Must Be Kidding !!!

[winjones]

Check DVC member official site, specifically member news. There you will find a "News Flash" about DVC members not being allowed to use the Yacht & Beach Club pool from APR 1-15 due to high occupancy, AND that the dates may have more days added.

#1-If I was going to OKW (where we are members) I would now make it a point to drag the family over to the Yacht & Beach Club...are the life gaurds going to card/key everyone in the pool, or what!!!
#2-Resort employees are permitted to use the resort gyms. Remember that the next time you have to wait a half hour to use the treadmill, or other equipment because employees are using it. Has Disney never heard of corporate discounts at local fitness facilities ?
#3-What's next ???

[kem330]

I agree it stinks. As for enforcement, when we were guests at BC, we had to go to the towel counter and show our room key and get a wrist band to wear to prove we were guests. Several cm's did patrol the pool and kicked out anyone without a wrist band- and this wasn't even at Easter.

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[jctwizzer]

Try to calm down...This happens every year around Easter...you must have been out of town. And yes, they do card everyone who comes thru the gate into the pool area...and they do it during the off season too. :D

[jennybobenny]

Restricting the pool hopping perks around Eastertime is standard practice. I'm pretty sure DVC did this last year too, particularly with Stormalong Bay at the Y/B Club. As for the health clubs - I've never waited for a treadmill so I can't really comment. Ok ok, I've never actually used the fitness facilities at all. ;) ;)

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[twinglefam]

We stayed at the BC last Nov. and were never asked for any ID at the pool.

Here we go...........

[nydizfan]

i have been a member since 92 and i have NEVER been carded at stormalong bay. And i have gone there many times.

offsite '71 contemporary '72 golf resort '76 village resorts '93 okw '94 okw '95 contemporary '96 okw '97(got married) okw '97 okw '99 okw '00

[eva]

We have pool hopped to Stormalong Bay a number of times too and we were carded all but one time. During Easter I'm sure they will be very tight on security.

[ripleysmom]

They have restricted access to Stormalong Bay to Y/BC guests only for the last two years. They have only done this during the Easter vacation. As far as I know there have not been any other restrictions to other pools, except for the upcoming AKL opening.

Kimberly-Lucas and Ripley's Mom

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[TinkerbellRules]

I know my friends, who are DVC members, have been "carded" at the Y&BC. I believe that was the only place it happened.

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[PamOKW]

Several years ago they added the restriction that we were to check with the front desk before going to pool hop at another resort. (Not sure how many people actually do this.) One year Y&B did restrict folks during Spring Break/Easter. The following year DVC sent out advance notice that Y&B would be closed at that time and they did the same thing last year. This is just the annual announcement. I was surprised it wasn't in the last VM.

Yes, the lifeguards at Y&B will be doing their best to card everyone. They do the same at Vero Beach asking to see your card to get towels and then giving a wrist band, to get food, and also spot check walking around the pool sometimes asking people to leave.

[Stephen]

Is pool hopping a major activity?

We have used pools other than the ones where we are staying a few times, but don't make a point of it. I'm getting the impression this is a popular activity and a bit of a sore spot for some.

Just wodering.

[winjones]

Pasted from newest issue of Vacation Magic:

“Due to restricted property access in order to allow our animal “neighbors” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge plenty of time to adjust to their new home, the DVC pool hopping privilege will not be available when this new Walt Disney World Resort hotel opens later this spring. Check with Member Services for updates to this current policy.”

This is baloney...are the animals in the pool ?
Again I ask...what's next ????
I am blown away that you folks are so OK with this. This is just more of the same chipping away at member privledges.6

[PamOKW]

I'd hate to see pool hopping taken away because it is a nice perk. Have I ever used it? No.
But I like to know it's there if I want to use it. ;)

I'm not too upset by these two announcements from DVC because, as several of us have said, not using the Y&B pool during Easter has been the policy for several years. I'm not surprised that we can't use the AKL pool either. They have made it clear that there will be restricted access to this resort. I am pleased to see they've left the door open to making pool hopping at AKL possible in the future.

[mikesmom]

Winjones..
This is standard operating procedure at Easter and at some other high use times. I can certainly understand checking even if they do it all the time. If you cruise around some of the other boards on the Dis , you'll see that non-DVC members and even folks staying offsite think its cool to pool hop and use resort facilities they haven't paid for.

What fun would the pool be if there were so many people in it that you couldn't move?

[Werner Weiss]

We've pool-hopped to Stormalong Bay twice. Once was a hot August day. I thought it would be crowded, but it wasn't. They weren't even checking resort IDs. Once was in Spring (though not quite Easter). It was very crowded, and they had CMs checking resort IDs and stamping hands at the entrance to the pool area. With our "DVC Member" resort ID card from OKW, we recieved a friendly welcome. A couple of years ago, they added the restriction during very busy times. I assume if we showed up during the restricted period with an OKW "DVC Member" resort ID, we would be asked politely to go to a different resort Pool.

