Disney Swan & Dolphin POOL WAS TOO COLD!

[DisneyFunTrips]

We had a wonderful stay at Disney Dolphin - the location being at the top of my list - being on the Boardwalk at the ability to walk or take a water taxi to both Epcot and Hollywood Studios. The food was great too. Rooms were a bit dated, but the beds were oh so comfortable! Everything was great except for the usage of their beautiful looking Grotto Pool - waterfall pool with water slide. Unfortunately, the water was too cold for us to enjoy swimming. We are a family who just loves to swim and the pool looked so beautiful - this is one of the reasons why we choose to stay at this resort, but were most disappointed by the water temperature they keep. Additionally, the pool slide closed down at 5pm - way to early for a resort on Disney property. We have stayed at Disney properties before, and most likely will only return to them because of the pool experience we had. Disney pools are heated and are warm - you could swim at just about any time of year! The water slides are open later too. Disney Swan and Dolphin must address this issue even though they are independently owned by Westin and Sheraton. The pool should be run the same way - with more than one lifeguard for such a large pool, the water slide staying open longer and warmer water to swim in. We were most disappointed and expected a better pool experience for our relaxing enjoyment and downtime.

 

[MCK588]

It does really stink when the pools are cold. I totally agree. However, I have stayed on property in the last 5 years-- 2x at Poly, 1x at Coronado and a number of times at PO-Riverside--and I have never had a warm pool! We normally go in November so maybe that has something to do with it, but it's always disappointing when the kids just want to use the pool and it's ice cold and not even enjoyable. I would love to know where others have stayed (and when) that had warm pool experiences.

 

[aurorae]

One October, at POFQ, I noticed that one side of the pool was cold, and the other side (the side toward the slide) was quite a bit warmer.

 

[CLR4321]

I would suggest writing a letter to the resort management and state your concerns. I also would have let the customer service at the resort know that the pool water was too cold. It is possible that they turn down the water temp if the pool is not open 24 hours, or the heater may have been having trouble that needed maintenance.

 

[Momof2Disneyboys]

We experienced the same thing at POR in November. Had an excellent stay - but the pool water was freezing!! And it was plenty warm out - around 80 degrees. We did a split stay and the pool water was much warmer at OKW a few days later (when the outside temp was lower). We have always had warm pools at the rest of the WDW resorts we have stayed at too. So I'm thinking they must have been having issues when we were at POR. I did write a letter to Disney about it.

Glad you enjoyed the rest of your stay!

 

[kaligal]

Pool temperature is a matter of taste. For community pools that are used by older people for therapy, they must be kept warm.

But there are many people who swim that actually adore a cold pool. I'm one of them. I appreciate it when people keep a pool COLD.

I never complain about warm pools because I know they do it for the old folks and they certainly need warmth more than I...I don't NEED the cold, I just like it. But when I get the opportunity to use a cold pool, I'm very happy.

 

[brergnat]

This is a common complaint about the S/D. My personal opinion is that it's kept that way on purpose to keep staffing levels down. The MAJORITY of guests there are there on business. Families do NOT rule at these resorts, and since they are not Disney owned, they have no real incentive to keep the pool nice and warm. Just costs more money to heat a pool and keep it staffed year round.

 

[JerseyJanice]

I've read that the grotto pool is difficult to heat because of the waterfall. Somehow, it has a chilling effect on the water.

During our stay there in 2/08, the salt water pool near the Swan was much warmer than the Grotto pool water.

 

[kimmar067]

I've read that the grotto pool is difficult to heat because of the waterfall. Somehow, it has a chilling effect on the water.

During our stay there in 2/08, the salt water pool near the Swan was much warmer than the Grotto pool water.

...wow, I didn't realize that the Swan had a salt pool...

 

[DisneyFunTrips]

...wow, I didn't realize that the Swan had a salt pool...

It doesn't have a salt pool. I think the reference was the Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Pool which is warm and HEATED and so comfortable to swim in, anytime of year. That pool has a sandy bottom. It is probably the BEST POOL at Disney! Fun, warm, has a section with real whirlpool built in.

Disney Resort pools are hard to measure up with, because of their service - lifeguards are numerous, water is warm, slides are the BEST! FUN, FUN, FUN!

The Walt Disney Swan and Dolphin share a huge, beautiful looking Grotto Pool. The water was VERY COLD, not heated like Disney's. They should go over to Disney's and take a thermometer and copy whatever temperature they keep. The slide is o.k. Not long and swirly - a short ride down. I hope that the Westin owned Swan and Sheraton owned Dolphin will Heat their pool AND improve THEIR WATER SLIDE! The outside property is beautiful, they have a great sandy beach too! The management there needs to step up and improve some things - they should listen to their guests! The lifeguards should stay longer, and the pool slide needs to stay open longer for their guest's enjoyment. Other than the pool, everything else was good.

 

[BabyFu18]

We always go to Disney in the summer and usually pool water across the board is luke warm, never cold in the summer months. When it's 90+ degrees outside, I surely don't mind a cold pool, it's more refreshing than stepping into a pool that feels like bath water. I guess it all depends on what your preference is, either way I don't complain about the pool temp, I'm usually just glad to be relaxing by any pool at all.

 

[DisneyFunTrips]

We always go to Disney in the summer and usually pool water across the board is luke warm, never cold in the summer months. When it's 90+ degrees outside, I surely don't mind a cold pool, it's more refreshing than stepping into a pool that feels like bath water. I guess it all depends on what your preference is, either way I don't complain about the pool temp, I'm usually just glad to be relaxing by any pool at all.

I like to swim in water that is comfortable, not ICY COLD. Warm to Cold water is one thing, ICY Cold - NO THANK YOU! To each is own, they say. I believe they advertise a heated pool. I called the management and spoke to a supervisor about this and the other pool issues with the water slide closing at 5pm and the lifeguard leaving at the same time. I was told that my complaints would be addressed - I sure hope so!

 

[JerseyJanice]

It doesn't have a salt pool.

Ah, yes, the Swan does indeed have a salt water pool. It is actually the Swan's lap pool.

During our stay, a fellow guest recommended we use it since it was the warmest pool. She told us that for some scientific reason, salt water holds the heat better than fresh, chlorinated water.

We tried every pool at the Swan and Dolphin, and she was right. The lap pool by the Swan definitely had the warmest-feeling water. After swimming in it, too, you could taste the salt on your lips.

 

[Poohlovr]

I've read that the grotto pool is difficult to heat because of the waterfall. Somehow, it has a chilling effect on the water.
QUOTE]

This is pretty close to the reason; it's actually colder because so much heat is lost through the waterfall. The waterfall constantly recycles the water in the pool, so the water falling back into the pool is cooler.

And that is it, pure and simple.

The 2 lap pools and the spring pool are much warmer than the Grotto pool.

 

[Ali]

I've been in the grotto pool in June, July, august, September, January, and February and it is always too cold to swim in. We usually stay in the kiddie pool because it's the warmest. I have never had a good time in that pool.

 

[Joshua_me]

Just a side note...

If you're at the Dolphin pool area, remember that there is a restroom located directly *behind* the waterfall that not a lot of people seem to know about...

It can be good for changing clothes or, ahem, *other* emergencies, and it sure beats running back to your room....