Will Disney's Water Parks & Pools Open This Summer?

[Bullseye]

Kids keep no personal space in the pools. They're always swimming right into us. We never care normally but during this we would and while many parents would do their best, there are also families who don't think this is real and wouldn't see the problem with their kids being everywhere. I would just choose to not go in the pools during this to avoid that situation. It personally doesn't matter anyway because we're not going back for a long time (we normally go for two to three long trips a year). But that would definitely be a problem in the parks and pools. It would be so weird to have to say "6 feet buddy" to a stranger's child to stop them from coming near you if they were barreling your way.

That's why I agreed there will be breaches. Kids will be kids, but in my experience over the years... those occurrences are random and will be even more so under current circumstances. I was supposed to be at Poly next Monday and if I still could, I would. In the pool we'll keep our distance and everyone is covered in chlorinated water, so hopefully that will be enough.

Here's what the CDC says on the subject: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/water.html
There is no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, spas, or water play areas. Proper operation and maintenance (including disinfection with chlorine and bromine) of these facilities should inactivate the virus in the water.

While there is ongoing community spread of COVID-19 of the virus that causes COVID-19, it is important for individuals as well as owners and operators of these facilities to take steps to ensure health and safety:

• Everyone should follow local and state guidance that may determine when and how recreational water facilities may operate.
• Individuals should continue to protect themselves and others at recreational water venues both in and out of the water – for example, by practicing social distancing and good hand hygiene.
• In addition to ensuring water safety and quality, owners and operators of community pools, hot tubs, spas, and water play areas should follow interim guidance for business and employers for cleaning and disinfecting their community facilities.

 

[rotlex]

What I'm curious about is we have a free dining recovery trip booked and our package includes new "water parks and sports" ticket option. The free dining package apparently can't be modified now, because the discount no longer is being offered. Just wonder how they will handle those packages and if they'll have to make an exception and allow modification if they no longer have the water parks.

We are wondering the same thing for a number of reasons. We have a bounce back, free dining, booked from last August for this August. (13 night stay). We had to buy a park hopper to get the free dining and added the waterpark option which we always do. I think we can remove the water park option, but I feel the same on the park hopper. If park capacity is limited, or a park is closed\one park a day thing happens, how do you get the money back for the hopper, or water park if that was the deal? (We just about never use the hopper option anyway). This is really going to create issues, and another reason I just wish we could re-book our current package for 2021.

 

[Runaway Mickey & Minnie]

We are wondering the same thing for a number of reasons. We have a bounce back, free dining, booked from last August for this August. (13 night stay). We had to buy a park hopper to get the free dining and added the waterpark option which we always do. I think we can remove the water park option, but I feel the same on the park hopper. If park capacity is limited, or a park is closed\one park a day thing happens, how do you get the money back for the hopper, or water park if that was the deal? (We just about never use the hopper option anyway). This is really going to create issues, and another reason I just wish we could re-book our current package for 2021.

It's an issue for APs, too. In 2019 we purchased the most inclusive type of AP, that includes water parks & allows hopping. We have only used a few days of it so far. If Disney opens the parks to a bunch of half measures with a mask requirement, I'm definitely going to want a big chunk of my money back. Those APs were extremely expensive and that kind of experience is not what we paid for.

 

[cakebaker]

It's an issue for APs, too. In 2019 we purchased the most inclusive type of AP, that includes water parks & allows hopping. We have used a grand total of 3 days of it so far. If Disney opens the parks to a bunch of half measures with a mask requirement, I'm definitely going to want a big chunk of my money back. Those APs were extremely expensive and that kind of experience is not what we paid for.

IF SDL is any indicator, they will extend FPs during the re-opening phase if there are limitations on opening. Not a guarantee, but if they did it there, I don't know why they wouldn't here.

 

[RapunzelIsMyHomeGirl]

That's why I agreed there will be breaches. Kids will be kids, but in my experience over the years... those occurrences are random and will be even more so under current circumstances. I was supposed to be at Poly next Monday and if I still could, I would. In the pool we'll keep our distance and everyone is covered in chlorinated water, so hopefully that will be enough.

Here's what the CDC says on the subject: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/php/water.html
There is no evidence that the virus that causes COVID-19 can be spread to people through the water in pools, hot tubs, spas, or water play areas. Proper operation and maintenance (including disinfection with chlorine and bromine) of these facilities should inactivate the virus in the water.

While there is ongoing community spread of COVID-19 of the virus that causes COVID-19, it is important for individuals as well as owners and operators of these facilities to take steps to ensure health and safety:

• Everyone should follow local and state guidance that may determine when and how recreational water facilities may operate.
• Individuals should continue to protect themselves and others at recreational water venues both in and out of the water – for example, by practicing social distancing and good hand hygiene.
• In addition to ensuring water safety and quality, owners and operators of community pools, hot tubs, spas, and water play areas should follow interim guidance for business and employers for cleaning and disinfecting their community facilities.

