Better control of pool hopping at the Poly?

[thumpersfriend]

Just wondered if there is more being done to prevent pool hopping at the Poly. I had read that this was a problem but did not think much about it. But now we will be there in 5 days and was just wondering.Anyone been there recently?

 

[krismom]

when we were there last summer, they were asking to see your room card to get towels. No one asked to see ours just to be in the pool area or pool though. I wish they would crack down on this however.... we heard a family of 6 talking about how they would try the all stars pool the following day and that they liked "this one" better than "the one we went to yesterday"!
Have a great trip!!!!
Have a Lapu for me!

 

[GoldenOldie]

...I wish they would crack down on this however.... we heard a family of 6 talking about how they would try the all stars pool the following day and that they liked "this one" better than "the one we went to yesterday"! ...

It's entirely possible that you overheard a DVC member family staying on points at a DVC resort. Pool hopping to other Disney resort pools (AKL and Stormalong Bay excepted) is a perk of the DVC membership when staying on points. So they may have been doing absolutley nothing wrong.

 

[thumpersfriend]

I didn't realize that DVC members could pool hop. That is a good perk for the members. What is a lupa?

 

[PolyHereWeCome]

We were there during the very crowded Easter/Spring Break week, and like another poster said, they were checking IDs if you wanted a towel. Guess one could have/may have pool hopped at the Poly. if you brought your own towel.

Maybe it was just that the weather wasn't all that warm for much of the week (and it rained a fair amount), or maybe it's just that everyone was at the parks, but we were pleasantly surprised that the volcano pool didn't seem packed. We all enjoyed everytime we used it, which was primarily midday after hitting the parks early and hard.

Hope all of you who have upcoming trips planned have a wonderful time!

 

[newholidayx2]

DS13 & I are planning on pool hopping to the Poly, GF, Contemp & Boardwalk this Aug (we're DVCers) Will call first, of course

 

[goofy4tink]

We had a similar experience when staying at the Polynesian in August '03. We followed three teen-age girls onto the monorail, they were dripping wet, wrapped in towels. Overheard one say to the other..."That pool is hot!!! Much better than ours at Sports!" No way were they DVC members. In order to pool hop as a DVC member you must be staying on points. I don't think you'll find too many DVC'ers using points at an AllStar resort.

Also overheard on a different day..as I sat on my way in the back chair, since all the chaises were taken.....a woman say to her dh, "Honey, this might be a good place to stay if we could get a really cheap rate. But I don't think they are going to beat the rate we got at Holiday Inn. We're better off just using the pool." Then she took her drink to her pool-side chaise!!! Now, that bothers me a lot!!!

I still think they should do every hour pool checks for ID's. A pain yes, but it might discourage some of the pool-hopping by those who shouldn't be doing it. As far as the DVC people hopping, I think that you will find that most don't take the time and effort to hop. Of course some do, but for the most part it's a non-issue.

 

[krismom]

The family I referred to were not DVC'ers, they were not "in the know" about enough stuff. I was purposefully eavesdropping and almost mentioned that they shouldn't really be there. And by the way, A Lapu-lapu is a coconut cup drink they serve at the Poly- very yummy!

 

[twinklebug]

Pool hopping is a nice benefit to being a DVC member, does it apply to renters too?

I think Disney should consider allowing certain other resort guests the priviledge to pool hop. Conceriege guests come to mind, and FW cabin guests pay quite a bit and receive a simple hole in the ground for a pool (one that you have to get on a bus to get to for that matter). (Oh no - here I go again - boo hoo - bring back River Country!)

 

[luvmarypoppins]

We will be at the Poly in 7 days. I am sure we will encounter our share of illegal pool hoppers as usual. I am all for a scan gate using your room key. That will keep everyone where they should be. My ds lifeguard works at a condo place and they have something like that now for this summer, all residents wanting to use the pool have to have finger scans on file. Cuts down on his time checking ids for pool admitance. The only deluxe thing I am getting is the bed, I am afraid. Pool hoppers are a little easier to swallow since I am getting a good ap rate on the room. If I was paying rack rate, I would be furious. After all everyone uses the beach to view fireworks etc. If I dont have a good experience then it will be back to the Swan for us next time. Last trip to Poly I saw a nice teen with her all stars mug filling up at captain cooks. Gheesh!!

