Can our friends join us at the DLH pool?

[tinksdreamwishes]

ha! for the price of a stay at the Grand- get your money worths- hell, if it means asking a parent to join you at the pool - even if only to watch the grand kids- heck to anyone else! And pass that parking pass around too! enjoy!

 

[jilld11]

When you're staying at the hotels, I think that is not fair to others and it is just wrong. Teaaches your kids to cheat to get around things.
To the PP who was talking about DVC points and contracts, that is totally different than staying at the hotel as a paying guest, so that may be fine. I only send people to hotels and don't deal with DVC points. Apples and oranges. That may totally be on the up and up. Don't know.

 

[larina]

When you stay on DVC points you can have up to 5 people in a room for the same flat rate of points. We got 5 keys. Seriously not an "down low" kind of thing. What is the difference between my family of 3 using the hotel at night + 2 using the resort during the day and a family of 5 that uses the hotel day and night for the same price?...

jilld11
Giving a key to my in-laws for free parking was fine, since my dues as a DVC member pay for the parking lots at the DL hotels - its a line item on my annual maintenance fee statement. I did not have a car, and with every DVC reservation, one is allowed to park up to 2 cars at a resort. If one stays for cash, one pays a fee of $15 per car for overnight parking. If you pay a fee, will Disney care if its your car or a friends? I think not.

I disagree. Disney strongly and fiercely tries to prevent such abuses from happening in the resort hotels. They absolutely do care!

I'm sorry, I missed the DVC thing. I thought you were at the regular hotel. Different rules entirely: no annual fees to justify sharing keys for the pool or parking.

ha! for the price of a stay at the Grand- get your money worths- hell, if it means asking a parent to join you at the pool - even if only to watch the grand kids- heck to anyone else! And pass that parking pass around too! enjoy!

When you're staying at the hotels, I think that is not fair to others and it is just wrong. Teaaches your kids to cheat to get around things.
To the PP who was talking about DVC points and contracts, that is totally different than staying at the hotel as a paying guest, so that may be fine. I only send people to hotels and don't deal with DVC points. Apples and oranges. That may totally be on the up and up. Don't know.

So glad I'm not alone.

 

[cgh]

Actually, the 'resort fee' covers parking for 2 spots, and they have allowed it. Last year, we had a sitter coming for our son, and I asked at the front desk if I could get her a room key and make sure parking was taken care of. We were not charged for the additional key nor the parking fee. We didn't hand off room keys or anything-I got her own. (didn't want to do that anyway because of the charge component on the room card. I gave her cash to spend on dinner and incidentals.

 

[actnkidz]

A couple of years ago we were staying at DLH and there were 2 different kids birthday parties happening at the pool. There were obviously guests walking in with gifts that weren't staying there. They took up the tables and many of the chairs. It was sooo frustrating, we had no where to sit and the DL employees that were there did nothing about it, I was not happy. Talk about abusing the system.

I personally don't have a problem with someone having a family member or 2 join them at the pool but all of those kids were out of control. They even had coolers of drinks for everyone and a cake and some decorations.

 

[Rhonna]

For a minute I thought I was on the WDW boards. Deja vu.

Pool hopping has been a HOT topic at the WDW boards for years. And that is people who ARE staying on WDW property but at value resorts and want to use the deluxe resort pools. That's why (as someone mentioned) Stormalong Bay at the Yacht and Beach Club and eventually the volcano pool at the Polynesian resort are wristband now. It took years of abuse for disney to finally take action. They still will relax the enforcement during slow times. Doesn't mean it's allowed but they don't police as strongly in slow season.

Is is allowed? Technically no. Will you get a different answer from every CM? Absolutely. Will disney do anything about it? Probably not anytime soon at disneyland since the pools just don't draw the huge numbers that the popular pools do at WDW.

And yes, DVC members are allowed some pool hopping that normal on-property guests are not.

This debate NEVER ends on the WDW boards (they lock the threads and then ban the topic and it won't go away) and I doubt everyone will come to an agreement here either.

One question: (which I'm sure someone will find a way around it) Why did disney put up a fence all around the pool complex with gates that you can only get in with your DLH key if it's open to non paying guests?

Here's another way of looking at it. If I have an AP can't I get my friend(s) in to MM with me? I'm paying for the perk, why can't I share it? Because they didn't pay for it, right? So they don't get the perk. If the friends/family didn't pay for the hotel pool perk, do they get it? (Not directed at the OP since the topic is beyond that point now.)

It looks like DL is catching up with WDW. They finally built a pool complex popular enough to start the desire for pool hopping.

