New restrictions coming for pool use?

[DPCummerbund]

Today's DIS e-mail stated that by early November, all WDW pools will be unavailable outside of their official operating hours. Currently, you can swim "at your own risk" while lifeguards aren't present, but that will no longer be the case. Any pools that don't have fences around them will get them.

The article states that this may be related to the incident a few months ago where a small child drowned while swimming with his family when no lifeguards were present. However, I wonder if it's not related to "pool hoppers" and other problems.

For example, one of Tikiman's rumors a few months ago was that the Poly DVC was going to get a new water feature, possibly a lazy river like Aulani. We all know that non-resort guests abuse WDW pools on a regular basis, and a lazy river would have been a big problem if left uncontrolled. If they fence in the pools & put a magic band scanner at each entrance, Disney can eliminate (or greatly reduce) pool abuses. Some posters here have stated that some pools "cannot" be fenced in due to their sprawling size or design - I'm curious as to whether which pools are "problems", and if anyone has seen signs of fences around any of them yet.

 

[Reddog1134]

It doesn't sound like they are doing it with the intent of solving both problems. It's more like they don't want guests in the pool after hours and as a side effect, it will reduce pool hopping.

 

[Nixie]

I thought the same thing. It is more for a crackdown on pool hopping than "for your own safety".

 

[mcd2745]

Today's DIS e-mail stated that by early November, all WDW pools will be unavailable outside of their official operating hours. Currently, you can swim "at your own risk" while lifeguards aren't present, but that will no longer be the case. Any pools that don't have fences around them will get them.

The article states that this may be related to the incident a few months ago where a small child drowned while swimming with his family when no lifeguards were present. However, I wonder if it's not related to "pool hoppers" and other problems.

For example, one of Tikiman's rumors a few months ago was that the Poly DVC was going to get a new water feature, possibly a lazy river like Aulani. We all know that non-resort guests abuse WDW pools on a regular basis, and a lazy river would have been a big problem if left uncontrolled. If they fence in the pools & put a magic band scanner at each entrance, Disney can eliminate (or greatly reduce) pool abuses. Some posters here have stated that some pools "cannot" be fenced in due to their sprawling size or design - I'm curious as to whether which pools are "problems", and if anyone has seen signs of fences around any of them yet.

This would be very unfortunate if true. Just another reduction of services/amenities.

What about "quiet" pools? They never have lifeguards present. Are they closing them all? I would have to doubt it.

 

[kanadar]

Yacht and Beach Club has a fence around their pool and it is rather large. I understand about the main pools, I'm curious about the quiet pool. I can't recall whether quiet pools have hours on them or not.

 

[Spacedog1975]

I would think that liability is a much larger concern for Disney than pool hopping. Of course, two birds, one stone.

I do feel like I've swum at both CSR and CBR in the evening during regular pool hours without lifeguards present. Maybe I'm just imagining it.

 

[mcd2745]

I would think that liability is a much larger concern for Disney than pool hopping. Of course, two birds, one stone.

I do feel like I've swum at both CSR and CBR in the evening during regular pool hours without lifeguards present. Maybe I'm just imagining it.

I was at CBR in late Aug 2010 and the main pool was open 24 hours. Lifeguards went off duty at 8pm. A few nights I went over to the pool late (midnight or so) after the rest of the family went to sleep and used the hot tub. There would usually be a handful of other people there.

When we were back at CBR this past April...there was a posted closing time for the pool (11pm or midnight - can't remember for sure). So they had already begun some sort of shift in policy/philosophy regarding the pools and this may be the next step. I really hope it's not true.

 

[AndreaA]

I think it would be very difficult to fence in the WL and VWL pools. The walkway from the docks to the VWL goes over a bridge that is over the main pool (so obviously someone could hop over the railing) and that same path runs right through the VWL quiet pool area. Unless they are going to make all of the villa guests walk twice as long through/around the main lodge then fencing it off will not be viable.

 

[chelliebelle4]

I was at CBR in late Aug 2010 and the main pool was open 24 hours. Lifeguards went off duty at 8pm. A few nights I went over to the pool late (midnight or so) after the rest of the family went to sleep and used the hot tub. There would usually be a handful of other people there.

When we were back at CBR this past April...there was a posted closing time for the pool (11pm or midnight - can't remember for sure). So they had already begun some sort of shift in policy/philosophy regarding the pools and this may be the next step. I really hope it's not true.

I agree. Part of the fun is late swimming. We swam last year fairly late while our laundry was washing/drying. We were well aware there was no lifeguard but we watch our kids like news helicopters! I will be disappointed that the pool has closing times.

 

[ChipnDale79]

I can't say that I'm really surprised by this, actually I was surprised the first time i noticed that you could swim 24 hours.

