Automatic covers are expensive - BUT, we have a 2-year old, a 5-year old, and a 7-year old. Our worst nightmare is one of our kids drowning. We are also told that we will save a considerable amount of money in chemicals, water (evaporation), and heat. (That's what the sales guys said...)

We anticipate the cover being opened when the kids want to swim - then, if they decide to go ride bikes, the cover is closed; they want to swim again later in the day, we open the pool, they want to go on the swingset - the cover closes.

These are our thoughts, however we know that hindsight is always 20/20. What do you all think?