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

[LIFERBABE]

I'm also still feeling a lack of trust. Yes the pool temps have been raised up a bit again but will that policy hold? I still have my January vacation planned and will be wondering until the day I actually arrive whether or not I'm going to find the pools warm enough for swimming. Given what just happened, I will be wondering if they will suddenly decide to put the pool temps back down to 78 degrees the day before I arrive. I guess I just don't like uncertainty when it comes to my vacations.
__________________

LisaS, I completely agree. Ignorance was bliss, but DVC making an executive decision like this is really sobering. Time to take off the rose colored glasses. It is sad, like when your kids stop believing in the tooth fairy.
I'll get over it and we still have our December trip planned, but I too will wonder what temp is the pool today? That's not good. Many of us don't like uncertainty. That's why we purchased DVC for the next 50 years. We trusted that as long as we paid our share, DVC would maintain the quality of our vacations. That didnt happen this time. (and yes I did read my POS)

I will be on the Member Cruise in Oct. and I will be sure to let them know how something like this can really cause anxiety in its membership. Im sure they already know, but they really shouldnt fool around with our resort amenities.

OP, again thank you, but I agree with JenD, we lost several posters after page 30. Maybe you could update your Thread Title to let everyone know the Update. A new thread will only get merged with this one anyway.

 

[Disney Fanatic]

I waited an entire day, but I can wait no longer. 38 pages of screaming and yelling, they change the policy, and you get 4 responses of thanks.

I can only imagine the reputation of people on this board with the Disney company. It's sad really, because I'm sure not everyone is as crazy as they appeared.

All well, I guess I'll have to give up my hopes of easier booking, looks like no one will be selling.

The bottom line is we paid GOOD money to join DVC and did not expect to have to come south to Florida to swim in cold pools.
Yes, I did e-mail DVC and tell them my dissatisfaction.
I don't feel I owe DVC anything as again, we paid to join DVC and they are the ones I believe who owe DVC members an apology for trying to do this in an underhanded way.
Think about how the families feel who were vacationing at that time when they just put this policy into place and had that part of their vacation ruined!
I am still waiting to see if they actually do increase the temps. I have not heard any trip reports back yet and until then, no comment!

 

[rocketriter]

I too am very surprised that given the amount of people who were upset about the lowered pool temps, so few have responded to hearing of a positive conclusion...

I got the first two e-mails from Disney pinning their policy on the Red Cross etc., but I did not get a third e-mail backing down. I'll say "Thank You" quite gratefully -- if and when I get it.

 

[LisaS]

I got the first two e-mails from Disney pinning their policy on the Red Cross etc., but I did not get a third e-mail backing down. I'll say "Thank You" quite gratefully -- if and when I get it.

Yes, I also got the first two emails (the one from Jackie and the first one from Carli) but did not receive the second email from Carli stating the pool temps would be raised to 82 degrees. I thought that was very odd. You would think that Carli would have sent the second email out to all of the DVC members who had corresponded with Disney about this situation.

 

[mrsminniemouse]

Yes, I also got the first two emails (the one from Jackie and the first one from Carli) but did not receive the second email from Carli stating the pool temps would be raised to 82 degrees. I thought that was very odd. You would think that Carli would have sent the second email out to all of the DVC members who had corresponded with Disney about this situation.

I am amazed that the email with the new information wasn't sent to everyone who wrote to WDW/DVC about this issue. Maybe they have a big backlog to deal with and it will take some time.

I realise now that some people feel that getting the temperature raised to 82 degrees isn't much of a victory as it was previously 84 degrees. I am pleased with the result, I am sure 82 degrees will be comfortable enough to swim in and by turning the heat down a couple of degrees some energy will be saved at least. I think it is a matter of compromise.

Mandy

 

[DVCPAT]

Someone should e-mail them about putting in a cooling system for the summer mths.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

HI, OP here again. I was delighted to find this in my inbox this morning:

Dear Mandy and DH,

Thank you for contacting Member Services. I apologize for the delay in my response.

I appreciate your taking the time to write concerning the pool temperatures during your recent
visit, and I would like to apologize for your disappointment. Based on feedback we have received
from our Members, our Recreation department will be adjusting the thermostat temperature on our
feature and leisure pools to 82 degrees. We value our Members' comfort, and want to be sure all
Members have an enjoyable Recreation experience when visiting the Walt Disney World Resort. Setting
the thermostat at 82 degrees will ensure our pools will be heated to a minimum of 82 degrees.

I would also like to apologize for your concerns with the menu options at Disney's Saratoga Springs
Resort & Spa. Thank you for taking the time to share your suggestions. You may be assured that I
will share them with the appropriate Leaders at the resort. I also appreciate the compliments you
have shared and will make sure the individuals mentioned are recognized for their great service.

Thank you again for sharing your feedback. 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,

Carli A. D'Agostino
Member Satisfaction Manager


Well I am so pleased. Looks like Disney did listen to our concerns. What a great result.

Yes, it's a good outfit that not only listens to their customers, but actually acts on their concerns.

Nice job DVC!!! (as usual)

MG

 

[Luckymommyx2]

It's great to know that someone actually reads the emails, letters, etc. that we send. It's even better that they are doing something to correct the problem.

 

[LisaS]

I realise now that some people feel that getting the temperature raised to 82 degrees isn't much of a victory as it was previously 84 degrees. I am pleased with the result, I am sure 82 degrees will be comfortable enough to swim in and by turning the heat down a couple of degrees some energy will be saved at least. I think it is a matter of compromise.

