Swimming all year long?

[shamrock6]

We have always been to Disney during May and June only. Can you tell me if there is swimming all year round or if the pools close during certain months. Thanks for your help.

[AFMom]

There is swimming all year long, the pools are heated. I believe the hours for the feature pools are shorter - but still at least until about 8pm.
We went in December (18 months ago) and were able to swim for the first 1/2 of our trip, the second half it was way too cold out (somewhere in the 30's). Weather in Florida in the winter can be quite wacky!

[kirotank]

Noember to March is pretty chilly to swim even in the heated pools. Than again I'm a Floridian, so 60 feels cold to me. Iv'e seen kids in the pools all year round, including ours.

[shamrock6]

:doublejum

We are from New York so our kids would swim in just about any temps, especially if the pools are heated. When we go down now they spend a good portion of their time in the pool. Thanks for the info

[TW1]

On one March trip, we practically had the waterparks to ourselves. Well us and a few hundred other crazy families from the Northeast.

It was 60 degrees - tops - all week, with a steady breeze. I can recall standing at the top of Summit Plummet, shivering, soaking wet, in a breeze, in the shade, thinking, "this is heaven."

[Deb & Bill]

We've been to the water parks during the first week of January. High 80's, nice and warm, sunny and bright. Even got a little sunburn. Also been to Blizzard Beach when it was about 50. I sat in a lounge chair with my sweatshirt and a blanket while my crazy husband and son played in the water (it is heated year round).

[Tink22]

We usually go in Feb. or March and the weather is very unpredictable, but if you are there for at least a week you are usually able to have at least a couple days that are warm enough to swim. The pools are all heated. Sometimes it is warm and wonderful the whole time. Even if it gets chilly, or downright cold, in the evening you can enjoy the hot tubs!

I have never gone in the summer and am thinking about a few days in mid-June. Does it rain nearly every afternoon that early in the summer? It is the only season I haven't experience yet. My DD missed a bunch of school because of illness this year so we couldn't go in Feb. or March. I am hoping to go in the summer instead (and of course getting back on track in Feb. or March - - can't mess with tradition!). Thanks for the info on summer at WDW.

[glypnirsgirl]

June is hot ... but not as hot as July or August. There are sudden showers that last 10 to 15 minutes, sometimes longer. The parks are crowded. Still, it is a lovely time to visit, especially if you enjoy the water parks.

The mornings are still mild and enjoyable. We do the typical, get up early, make rope drop and we are out of the parks by one and in the pool by two. It works great. By the time the pool starts filling up at 4 we are out of there.

The one thing is, it is so hot in the afternoon, we do not normally make it back for evening activities. We are in our 50's. I think that if we were younger, we could make it back.

Elaine

[Tink22]

Thank you for the info. That sounds like a great plan - - be at the pool before 2 p.m. In the winter we are just warming up by that time! Thanks again.

[JaneBanks]

We swam at SSR in Dec of 06, once during the day and then three times at night.
On a trip end of Feb./beginning of March DH and I swam at WL, and for the first three days we were the only people in the pool when we went.
We were used to NE temps, so Fl at those times was downright warm for us!

Now that we are getting used to KY weather, not sure how we would fare.

Disney heats the pools, although sometimes it really doesn't feel like it.
The hot tubs are always nice though!

[Pumpkinboy]

Noember to March is pretty chilly to swim even in the heated pools. Than again I'm a Floridian, so 60 feels cold to me. Iv'e seen kids in the pools all year round, including ours.Well, I'm from Maine, and for us it's still swimmin' weather any time the pond ain't froze. Seriously, when we have been in November and the Floridians are in sweaters, we'll be in the pool with Minnesotans and Canadians. So a New Yorker like yourself should be fine.

When we've been at WDW in January and February, we have found that most days are 70s and 80s, so even our warmer-blooded friends join us in the pool then. And the pools are heated, so no biggie.

[handa]

"You can tell the Northerners...they're the only ones wearing shorts today."

--from the MC of the Indiana Jones Stunt Show on a January day that was in the low 60's in the morning.

