dvc members vs. illegal poolsters

[wdwoldtimer]

I suppose card readers would do the trick and I don't think most members would find it a hassle to use the system. I mean, you have your room card with you most likely, anyway, right? It doesn't take much to swipe it through a gate, wait a second for the electronic lock to disengage and then enjoy the pool.

But I think the issue is more subtle. I think having to add security fencing doesn't really "fit" with one of the main Disney philosophies. To offer a place that is as free from the ugliness of the real world as possible. Doing things like adding security gates around the pools takes our "World" one step closer to the real one. I think that one of the main things that draws us back over and over again is that, while we are there, it's like living in some ideal place. An escape from reality, so to speak. It's the same reason that they never sell newspapers in the parks. It's one of the main philosophies behind Celebration. Just look at how important the "Welcome Home" thing is with so many DVCers. We don't really want it to seem like a hotel or a time share resort. WE want it to seem like home...or really, a fantasy home. Do you remember the first time you noticed that they started putting those shoplifting tags on items at the stores in the World? An ugly reminder that I bet Disney struggled over doing.

Have you ever gone to a non-Disney theme park? At least the ones near major cities have metal detectors at the entrances. Now on the surface, it shouldn't bother those who aren't trying to sneak a weapon into the park, right? And it should give an added sense of security to the guests that are only there to have fun. Yet because of that "in your face" reminder of the problems in our country these days, that theme park will never approach the magic we feel at Disney.

Personally I hope they never install gates around the pools. But I'd really be interested on what Disney's stance on this is....and how they would address it if it really got out of hand.

 

[wdwoldtimer]

Yep, another good point DoubleTrouble..."random" checks based on the CM's subconscious profiles is something we really want to avoid. Which is probably why they don't do it.
The "noticeable" badge thing is certainly better than a gate. And much less obtrusive and/or offensive.

 

[GrammieMame]

This has been suggested before. Color-coded wristbands would be inexpensive, unobtrusive, and easy to check without having to ask people for ID. Surely the minor inconvenience of having to wear one would be outweighed by knowing that only "legit" pool-users are at the pool.

 

[KNWVIKING]

I still believe if Disney took a hard stand against trespasser's- which is what these people are- then the problem would go away in a very short time. I seriously doubt 10's of thousands of people are doing this. When guest check in,it would be very simple to explain the "crasher" problem WDW is having and inform guests that for their benifit you may be asked to show your resort pass to use the pool- who would be offended by that. But when Disney does catch crashers they have to do more then politely ask them to leave. Maybe give them the option of paying for a "day pass for the use of the pool" or have trespassing charges filed. It might seem like bad PR, but does anybody care about offending a freeloader !

 

[ohiominnie]

Ugh, think of the tan line that wrist band would cause!!!!


ONLY KIDDING!!!!

ohiominnie

 

[PamOKW]

I've already seen the gate abused at Vero so that isn't the whole solution. (Just slip in before the gate closes or rely on people being helpful and holding the gate for you.) There are other things Vero does that could be done at WDW.

1. You need to show your key to order from the pool snack bar.

2. You show your key to get towels. This is also when a wrist band or some other identifier can be handed out.

I'm not sure if Vero does this or not, but you also put a stop to changing in the rest rooms. Guests can easily head back to their rooms. It's a problem for the pool hoppers but one we could put up with.

 

[ohiominnie]

I'm not sure I'd be pleased with the "no changing in the restroom" policy.

This past trip to WDW we pool hopped quite a bit, and sometimes we had to change at the rest room in order to get to PS on time. For example...we went to the Polynesian pool around 3pm, and played in the pool until around 6, leaving us enough time to get changed and get to our PS at Chef Mickey's. If we would have been "forced" to go back to our room (at OKW) we would have had to leave the pool MUCH earlier and everyone in the family would have been dissapointed (especially since we already had to vacate the pool for 45 minutes to an hour because someone threw up in it!)

Sometimes we only had "X" amount of time, enough to pool hop, but not enough time to waste time getting from place to place to place to place.

ohiominnie

 

[mickey7861]

. But when Disney does catch crashers they have to do more then politely ask them to leave. Maybe give them the option of paying for a "day pass for the use of the pool" or have trespassing charges filed. It might seem like bad PR, but does anybody care about offending a freeloader !

