I can see limiting the
DVC pool hopping benefit on peak days at those pools where capacity could really be an issue -- even though there were no limits listed in the pool hopping section of the Member Guide back when we bought.
But it's disappointing to see blanket restrictions on
all DVC pool hopping during
all holiday periods, at
all WDW pools, regardless of pool capacity or pool demand. For example, they made a similar announcement for the Christmas holidays. Now, I wouldn't want to go swimming when it's 37<SUP>o</SUP> F -- as it was around Christmas of 2000 and 2001. And neither did many other people. The WDW pools that I saw weren't very busy. But if there are hearty DVC members who want to freeze going up the steps to the water slide at SAB or want to take time off from the crowds at the MK for a dip at the Polynesian, why shouldn't they enjoy this benefit that their salesperson told them about as one of the reasons to buy into DVC?
From the wording of the announcement, I can't tell whether pool hopping is forbidden just because a day falls with the holiday date range, or whether you can pool hop but face embarassment that you and you family will be kicked out of the pool, or whether you can easily determine before you head to another pool that you'll be welcome there, based on how busy they expect that pool to be that day.
I've suggested this before, and I'll suggest it again: DVC members should be able to call a Pool Hopping Status recording from their in-room phones. And all efforts should be made to maintain the DVC pool hopping benefit, while eliminating the real pool trespasssers who are neither guests at that resort nor DVC members staying on points at a DVC resort.
Those on this board who write about their expectation of the demise of the DVC pool hopping benefit or who are quick to defend all restrictions on pool hopping (whether reasonable or not) seem to be people who never use this benefit.