Pool home in early December - can we get the pool warm enough to swim?

[U2_rocks!]

If there's a really cold spell in December, can we turn up the pool heat enough to still enjoy swimming in our own pool? I'd love to try WDW in December, but swimming would be a must for the kids!

 

[5mins2disney]

Most owners lock up the pool heat controls, as you can do a lot of damage to a pool system by not knowing what to do with the controls (I won't even touch my own pool controls). That being said, the MCs usually set the pool heat to a comfortable 80 degrees (estimated)...so regardless of the outside temp, the pool will regulate itself to a comfortable temperature, just like the thermostat in your house works. Some will let you dial it up or down a little. On ours, if you touch the temperature setting at all, it shuts off for 5 minutes automatically. Rather than get lots of questions and complaints, it's easier just to lock it up, our MC will always come out and turn it up or down a little if someone asks them to.

Now, there's a few additional things to be aware of. First, without a pool blanket, and this involves you actually using it....the pool will most likely be cold in the mornings. Most of the heat will escape at night if you don't cover it up when it's not in use. Secondly, most of the pool heaters (not all, but most) are heat exchangers. They work kind of the opposite way your air conditioner works, they pull heat out of the air and put it into the pool (as opposed to like an electric or gas heater that actually heats the water). If the ambient air temp falls below 55 degrees, they won't work at all basically. Of course, in regards to my first point, this means the heaters won't heat at night much at all, so it becomes crucial to use a pool blanket.

Make sure the home you rent has a pool blanket! You can also ask what type of pool heater they have, if it's the heat exchanger type.

To answer your original question though, the pool heat should keep your pool plenty warm. The only time it's ever really an issue is if the temp stays below 55 for an extended period of time, then the MC tells me they get lots of calls from guests complaining the pools are too cold. Of course, there's not much they can do about it, this is how the heaters work! What they do find though, in most of the cases people pulled off the pool blanket and left it off, therefore exacerbating the problem, and letting the heat go!

I spent a few days in our pool in January and it got pretty cold at night, yet the pool was toasty warm every day, because we used the blanket when not in use! It was great to sit in the pool with a drink in hand watching the Chicago Bears game at home where it was snowing! ahh....

 

[LauraAnn630]

We went in December 2006 - Janurary 2007. We rented a villa. The pool was nice and warm. You have to put the cover on when you are not using it.

The weather wasnt really warm enough to enjoy it.
The parks were so crowded we barley did half of what we usually do.

It was our most expensive vacation. As a matter a fact we refer to it as the
"6 Thousand Dollar Mistake!"

I must admit. I did enjoy seeing the parks/resorts all decorated.

 

[5mins2disney]

We went in December 2006 - Janurary 2007. We rented a villa. The pool was nice and warm. You have to put the cover on when you are not using it.

The weather wasnt really warm enough to enjoy it.
The parks were so crowded we barley did half of what we usually do.

It was our most expensive vacation. As a matter a fact we refer to it as the
"6 Thousand Dollar Mistake!"

I must admit. I did enjoy seeing the parks/resorts all decorated.

Christmas / New Year's time I'm guessing? Crowd index 10/10 from just prior to Xmas until right after New Year's....bad time to visit if you don't like crowds!

Early December is actually a great time to visit, it's "low" season and you'll find the place mostly empty after Thanksgiving as most people are getting ready for upcoming holidays and not going to WDW!

 

[U2_rocks!]

Most owners lock up the pool heat controls, as you can do a lot of damage to a pool system by not knowing what to do with the controls (I won't even touch my own pool controls). That being said, the MCs usually set the pool heat to a comfortable 80 degrees (estimated)...so regardless of the outside temp, the pool will regulate itself to a comfortable temperature, just like the thermostat in your house works. Some will let you dial it up or down a little. On ours, if you touch the temperature setting at all, it shuts off for 5 minutes automatically. Rather than get lots of questions and complaints, it's easier just to lock it up, our MC will always come out and turn it up or down a little if someone asks them to.

Now, there's a few additional things to be aware of. First, without a pool blanket, and this involves you actually using it....the pool will most likely be cold in the mornings. Most of the heat will escape at night if you don't cover it up when it's not in use. Secondly, most of the pool heaters (not all, but most) are heat exchangers. They work kind of the opposite way your air conditioner works, they pull heat out of the air and put it into the pool (as opposed to like an electric or gas heater that actually heats the water). If the ambient air temp falls below 55 degrees, they won't work at all basically. Of course, in regards to my first point, this means the heaters won't heat at night much at all, so it becomes crucial to use a pool blanket.