I agree that pool crashers are a problem however I'm sure WDW doesn't see them as freeloaders. Most visitors to WDW do not stay on site therefore WDW is not quick to harass the offenders. As long as things are going smoothly WDW doesn't care who uses their pools, if they did they would have stopped this problem long ago. The only time WDW is willing to do anything about this issue is when resort guests begin to complain. The "squeeky wheel" syndrome. I don't pool hop, even now that we have DVC, it just never appealed to us. Swimming is usually just for a quick cool off in the afternoon. I have friends who have pool hopped every trip for 20 years! Is it legal...NO. Do they care...NO. Has anyone ever tried to stop them...NO. It's not right but unfortunately until WDW chooses to lay done the law we're stuck with it.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

" I'm not sure if Vero does this or not, but you also put a stop to changing in the rest rooms. Guests can easily head back to their rooms. It's a problem for the pool hoppers but one we could put up with."

Well, don't forget the senario where a legitimate DVC member arrives early and room isn't ready or stays to swim later past the check out time, but has been a legitimate resort guest that day and just needs to be able to shower and change before hopping in the car to drive home. They should still be able to use the changing rooms. Actually, I thought that was what the nice changing areas were for.

 

[TnRobin]

We often do arrive early and make use of the pools before our room is ready (Changing in the restrooms).

Just wanted to add an observation. On our recent visit to the new Grand Californian at Disneyland, they have gated thier pool and you must have your Room ID in order to enter the pool area. I wouldn't be surprised to see this at the new resorts and maybe at SAB in the future.

 

[one_cat]

I'm always friendly and talkative when on vacation - much to DW's chagrin sometimes - especially when sitting by the pool or in the hottub. At the bw pool I always ask people if they are DVC members, how they like the resort etc. During our vacation in May I spent about 1/2 hour in conversation with one family in the hottub. When I turned to start talking to another couple they suddenly had somewhere they needed to be I assume they were doing some illegal pool-hopping...

 

[Towncrier]

When we stayed at WL in 1998, there was a CM who went around putting wristbands on the people who were allowed to use the pool. It was the only time that I've ever seen this done at WDW. When we first got to the pool, he walked over to us and politely asked to see our resort ID. Upon presenting it, we got wristbands. For the remainder of our stay at WL, he recognized us and didn't ask to see our ID's, but he did give us wristbands. Of course this translates to an added expense for Disney, but as a guest, it was worth it to me to know that there weren't any "rule-breakers" at the pool. And besides, I was the one paying the "big bucks" to stay at WL.

 

[mkymouse1928]

Although my husband and I don't do a whole lot of swimming while visiting WDW I have to agree that I don't like the idea of people using the pools who aren't supposed to be there. The idea of wristbands is a good one. You can receive them at check for your entire party, and if you should have guests all you need to do is go to the front desk and request additional bands. Maybe Disney could charge like a $1 or 2 for the additional bands to help offset the cost

And I will go one step further and say pool passes could be sold annually to locals. As a Disney investor I wouldn't want to upset these people by telling them they aren't welcome. Afterall they do buy AP to the parks and dine frequently at the resort restraunts. A large part of the revenue would be lost if we lost these people coming on to property. The pass wouldn't have to be expensive and it can be explained very politely as to the reason why they are doing this. The true freeloaders aren't going purchase them and reasonably intelligent people aren't going to be offended. Plus it increases revenue for WDW as there is little expense to outside people using the pools and wristband would be relatively inexpensive.

Any thoughts?

 

[ohiominnie]

Thought of a glitch in the keycard entry idea. This morning I was thinking about the different pools we've been to while at WDW. Stormalong Bay came to mind and how spread out it is. Now, there are only a few places you can actually enter the pool area, but this is where the problem is. Let's say you are at the "main" part of the pool, and your 8 yr old wants to go down that huge slide. That requires exiting the pool area. And to keep out non-resort guests, Disney would have to have a keycard reader to enter the big slide. So your kids would have to have a keycard on them at all times. And not LOSE it!