This was a nice little perk, all though we never took advantage of it, I can see why many people do.

Signs of the times i guess.

 

[DPCummerbund]

I think it would be very difficult to fence in the WL and VWL pools. The walkway from the docks to the VWL goes over a bridge that is over the main pool (so obviously someone could hop over the railing) and that same path runs right through the VWL quiet pool area. Unless they are going to make all of the villa guests walk twice as long through/around the main lodge then fencing it off will not be viable.

In general, I'm in favor of the idea of keeping pool hoppers out. I think that the pool area "experience" is often ruined at many of the deluxe resorts simply due to the volume of people, many of whom are pool hoppers. SAB is the only deluxe main pool I've ever been to that wasn't always swamped during peak times, and it's also the only one that I've seen that was gated.

I'm torn about the Wilderness Lodge. I've wanted to return there, but I haven't because of the huge crowds I've seen on our brief visits. If they fence it in and the crowds go away, I might stay there again. On the other hand, one of the neatest things about WL is the way the spring/stream turns into the pool. I'm not sure how they can fence the pool in without ruining the effect. Then again, the imagineers specialize in that sort of thing, so hopefully they'll surprise us.

 

[Spacedog1975]

I agree. Part of the fun is late swimming. We swam last year fairly late while our laundry was washing/drying. We were well aware there was no lifeguard but we watch our kids like news helicopters! I will be disappointed that the pool has closing times.

I agree. I have always prefered nightswimming, and when we've gone with my neice and nephew, the only thing they enjoy more than nightswimming is nightswimming in the rain.

Lifeguards or no, I've always been of the mind I'm swimming at my own risk, but we're a family of strong swimmers who are vigilant about the kids.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

If the reason the Deluxe(or any Disney pool) is crowded is because it is full of non-guests...well, that's a menace that needs to be stopped. There must be a way of validating entrance to the pool to that specific resort's guests.

Disney turning a blind eye to this abuse doesn't make sense. Why would they want the guests paying hundreds(or thousands!!!) of dollars a night to have a poor experience(and much less likely to return) while letting non-payers gleefully enjoy themselves?

 

[maxiesmom]

I thought the same thing. It is more for a crackdown on pool hopping than "for your own safety".

I agree. Especially as one of the articles state that the pools will open early in the morning--earlier than the lifeguards will be on duty.

 

[beer dave]

In general, I'm in favor of the idea of keeping pool hoppers out. I think that the pool area "experience" is often ruined at many of the deluxe resorts simply due to the volume of people, many of whom are pool hoppers. SAB is the only deluxe main pool I've ever been to that wasn't always swamped during peak times, and it's also the only one that I've seen that was gated.

I was at SAB a couple years ago and was talking to a woman sitting near us by the pool-- she said she lived locally and came with her kids all the time after school. Just park in the lot and head for the pool. We told the towel person, but they did nothing.

 

[OnSpaceshipEarth]

I was at SAB a couple years ago and was talking to a woman sitting near us by the pool-- she said she lived locally and came with her kids all the time after school. Just park in the lot and head for the pool. We told the towel person, but they did nothing.

@beerdave

Which resort is "SAB"? Either way, your story is infuriating for those of us that pay through the nose for these resorts.

 

[rock_doctor]

The fence is required by Florida law. It is talked about on page 14, subsection h in CHAPTER 64E-9 PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS AND BATHING PLACES

 

[mikek]

The fence is required by Florida law. It is talked about on page 14, subsection h in CHAPTER 64E-9 PUBLIC SWIMMING POOLS AND BATHING PLACES

is that a new law?

 

[geraghty]

@beerdave

Which resort is "SAB"? Either way, your story is infuriating for those of us that pay through the nose for these resorts.

SAB = Storm Along Bay.

It is the pool area in front of Beach Club resort. It shared by guests at Yacht Club and Beach Club.

 

[TowMater92]

is that a new law?

It would be a code not a law but either way it doesn't make any sense. If its a new code they wouldn't be able to enforce it on pools that already exist and if its an old code the resorts would have never been able to open until they met the code. They cannot enforce new codes on things that met code when they were built inless they do any major refurb that requires a permit they would have to meet the new code then.

Most hotels don't have lifeguards on duty and Disney covers itself by posting lifeguard hours and that you swim at your own risk when they aren't on duty. This also won't really stop pool hopping since most do that during the day when lifeguards are on duty. I've never seen pool hoppers late at night and the SAB story was when lifeguards were on duty since SAB closes when the lifeguards go off duty. I'm having a hard time thinking of a reason why Disney would close the pools. Maybe they don't want to deal with any more noise complaints?