Make sure the home you rent has a pool blanket! You can also ask what type of pool heater they have, if it's the heat exchanger type.

To answer your original question though, the pool heat should keep your pool plenty warm. The only time it's ever really an issue is if the temp stays below 55 for an extended period of time, then the MC tells me they get lots of calls from guests complaining the pools are too cold. Of course, there's not much they can do about it, this is how the heaters work! What they do find though, in most of the cases people pulled off the pool blanket and left it off, therefore exacerbating the problem, and letting the heat go!

I spent a few days in our pool in January and it got pretty cold at night, yet the pool was toasty warm every day, because we used the blanket when not in use! It was great to sit in the pool with a drink in hand watching the Chicago Bears game at home where it was snowing! ahh....

Thanks for all the great info.

 

[isla bonita]

All of the advice you have gotten is good. You can swim as long as the pool is heated and the pool blanket is used.

We keep ours at 85 and it is very comfortable. We are down 2 weeks in Feb. and my kids are in the pool from the time we land until the 10 minutes before we leave for the airport.

 

[U2_rocks!]

DH won't swim at all, and I only will on a warm day, but the kids will swim no matter what. If the water is a decent temp then at least they won't turn blue in 5 minutes! I will definitely remember the pool blanket if we go at a cool time. I'm debating between late Aug/early Sep and early Dec. Both are value season, but big difference in temps! We're from the tropics, so I'm not sure if we can handle December if there's a cold spell. OTOH, where we live doesn't get as steamy as WDW can in late August, and we don't like extreme heat either. The Christmas theme in December would be lovely to see, but we'd be staying away from any ride where we could even get splashed a little bit! It's a real dilemma, not sure which to choose.

 

[KayR]

Last Thanksgiving, we were in FL for 9 days and hit a cold spell. If it does get cold - you won't want to swim. (We had to buy hats gloves and scarves because it was so cold! Brrr.)

If the pool is heated by an electric heater, it can't work as efficiently in the cold weather (it usually exchanges heat from the air to heat the water). Gas heaters are better in cold snaps, but then they cost $$$$ to run.

The cold spell we had lasted 3-4 days and then warmed up again - not hot, but warm enough for us to visit a water park before we left for home!

Heat the pool, use the blanket, don't worry about a cold snap.

December is a great time to visit. The parks are beautifully decorated and you may be able to do a Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.

If you get to Universal - their illuminations display has an extra 3-4 minutes added to the end. Awesome! Make a point of getting a good spot to see it.

--Kay

 

[U2_rocks!]

Last Thanksgiving, we were in FL for 9 days and hit a cold spell. If it does get cold - you won't want to swim. (We had to buy hats gloves and scarves because it was so cold! Brrr.)

If the pool is heated by an electric heater, it can't work as efficiently in the cold weather (it usually exchanges heat from the air to heat the water). Gas heaters are better in cold snaps, but then they cost $$$$ to run.

The cold spell we had lasted 3-4 days and then warmed up again - not hot, but warm enough for us to visit a water park before we left for home!

Heat the pool, use the blanket, don't worry about a cold snap.

December is a great time to visit. The parks are beautifully decorated and you may be able to do a Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party.

If you get to Universal - their illuminations display has an extra 3-4 minutes added to the end. Awesome! Make a point of getting a good spot to see it.

--Kay

Well, I suppose gloves, hats and scarves would be a novelty for the kids - they'd probbly love it!

I'd love to do all the Christmas stuff. Convincing DH is no issue - he loves cold air (just not cold water). I just don't want to hear the kids whine all day about being cold!

 

[tednvon]

Hi...IMHO, guaranteed heat if it really cools down below 55 will come from a gas heater. Most homes are heat pumps which should be fine for you in December.

I would insist, and I even put it in the contract, that pool be heated to 85 degrees...I think that is minimum for a really nice, no shock swim. Blanket is essential, will really help and saves the owners big $$$.

December is still pretty warm, chance of a big cold snap is pretty low...If it does get chilly at night, it is only a short run to a hot shower and if the air temp is in the 60s, that pool will feel like it is 100 if you just walk slowly around the deck once!!!!

Enjoy!!!
Ted

 

[PlutoPup]

I was in Florida last Nov and we def. needed the pool heat. I know this b/c the first day we went in the pool heat wasnt on and it was COLD!!

We preferred to use the pool @ night after we got home from the parks - what a nice way to unwind!