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

[Stitch1404]

But that is not true. Red Cross Standards are 78 for fitness swimming and 82 for recreational swimming.

Does anyone know how many fitness swimming lanes are in the Disney pools? Seems like tha majority of them are recreational.

A search on the redcross website will show the red cross pool recommended temperatures to you,
Red Cross lists 82 for recreational swimming.

Why quote erroneous stats to defend the lowered pool temperatures.

When the CM told me 78 degrees was the norm I thought that sounded really cold. So either she was just misinformed (I hope), or completely lying to me. More people need to write letters, we need to tell them we won't put up with this!

 

[ttfn3]

We just got back from our local YMCA and I asked them what temp they kept their pool - 83 to 86 degrees.

 

[Chuck S]

You will need to keep your posts on topic, please.

 

[Fonzy13]

fonz

I see you are in NY.

Little chilly up there i imagine?

I suggest you turn your thermo down 5 degrees tonight, from where you have kept it all winter, and see if your wife notices.

Funny you should mention this. Seeing as energy costs continue to rise around the country, that's what this debate should be all about.

Last year, we kept temperatures in the house at 71 throughout the winter, and it was toasty warm. This year, we kept them at 67, a four-degree difference. It was a bit less warm, but I was comfortable nontheless. As was the "wife" you asked about. For clarification purposes, there are no children involved here, surely they would be long gone by now with 67 degree temperatures in the house.

Anywho, that 4 degree change in temps has saved approximately $350 to date. Not a ton of money, but enough for an annual pass.

It was a cost analysis decision, just as this one surely was for Disney. I have already made my point that I believed Disney handled this situation poorly. That being said, I don't have a problem with it. If you don't change, you'll see your dues increasing quite a bit over the next few years. That's life. And I believe, as I'm sure they do, that quite a bit of people would be more concerned with dues going up 30 percent by '09, than the temps of the pools.

Now look at all of the amenities Disney offers. So many people have stated, "Well, they should've found something else to cut." Yet, with the exception of one or two people, there have been few logical ideas.

So instead of complaining, let's hear some ideas. How do they cut costs? And as a follow-up, we'll compare those ideas to the number of people they would effect compared with the the lowering of pool temps by 4 degrees for 6 months of the year. Should be an interesting discussion. Let's go.

 

[DisFlan]

Now look at all of the amenities Disney offers. So many people have stated, "Well, they should've found something else to cut." Yet, with the exception of one or two people, there have been few logical ideas.

I doubt it would matter what they cut. If it was enough to save money, it would be noticeable, and people would complain just as loudly.

My question is - why do they have to "cut" anything? I'd rather see an increasing added value, not less. DVC/Disney assumed we'd all go along with the "environmental correctness" (an explaination I don't entirely buy) of cooler pools while we're on vacation. They were wrong. I'm fairly sure they're beginning to realize this.


DisFlan

 

[Mickeysduck]

I couldn't have said it better, Fonzy13!

We are up here in New England, turned our therostat down by at least 4 degrees this winter, wear sweaters, no big deal for me or my wife.

As for heating our home pool this year, it will not happen, and I don't know if Disney has our best interest in mind by lowering the pool temps. but if it was still up around 84 - 86, I would be complaining. No doubt, the increase in energy costs will be carried over to our dues.

We were there the first 2 weeks in March (BWV and SSR) and we thought it was refreshing. Got used to it in minutes, and the hot Florida sun felt all the better. My wife went in the pool just about every morning between 6 and 7am to do laps, and she loved it. (without a wet suit).

So....the pool temps are not an issue with us and if anything has to be cut, this appears to be the most logical.

 

[Fonzy13]

I doubt it would matter what they cut. If it was enough to save money, it would be noticeable, and people would complain just as loudly.

My question is - why do they have to "cut" anything? I'd rather see an increasing added value, not less. DVC/Disney assumed we'd all go along with the "environmental correctness" (an explaination I don't entirely buy) of cooler pools while we're on vacation. They were wrong. I'm fairly sure they're beginning to realize this.