-----
Werner Weiss, Curator of Yesterland (http://www.yesterland.com), featuring discontinued Disneyland attractions

[winjones]

I began this post because I was concerned that the Resort policy is incorrect since "pool hopping" is listed as a member privledge in every member benefit guidebook.
Last Summer we stayed at the Disneyland Hotel, the pool was sooo crowded that it was unsafe & unhealthy...but they NEVER closed the pool gates or "metered" the entrants.
This is B-A-D for us and our present & future privledges.

[PamOKW]

All privileges and discount are subject to change and cancellation. If not being able to pool hop at Spring Break keeps the Disney resorts happy and allows them to let us use the pools the rest of the year, then it's not that big a price to pay.

This policy is into its third year. So far it has not had any effect on any other member privilege.

[rsinj]

.

[rkington]

We spent last Thursday afternoon at the Yacht and Beach Club pool. I was surprised how few people were there. There was no one checking for ID when we entered, and the pool towels, which I remember having to show an ID card for last year, were in open cupboards at the gates. Seems that they weren't trying to stop anyone from entering the pool area this time - even during Spring Break.

Rick

PO '92
DVC Member '93
CBR '93
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BC '95 OKW '95
YC '96 OKW '96
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DL '99 OKW '99
OKW 2000
OKW 2001

[chris1gill]

I really would not get concerned about this at all. Easter is the highest occupancy time at WDW... the VERY highest... the only other time the resort is this busy is the week after Christmas. They also limited access last Easter, and yes DVC members were asked to leave at the time because of the over crowding. Although our member books list pool hopping as a priviledge, it also says that the priviledge is subject to change at any time.

About the AKL - it has been well publicized that this resort would be EXCLUSIVE to guests staying there... you can't just pull up & look around.. the only access if for those staying there, or those that have PS's... and if you don't arrive for your PS you will be charged a fee.. at least that's what's been noted on the boards... It's also been noted that the restriction for AKL will be lifted after the first month... but that's not definite I don't think...

[Beachangel]

Never wanted to, never did it, never would pool hop. I'm always amazed over the outrage that the pool hopping perk creates. So many complain about the lack of perks given to members but this little "pool perk" is a major importance to many. I just don't get it.

I've been a "cash" guest many times in the spring at BC and have always been carded & had my hand stamped at the pool. Overcrowded pools are a pain in the neck and its my opinion that pools should be for resort guests only.

Employees can use gym facilities?! Ridiculus!!Don't get me started - I already complain that employees of my apt building are using the gym facilities - that I pay for. Call me a snob but I don't want to work out with my doorman!

Great just great!

"Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the THINKS you can think up, if only you try." Dr. Seuss

[PamOKW]

Just curious. I haven't seen this employee use of the gyms anywhere but in this original post. Where did that info come from?

[winjones]

In answer to your query: I was checking out the different gym facilities (a DVC member privlege). Went to Y&BC, it was after 4 PM, seemed crowded, so I asked CM when the least crowded times were. She replied, it's usually crowded at this time because the resort employees are allowed to use the gym's... Next day went to VWL to use the gym, noticed how "chatty" the CM was with certain people using the facilities, appeared to know each other personally, CM later told me they were employees.

My interest in the gym facilites is personal & professional. The OKW (where we are members) facility was clearly an after-thought (it is NOT GOOD). I am a firefighter, even on vacation I cannot slack-off. Please keep in mind the generational changes occuring in this wonderful Country of ours; IMHO that is why Disney is putting in the nicer gym facilities in the newer resorts. That is why the $$$ is being spent to create the space and fill it with good equipment. OKW is over a decade old. I love OKW, have not been sorry for one nano-second we bought in to OKW, it's the best.

I started this post because I DO NOT want to see our privileges chipped away again and again...pool hopping, member golf tourney, AKL...WHAT ELSE !?

[Zimbubba]

I love the pool hopping thread almost as much as the towel thread.

I think many posts have hit it right on the head...it is about what we are losing. Pool hopping was used as a point of sale enticement. It was not listed as a conditional item. It is even in the video we received prior to purchasing.

Indeed..what is next?

[HorizonsFan]

1. Until the pool hopping privilege is gone, let's not complain about it being "chipped away". As other posters have said, SB restriction has been around for some time.

2. I don't think it was ever stated that gyms were for exclusive use of DVC members.

3. No priveleges at AKL were ever given to DVC members so how could they be taken away?

Just MHO...

Dave

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[winjones]

Okey-Doke, I seem to be lacky clarity....sorry.

Dave, re: AKL, please read the newest VM issue, DVC members will not be allowed to pool hop to AKL, at all (possibly ever?). It appears it has nothing to do with crowding...something about the animals...are they using the pool...rediculous!
Re: gym use; I NEVER said the gym's were for DVC member exclusive use, again that would be rediculous! I used the gym use as an analogy to the pool use issue. If crowding is truly the issue, then why are resort employees allowed to use the gyms when the equipment is very limited and the resort employees contribute to crowding.

