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

[Markstudy]

Of course you can. How many posts/views do you think there have been about a Contemporary DVC? It may hapen in the future, but at this point it is all speculation and rumor.

I wish I was wrong! I hope that Disney isn't run by accountants who change the rules after I send in my money, and pre-book thinking that I'm going to get what I got last year, and every year I've been.

But where there is smoke.....

 

[Chuck S]

If Disney's managment can take warm pools away from a 5 year old kid. To the point that you watch these small childern turn blue.

Even if you don't swim. Why do you think these Executives will stop at lowering the pool temps?
Where do you want to make a stance?... that Disney can't just pull-a-fast-one, and look at us folks that book trips 6 months in advance as fools to be toyed with?

What, you book 6 months in advance...why do you wait so long, I book at 11 months.

 

[Markstudy]

. And I for one will not pay anything to support higher pool temps.

I am not paying more for pool temps. I am paying the same or more each year for things being taken away.

And Disney can take away, they have every right.... but they should tell us, not sneak under the table like a rat.

 

[Chuck S]

I am not paying more for pool temps. I am paying the same or more each year for things being taken away.

And Disney can take away, they have every right.... but they should tell us, not sneak under the table like a rat.

Disney is under no obligation to share each and every policy change with prospective guests any more than they are under any obligation to disclose what conventions may be scheduled during your visit. Nothing sneaking under the table at all. They simply are not under the obligation to discuss resort operations with the public.

 

[jade1]

Then why should non-swimmers pay for swimmers? Let those cash resorts raise their room rates if they want warmer pools. BTW, I think the Poly is marketed more on their overall theme and location/monorail rather than their pool

Got some news for you-they already are and have been all along.

 

[Chuck S]

Got some news for you-they already are and have been all along.

True, but now that energy costs are increasing, that does not mean they should continue to do so. Nor does it mean that DVC dues should increase rather than save energy. And again, this "policy change" is speculation. We have a handful of posters that say the water was cold during their visit. They should be the ones complaining and sharing their concerns with Disney. Not using mob mentality to start an email campaign.

 

[T.E. Yeary]

How about a letter writing campaign to Disney about the pool temps??? It certainly seems that these are very valid issues.

Not only are the children affected by their lack of ability to hold heat as well as adults, there are many arthritic people that can only function in the warmer water.

My wife loves to take our Grandson for weekend stays on our points, she suffers from severe arthritis, therefore no pool enjoyment for her.

Disney is saving money by conserving energy on the temps of the DVC rooms, seems like a compromise of some sort is in order.

We can talk about it on the boards all day long but bottom line is if the "powers that be" aren't informed of the displeasure to YOUR vacation home,
then it will continue.

Tom

 

[Chuck S]

Disney is saving money by conserving energy on the temps of the DVC rooms, seems like a compromise of some sort is in order.

Tom, can you clarify your statement here? DVC resort rooms have individual thermostats that guests can adjust. If I am cold or hot I adjust it.

 

[PHILCT]

I look forward to my December or January Disney Vacations, I will not put up with cold pools after leaving cold Connecticut for Florida.

Heck I can go to an indoor pool with more warmth right down the street.

This is not a minor point in my relationship with DVC.

DVC will get a lot of bashing from a lot of people, not just me over this subject.

I'm the guy that trys to slow down to 60 when the sign says 65 MPH,
and everyone is cursing me in the right lane for going slow to conserve gasoline. I turn off the lights to save electricity. I don't run to turn on the A/C when it is starting to get hot in the summer.

My little pleasure in December or January is a warm heated pool at Disney.
This is the one time I do not want to save energy.
Maybe we can have warmer heated pools on alternate days?
I'm Kidding !

It is not negotiable.

I wonder if the other Timeshares or Orlando Resorts in Florida need to hear about this subject. It could be quite an interesting marketing ploy for them.

4 to 6 degrees in a pool temperature is not like 4 or 6 percent more in the increased cost of a Mickey Ice Cream Bar, it is a BIG DIFFERENCE.

If they adopt this attitude at Blizzard Beach, it may live up to its name sake.

 

[DVCPAT]

4 to 6 degrees in a pool temperature is not like 4 or 6 percent more in the increased cost of a Mickey Ice Cream Bar, it is a BIG DIFFERENCE.

Generating heat consumes a lot of energy. I was reading an article that calculated the cost to heat a 1000 sq. ft. pool in Miami …

Miami 1/1-12/31
78° water temp = $1335
80° water temp =$1780
82° water temp = $2250


Energy consumption for each degree rise in warmth will cost from 10 to 30% more in energy costs

 

[Beca]

For those of you who don't want to pay a "surcharge" for heating the pools because you don't swim...how is that different from paying your dues? You already pay for pools you don't swim in. I am allergic to chlorine, and cannot go into SAB without "paying a price"...usually a pretty miserable price. I have never even "dipped my toes" into SAB (I don't bring a swimsuit,either). However, my family loves it....but, even if we didn't use the pools at all, a destination like Florida, and a resort called "The Beach Club" built around a really amazing pool complex should be a place where people can swim....comfortably...year round.