DisFlan

I agree with you, they are starting to realize this, and they might even change it, not so sure that's a good idea, though.

Why do they have to "cut" anything? Because costs of doing business, particularly energy costs are rising beyond belief. As a business, Disney can only bite the financial bullet for so long before the costs are passed onto the consumer.

Obviously each and every one of us would like to see value added to our investments. However, sometimes that isn't exactly logical.

 

[DisFlan]

I agree with you, they are starting to realize this, and they might even change it, not so sure that's a good idea, though.

Why do they have to "cut" anything? Because costs of doing business, particularly energy costs are rising beyond belief. As a business, Disney can only bite the financial bullet for so long before the costs are passed onto the consumer.

Obviously each and every one of us would like to see value added to our investments. However, sometimes that isn't exactly logical.

Most of us bought into DVC as a "luxury". I'm plenty environmentally aware the rest of the year, but I don't necessarily want to see it instituted in negative ways on my vacation. I don't mind at all separating cans for DVC trash, turning off unnecessary lights, adjusting A/C when we aren't in the room, etc., but a cold pool is beyond the pale. If it takes a dollar or two more per member to rectify this, I'm more than willing to pay. Have we been given that option?


DisFlan

 

[tmt martins]

I just have a problem with the way they did it .This is not a small thing .What if all the sudden they started recycling water into the rooms and didn't inform you of this.

What if they decided to not clean towles or linen and just refold them .These are also great savings that would just be a mild inconveinence for some ( I know people that reuse their towles for days on end ).

Like I said it's the way they did it not what was done that has me most concerned.

 

[Linda/Ohio]

Seems that if a company wanted to be environmentally correct--they would look more into solar heating--after all this is sunny Florida.

 

[LisaS]

Most of us bought into DVC as a "luxury". I'm plenty environmentally aware the rest of the year, but I don't necessarily want to see it instituted in negative ways on my vacation. I don't mind at all separating cans for DVC trash, turning off unnecessary lights, adjusting A/C when we aren't in the room, etc., but a cold pool is beyond the pale. If it takes a dollar or two more per member to rectify this, I'm more than willing to pay. Have we been given that option?


DisFlan

I'm with you, DisFlan. My husband has a pretty stressful job and relaxing swims in a warm, comfortable pool really make his vacation complete. We have worked hard for a lot of years to be in a position to afford vacations in deluxe accommodations at WDW. We expect to be able to get a good night's sleep without having to buy balloons to keep the AC on at night and to use the pool without having to wear a wetsuit. I don't think it's expecting too much.

 

[DisFlan]

Seems that if a company wanted to be environmentally correct--they would look more into solar heating--after all this is sunny Florida.

I wondered about this, too. A one-time outlay of capital would be required, but it would work (and save) for years into the future.


DisFlan

 

[jade1]

Anywho, that 4 degree change in temps has saved approximately $350 to date. Not a ton of money, but enough for an annual pass.

So instead of complaining, let's hear some ideas. How do they cut costs? And as a follow-up, we'll compare those ideas to the number of people they would effect compared with the the lowering of pool temps by 4 degrees for 6 months of the year. Should be an interesting discussion. Let's go.

Why didn't you drop it 4 degrees the year before and save energy that year? Why did you decide to "waste" energy until this year? Why not drop it 4 more? Have you maximized your energy efficiency in your home or is there more you could be doing? Then you take the $350 you "saved" and blow it on more wasted energy such as rides-the biggest waste of energy there could be.

As I have stated before on this thread-are you saving energy, or saving money? And at what point is just pointless to pretend any of us are "saving energy" (or money) by visiting WDW? I have also said Wind/Solar can keep the pools at any temp you want and the return would be huge-at the same time WDW still has restaurants with no walls that have AC.

 

[LIFERBABE]

I agree, we sacrifice throughout the year to own DVC. DVC is a luxury for us and when you make certain sacrifices to have the best and then it is downgraded, we feel ripped. Heated Pools are not a perk. They are part of our home and should be maintained just like the roads, landscaping, staff etc.

