Cheating the system

[CMOORE185]

We are at AKL right now and we were at the bus stop to Downtown Disney when a family of five came and were going to DTD in their swim suits, 1st clue. They had no magic bands on, 2nd clue. They got on the bus to DTD and we really started wondering, did this family come to AKL with the sole purpose of using the pool without staying at any Disney resort? When they got off at the Market Place stop at DTD they did not go into the Market Place, clue three.

Do people really do this! Use Disney pools when they are not staying at a Disney resort? They were either at an outside resort or were Orlando residents.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

What time of day was it? Downtown Disney buses also stop at Typhoon Lagoon until it closes. Were they possibly coming from there?

 

[CMOORE185]

What time of day was it? Downtown Disney buses also stop at Typhoon Lagoon until it closes. Were they possibly coming from there?

No, they got on the bus at AKL and got off at DTD. It was at about 6:00 pm when we all got on the bus.

 

[DVC Doctor]

This probably happens at all the pools on Disney property and you never noticed it.

 

[disneynutz]

If you can think it, it probably happens. Disney does a park sweep to clear out guests each night but they have caught people living inside the park.

Bill

 

[DizBub]

Do people really do this! Use Disney pools when they are not staying at a Disney resort? They were either at an outside resort or were Orlando residents.

You bet they do. My daughter has a co-worker who visits family in the Orlando area and she brags about how they catch the buses from DTD and pool hop all over the property. She even told her that they had been in the BLT pool which is restricted from pool hopping. Being a BLT owner DD told her that this was not allowed but the co-worker just laughed and said they do it all the time.

 

[Princess_Nikki]

You bet they do. My daughter has a co-worker who visits family in the Orlando area and she brags about how they catch the buses from DTD and pool hop all over the property. She even told her that they had been in the BLT pool which is restricted from pool hopping. Being a BLT owner DD told her that this was not allowed but the co-worker just laughed and said they do it all the time.

Beyond this just naturally upsetting me, it also makes me a bit sad. Sometimes rules can seem trivial, but apparently Disney has this rule in place for the benefit of the patrons staying at each resort. I know I do appreciate the rule!

We stayed at CBR in May but had a lunch reservation at Beaches & Cream at Boardwalk. My two sons, 4 & 7 years old, just loved the pool and begged us to go. My husband and I explained to both the boys that we were not staying at that resort and that it was only for those staying there.

Some people obviously think the rule is silly and disregard it. For us, we like to be respectful of other Disney goers.

 

[wendybeth75]

This happened to us last fall. A large and rather obnoxious family of about 8 boarded the Poly bus at DTD with beach towels floats and a cooler! They were disruptive, using crude language and talking about the volcano pool. We alerted concierge at the hotel about our suspicions and about that time they came through the lobby pulling the cooler. After they settled in at the pool and it was clear they weren't touring the resort a CM went over to them and they left shortly after. I assume she asked them to verify they were guests of the resort.

 

[Gracie09]

I haven't been since they started gating the pools, do you need to use your magic band or room key to get in the gates area now? I understand they can't check every guest like they do at sab but it would be nice if they could especially at very busy times

 

[Aliceacc]

The saddest part of this whole scenario is what they're teaching their kids-- that the rules simply do not apply to them, and that "cheating the system" is a way to live.

 

[twinsouvenirs]

Good news is that they were checking Magic Bands when we were at BWV for memorial day.


To the poster checking out Coronado's pool--remember if it is not a blackout day or excluded pool that DVC'ers can pool hop--I don't think it has to be a dvc pool. Someone pls correct me if I am wrong--but i think DVCers even used to or still get a discount on cabanas at one of the moderates.

 

[CMOORE185]

The saddest part of this whole scenario is what they're teaching their kids-- that the rules simply do not apply to them, and that "cheating the system" is a way to live.

This is what is upsetting to me, they are creating a whole new generation of cheaters.

 

[DizBub]

I haven't been since they started gating the pools, do you need to use your magic band or room key to get in the gates area now? I understand they can't check every guest like they do at sab but it would be nice if they could especially at very busy times

Gated pools are easy to get into. Just wait for someone to come in or out and catch the gate before it latches. Or act like you forgot your room key. At SAB they have color coded wrist bands.

