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

[Katya]

I have to say this whole thing has created a major quandry for me. I signed up for 210 points of SSR and got my documentation from Disney last week. I talked to quality control, and am on the way towards possibly finishing things up and putting in my full deposit (right now they only have my initial 500). One of the main reasons I decided to go forward on this is to have a relaxing place to free my mind during off-season vacations as during the "on-season" I'm often busy with previous yearly engagements. As someone who loves to swim and mermaid-it-up (yes, Ariel is my fav. Disney "princess" : ), not necessarily for fitness but just for the experience of the water, this is somewhat upsetting for me. Is it the only deciding factor on whether I go for it or not? No... but it is worrisome, especially if it becomes a barrier to trading/renting points to others in later seasons.

So now I have no idea what I want to do and time is ticking since I am off to Japan very soon for two weeks. Argh and Ugh. Stupid timing. Major Sturm und Drang. Flotsam and Jetsam. Bibbidybobbidyboo.

 

[LisaS]

Thanx, tmt martins and LisaS.
Next time please tell me to wear boots!

MG

It's not surprising that Disney is looking for ways to keep costs down in the face of rising energy costs. I just wish they would make those cuts somewhere else. Swimming around in a warm pool on our past two January trips was the highlight of both trips! I remember floating around in the pool thinking how wonderful it was to be swimming outdoors in January. We decided we should do this every year so we just bought more points just for that purpose. D'oh!

 

[boatboatboat]

katya keep your ssr points.

wdw will fix the pools, and ssr will grow and mature into a wonderful resort.

dvc rocks........... and you will love it.

 

[LIFERBABE]

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.

This quote from Jackie is what really burns me up! (For the record, I did write DVC and received the same response as posted, this morning)

Basically saying, we shouldnt expect to swim when its cold out. Its been cold the last 2 Decembers when we visited our homes, and the outside air temp has never been an issue before.

DVC should be more MINDFUL of its membership when feeding them a load!
Oh! And I WISH! they would raise the temp back to 84F! so my babies can swim from Christmas to New Years!

 

[LisaS]

wdw will fix the pools...

In case they don't, my DH is already working on a plan. He figures with two good water pumps and some tubing he can suck water from one of the hot tubs into the pool, then pump pool water back into the hot tub, thereby using the heater in the hot tub to help raise the pool temperature. He hasn't yet figured out how to set this up without the life guards noticing.

Plan B is to organize a pool game for the kids: issue each of them a plastic bucket and tell them to go over to the hot tub and fill the bucket with water and then bring it back and dump the hot water into the pool. Anybody care to guess how many buckets of 104-degree water it would take to raise the temperature of a typical resort pool from 78-80 degrees up to 84 degrees?

 

[boatboatboat]

I still think my drink alot of beer solution has merit.

 

[kjkelley]

Does anyone know if only the DVC members are getting screwed by the cooler pool temperatures, 78F down from 84F or is this policy across the board at all Disney resorts?

In addition to the size of SSR putting a strain on the DVC system, so too will this new policy that discourages more guests from visiting in the winter and switching to a March-October type stay!

 

[jade1]

I have to say this whole thing has created a major quandry for me. I signed up for 210 points of SSR and got my documentation from Disney last week. I talked to quality control, and am on the way towards possibly finishing things up and putting in my full deposit (right now they only have my initial 500). One of the main reasons I decided to go forward on this is to have a relaxing place to free my mind during off-season vacations as during the "on-season" I'm often busy with previous yearly engagements. As someone who loves to swim and mermaid-it-up (yes, Ariel is my fav. Disney "princess" : ), not necessarily for fitness but just for the experience of the water, this is somewhat upsetting for me. Is it the only deciding factor on whether I go for it or not? No... but it is worrisome, especially if it becomes a barrier to trading/renting points to others in later seasons.

So now I have no idea what I want to do and time is ticking since I am off to Japan very soon for two weeks. Argh and Ugh. Stupid timing. Major Sturm und Drang. Flotsam and Jetsam. Bibbidybobbidyboo.

