Swimming in February

[cantwait4disney]

Question for all Floridians and those who have visited WDW in early February: is it warm enough to swim? Coming from MN in Feb. where the winters can be bitter cold, 50's would seem like a heat wave. However, that's not quite warm enough to swim and my kids LOVE to swim. In fact, it's one of the things they most want to do and it is a deciding factor on which resort to stay at. We don't plan on going to Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon but I know they'll want to swim at the resort.

Thanks!

 

[ADisneygirl]

It's anyone's guess what the temps will be in February. There have been weeks in February when it was cold -- in the 40's. What happens here is we get a cold front that is strong enough to make it south, then we have 4-5 days of cold air, then it warms back to the 60's-70's. That's winter. Just as I am beginning to enjoy some cold weather, it warms up again!

I think it is too cold to swim when it is in the 60's outside.

 

[buzzgirls&dad]

We are from Wisconsin and have gone to WDW a few times in early Feb. We take the weather one day at a time. We have been able to swim at least a few days on each trip. Depending on how long you are going, you should be able to swim in the afternoon at least on some days. HTH

 

[Mandi78]

The air might be a little chilly, but they keep the pool at 82* so that might feel ok to you.. At least to kids that kind of stuff doesn't seem to bother them ...

 

[vickalamode]

I went swimming in January at WDW, the pool was a nice temperature but once I got outside I felt like a popsicle!

 

[madalex]

We have been many times in February and have always been able to swim for at least part of the trip. You will be fine.

 

[lesliewitt]

We are also from MN and went Feb in 06 when they had the coldest weather (high 30s, low 40s during the day!). My kids were so excited that they went swimming anyway! Actually it was kind of comical. My husband and FIL went to the pool with jeans, sweatshirts, coats and hats to watch the kids swim. They didn't mind it at all. But, by Friday it had warmed up to the 80s and we could all swim (although by that time we were at my in-laws house). So you should get a least a few days! BTW we are going in early Feb also, when are you going? (We're from the TCs).

 

[robinb]

You don't want to ask the Floridans if it's too cold! They are all warm blooded and anything cooler than 80-degrees outside temperature is too cold for them to go swimming! You need to ask your fellow Northerners, LOL!

We're from Wisconsin and we go swimming in December/January. The air temperature is often a bit chilly, but the pool itself is always heated. I was once in the pool art AKL with my DD around Christmas and we were the only ones in there! The poor lifeguard huddled in her "sweats", I kept ducked in the water or over in the hot tub while my DD went down the slide again and again.

I would recommend that you bring a pair of sweats with you so you will not freeze from the hotel room to the pool. How old are your kids? Which resort are you thinking of? I've stayed all almost all of them and can give you my opinion on their pool.

 

[LilGMom]

You don't want to ask the Floridans if it's too cold! They are all warm blooded and anything cooler than 80-degrees outside temperature is too cold for them to go swimming! You need to ask your fellow Northerners, LOL!

We're from Wisconsin and we go swimming in December/January. The air temperature is often a bit chilly, but the pool itself is always heated. I was once in the pool art AKL with my DD around Christmas and we were the only ones in there! The poor lifeguard huddled in her "sweats", I kept ducked in the water or over in the hot tub while my DD went down the slide again and again.

- Love your comment about not asking Floridians about cold temps, lol. As a Floridian I will tell you that you will not find my very warm-blooded tush in a pool (despite the WDW pools being 82 degrees) in Feb. The walk from the pool back to the room would be enough to make me run to the nearest hot chocolate dispenser to set up an IV drip. My dh & I joke that you can usually tell the Northerners in the cooler months because they are the ones in the shorts, t-shirts, pools and not the ones pulling out the sweatshirts, hats and gloves when the temps near the lower 70's.

 

[Chief Planner]

We visited in February 2006 and are from western WI. We stayed at the Yacht Club because Stormalong Bay is such a wonderful pool. However, the weather was in the mid 60's most of our stay, and when it got below 60 they would close the pool because of temp, light use by guests, and lack of lifeguards (in the day time). Also, there were fewer poolside services available. For instance, you couldn't rent the floaty tubes, and I had to track someone down to find a life jacket for my toddler. They also had shorter pool hours during this time of year, so no early evening swimming was available for us. They did keep the quiet pool at the Yacht Club open when the temperatures dipped, and even though it lacked all the fun of Stormalong Bay, we swam one night when it was about 48. It was 16 degrees below zero at home when I checked in! Enjoy!

 

[disneydance]

Really depends on the day

 

[Vijoge]

We were there in Feb '06 and most of the week it was too cold to swim but there were a couple of afternoons when it probably would have been ok.

The last day we were there (aka the day of check out) it was beautifully warm so we went to Blizzard Beach intending to stay a couple of hours and then leave for home. It felt so wonderful being in the water we ended up staying until after the park closed and they made us leave.

Can't go by our experience though, as the week before our trip it was in the 80's all week and the week after we came home it was back in the 80's again.

IOW, it's a crapshoot.