 

[jilld11]

Don't you think there is a simple solution to this. There should be no people who are not guests at the DLR hotels allowed to use the facilitiesl. I don't know about WDW so much, but if you are paying for a budget resort then you use the budget resort pool. People who pay alot of money should not have to share it with people who paid nothing. To the people who think it's OK to bring Grandma/Grandpa, auntie em, have them pay for their own room, but I didn't pay money to use these amenities to have them being used by people who were snuck in. A spade is a spade and cheating is cheating . Please don't teach your kids that or you will be part of the problem.

 

[hjgaus]

jilld11
Giving a key to my in-laws for free parking was fine, since my dues as a DVC member pay for the parking lots at the DL hotels - its a line item on my annual maintenance fee statement. I did not have a car, and with every DVC reservation, one is allowed to park up to 2 cars at a resort. If one stays for cash, one pays a fee of $15 per car for overnight parking. If you pay a fee, will Disney care if its your car or a friends? I think not.

Just answered to something similar on the WDW Grand Californian owners thread:

thought some of you would like to know -
Just got back from our annual LONG weekend stay in the GRAND Villa and had so many of us coming @ different times or day that I asked the greeter at the front entrance she said " the FIRST 2 cars for DVC members are FREE in self parking but after that is $15. so I parked valet for earlier check in ($22 per day) while my husband came later and self parked(his car FREE) my SIL even later that day and did self parking(her car FREE) my friend & her family did valet($22 per day) and LAST but not least my brother in law came 2 days later in self parking($15) Valet will charge the room with the credit card attached to (MINE) So I paid Disney and my guests pay me. They also check ID to make sure your on the ressie list which all were.

 

[jacs1234]

I honestly thought you were allowed to pool hop at WDW. I've never been there though, but I thought you could.

We did a split stay between the Grand and the DLH on our last trip so that our childen could enjoy both pools. Unfortunately when we got to DLH., the monorail pool was closed for maintenance.

 

[LisainCalifornia]

Actually, the 'resort fee' covers parking for 2 spots, and they have allowed it. Last year, we had a sitter coming for our son, and I asked at the front desk if I could get her a room key and make sure parking was taken care of. We were not charged for the additional key nor the parking fee. We didn't hand off room keys or anything-I got her own. (didn't want to do that anyway because of the charge component on the room card. I gave her cash to spend on dinner and incidentals.

This has changed recently. They are now charging for parking seperately.

 

[jilld11]

Not directed to the DVC people since I don't know how their contract works and you all seem to know it well, so I'm sure you are just doing what is allowed. And by the way, jealous as I was looking to book for DVC pints and couddn't find any.

To the other people who are staying at the hotel and sneaking people in . Terrible.
Some say, only one person in is fine, but what about 2, 3 , 6 or 7???
There is a reason the signs posted say for hotel guests only.
Just because it's Grandma, doesn't make it right.
If you want Grandma to watch your kids, then pay for her room.
If not, don't use the huge money I paid to stay at the onsite resorts in DL only to be crowded with no paying guests.
Sorry, I will be the one complaining to the supervisors and I would expect that the non payers would have to leave. And not get to go change in the hotel, just leave. If that sounds cruel to have a wet crying child walk to an off site hotel, then you only have yourself to blame. Dont' try and cheat.
Remember, your children are watching. You don't want them to be cheaters and liars, so don't do it in front of them.

 

[gardengirl2790]

I have read on the boards that at Aulani registered guests are given colored bracelets they wear to the pools so the lifeguards know who is truly a paying guest versus those sneaking in under various pretenses. It might be a great idea for Disneyland Resort hotels to start this practice. I think it would help with pool overcrowding especially when we have been there in the summer.

 

[TeddiBarra]

Technically, no, as the pools are only for hotel guests, and specifically guests of DLH (for example you're technically not supposed to stay at GCH and use the pool at DLH even) but in my experience they seldom check except on really busy days. If you really want to do it, I doubt anyone will care so long as you all go in as one group, and of course someone has a room key to unlock the gate.

Sharing our experience, and this was contrary to what has previously been Disney hotel policy.

We booked the PP for one night in February. When we checked in, we were told that we were welcomed to use the pool at the DLH. I was surprised, and even doubled checked that the clerk said we could pool-hop. I do not know if this is still the case- if this was temporary or what, but he was perfectly clear that our room keys would work at the DLH and he encouraged us to go check it out (which we did). I also don't know if that was only for guests at the PP or also the GCH.

So, per Disney, it may be ok to pool hop.