Good news is that they were checking Magic Bands when we were at BWV for memorial day.

I'm really glad to hear this. Another great use of MBs. Now they need to start scanning them on DTD buses.

 

[Princess_Nikki]

The saddest part of this whole scenario is what they're teaching their kids-- that the rules simply do not apply to them, and that "cheating the system" is a way to live.

I agree. Like I said earlier, I am glad Disney has this rule in place as we always stay on property and it can get crowded fast with just the patrons who are staying at your resort being there!

We live by always trying to do the right thing. We are human, we aren't perfect, but we still try.

There was another thread on cheating the ADR system (by booking a resort reservation then canceling before arrival and staying off property), here on the boards. I was surprised by the amount of DISers who thought the OP shouldn't think it was a big deal and what's the big deal?

It's a big deal when 100's of people cheat the system. Causes all sorts of unnecessary issues.

 

[nalajms]

Do people really do this! Use Disney pools when they are not staying at a Disney resort? They were either at an outside resort or were Orlando residents.

I'm surprised they bothered parking at DTD. Most of these people just park at AKV. Not like the gate person really stops them if they say they want to go eat there. It's been an issue with people parking at AKV then taking the bus to the parks. For Disney, their only option is to have CM checking MB going into the pool. It's probably not worth the additional cost.

There was another thread on cheating the ADR system (by booking a resort reservation then canceling before arrival and staying off property), here on the boards. I was surprised by the amount of DISers who thought the OP shouldn't think it was a big deal and what's the big deal?

This is a different story. Making an ADR means spending money on Disney when you go to the restaurant. Using the pool without paying DVC dues or staying at the hotel is cheating. Plus isn't this the same thing as "walking" a reservation?

 

[wildforgoofy]

There was another thread on cheating the ADR system (by booking a resort reservation then canceling before arrival and staying off property), here on the boards. I was surprised by the amount of DISers who thought the OP shouldn't think it was a big deal and what's the big deal? It's a big deal when 100's of people cheat the system. Causes all sorts of unnecessary issues.

I was able to make dinner reservations for our October trip and we're staying off WDW property. It never required a reservation number just a CC in case we didn't show up. Am I missing something? Have the rules changed on ADR, and in the past you had to be staying at WDW to do ADR?
*edit*
I googled it and found the difference. A resort stay gets me 180 days + 10 days from check in. Non resort gets me 180 days but I don't get the + 10 days. Note to self, google before I post a question. Lol
It's interesting the work arounds I learn on these boards. Not that I feel the need to use them, but knowledge is power as they say.

 

[CMOORE185]

We were also at Universal for two days and saw a mother and two children cheating the system. Universal has a express pass and apparently this mother only bought two of them and what we saw them do was the two children would get there's scanned and one of them would hand one back to the mother and then she would get in. They did it with such skill it told me they have done this many times before.

 

[Spork24]

It's quite possible that these people were not cheating the system. Did you see them head to a car when they got off the bus? All I read was they didn't head to the shops. DVC members are not only allowed to pool hop but encouraged to. We had a flier promoting it as a DVC perk in our room last trip. One of the best ways to get from hotel to hotel is to hop the first bus that shows up and transfer to the bus for your hotel when you get to the park/Dtd. Even If they weren't DVC they could have been transferring rooms that day and chose to hang at the pool after checkout instead of going to a park. (Bell services transfers all the bags)

The evidence listed does not prove they were cheating the system, although I'm sure it happens a lot.

 

[elliececil]

There are some pools that even DVC members staying at a DVC resort aren't allowed to pool hop to. I believe the AK ones are in the not allowed list.

 

[Mariep26]

I just got my mail and the Disney files magazine. There was a blurb about pool hopping relative to DVC members. Just thought I would post since I wasn't sure of what the current policy was.
Here are the highlights:

- DVC members plus guests staying with you can pool hop
- Pool cannot be at capacity otherwise you will be turned away
- Not available May 23-26, June 28-July 7, Aug 29-Sept 1, Nov 24-29, and Dec 20-Jan 4, 2015.
- Never available at BLT, AKL, SAB, and AoA
- Further black out dates may be added
- Pool hopping not available to guests staying at other resorts or those who live locally.