I've been there in January, February, and March (ouch!) when the temps have ranged from the upper 30's (snow just north of Orlando one year!) to the mid 80's in the same week. There are nights (they are few, but I've learned) when I break out the windbreaker and wear long pants while the natives are in wool coats and gloves. Usually there is at least one day during the week when the temps get into the 70's and [for me] it is a decent pool afternoon without the air being chilly. The worst days are the cooler, rainy days, but you wouldn't be swimming on those days anyway.

The waterparks closed for a couple of days in January this year when the temps dipped into the 40's and 30's, but I never heard anything about the pools being closed. Technically, they only close when they are down for rehab as most are swim at your own risk in the off hours.

Chris

[DarthGoofy]

We swam over at SSR in January and thought the pool felt great. The air was a little cool getting out, but not too bad.

[JimP]

We might use the resort pools if the wx is nice in the winter... but we haven't been using the waterparks except when the wx is warmer.

/Jim

[tomandrobin]

We have swam in WDW during our NYE trips the last three years. This year was the warmest and my wife and daughter laid out poolside almost everyday. Last year the last day of our stay got cold, 45 degrees with 15-20 mph winds. :brrrrrr:

The pools are heated to around 80 degrees, give or take a couple of degrees.

Also, don't forget the hot tubs if things get to chilly for you!

[robinb]

On one March trip, we practically had the waterparks to ourselves. Well us and a few hundred other crazy families from the Northeast.
I have you beat! We went to Blizzard Beach on New Year's Eve :). It was great ... fairly warm with almost no lines. I think the longest we had to wait for a slide was maybe 10 minutes tops. It was a very relaxing way to spend what is usually a pretty hectic day. We came home to BWV in time to relax, change clothes and head over to MGM for dinner and the fireworks.

[Tink22]

We swam at SSR in Dec of 06, once during the day and then three times at night.
On a trip end of Feb./beginning of March DH and I swam at WL, and for the first three days we were the only people in the pool when we went.
We were used to NE temps, so Fl at those times was downright warm for us!

Now that we are getting used to KY weather, not sure how we would fare.

Disney heats the pools, although sometimes it really doesn't feel like it.
The hot tubs are always nice though!

FL weather does feel great in Feb./Mar. even if it is still "cool". It's better than snow! Just so the sun is shining we're happy. Where in the NE are you from? I am from PA, near Erie, and my kids go to Asbury College in Wilmore, KY (near Lexington). We are heading to your state tomorrow. My son is graduating!! I hope KY weather is nice on Sunday, but it looks like thunderstorms. We'll see. I love seeing the rolling hills and pasture with all the white fences when we go down. You have a beautiful state.

Pam

[kapeman]

Just want to verify that OKW pools are also heated.

Thanks!

[robinb]

All WDW pools are heated.

[jrbdad]

There were quite a few folks swimming at SSR this past week -- even at 9:00 p.m. -- kind of cool, but folks didn't seem to mind.

[CDog]

We're from the Buffalo, NY area and wear shorts when the temps are in the 60's....so if the water is mid 70's or warmer..we're in it! :holymoly:

[Daitcher]

We swam here in North Texas twice this week. I heated the pool those days to 84 degrees and it felt amazing with the weather being in the low 70's outside.

It is all about what you'll endure to swim. Now that we live down here we wouldn't go into to the cool pools at WDW in the winter unless it was close to 80 degrees out. They keep them cooler than years past. 5 years ago we'd swim there if the air was above 65 becasue the pools were toasty warm, not anymore. That may be because we are in our pool here for 8-9 months so we don't feel as compelled to swim.

Winter visits to WDW can be tricky to pack for. Bring warm clothes or you'll be buying a new Disney sweathsirt. We've had hit or miss weather at WDW November through March. It can be 80 but it can be 40's as well and we have had both. Be prepared for both.

Have a great trip.



DAVE

[mountainjourno]

We were at SSR for New Year's and the kids stayed in the pool right up until midnight!!!