 

[pilferk]

I went swimming in January at WDW, the pool was a nice temperature but once I got outside I felt like a popsicle!

We've been in Jan and Feb a couple/few times now. We always find days when it's in the mid 70's, and that's PLENTY warm enough for us New Englanders to hit the pool. I think you just have to take it a day at a time....some days you may see 40's and 50's, other's you could see 70's. Heck, on our Jan 06 trip, it was in the 80's every day but one (the day we left it was in the 50's and WINDY!!).

 

[Flossbolna]

As others have said, it really depends on your luck with the weather and your personal feeling of temperature. We were there in February this year and I went swimming every day, and especially loved sitting in the spa in the evenings. Even though it was a bit cool outside, the spa would warm me up so much that walking back to the hotel I felt less cold than walking to the spa! However, after WDW we stayed on in Florida and had a spell of three really chilly (but very sunny) days. No way would I have gone into any outside pool during those days!! (But I still went on the prebooked early morning swim-with-the-manatees excursion when it was freezing outside...)

 

[cantwait4disney]

We are also from MN and went Feb in 06 when they had the coldest weather (high 30s, low 40s during the day!). My kids were so excited that they went swimming anyway! Actually it was kind of comical. My husband and FIL went to the pool with jeans, sweatshirts, coats and hats to watch the kids swim. They didn't mind it at all. But, by Friday it had warmed up to the 80s and we could all swim (although by that time we were at my in-laws house). So you should get a least a few days! BTW we are going in early Feb also, when are you going? (We're from the TCs).

We're also in the TC area and tentatively going Feb 6-13. I'd love to book at the YC or BC or Swan/Dolphin because of the pools but if the weather is chilly, that's like giving the kids their favorite candy but telling them, don't eat it!

 

[cantwait4disney]

You don't want to ask the Floridans if it's too cold! They are all warm blooded and anything cooler than 80-degrees outside temperature is too cold for them to go swimming! You need to ask your fellow Northerners, LOL!

We're from Wisconsin and we go swimming in December/January. The air temperature is often a bit chilly, but the pool itself is always heated. I was once in the pool art AKL with my DD around Christmas and we were the only ones in there! The poor lifeguard huddled in her "sweats", I kept ducked in the water or over in the hot tub while my DD went down the slide again and again.

I would recommend that you bring a pair of sweats with you so you will not freeze from the hotel room to the pool. How old are your kids? Which resort are you thinking of? I've stayed all almost all of them and can give you my opinion on their pool.

Great! Knowing my kids, (11, 8, 6) they would go swimming even if they could see their breath (Floridians may not know what that means ) and the pool was warm. I'm leaning towards CR because of its close promixity to MK but the pool doesn't seem as luscious/green as some of the others. I'd also love YC, BC or Swan/Dolphin. Any thoughts on those?

 

[lesliewitt]

We will be there similar dates the 9-15-and my kids are very similar ages -9 (almost 10),6,4. We're from Chanhassen. We are staying at the VWL because my in-laws are meeting us and it is cheaper for Villa than two rooms (plus we will get a kitchen). I personally wanted to stay at AKL because I thought the Savannah view would be great, but my husband said no, and I guess that is okay because of what I have been reading about the construction. He has wanted to stay at WL for 10 years, so I wanted to make him happy on this trip. We did ASMo last time, and he didn't like it (although the kids and I and my ILs thought it was fine). Friends of mine that have gone have said that YC is hands down their favorite resort because of the pool and location. I think it comes down to personal preference. Many, many people like the Contemporary because of the views and monorail, but I personally think that it is too "hotelly" and not quite themed enough for me, but if that doesn't matter to you, then CR would be a great choice. We stayed at the Swan a few years ago before a DCL and it was beautiful, but again, is not as "themed" as YC or BC. Also, it does not provide DME if you are not renting a car. If you want a more themed resort on the monorail-I know there are a ton of Poly lovers here that would say the Poly pool is fabulous and the monorail can't be beat! Let us know what you decide.

 

[tiggrsbride]

We were there this February 16-25. We spent the early part of the week at the Gulf and it was chilly, we wore sweats, but the kids still hopped in the pool and waded in the ocean. As the week progressed, the temperatures came up and it was perfect for swimming during the day. Once the sun set, it did get cool. The sun was strong and took the edge off the temps. Any temperature in Florida is wayyy better than New England in February! The pools at Pop were quite busy, so you won't be alone in the water!

 

[monorailsilver]

I have gone in Feb twice & both times it was too chilly for me since I want warmth not spring time temps.

One time I got sick from getting soaked on Splash Mountain so I refused to go in Feb every again (or any winter month).

 

[MinnieGi]

We are Jan./Feb. WDW vets for the last several years and have always been able to swim at least a few days. Some trips we swam all week, others just a few days. Now all the people in the pools are from northern climates while the lifegurads are bundled up in their parkas!!! But we are having a great time. It is such a great winter break to be able to swim and feel the FL sunshine!!!! We love it.