AKL Pool vs. Stormalong Bay

[aggiemullins]

After staying at BCV last year, I completely understand why they don't allow pool hopping into Stormalong Bay. Who needs to pay extra to go to the parks, every single day, when BCV has such a fantastic pool? Don't get me wrong, I think the other DVC resorts have great pools too, but (IMHO) there's definitely more of a "water park" feel to SAB and I could see how it could reach capacity quickly if they allowed everyone in.

Now I've never been to AKL, but from the very limited pictures I've found of its pool, I don't understand why they don't allow pool hopping at AKL. Don’t get me wrong, it looks great, but it doesn't seem any better than the other DVC pools. The only explanation I can come up with, without actually seeing it in person, is that it's either too small to handle any extra guests or it really is as good as SAB and the pictures I've found don't do it justice.

Please don't think I'm trolling to start a "which resort is better" fight, we actually own at SSR (which has a wonderful pool). I was just hoping someone could educate me on why it would be disastrous for DVC to allow pool hopping at AKL.

 

[Jimdvc]

I was just hoping someone could educate me on why it would be disastrous for DVC to allow pool hopping at AKL.

Disney wants you in the park and eating out and buying water and spending $. They don't want you staying at resort A and spending a day at resort B,C,D,E's pool

 

[bobbiwoz]

I think it is the size of AKV's pool that stops the pool hopping.

Bobbi

 

[AKV707]

I didn't know that the AKL pool was the one that you couldn't pool hop to. I thought that was for the new one at Kidani. That one certainly seems like it will rival SAB. But since it doesn't exist yet. it is hard to tell.

 

[flipflop]

The pool at AKL does not rival SB - Kidani's may.

 

[aggiemullins]

Taken from the DVC Member website:

"You and any Guests staying with you at Disney's Old Key West Resort, Disney's BoardWalk Villas, The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, Disney's Beach Club Villas or Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa are permitted to use other Disney Vacation Club and Walt Disney World Resort hotel pools (in addition to the pool at the Resort hotel at which you're staying) if they are not at capacity."

"Pool hopping is not available at Uzima Pool at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and Stormalong Bay at Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts or at the leisure pools of these two Resort hotels. There are no exceptions to this policy."

In addition to the above policies, there are sometimes blackout dates that completely restrict all pool hopping.

From what I remember, this DVC rule has actually been around for some time, even before AKV was ever announced as a new DVC Resort. I was just wondering why out of all the WDW resort pools in all of Disney World, it's placed in the same category as SAB?

 

[BCV23]

The prohibition of pool hopping to the AKL pool that's been in place since AKL opened is one more reason that I think AKV was always in the plans.

And yes, it's no SAB.

 

[AKV707]

The prohibition of pool hopping to the AKL pool that's been in place since AKL opened is one more reason that I think AKV was always in the plans.

And yes, it's no SAB.

But do you think that the new pool at Kidani will rival SAB?

 

[BCV23]

From the drawings, I don't think so. But it looks like an expansive area divided up into more manageable units.

SAB is a great pool but I bet it is quite expensive to man and maintain.

 

[richardsa98]

Perhaps one of the reasons is that at the one end of the pool you can see the animals. Perhaps they were afraid people would show up not just to swim but to make camp and hang out with furry friends all day long

 

[La2kw]

But do you think that the new pool at Kidani will rival SAB?

Not a chance. SAB has a lot more to it than a pool and a water play area.

 

[disney-super-mom]

I believe there's no pool hopping allowed at AKL because it's the only pool at the resort. There are no quiet pools at the AKL to help absorb or disperse hotel guests that wish to swim or use the spas. Therefore, the AKL pool/spas can't absorb additional DVC guests in addition to it's own resort guests. I hope I said that in a way that makes sense.

It may be allowed for DVC members/guests once the new Kidani pool complex is built though.

 

[nuttylawprofessor]

They haven't allowed pool hopping to AKL because of the animals, at least that is the explanation I remember from the time the resort launched.

 

[KandiB47]

They haven't allowed pool hopping to AKL because of the animals, at least that is the explanation I remember from the time the resort launched.

That is what I remember too. They didn't want crowds to come in to see the animals. They didn't want Animal Kingdom Lodge to be Animal Kingdom Lodge and Zoo.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

I think they like to keep AKL as "self-contained" as possible--not a ton of people wandering around. If you want to see animals, Disney wants you to PAY. They are a business! When AKL first opened up, you couldn't even visit the resort unless you were staying there or had a dinner reservation. I believe they relaxed that a bit after the first couple years, but the pool-hopping thing is, IMHO, an extension of the same thought.

The new Kidani pool/water area looks like it'll be a lot of fun, but nowhere near the complexity of SAB, again IMO.

 

[rwcmath]

I was intrigued by what I had read in newspapers and they did "allow" my family to come and look around. So, I don't think it was a hard and fast rule.
My expectations for the resort were ceratinly met and exceeded. The ambiance is right, imo! I'm looking forward to seeing the new water area there.
rwc

 

[pilferk]

That is what I remember too. They didn't want crowds to come in to see the animals. They didn't want Animal Kingdom Lodge to be Animal Kingdom Lodge and Zoo.

I think it's a combination of that, AND the reason given a couple posts back: No quiet pool, so no additional capacity.

If people remember right, back when AKL opened, they didn't even allow you to come visit without an ADR or a room ressie. And yes, they turned people away. We stayed there RIGHT after September 11th, and I saw cars turned around and sent packing.

They changed the rule a month or so later, probably to encourage people to both stay there, and eat there, while they were having problems filling the resorts. But AKL started as sort of an "exclusive" resort...and I'm sure the pool hopping rule, which has been there since it opened, was at least partially because of that.

 

[starbox]

Last summer, I was shocked to find that the pool (including slide) at AKL stayed open and fully staffed by lifeguards until 10pm. It seems like other pool slides closed much earlier.

The pool itself is not that spectacular - but the late hours are really nice for night swimmers like us.

 

[DBorges]

AKL/AKV

This resort is a atraction in its self . The same reason that you are stoped at the guard shack and asked what are you here for.

It is too stop pool hooping to see the animals

I was at the openning Day of this resort and it has been that way since day one!

And personal I hope that never changes

 

[disney-super-mom]

The pool itself (and spas) are open 24 hours. Only the slide closes at 10:00pm, when the lifeguards are off duty.

They probably have to keep the main pool open 24 hours because there's no quiet pools for people to take a late night dip.

I wonder if the new Kidani pool will be open 24 hours as well (not the slide, but the pool)?