Mandy

I agree. I finally got around to doing a little experiment today. I turned on the tap and let the water run down my forearm. I imagined myself going to the pool in January and adjusted the water temperature until I felt that it was warm enough that I would be willing to get into the pool. I measured the temperature of the water and it was.... 84.5 degrees!

I tried a range of temperatures: 78, 80, 82 and let the water run down my forearm to see how it felt. For me personally, 78 degrees and 80 degrees felt too cold for winter swimming and 82 degrees was marginal but probably OK. It is definitely not as pleasant as 84 degrees. Submerging my entire body will almost certainly feel different than testing the water on just my forearm and then the extra 2 degrees will probably matter much more but I'm willing to give it a try.

 

[DrTomorrow]

It's great to know that someone actually reads the emails, letters, etc. that we send. It's even better that they are doing something to correct the problem.

Of course, we have no actual proof that emails from non-affected DIS folks (that is, people who only read about it on the Internet) made one bit of difference. Companies usually give much heavier weight to live, in-person comments & complaints; letter writing campaigns, particularly Internet-based ones, usually are perceived as a 'Tempest in a chat-board'.

Whatever the cause for the change really was, I hope that my fellow DIS DVCers truly enjoy those extra few degrees.

IMHO - YMMV

PS I know this is very cynical, but I wouldn't be surprised if 82 degress was the goal they had in mind from the beginning. You know: take away twice as much as you want to, then give half back....

PPS If you really want to show the "power" of the DIS DVC Email Brigade, start writing letters that you want Mousekeeping T/T on Day 3 and Full Clean on Day 6 - when that happens, I'll be a true believer....

 

[slp87]

I'm so glad for the change...but a little sad at the same time. We just returned a little over a week ago from our 10 day vacation and not once could I overcome the cold water to swim at either Stormalong Bay or Luna Park. I had really been looking forward to spending time with DD in the pool. We only go every other year, so hopefully DD (11) won't be too "cool" to swim with mom next time. (if the pool temps are warm!)

 

[smsnorthup]

Thanks to everyone who wrote in and made this happen! We leave next Tuesday for SSR...our first time home and am thrilled to have warmer pools.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Well its nice but...dont you think it might be the lifeguards and the snack bars reported back that no one was spending any time or money at the pools?
Although they would save money in the short run with that people who like swimming/playing in the pool would go to another resort on their next trip. What about all those non-forum type people who will only remember "Disney has cold pools"?

Disney would have done better to keep the feature pools warm and heat the quiet pools minimally...or shut them down altogether.

 

[Sammie]

Disney would have done better to keep the feature pools warm and heat the quiet pools minimally...or shut them down altogether

Well I for one would be against that; we avoid the pools with the slides.

 

[CarnotaurDad]

I completely disagree with shutting down the quiet pools. Those are fantastic and would rather have all pools heated at a lower level than heating the main pool a lot and shutting down the others.

JMHO

 

[BuckRodgers1999]

Outstanding!!!!
I am so please to hear the pools will be kept at a reasonable temperature!!! It happenned so quickly, this is great news. My thank you to all those expressing concerns to the correct places, satisfaction managers for communicating those concerns to the right people, and to the executives for being responsive to DVP owners. Very, very nicely done!!!

I must confess, I have 10+ letters to Disney executives written and ready to mail on this issue as I have collected some names and addresses. I will be tearing up those letters and re-witing them as thank yous and compliments for resolving this huge problem for my family and our vacations. This is important to us, and it is now fixed, thank goodness. Yahoo!!!! We're off in a couple of weeks!!!!

 

[DrTomorrow]

[...]Disney would have done better to keep the feature pools warm and heat the quiet pools minimally...or shut them down altogether.

I find this quite disturbing. I thought this whole thing was about folks pulling together to right a "wrong". Now I see that it was only "Hey, if I don't use something, to heck with it".

Sigh.....

 

[LIFERBABE]

I find this quite disturbing. I thought this whole thing was about folks pulling together to right a "wrong". Now I see that it was only "Hey, if I don't use something, to heck with it".

Sigh.....

Doc, not everyone feels this way. And it was only a suggestion, as we are trying to come up with ways to be more efficient.

And I think we really did come together on this, those directly affected and those like myself who heard the news and expressed concern for future trips.

DVC grew, mostly based on word of mouth. Until recently, they didnt advertise or solicit. We did that. All of us. I learned about DVC right here on the Dis, now I have over 1000 points in 3 years of ownership. Im not surprised they listened. They know we are out here. We were on the member cruise and believe me, they all knew about the DIS and its influence.

Yes we have some eccentrics, but most of us are trying to be good neighbors and take care of our homes and the people that take care of them.

For the record, I also received the 2 emails but not the third regarding the 82F min temp.

 

[jj13]

Say it ain't so?

We've ALWAYS done Disney from May-Oct. and are going next year in Feb. for the first time. If it weren't for heated pools I never would have considered going this time of year.

Any reports on the water temp. at OKW?

 

[smjj]

Lets face it, we will probably never know how much infulence we here on the DIS had in Disney raising the pool temps. I can't believe we were the deciding factor but one of many voices they heard from and each voice is important. I think they know the DIS is a very active site and took our comments into account. All I know is they are going back up and that is whats important. As for the quite pools.. That pretty much all we use. My wife and I go down to relax and enjoy the warn weather and a lot of that time is spent relaxing in and by the quite pools and hot tub. This May will be our first time there with our grandaughter and will use the main pool at OKW for the first time...smjj