the Goofy pool--no way!

 

[kimpossible]

We were on the Dream in March and have also booked the Fantasy. About a month ago, the pictures of the pool on the Fantasy had the same pictures as the pool on the Dream, but they have since been taken down. So I called and they said that they received a lot of feedback on the Dream (they wouldn't say specifically what areas), and they were taking them into consideration as they built the Fantasy. I assume that the reason the pool pictures were taken down were to make changes.

Interesting Where did you find these pics (or lack there of). I would love to take a look. We are also booked on the Fantasy. We do like to spend our days in the sun and are getting a bit nervous.

 

[Makayna]

If you are planning to really swim, a cruise ship is not the place for it. If the goal is to get in and get wet, you'll accomplish that.

Adults can sometimes swim laps in the Quiet Cove pool. In the Goofy pool--no way!

From a lap swimmer, what time of day would you suggest going to swim laps in Quiet Cove? Also, I'd like to know if there are any swimmers (and I mean SWIMMERS) who would suggest swimming laps at ANY time during the day on Wonder? If Quiet Cove isn't really made for lap swimming, no biggie... I won't pack my cap and goggles. But if there's a possibility that I can get in in the early morning and swim some laps easily without killing my ankles, or without swimming one stroke and then needing to flip, then I will. Any swimmers out there who've tried and been successful with that endeavor?

 

[tastefullyjenn]

I would appreciate help from any Dream cruisers. I just booked a 7 day cruise on the Fantasy for June 2012. I've been seeing a lot of negative comments re: the pools. My kids LOVE to swim and will want to spend most of their time in the pools on the at sea days. Are we in for a rude awakening?

I think you'll find it all works out. If I could figure out how to post pictures (I will one of these days!) I could show you the pool on sea day. My girls love to swim, my oldest on on the swim team but your expectations are different. There's so much to do, you go in to cool off, experience the neato factor of watching a movie in a pool and then you're on to the next thing.

While they could be bigger, it won't ruin your trip.

 

[sorul82?]

If you are planning to really swim, a cruise ship is not the place for it. If the goal is to get in and get wet, you'll accomplish that.

Adults can sometimes swim laps in the Quiet Cove pool. In the Goofy pool--no way!

on the Dream? How?

 

[sorul82?]

If you are planning to really swim, a cruise ship is not the place for it. If the goal is to get in and get wet, you'll accomplish that.

Adults can sometimes swim laps in the Quiet Cove pool. In the Goofy pool--no way!

on the Dream? How?

 

[WiscBill]

From a lap swimmer, what time of day would you suggest going to swim laps in Quiet Cove? Also, I'd like to know if there are any swimmers (and I mean SWIMMERS) who would suggest swimming laps at ANY time during the day on Wonder? If Quiet Cove isn't really made for lap swimming, no biggie... I won't pack my cap and goggles. But if there's a possibility that I can get in in the early morning and swim some laps easily without killing my ankles, or without swimming one stroke and then needing to flip, then I will. Any swimmers out there who've tried and been successful with that endeavor?

My wife usually swam laps early in the morning or in the evening. At both times, the pool is empty. She would usually do 40 laps but I can't remember what distance we figured that out to be. She is extremely disappointed that the Dream quiet cove pool will not allow her to swim laps.

 

[Makayna]

My wife usually swam laps early in the morning or in the evening. At both times, the pool is empty. She would usually do 40 laps but I can't remember what distance we figured that out to be. She is extremely disappointed that the Dream quiet cove pool will not allow her to swim laps.

OK, thank you! I'll make sure to pack my cap and goggles then!

 

[TitanBrett]

I would appreciate help from any Dream cruisers. I just booked a 7 day cruise on the Fantasy for June 2012. I've been seeing a lot of negative comments re: the pools. My kids LOVE to swim and will want to spend most of their time in the pools on the at sea days. Are we in for a rude awakening?

If swimming is on the top of your list of vacation activities then the Dream/Fantasy might be a mistake. There is a ton to do but i wouldn't count on a lot of swimming.

 

[dsneygirl]

We went to the pools first thing after breakfast (by 8am) and DS could swim for quite a while before it started getting busy. I would say after 10ish is when it picked up. We usually left around lunch time and did other activities so I never saw the pools at mid day.

Not sure the ages of your kids but the Splash area is awesome too. But I agree with others is your plan is all day at the pool you are in for some aggravation.