Around our home, my children understand why we make certain sacrifices, so that we can go to Disney World, not once, but 3 times a year. We didnt add a pool to our home, because we have DVC. We already pay to maintain a pool and with school and work we most likely would use it 4 weeks out of the year anyway.

I can stay in Texas and Sacrifice and save the environment and it wont cost me 5K a year in dues.

And I am willing to pay whatever it takes to keep our DVC pools heated to 82F to 86F in the winter months. That should have never been negotiable and Im disappointed that DVC would think it was.

DVC sold out BCV in record time, mainly on the strength of the pool, then they go pull something like this. And yes, I do feel it was done underhandedly and THAT is my opinion.

I love my DVC, but we will not make our annual December trips if the pool temps are not increased.

 

[DVCPAT]

Why didn't you drop it 4 degrees the year before and save energy that year? Why did you decide to "waste" energy until this year? Why not drop it 4 more? Have you maximized your energy efficiency in your home or is there more you could be doing? Then you take the $350 you "saved" and blow it on more wasted energy such as rides-the biggest waste of energy there could be.

As I have stated before on this thread-are you saving energy, or saving money? And at what point is just pointless to pretend any of us are "saving energy" (or money) by visiting WDW? I have also said Wind/Solar can keep the pools at any temp you want and the return would be huge-at the same time WDW still has restaurants with no walls that have AC.

You seem to point out other areas that need updating, as if they shouldn’t start until they tackle those areas first. The energy costs have to justify the investments. The first step is usually always the obvious things that require simple settings like thermostats. I think you’ll see a lot more investment in solar/wind energy devices. All the wasteful things you point out are correct, I would bet they’re be changed in the future.

It’s easy to phase in high efficiency motors and other energy conserving devices during routine maintenance on rides an attractions. Remodeling open restaurants will take some time.

 

[corinnak]

I have also said Wind/Solar can keep the pools at any temp you want and the return would be huge-at the same time WDW still has restaurants with no walls that have AC.

I am wondering - how big a solar collector would you need to keep SAB warm in the winter, and where would you put it? Is this like the solar panels of yore or is there a new solar heating system that is less huge?

Also, I must point out that there were restaurants with now walls that HAD AC last summer. Remains to be seen, I guess, if they will be running them this summer, right? Or are they running them right now? Anyone know?

 

[lilstint]

I'm with you, DisFlan. My husband has a pretty stressful job and relaxing swims in a warm, comfortable pool really make his vacation complete. We have worked hard for a lot of years to be in a position to afford vacations in deluxe accommodations at WDW. We expect to be able to get a good night's sleep without having to buy balloons to keep the AC on at night and to use the pool without having to wear a wetsuit. I don't think it's expecting too much.

I totally agree.

 

[jade1]

Remodeling open restaurants will take some time.

I could call a glass installation company tomorrow and have glass panels installed on that restaurant this weekend-is that a long time?

 

[jade1]

I am wondering - how big a solar collector would you need to keep SAB warm in the winter, and where would you put it? Is this like the solar panels of yore or is there a new solar heating system that is less huge?

Also, I must point out that there were restaurants with now walls that HAD AC last summer. Remains to be seen, I guess, if they will be running them this summer, right? Or are they running them right now? Anyone know?

To be honest I do not know the size it would take-but at least look into it. First I would heat the pools to 86 like before and simply cover them at night-I'm sure that would be cheaper than 78 and then let the night winter air pull the heat out of 4 foot deep water, then there would be no interuption to dues/costs or comfort. I also think wind turbines 100 miles from Minneapolis are used for electricty so you wouldn't have to look at them-maybe solar panels can be pretty far away also.

 

[DVCPAT]

I could call a glass installation company tomorrow and have glass panels installed on that restaurant this weekend-is that a long time?

Yes, you could simply do it with out much thought. You might not have job very long though. Sometimes it’s better to plan and upgrade the restaurant, rather than just trap cold air.