Hello Tara, We left our pool up year round, this pool takes longer than the regular intex pools to assemble. So we left it up and drained it in the winter " Western Virginia".
As for protecting the panels from fading I am not sure, I tried various methods with no luck in bringing them back, but that was after they were faded. Maybe a wax or some kind of UV protectant? We switched around the panels to get more time out of it, they are the same on both sides, but you cannot switch the posts or the top rail.
There is also a fair amount of space between the outer frame and the pool liner, it becomes a haven for wasp nests and spiders. Just incase you did not know this is a regular intex pool metal poles and all with an outer wood grain cover. Intex also will not replace the outside panels. Read some of the reviews on amazon, they had the same problem.
It was a beautiful pool, while it lasted. Would I buy it again No, just went with the ultra-frame.
Hope this helps you out.... If you do choose it, the sandfilter is the best investment I have made with these intex pools.
Good Luck..