We used it about 3 weeks ago, and we were at PPH. It is a little bit of a walk, but not bad. Be sure to bring your room key/card, you will need it to open the gate!
the pool at PPH was open while we were there a couple of weeks ago, and it was still o.k. to use any of the pools at DLH....neverland or the cove pool. I think the only pool off limits was the redwood pool at GCH. I am not completely sure about that, because we did not try to use it. I think that because the resort is smaller than WDW, pool hopping IS allowed!