No, not through the water. Yes, through a child being directly next to me in the pool breathing, coughing out water, etc. I have no problem with anyone else going and having fun there, I'll just be having fun somewhere else. And while random it is frequent. It's Disney World. The only encouraging thing about the situation that would change the frequency of the "random" encountes is that there hopefully will be a much reduced amount of guests at the hotels so the pools will be pretty empty in comparison to how many people are normally in them. Alot easier for you to monitor yourself and move in the pool if there aren't many families around you with multiple kids. So it could work with reduced numbers, I just won't be there. I don't want to have to avoid all of these things. And you would be there enjoying yourself. And both of those decisions are okay. I just am cautious about what people will be bringing home to their states. We don't know really how any of this will go and if it will be a success. I hope they will do there very best and close things down if need be. Unfortunately it would take an extended amount of time to know what kind of impact their decisions made.

 

[Wild4Walt]

I was thinking about this last week and wondering if pools would be open when the resorts open. My thought is if hand sanitizer and Lysol help combat Covid, wouldn't chlorine be enough but I don't have any science behind that thought. I know we received notice today that the public pool in my town will not be opened for the summer ( I'm in Illinois and we do have more cases and deaths than Florida. ) I'm still hopeful that the resorts will have the pool open even if the water parks aren't. I know Disney will do it safe so we shall see.

 

[wilkydelts]

Everyone has to make their own choices. Many will visit and have a great time. It is not anyone’s place to judge. If you don’t want to go don’t go but do not preach to others about going.

 

[Helvetica]

I'm not sure if they'll have enough lifeguards to open both water parks and the resort pools if the college program is still shutdown over the summer. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

 

[Pats Dragon]

Georgia opened its pools today.

 

[MrsBooch]

I'm in PA (close to philly - not rural) and our country clubs/pool clubs are opening the pools on Memorial Day weekend.
They are following CDC guidelines, doing extra cleaning, serving food and drinks behind a barrier/in a little hut.
I'll be there as soon as they open. Some people won't. I actually think going to the pool under these extra cleaning circumstances is less risky than getting my groceries delivered.

 

[rotlex]

I'm in PA (close to philly - not rural) and our country clubs/pool clubs are opening the pools on Memorial Day weekend.
They are following CDC guidelines, doing extra cleaning, serving food and drinks behind a barrier/in a little hut.
I'll be there as soon as they open. Some people won't. I actually think going to the pool under these extra cleaning circumstances is less risky than getting my groceries delivered.

We live in the Lehigh Valley\Whitehall area in PA. We just learned yesterday our local pools and such will NOT be opening this summer. (At least in our direct township). This is really going to be a rough one if even the pools stay closed. We were already worried about Hershey and Dorney Park opening, but figured eh, we'll make it an old fashioned summer and just hang out locally. With the pools not opening, it's going to be a REALLY long summer.

 

[MonkeyKnifeFight]

There is no health reason not to open the pools. Chlorine kills the virus and also the sun and heat kill the virus in less than a minute on surfaces. Don't know if Disney will open them or not but there is no reason not to.

Yeah pools are pretty safe. They just announced pools can re-open in a couple weeks in Ohio and we've been locked down earlier and usually harsher than most states. So I would expect pools should be able to re-open everywhere soon.

 

[jess20k]

We are going in August, and staying at The YC. One of the reasons, is so we can swim at Stormalong Bay most of the afternoons. I swore I would never go in August again because it was sooooo hot and humid, but when we had to reschedule from May, I had no choice unless we wait until 2021. We cannot go in the fall and Nov. Dec. due to my Husband's job, unless we go over Thanksgiving. If the pools are closed, I am going to cancel and hopefully be able to go in 2021, or go somewhere else. But, I really hope the pools are open.

 

[maryj11]

I don’t see why they couldn’t allow swimming in the resort pools. They could limit the number of people in the pool. For sanitizing chairs and gates etc. I don’t think any virus would survive long in the Florida heat. I had to put a towel on my chair to keep from burning myself last year.

 

[kay1864]

The other pools have gate tap ins, which don't work well as crashers easily hitchhike in after resort guests.

How does this happen now? All cars have to check in at the resort gate. Do people actually ride the buses from Disney Springs to go to a pool resort? And then wait (in their swimsuits, presumably) for someone heading to the pool area?

 

[Kaadk]

How does this happen now? All cars have to check in at the resort gate. Do people actually ride the buses from Disney Springs to go to a pool resort? And then wait (in their swimsuits, presumably) for someone heading to the pool area?

Yep, that's pretty much how they do it. I don't really understand why, but alas, yep, that's the way.

 

[MrsBooch]

I can see them requiring band scans or specials bands distributed to guests staying at the resort to keep from pool hopping.

 

[maryj11]

I can see them requiring band scans or specials bands distributed to guests staying at the resort to keep from pool hopping.

We had to scan our bands at Beach Club ,Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Polynesian our past trips.

 

[Primeval Princess]

How does this happen now? All cars have to check in at the resort gate. Do people actually ride the buses from Disney Springs to go to a pool resort? And then wait (in their swimsuits, presumably) for someone heading to the pool area?

If you're going with family or friends, the easiest thing to do is to go to that person's hotel room, change there, and then head to the pool with them. It's very easy to get on a bus from Disney Springs and take it to a resort. Also, it's easy to take a cab there.

Yes, people actually do this stuff. I'm not advocating for it, but it happens.

 

[Primeval Princess]

We had to scan our bands at Beach Club ,Animal Kingdom Lodge, and Polynesian our past trips.

There was a CM standing at the pool entrance of the Poly and AKL scanning bands?