You should call your guide and ask what gives? Have them explain how Red Cross temps are used in the winter but not the summer for one thing. Of course report back to us what they say-we just dont have as much leverage as you currently.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Excuse me fellow DISers, but I speak Disneyease:

Allow me to translate: Thank you for your membership, but we don't care if the major DVC resort ammenitiy is usable to you during your winter stay."

Have a magical day!!

Thanks for the laugh! Is anyone else old enough to remember Lily Tomlin on Laugh-In when she was (I think her name was ) Ernestine for the phone company? I just visualize her sitting on the telephone saying "We're DVC and we don't care!"

 

[Markstudy]

Red Cross temps are for the YMCA that charges $1.00 to swim or $75 to join for the year.

When I pay $300 to $500 a night at Disney.... I expect better than YMCA and Red Cross treatment

 

[Sammie]

Does anyone know if only the DVC members are getting screwed by the cooler pool temperatures, 78F down from 84F or is this policy across the board at all Disney resorts?

In addition to the size of SSR putting a strain on the DVC system, so too will this new policy that discourages more guests from visiting in the winter and switching to a March-October type stay!

All the pools are heated to the same standards.

 

[Markstudy]

I got an email from Disney today. Did you guys get an Offer from John Hein to call him? I'm going to give him a call. But first, does anyone know this man? (My letter also included the talk about the Red Cross standards.)

QUOTE from letter
"If you should wish to discuss your comments further, or provide us with
additional details, you may call me. If I am not
immediately available when you call, please leave your telephone number
and an indication of the best time to reach you.

Mr. Quinzi, thank you again for taking the time to share your honest and
constructive feedback. We hope to have future opportunities to
entertain you at our Resort."

Sincerely,
John Hein
Executive Offices
Walt Disney World® Resort

 

[Canadian Tom]

Hello: I was down at SSR and BCV bot in Jan and March. Did a lot of complaining about the cold pools. The teperatures will be set at between 78 and 80 degrees that is a new policy. Way too cold for us and it seemed everyone else at the pools. They basically sluffed me off and said it was a WDW decison to save money, oh sorry energy. We're the one's who pay so turn up the heat! I'm so mad I'm thinking of selling our three contracts and going somewhere else rather than WDW. So my question is, can someone give me e-mail addresses to write to. Thanks.

 

[boatboatboat]

I would call your dvc guide.

I would think that they have the ear of dvc managers.

If nothing else i am sure they could point you to the right person.

good luck........

 

[DISNEY123]

Using the Red Cross is a convenient excuse to use in the winter months. I guess during the summer, when the Florida sun contributes a great deal to the water temp, Disney is not as concerned about the "safety" of the water.

If they were you would see signs at the pool that read:

"Water Temp 85 degrees-Pool Closed-Per American Red Cross"

We probably will never see signs like this, in fact, come July Disney will probably start marketing again how warm they keep the pools.

 

[Chuck S]

I don't think Disney ever did any marketing based upon the temperature of their pools.

 

[mathmagic]

members@disneyvacationclub.com

wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com

 

[senecabeach]

Yep... Only us snowbirds swim in Fla in the winter!!

 

[boatboatboat]

I don't think Disney ever did any marketing based upon the temperature of their pools.


so if i stayed at the BW(cash) in jan of 2000 and swam in the pool, and bought dvc, you don't think it would be a fair assumption that in 2006 the pool would be kept at the same temp it was when i bought in?

I would think that in 2000, when I was given the tour that pool conditions remaining stable were VERY MUCH an implied aspect of buying dvc.

 

[Chuck S]

I don't think Disney ever did any marketing based upon the temperature of their pools.


so if i stayed at the BW(cash) in jan of 2000 and swam in the pool, and bought dvc, you don't think it would be a fair assumption that in 2006 the pool would be kept at the same temp it was when i bought in?

I would think that in 2000, when I was given the tour that pool conditions remaining stable were VERY MUCH an implied aspect of buying dvc.

No, I don't thiink that would be a fair assumption. Any more than I think it would be fair to assume that free resort delivery of packages will continue indefinately, or Magical Express will always be free. A think a fair assumption would be that DVC resorts would be held to the same maintenance standards and pool temps at whatever is currently in effect for regular Disney resorts.