OR, Disney could install the keycard reader 1/2 way down that slide! LOL

Other pools may not pose this particular problem, but then again, other pools aren't quite as popular as Stormalong Bay.

ohiominnie

 

[BarbOKW]

When were at BW this past March I struck up a conversation with the lady next to me. She freely admitted that she was a local and that it's common practice for the locals to go to the Disney pools. She even explained to me how Disney allows this at the BW pool because it's part of the "Boardwalk" experience. Well since I had only one chair for my family of 6 and it took me a half and hour to get that, I was not happy. She had 3 chairs and was had her 4 kids with her and she had a huge bag of snacks so they weren't spending any money. I did rat on her and she was asked to leave. I spoke to a CM and they explained that this is a real problem at BW and they're considering solutions most likely a fence.

I also often change at the pools the day we arrive and the day we leave. So I'd hate to see them not allow that, besides how are they going to monitor the changing they'd have to have someone sit in the washroom to make sure you don't change.

I think the key card like a Vero is the best idea. When I was at Vero it didn't bother me I assumed it was there for the protection of my right to use the pool as a guest of the resort with other resort guest, rather than with whomever decided to walk off the beach. People do let people without keycards in because they assume they're guests also. I think most people are they just don't have their card all the time.

 

[Olaf]

It seems to me that if all of us wrote letters about our experiences and suggestions for improvement, Disney might just listen. I mean if they're going to go to all the trouble of carding/excluding DVC members during busy times, they can sure make effort to police for total outsiders.

I'm going to write a letter today.

 

[PamOKW]

Well, don't forget the senario where a legitimate DVC member arrives early and room isn't ready or stays to swim later past the check out time, but has been a legitimate resort guest that day and just needs to be able to shower and change before hopping in the car to drive home. They should still be able to use the changing rooms.

Captain Midnight I had thought about that. I think the solution is that changing needs to be done only by the pools. It seems Disney Security can tell when folks are changing in the other restrooms (off the lobby etc.) and they could post a sign about no changing. Not a total solution but it might help.

Maybe Disney could charge like a $1 or 2 for the additional bands to help offset the cost

In theory the idea of providing some type of pool pass sounds okay but I just think it will legitimize abuse and doesn't increase revenue much. I know of a family living in Orlando now that makes completely free use of as many WDW facilities as they can. They park for free, use the pools for free, lounge in the various lobby areas to read and relax. In general use every available opportunity at WDW for free entertainment yet spend very little beyond paying for their AP. Providing a yearly pool pass would also take away from the sale of water park APs. Why buy that when you can hang out at SAB?

 

[Minnietta]

We're going to be at OKW during the 4th of July. We have not been members long so we have not done any pool hopping at all but looked forward to the privilege. What upsets me is that Disney's first priority should be to their guests at the resort, second to their DVC members and then to the rest of the population! It seems as though the DVC members are being singled out as the ones that have to be eliminated instead of the pool crashers whether from outside hotels or locals. They need to eliminate those people before they even begin to address the DVC members privileges. We are not traveling with but know of a big group of people going at the same time....the plans are to pool hop and they are not even staying onsite. Of course now WE can't! It's not right.

 

[KNWVIKING]

"The true freeloaders aren't going purchase them and reasonably intelligent people aren't going to be offended."

I'm sorry, but I don't feel any freeloader is a reasonable or intelligent person. They are stealing ! You also stated that they buy AP's- do they- we have no way of knowing if they ever spent a dime at Disney. They park for free- in my spot- at BWV and cherry pick which pool they want to swim in. Or they park in DD and hop a resort bus-sitting in my seat- and get dropped off at the front door of their favorite pool. I have no more tolerance for these people as I do for "line hoppers" or any other rude,inconsiderate,greedy,etc person. That's what they are,WDW has to treat them as such.

 

[DisneyMim]

In response to the original post, I've been saying this all along and your story just adds more to my opinion. I have always believed that it is the "outsiders" who are doing most of the pool hopping. Way back when you were allowed to pool hop to any Disney pool providing you were staying at a Disney resort. Some people are obviously still doing this. Once again, it is not us DVC people overtaking pools, it is Disney resort guests, non-property guests, and area residents.