And, why am I addressing this now, based on others experiences rather than my own? Because if I wait until next December to "see for myself"...it will be too late to enjoy the pool on the vacation where my dd will turn 5. We ONLY go to WDW when it is cool (I lived in AZ for 11 years...I cannot STAND the heat). I hate to think that we have spent so much money for a resort that used to be a year-round pool resort, but may no longer be.

And, as for conservation....I am all for it. We try to be VERY conscious of that at home....we are good recyclers, and try to conserve as much natural gas as possible (we didn't even light the pilot to our fireplaces this year). But, this is a VERY expensive vacation destination. IMHO, the normal rules do not apply. People pay a lot to stay at a world-class resort....a world-class resort in Florida includes a pool that is comfortable for swimming year-round.



Beca

 

[T.E. Yeary]

Chuck,

I was referring to the "new" thermostats in the villas that automatically turn off if there is no motion in the room. It is sensing you are away. Also you can only adjust it so far without having to override the system. Maintenance has to show you how to do it. That's why when you come back to your room after being away, it's stuffy and warm. If you like it really cool at bedtime you'd have to call maintenance to throw the switch or "fool" the system. It's been suggested to put a helium balloon in front of the thermostat so the movement will keep it running. Now I do NOT claim to be an expert in this area. I only know the last 2 visits to BWV & VWL the rooms would NOT get cool enough for me.

There was quite a thread about this subject not too long ago.

 

[manning]

Someone from the resort board has a sensible suggestions. Why not enclose the quiet pools during the winter season. When the sun is able to start heating the pools in the spring then remove the enclosures.

 

[Beca]

Someone from the resort board has a sensible suggestions. Why not enclose the quiet pools during the winter season. When the sun is able to start heating the pools in the spring then remove the enclosures.

That's a really good idea!!! The main pools should be large enough to handle all the "winter" swimmers.



Beca

 

[PHILCT]

Generating heat consumes a lot of energy. I was reading an article that calculated the cost to heat a 1000 sq. ft. pool in Miami …

Miami 1/1-12/31
78° water temp = $1335
80° water temp =$1780
82° water temp = $2250


Energy consumption for each degree rise in warmth will cost from 10 to 30% more in energy costs

Hi

I agree with you that it will cost a considerable amount of money to keep the pools heated to 84 to 86 degrees as they have in the past.

I know that it is nice to be energy concious.

I am not knocking anyone on that.

But the one place I do not want to loose the luxury is the HEATED POOL.

I don't buy cars that get under 20 mpg, and I don't get upset over others who do. We all pick our energy savings choices.

But this is the luxury that I require at Disney, A HEATED 84 to 86 degree pool.

Even at the Disney Hotels they give you the option, throw the towel in the Tub if you want it replaced, or hang it up if you don't.

But in the case of the heated pool, I get no choice !

If Disney is testing the waters, yes that is an intentional pun, they will not get my support on this issue.

I don't want to hear any of my invited guests saying something like
"Is Disney Being To Cheap to Heat the Pools". (And they will !)

Unless they want to advertise that Storm Along Bay is the only Pool at Disney that DVC members can "ALL" go to in the WINTER and it will be the only one that gets the 84 to 86 degree temperature. But that will cause a traffic jam there. All the other pools will be nearly empty.

Perhaps they can just charge more there to swim and change the name to Storm Along Pay.

I don't want to get started again on what I think BLIZZARD BEACH could live up to on its name sake. That could be next !

I am willing to pay 4.00 for a Mickey Ice Cream Pop, if that is what it takes to keep the pools heated from 84 to 86 degrees.

I just love those Mickey Ice Cream Pops, they are worth every penny.

 

[nezy]

That's a really good idea!!! The main pools should be large enough to handle all the "winter" swimmers.



Beca

Tell that to all of us "winter" people who come down from the north for some Florida sun in Jan.and Feb.! Bbrrr!Winter is not a "slow" season at all.

 

[Beca]

Tell that to all of us "winter" people who come down from the north for some Florida sun in Jan.and Feb.! Bbrrr!Winter is not a "slow" season at all.

Yes...but, I have never seen SAB crowded in the winter time. Usually, we are one of the few families in that area. I don't think it is a "slow" season, but I do not think there are anywhere near the number of swimmers that there are in July.



Beca

 

[LisaS]

For those of you who don't want to pay a "surcharge" for heating the pools because you don't swim...how is that different from paying your dues? You already pay for pools you don't swim in. I am allergic to chlorine, and cannot go into SAB without "paying a price"...usually a pretty miserable price. I have never even "dipped my toes" into SAB (I don't bring a swimsuit,either). However, my family loves it....but, even if we didn't use the pools at all, a destination like Florida, and a resort called "The Beach Club" built around a really amazing pool complex should be a place where people can swim....comfortably...year round.