 

[jilld11]

People who can afford to stay at DLR resorts should have some class (not referring to DVC people). While the rest of us can't afford to stay there, you think it's OK to bring in people off the street (yes, inc. neice grandma, etc.).
If you really want them there, then just pay for their room, problem solved.
I am a big believer in staying off site, but for some reason I'm having an on site feeling for me, DH, 9 and 7 year old. But I will tell you that I spent alot of money to be there and if someone is just a guest, I will be the firsrt to complain and ask to have those people removed. My child should not have to wait not one extra minute so those non payerss can ride the slide.
You should have better things to teach your children other than that you can cheat and get what you want.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Sharing our experience, and this was contrary to what has previously been Disney hotel policy.

We booked the PP for one night in February. When we checked in, we were told that we were welcomed to use the pool at the DLH. I was surprised, and even doubled checked that the clerk said we could pool-hop. I do not know if this is still the case- if this was temporary or what, but he was perfectly clear that our room keys would work at the DLH and he encouraged us to go check it out (which we did). I also don't know if that was only for guests at the PP or also the GCH.

So, per Disney, it may be ok to pool hop.

By any chance, was the pool and/or slide at PP closed for maintenance during your visit? I've heard that pool hopping is allowed in such a case.

 

[mom2aidanNpiper]

I have read on the boards that at Aulani registered guests are given colored bracelets they wear to the pools so the lifeguards know who is truly a paying guest versus those sneaking in under various pretenses. It might be a great idea for Disneyland Resort hotels to start this practice. I think it would help with pool overcrowding especially when we have been there in the summer.

We were in Hawaii in March and visited Aulani for the day. yes, hotel guests are given colored bands to wear. Their layout is unusual though as no pools are gated. The grounds are open and very large. We went to the open air restaurant for lunch and it was right next to the pool. The beach and lagoon is public property so they have to have a way of seeing who can use the pools or not. We walked through the pool area multiple times to get to the restaurant, spa, main building, etc because there isn't another way. At the DL pools that isn't the case. Sad that this is even an issue. Paying guests only should use the pools

 

[Virgoinab]

As someone who pays to stay at the DLH, PPH, and places like the Grand Floridian when we go to WDW.

It is not okay if someone who is NOT paying to stay at the hotel uses the facilities they are not entitled too. If they are staying at another resort hotel whose pool is out of service, then that is not the issue as Disney allows this as part of their resort policy.

If you want to use the pools etc of the DLH resort, then book a room and spend the money like I and my family do.

If you cannot swing it, then I am sorry I hope one day you can, in the meantime please do not think that sneaking even one person in, is okay, it is not.

Disney may or may not overlook this, however I will tell you this.

Over Christmas of last year while fighting for a spot in the hot tub, a lady and her four children where bragging to another woman that she was staying at the hojo's, but her friend was staying at the DLH, and they got into the pool area using her friends room key.

Anyone want to guess what I and two other guests did upon hearing this? Yes we all did inform security, and yes they were escorted out of the pool area. And her friend had a long chat in the lobby of the Frontier tower (we where staying in that tower and witnessed this) about how they could be asked by Disney hotel management to vacate the property, without refund on the balance of their stay, for allowing a guest not registered to use their rooms keys.

So, moral of the story is this, I do not take things that do not belong to me, I have taught my children not to take or use things that do not belong to them, and I would hope that any upstanding adult would not think that just because you might be able to sneak someone into the pool area that has not paid to be there, that is is not stealing.

It is cheating the system, no matter how you may want to spin it.

You want to use the pool and the DLH, or have your friends of family use it?

Then PAY for it like we do.

 

[TeddiBarra]

By any chance, was the pool and/or slide at PP closed for maintenance during your visit? I've heard that pool hopping is allowed in such a case.

Nope it wasn't. In fact it was open with kids in it swimming around. We visited both pools that stay.

It is not okay if someone who is NOT paying to stay at the hotel uses the facilities they are not entitled too. If they are staying at another resort hotel whose pool is out of service, then that is not the issue as Disney allows this as part of their resort policy.

Or when they tell you that you are invited to check out another pool.

 

[summer0407]

We stayed at the GCH last June. We rented a cabana and my sister and niece who live nearby came and stayed at the cabana with us we ordered food and drinks and had no problem whatsoever. I imagine if you bring in a bunch of people that would not be good but a few people I personally don't see any problem with it.

 

[nana50]

Once my daughter and son in law stayed at the Grand. I drove up for the day and joined them in their room and at the pool. I did not use any towels while in the room. I did not mess up the bed. I did not swim in the pool, I just sat and watched my grand kids. It was in February and not busy at all. I don't feel guilty in the least and will probably do it again.