New pool heat policy? ***update see post 549 ****

[bdg100]

If this is true, it will be heartbreaking for us. We loved the warm water. Where can we write and e-mail? We go in October and January. If the water is too cold to swim, DVC will not be valuable to us any longer.

Isn't this a bit of an overstatement?

 

[CapeCodFam]

I recommend relaxing in the kiddie pool. It's suspiciously warmer and you can offset your vacation costs by offering a sitting service to parents who want to hang at the cabana.

 

[bicker]

Here's a link to a cached version of the Red Cross recommendation of 82 degrees.

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:ttaX4Bop9J8J:www.redcross.org/services/hss/aquatics/FAQ.htm&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=2#Q10

Note the warning: "Although, please note that high water temperatures can present water quality issues."

 

[Dean]

Here's a link to a cached version of the Red Cross recommendation of 82 degrees.

http://72.14.203.104/search?q=cache:ttaX4Bop9J8J:www.redcross.org/services/hss/aquatics/FAQ.htm&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=2#Q10

Note the warning: "Although, please note that high water temperatures can present water quality issues."

Thanks, even with that info, I don't see it on the current ARC site.

 

[bicker]

At least you can get to the Red Cross website. I used the cache because redcross.org is down, at least from my part of the world...

 

[mommym]

We've sent two e-mails at this point and haven't heard anything back yet. We are prepared to send letters, more e-mails and have a face to face conversation with the Beach Club manager this weekend while we are there if SAB is too cold for us to use.QUOTE]

You go girl...I wish I had been more vocal when I was there in January. I thought it was a fluke even though the lifegaurd told me it was across the board. We ended up leaving a day early because our last day was going to be just around the pool and it was ICE ICE BABY!!! (This was at POR) Good Luck and report back to us what you find out.

 

[cgcw]

Hello: Here is DVC management's response to a compalint I made about the lowering of the pool temerature to 78-80 degrees during the winter months. Can you imagine they claim it is because of the American Red Cross! If that's the case you better stay away from WDW pools during the rest of the year because they don't have pool coolers and that would be dangerous to your health because the pools are too warm.
Here is their reponse:

Thank you for your e-mail.

We appreciate you taking the time to share your concerns regarding the
temperature of our resort pools. Based on American Red Cross recommendations, we are heating our resort swimming pools at
78-80 degrees during the winter months. Please note that water temperature is monitored throughout the day so that we may maintain this recommended temperature. Since the average air temperature can be cool in Florida during the winter months, you may wish to be mindful of the
current temperature when using the pools. In addition, The Walt Disney Company is focused on continually finding ways to be environmentally conscious and participative. By maintaining our resort swimming pools at 80
degrees during the winter months, we contribute greatly toward conserving
valuable energy sources.

Thank you again for contacting us. We are glad you are a Member of our Disney Vacation Club family, and we look forward to entertaining you for many years to come.

Sincerely,

Jackie

So much for that "personal touch". I received the SAME EXACT email today to one I sent yesterday. Word for word. Even signed by Jackie.

I've already told my kids that it will most likely be too cold to swim during the day. I would expect the pools to be cooler at night as well as the air temperature, but certainly not during the day. We've been in March before and had no problem swimming then. I know my kids are going to be highly disappointed as they are really looking forward to swimming as part of our vacation.

 

[Sammie]

Does anyone have proof the pools were ever warmer than the current 78-80 or is that hearsay?

I can understand that Disney is stating the pool are kept at 78-80 and I can understand that some that have gone recently found that too cool. But does anyone have hard proof they were ever heated to any higher temps?

 

[toesmom]

Coming from cold weather in Canada we have planned to use lower points to travel in january. We did it this year and I was shivering in the pool. The year before at POP it was warm.

It certainly affects my enjoyment of the resort which was primarily why we chose DVC. If I wanted freezing pools I could have gone to Cancun Mexico in January and tried to get used to that unheated water even in 30 C weather outside.

So yes, DVC has much less value for me if I can't swim in warm water in January. I don't know who to complain to about this, I've already sent my email and got the same response as everyone else!

 

[LisaS]

Note the warning: "Although, please note that high water temperatures can present water quality issues."

Hi Bicker, do you have any idea what they mean by high water temperatures, and what, specifically, are the water quality issues? That statement got me curious but I've been searching the web for something more specific and I'm just not finding much information.

The only thing I've found so far relating water temperature to water quality are statements to the effect that as the pool's water temperature is raised, the rate of evaporation of disinfectant chemicals increases so you need to test the pool water and be sure it is adequately chlorinated.

Is there more to it than that?

 

[Markstudy]

Has anyone seen this topic popping up at the other Disney web sites?

Mouseplanet.com

www.jimhillmedia.com

www.stupidguesttricks.com

allearsnet.com

intercot.com

 

[mndisfam]

This is long, but I just sent this...can you tell I am steamed...