[HorizonsFan]

winjones:

I'm not trying to be antagonistic but as I read the thread, I saw posters complaining that their privileges were being chipped away.
My point regarding AKL is; how can they take away a privilege that was never given? Pool hopping is not a right guaranteed by our contract. It is a privilege that can be given as DVC sees fit. They chose not to give us that privilege at AKL; they didn't take anything away.
As for the gyms, they are paid for with dues. If I remember correctly, doesn't Disney own about 4% of each DVC resort? Should Disney let their employees use their 4% of the gym time? I don't
know the answer to that one, but you can bet that the contract we all signed was designed to let Disney control the resorts the way they want.
The bottom line is that we can complain about "losing" privileges all we want, but as long as DVC points are selling as fast as they become available we may as well save our breath.

Dave

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[Peggy Sue]

Spent two weeks at OKW/BWV 4/28-5/12 last year. When we checked, both resorts handed us a flyer advising we could not pool hop to BC due expected high occupancy. I believe by the later half of our second week this restriction had been removed. I have no problem with being told to stay away from another resorts pool during peak times. The guest of the BC have paid top dollar to stay at their resort and they should be able to enjoy their pool without over crowding. I realize that not every DVC guest will try to "hop" to the BC pool, but I think they are being fair to the guests at the BC to protect what they have paid for. It really isn't chipping away at anything..our documents clearly state we are to call the resort ahead of time to check and see if their pool is available for our use.

I can remember our first trip to the Poly..at that time if you were a WDW guest, you could hop to any resort pool. Of course, there wasn't many resorts to choose from, so this wasn't a problem..but as they built moderates and budget resorts, all WDW guests have been advised they cannot use another resorts pool. (there may be a few exceptions to this rule) That seems fair too, couldn't have all resort guests heading over to storm along bay!

I see any perk we receive from DVC as a gift and I'm sure as time goes along some will be taken away and new ones will be given. I don't expect the perks, but they are welcome.

We don't pool hop. We like the quiet pools. However, it is a nice perk to have and I'm sure those that do take advantage of it have spent many wonderful afternoons at other resort pools.

Have a wonderful day!

[TampaDisneyFreaks]

I think it is great that we have the PRIVILEGE of pool hopping as DVC members. We have not taken advantage of this yet, however we might in the future, and it is comforting to know that privilege is there if we want to use it. We have to remember (as Peggy Sue pointed out), that non-DVC member Disney Resort quests are NOT allowed to pool hop (except in the rare circumstances such as Poly's pool being closed to be rebuilt). One reason that Disney states this, is that most people would end up going to Stormalong Bay (we were told this upon check-in at Disney resorts by CM's, before we were DVC members). So that fact that we, as DVC members, can pool hop there most of the time (except some peak times) is great. Would much rather have it available MOST of the time, than not at all. Pool hopping was never even mentioned to us by our guide, ever. I found out about it on this board! That is also a PRIVILEGE that is subject to change. I can understand why they aren't allowing pool hopping to go on at AKL to begin with, until the novelty wears off. Otherwise loads of people (which WOULD disturb the animals more than the fewer amount of people that would be at the pool without pool-hopping) would go to the AKL pool to use the new pool at the new hotel and go see the animals for free that the paying guests had to pay to see. Before jumping all over DIsney for the smallest little policy restrictions, take a moment to think of why and also that they are restricting a benefit that only DVC members have, and the whole privilege COULD be taken away at any moment as it is not a guaranteed right as a DVC member. Also think of how you (a general "you")feel when non-DVC members pool hop to DVC resorts. You don't like it very much as we paid to have an ownership in that resort and to stay there. The guests at other Disney resorts paid to have "exclusive" (I use that term loosely) use of the pool and amenities at that resort and are probably preturbed that someone else is using "their" pool. We paid X amountof dollars for 42 (now 41 and dropping) years of use of DVC. They just plunked down what amounts to good chunk of what we paid for DVC, but just for a few days or a week or so at that resort, so they would feel just as defensive about a stranger in their pool as we would. I know this is very long, but I want to add one final thought. I would hope that pool hopping is not the main reason that anyone bought into the DVC to begin with. There are many other reasons to own in the DVC and enjoy it other than pool hopping. Thanks for letting me put in my 2 cents worth.

[Beachangel]

That didn't entice me buy into DVC especially since I've heard more than once firsthand hand that even non-resort guests have used Disney resort pools. Haven't you ever heard someone say that? I sure have.

What would make me happy - "exclusive members only" perks. Whatever they may be.

"Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the THINKS you can think up, if only you try." Dr. Seuss

[DownNeckBoy]

I agree that the pool hopping privilege was not an enticement for my purchase of a DVC interest. It seems to me that the very last place I would want to be, during the most crowded part of the year, is at an overcrowded pool. For those of you that do pool hop extensively, is it worth the additional effort? Just curious. Thanks. <IMG SRC="/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif" alt="confused">