What are your favorite lap pools (or pools decent enough to swim some laps in) in Disney World? Obviously you would need to swim early in the morning when it's quiet but that's not a problem. My parents have a DVC membership they are going to let us use so I am most interested in staying at a DVC resort. It looks like the only Disney Hotel with a lap pool is Coronado Springs. The Dolphin & Swan which are on Disney property also appear to have lap pools. While those three might be options for us to pay out of pocket, they don't work with my parents DVC membership. They have priority at Animal Kingdom.
Lets go ahead and list out the lap quality of any of the Disney area pools you have stayed at since I'm pretty limited in my (actually pretty awesome) choices but I could see this thread being useful for anyone else planning a trip. While I've looked at Disney boards in the past for this information, no one else quite understands lap swimming like other Master's Swimmers.
Typically, I wouldn't care so much about getting swimming in during a fun filled, active vacation like this but I am planning to do a 10K swim next summer and I really don't want to let my time in the pool drop below 10,000 yards even on an off week next spring. I will plan an off week around this trip, so it doesn't affect things too much. 10,000 yards would be like spending 45 minutes in the pool 4 times.
My husband keeps joking I should just swim in Lake Buena Vista and race the alligators (yes, we both know it's not only not allowed but unsafe).
If you've got the time and a car, I'd recommend getting out of Disney and going to the YMCA Aquatic Center - http://aquaticcenterymca.com/. It's a great facility and you might get long course options. Roughly 20 minutes from Disney World, depending upon where you're staying.
I'll reply to my own thread with the couple places I have had the opportunity to stay at.
The Wilderness Lodge Hotel Pool had a bit too awkward of a shape and while nice was on the smaller side for any useful laps.
The Contemporary Hotel Pool was similar to the Wilderness Lodge pool.
The Bay Lake Towers pool had a nice straightaway in their L shaped pool that was ok for laps minus the really shallow end where open turns and no underwaters were necessary. Can't be used for laps while the slide is in use, though.
If you've got the time and a car, I'd recommend getting out of Disney and going to the YMCA Aquatic Center - http://aquaticcenterymca.com/. It's a great facility and you might get long course options. Roughly 20 minutes from Disney World, depending upon where you're staying.
This is a possibility - especially since I am a Y member AND employee. I'll look into their reciprocal membership details. I wonder how flexible they are given their proximity to such a huge tourist area.
Hey, M! Sorry I have nothing to contribute to your thread, but give Mickey a big :smooch: for me, ok? Good luck with your training, and keep us posted on your progress, ok? I'll look forward to hearing about your 10K success next summer! :cheerleader:
This is a possibility - especially since I am a Y member AND employee. I'll look into their reciprocal membership details. I wonder how flexible they are given their proximity to such a huge tourist area.I'm not a Y member and I dropped in there back in 2014, the last time I was in Orlando. I can't recall the specific fee, but, as I didn't note it in my blog, it had to be less than $10.
Hey, M! Sorry I have nothing to contribute to your thread, but give Mickey a big :smooch: for me, ok? Good luck with your training, and keep us posted on your progress, ok? I'll look forward to hearing about your 10K success next summer! :cheerleader:
Thanks Elaine! I might start a blog. I'm actually excited for the training. Which is how it should be but more so than normal. Seems like while there is some information out there on long distance swimming, there's really not a lot of practical information.
I think I may be able to get away with only having to do 3 swim sessions while down there.
Will definitely hug Mickey! :D
I'm not a Y member and I dropped in there back in 2014, the last time I was in Orlando. I can't recall the specific fee, but, as I didn't note it in my blog, it had to be less than $10.
That's great! That's really helpful. I looked them up and it looks like they do honor reciprocal memberships so now I just have to work out the transportation. :)
If you're planning to come in October, you should check out the Rowdy Gaines Classic! This is an incredible Masters meet and this year will be the 8th year of the event from October 7th-9th. It takes place at the YMCA Aquatic Center (which I'd agree you should definitely check out while you're there). Here is the website in case you're interested: rowdygainesmastersclassic.com/
Have fun in Orlando!
If the Y transportation plan doesn't work out, I've stayed in the Port Orleans - Riverside resort complex a couple of times. The pools are completely irregularly shaped, but using my standard stroke count I did chart a 25 yard course across a curvy pool and about a 25m course in a larger pool with waterpark features. Flip turns on curved walls from an angle are a challenge, but I was still able to get in good workouts as long as I chose early in the morning (about 6:30 a.m.) to do them.
Coronado Springs has a 25m pool with straight lines on the bottom, but no lane lines. This wasn't really a problem, since I only saw one other person there at 7am. The pool was quite warm when we visited in June.