Recently, there has been much debate on the DIS Boards that WDW & DVC has lowered the pool temperatures during winter months to uncomfortable temperatures.

This is very alarming news to us. In Oct. 2005, we purchased 200 additional points - we now own 600 points. One of the specific reasons we purchased more points was to be able to take a winter trip each year and escape the cold weather in Minnesota. One of the highlights of our trips - something my children look forward to without fail - is being able to swim in warm pools is the weather is amenable. A warm weather trip to Florrida each winter is something our family counts on.

In fact, some days, they spend all day in the pools and we don't even visit the parks at all.

I can guarantee that, had we known in October that pools were going to be kept cold, we would have seriously reconsidered our purchase. At that time, we were very seriously considering purchasing Marriott Vacation Club, but decided to add on because of the high quality of our Disney vacations, and the wonderful experiences we have going off-season. We would never had purchased additional points if we had known winter time swimming was no longer going to be part of our plans.

The response that was sent to DVC'ers - which they posted on the boards - was very disappointing. One of the reasons that was cited for lowering the temps of the pools was energy concerns - surely there are many other ways to save energy? Perhaps running the electric light boat show a few nights a week? Maybe not air conditioning the outside of rides as it seems you do when its hot? Or, even turning up the a/c a bit - I always think its too cold.

How much money are you saving by paying life guards to watch over empty pools? Why build these beautiful expensive pools if they will just stay empty?

This move- lowering the temps - is certainly an example of "penny wise/pound foolish." Basically, you have taken away one of the experiences many guests enjoy - swimming in your lovely pools - and done it without explanation.

We go to Disney to escape from reality - your energy costs in maintaining the high standard of vacation experience I pay for - and have come to expect - are not my problem. Its your problem, and I really don't need to hear about it.

Its up to you to fix it - its not up to the guests to freeze in the pool as a result of your budget concerns. Find the money elsewhere - or, if necessary, raise costs to us. But, don't take away an important part of our vacation. What's next - compromising on cleanliness because of wage issues and asking guests to grab a broom as they walk down Mainstreet?

Finally, I found the advice "be mindful of cold winter weather in Florida" to be extremely condescending. I am from Minnesota - I know what cold weather is, and I know what an inadequately heated pool feels like. What's next - getting rid of air conditioning and admonishing people to be mindful that Florida can be hot in the summer?

Hopefully, this situation will be resolved to the satisfaction of your loyal and returning guests.

 

[DisneyBill]

This is long, but I just sent this...can you tell I am steamed...

Well if you're steamed you obviously didn't just get out of a WDW pool.

Seriously, good luck with your letter and please keep us informed of any responses. I would think with the amount of feedback they're getting on this, they are going to have to revisit the matter.

 

[boatboatboat]

A warm weather trip to Florrida each winter is something our family counts on.

In fact, some days, they spend all day in the pools and we don't even visit the parks at all.


The person who pulled the trigger and turned down the pool temps, highlighted those lines and passed your e-mail all around the office. He at this moment is up for a promotion. His plan to get people into the parks spending money, rather then sitting around filling those dang mugs has obvioulsy worked.

 

[Frankiesmom]

mndisfan-that was a great letter! Hopefully you won't receive a form letter response. We just purchased in Jan. after a stay @ the POLY and we enjoyed the swimming so much! If we had known about this becoming an issue I can say that we probably wouldn't have bought in. Angel

 

[jimmytammy]

We were in the quite pool last night at VWL and it did seem noticebly cooler.

 

[LIFERBABE]

We were in the quite pool last night at VWL and it did seem noticebly cooler.

JimmyTammy, Be sure to complain, PLEASE!!!! We stayed at VWL Christmas 2004 and that quiet pool was very warm!! We were out there at night, below 40F and my little one would get out and steam was coming off of him!

They can quote this Red Cross stuff all day long, but I know for a fact that the pools were warmer than 80F in Dec 2004 and 2005. No way we would have even went to WDW if they were not!

 

[boatboatboat]

IMO if you are of a mind to complain to someone, i suggest you contact your guide.

When a sales dept becomes fearful that the people who DIRECTLY pay their salary are upset, they are able to make things change.

 

[magicalmcwho]

So if Disney is saving energy (money) by lowering the pool temps, we should all ask for a reduction in our dues also.

Jim.

 

[Chuck S]

So if Disney is saving energy (money) by lowering the pool temps, we should all ask for a reduction in our dues also.

Jim.

Saving energy does not necessarily mean a reduction in current dues. If you use 100 gallons of gas at $2 per gallon you are spending $200. If you save 30% and use 70 gallons of gas at $30, you are spending $210. You're saving 30% of the energy and still spending more, but it is less of an increase than spending $300 for 100 gallons og gas.