 

[dunnhorn]

We did the 4 night dream a couple weeks ago. We were sorely - let me repeat - SORELY disappointed with the pools. They were way too small. The donald pool on the Dream is much smaller than the Goofy pool on the Magic/Wonder - and the ship is 1/3 larger!!! I have no clue what they were thinking making the pools that small. Not to be negative nancy on this one, but I sure hope they are re-thinking ALL of the pools on the Fantasy.

The adult pool is just a total waste - I don't get it at all. It's like a wading pool only, and then this plunge pool in the middle. No steps down, just a ladder? What about older folks on the ship, or people who have back/knee/hip issues who would have difficulty climbing a ladder? The adult pool is much larger than the Donald pool, yet the most people I ever saw in the adult pool on a sea day was like 3. The Donald pool - probably 30. It was totally a safety hazard - there were kids jumping on top of kids and the lip around the pool was way too large. I totally see them doing a redo on this pool when the Dream is in drydock.

I think they probably thought by building the teen pool, they could make the "main" pool smaller because the teens wouldn't be there... Unfortunately they didn't take into consideration the size of the ship and the increased number of kids. I have been looking at other ships online and I am just amazed that a ship the size of the Dream has a pool as small as it does. Ironically, the teen pool was completely deserted when we were there.

Leslie Ann

 

[epcotrulz]

Just off the Dream from 4/10, the Quiet Cove pool was fairly busy every day of the cruise. I prefer the layout of the Magic/Wonder of Quiet Cove (especially the traffic flow), but we did enjoy the QC pool, and the different sections for sitting, lounging or standing in water.

 

[Kim&Chris]

We were on the Dream in March and have also booked the Fantasy. About a month ago, the pictures of the pool on the Fantasy had the same pictures as the pool on the Dream, but they have since been taken down. So I called and they said that they received a lot of feedback on the Dream (they wouldn't say specifically what areas), and they were taking them into consideration as they built the Fantasy. I assume that the reason the pool pictures were taken down were to make changes.

This is good news, if it is actually the pool issue that they're addressing!

 

[Dizzyworld]

We did the 4 night dream a couple weeks ago. We were sorely - let me repeat - SORELY disappointed with the pools. They were way too small. The donald pool on the Dream is much smaller than the Goofy pool on the Magic/Wonder - and the ship is 1/3 larger!!! I have no clue what they were thinking making the pools that small. Not to be negative nancy on this one, but I sure hope they are re-thinking ALL of the pools on the Fantasy.

The adult pool is just a total waste - I don't get it at all. It's like a wading pool only, and then this plunge pool in the middle. No steps down, just a ladder? What about older folks on the ship, or people who have back/knee/hip issues who would have difficulty climbing a ladder? The adult pool is much larger than the Donald pool, yet the most people I ever saw in the adult pool on a sea day was like 3. The Donald pool - probably 30. It was totally a safety hazard - there were kids jumping on top of kids and the lip around the pool was way too large. I totally see them doing a redo on this pool when the Dream is in drydock.

I think they probably thought by building the teen pool, they could make the "main" pool smaller because the teens wouldn't be there... Unfortunately they didn't take into consideration the size of the ship and the increased number of kids. I have been looking at other ships online and I am just amazed that a ship the size of the Dream has a pool as small as it does. Ironically, the teen pool was completely deserted when we were there.

Leslie Ann

I've come to expect Disney to learn from their past, so I wonder what they were thinking when they designed the smaller pools on the Dream and added more people? They dropped the ball on this one.

 

[Sleepyluke]

From a lap swimmer, what time of day would you suggest going to swim laps in Quiet Cove? Also, I'd like to know if there are any swimmers (and I mean SWIMMERS) who would suggest swimming laps at ANY time during the day on Wonder? If Quiet Cove isn't really made for lap swimming, no biggie... I won't pack my cap and goggles. But if there's a possibility that I can get in in the early morning and swim some laps easily without killing my ankles, or without swimming one stroke and then needing to flip, then I will. Any swimmers out there who've tried and been successful with that endeavor?

Not to be too much of a downer here, in the Quiet Cove pool (Magic/Wonder, have not been on dream) it can be done, but a length of the pool for me was maybe 5 - 6 strokes and never more than one breath. It is a hang out pool that you could swim back and forth if you want, but for exercise purposes it is a little rough. The way the pool walls and overflow are designed make it tough on the feet if you flip a little awkward. side turns were more appropriate at least for me. I tried to justify more food with exercise, and ended up in the fitness center everyday instead of trying to swim laps. The pool however is very nice for relaxation.