I agree. We all pay for things we don't use to the same extent that some other members do. I use the pools and want warm pools in January. On the other hand, on our last two trips we rented a car but I have no issues with paying my share of the increased gasoline costs to keep the Disney transportation system running even though I made limited use of it on my last 2 trips. Some people keep their villa cooler than we do but I don't have any issues about paying my share of the energy charges because I understand that we all have different heat tolerances and some people need the room to be cooler in order to be comfortable. I think it probably balances out in the end.

And, why am I addressing this now, based on others experiences rather than my own? Because if I wait until next December to "see for myself"...it will be too late to enjoy the pool on the vacation where my dd will turn 5. We ONLY go to WDW when it is cool (I lived in AZ for 11 years...I cannot STAND the heat). I hate to think that we have spent so much money for a resort that used to be a year-round pool resort, but may no longer be.

I have not experienced the cold pool problem personally, but felt that there were enough reports of cold pools to convince me that something has changed. In my email to Disney I asked them to confirm whether the pool temperatures have been lowered and whether it is a permanent change. I explained that I look forward to going swimming in January but if I cannot count on the pools at WDW to be as warm as they have been in years past, I will go somewhere else for our trip next January. I haven't given up hope that Disney management will revisit this decision if enough people let them know it is important to them.

And, as for conservation....I am all for it. We try to be VERY conscious of that at home....we are good recyclers, and try to conserve as much natural gas as possible (we didn't even light the pilot to our fireplaces this year). But, this is a VERY expensive vacation destination. IMHO, the normal rules do not apply. People pay a lot to stay at a world-class resort....a world-class resort in Florida includes a pool that is comfortable for swimming year-round.



Beca

Again, I agree with you. We recycle. We've added extra insulation to our house. I wait as long as I can stand it before turning on the heat in the winter and the AC in summer. We have replaced many of our incandescent light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs. When we have to replace an applicance, we buy the most energy efficent appliance we can afford. Swimming at WDW in January is one of my few indulgences!

 

[Katya]

Hey all. Still waiting to hear from my guide, but until then, I decided to take some time (about an hour or so, heh), and read through ALL entries both in this thread and the one in "resorts." This is what I found. Level of interestingnessocity up to the reader. Draw what conclusions you want.

Bad (Cold) Experiences
----------------------
Out of both threads, 52 unique usernames complained of cold/unpleasant temperatures in the last few months. I ignored any complaints for 2005, except one which I put a ? by, because I wasn't exactly sure if it was December or January. There were other complaints about 2005, but I did not count those.

39 of those complaints were found in the DVC thread, 14 in the Resorts thread. That is two average unique complaints in the resorts thread, and ~1.4 average unique complaints in the DVC thread. It is important to note, however, that the vast majority of complaints in DVC came in the initial 14 pages or so, with the thread diverging into the same people commenting back and forth for the bulk of the rest of the pages.

Of those 53 unique usernames, 17 were by users who stated explicitly that they were repeat customers to a disney resort during the same time period/season. In every case, except possibly one (I'd have to relook), they reported in their past experience, the temperature was noticably/dramatically warmer.

Two of those said that they also tried out Typhoon Lagoon and said the difference in temperatures was dramatic. Additionally, two other users stated that they had also stayed at an offsite hotel and their pools were also dramatically warmer than Disney's pools.

At least one person stated problems with the pools while they were already on Disney property, soon after being in a pool. One person's account was about friends who were visiting at the same time as them; the friend's noticed it was dramatically colder at their resort (POFQ), while the reporter's was much warmer (Poly).

Good (Warm) Experiences
------------------------
Out of both threads, nine unique usernames stated that the temperatures were warm/comfortable in the last months. All but one were in 2006, the outlier being Dec 2005.

Seven of those positive experiences were found in the DVC thread, two in the Resorts thread. That is ~.29 average unique complaints in the resorts thread, and ~.26 average unique complaints in the DVC thread.

Of those nine unique usernames, one was explictly mentioned as a repeat customer to a disney resort during the same time period/season. There was no change from the last time, if I remember.

One person's account was about friends who were visiting at the same time as them; the friend's noticed it was dramatically colder at their resort (POFQ), while the reporter's was much warmer (Poly).

Mixed (Warm/Cold) Experiences
------------------------------
In both threads, there were two unique users who both had bad and good experiences in the same visit. In one instance, the main pool at VWL was warm for a number of days, but the "Villa Pools" were too cold for the children the one time they didn't go swimming. In the other instance, the user had good experiences at YC/WL, but a negative experience at Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Neither mentioned being a repeat customer that I recorded.

I need a life. Of sorts.

 

[cobbler]

My mother just returned 2 days ago from a trip to Disney. She was staying at the Coronado.

I asked her about the pool temp. She said while it was 85 degrees out, when she got in the pool, it was chilly and she actually shivered a bit. She did say she did eventually get used to it but it wasn't refreshing or nice. It was a slight shock to get into such cold water.