 

[Peter Pirate]

They virtually never check anywhere but SAB and even there their attempt is token. Pool hopping is against the rules per se, but Disney doesn't care enough about this rule to enforce it.

 

[thumpersfriend]

Well, I am paying rack rate so I hope at least there is enough room for my DD and myself . Wish us luck!

 

[spiceycat]

if outside guest are pool hopping - then go complaint to the front desk manager - he can get the lifeguards to go check everyone ID's.

DVC members are only allowed to pool hop when staying at a DVC resort on points - the ID should say this - by saying DVC member on it....

 

[thumpersfriend]

I don't have a problem with DVC points people. Guess I just thought that you pay for the pool with your room. Had no idea people just took it upon themselves to do this. If it is really busy and someone says they are pool hopping and not DVC , I may say something. I would never think to pool hop myself. How embarrassing if you got caught!

 

[disneyfan67]

We had a similar experience when staying at the Polynesian in August '03. We followed three teen-age girls onto the monorail, they were dripping wet, wrapped in towels. Overheard one say to the other..."That pool is hot!!! Much better than ours at Sports!" No way were they DVC members. In order to pool hop as a DVC member you must be staying on points. I don't think you'll find too many DVC'ers using points at an AllStar resort.

Also overheard on a different day..as I sat on my way in the back chair, since all the chaises were taken.....a woman say to her dh, "Honey, this might be a good place to stay if we could get a really cheap rate. But I don't think they are going to beat the rate we got at Holiday Inn. We're better off just using the pool." Then she took her drink to her pool-side chaise!!! Now, that bothers me a lot!!!

I still think they should do every hour pool checks for ID's. A pain yes, but it might discourage some of the pool-hopping by those who shouldn't be doing it. As far as the DVC people hopping, I think that you will find that most don't take the time and effort to hop. Of course some do, but for the most part it's a non-issue.

If I hear someone saying something like that you can be sure I'll go the management and complain. I've had to save for over two years for this trip and that's not fair that some El cheapo is going to be taking a spot reserved for a paying customer. I hate when people take advantage like that and it's simply not fair. To stay at a deluxe resort is a big expense for some of us and I'm a firm believer in everyone playing by the rules. I agree with checking the ID's on a constant basis so that pool hopping will come to a halt real quick.

 

[spiceycat]

that is why SALB is now gated.

Epcot guests were coming by to use this pool.

they were stopping at the quiet pool by BC before - so they had their towels...

it got to be such a problem - that BC/YC put up the fence.

 

[DisneyFans4]

If I had overheard some of these conversations where guests definitely were staying outside Disney and using the pool I would report it to the manager. It's is ashame and now I understand why these pools are so darn crowded!!
The problem is they make it too darn easy for anyone to come in and use the pool. All you do is walk into the main entrance and then out the back and there is the pool.
Yes, I have been asked to show my room key in order to get a towel but that is it. Anyone can come with their own towel and beat that.

 

[LoraJ]

I wonder if pool hopping was allowed back in the 70's when it was just CR and Poly. We were staying at CR and I remember we went over to the Poly and used their pool one day. We thought it was so cool because they had a slide.

The CR pool was pretty lame compared to it.

Maybe my mom did a big no no and I am scarred for life?

 

[thumpersfriend]

I remember in the 70's when Epcot was just starting to be built. We stayed at Fort Wilderness and went to breakfast at the Poly. My kids loved it and wanted to swim there but we never thought that we could. We just used what we paid for. Another poster said she has saved 2 years for the Poly. For me it is 3 years. I am just going with my daughter and our focus is the resort and relaxing by the pool Hope it turns out okay. Maybe there is a benefit in staying at FW or the other moderates, maybe not so much pool hopping there. Sure would be alot cheaper.

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

Please don't change your plans to go to the POLY. You will love it.

We have been there too many times to count and have only seen a few obvious "hoppers". If you think that there are "hoppers" there when you visit and they are proving to be a detriment to your enjoyment, don't hesitate to point them out to lifeguards or the front dest CMs.

Have fun!