dvc members vs. illegal poolsters

[ez]

Stayed at bwv memorial weekend and had 4 families of friends staying at s/d. These are my dear friends who I love, Florida residents, and how shall I say, upscale, professional people. Well, to make a long story short, my dear friends think nothing of crashing disney pools. These are otherwise honest, church-going people. I didn't pool hop to sab memorial weekend, because I was told we couldn't, but they did, successfully I guess, because they got there early. Can someone please explain how people feel entitled to use disney pools in this manner? These people are truly wonderful...so how come they don't look upon pool crashing as wrong? Just wondering!

 

[CarolAnnC]

Perhaps on a very hot summer day, some people feel that they can just take their swimsuits, beach towels and march on over to the nearest neighbor's pool to cool off in, without asking. It is a pervasive attitude of entitlement that seems to be encroaching upon many areas of this society. Not to mention the bad example this sets for our children to see. Very sad.

 

[RobDoc]

Some people consider pool-crashing to be a victimless "crime" - where their selfish actions won't hurt anyone else.

The same principle applies (at WDW) with those who park at Epcot or MK resorts with the intent to go into the park- not just to dine at the resort.

Others will use WDW transportation without holding a valid pass entitling them to do so. Others will ride the boat from DD to OKW- just to go for a ride- with the mistaken thought that it is included in their hopper pass program. (Resort transportation is really intended- and paid for- by the resort offering the transport and is NOT part of the WDW Transportation Corp travel. ...an exception is the boat from PO to DD- which is paid for by the DD merchants.)

Since Disney apparently isn't presently interested in taking steps to curtail these transgressions in general, there are those who will always find the loopholes in the programs and use them to their advantage.

To truly address all of these issues, Dsiney would have to check ID for everyone boarding a bus (very time consuming), gate and pay an attendant for each resort pool and actually send CM's around in the parking lots to check for resort ID and then tow offending vehicles. These measures would undoubtedly cost mega bucks and cause mega headaches and bad PR.

Would the cost justify the headaches??

I sure don't know what the solution may be for these issues....

 

[ohiominnie]

You make good points, Doc. The only thing is, I'll be upset if they take away pool hopping from DVC members and don't do anything about the other "pool crashers" out there.

My family and I enjoy checking out other pools, and have always followed the rules (calling in advance to check pool capacity) When you have a society of people who follow the rules, there won't be (as many) problems. When everyone thinks they are entitled to everything else and they break the rules to get it --thats when problems occur.

Pool hopping is a great benefit for DVC MEMBERS . If everyone else wants to pool hop they should join DVC (quick, before the only thing left to buy is that new, huge, expensive resort by Eagle Pines)

Just my ever so humble $.02
ohiominnie

 

[baileybrad]

for the pool castmembers to occasionally spot check the IDs of folks lounging by the resort pools. When they do this at the WL/VWL main pool it is many times like rats jumping off of a sinking ship. Many of these folks know exactly what they are doing is wrong, if they didn't they wouldn't scidaddle once the ID check started. Although I can't prove it, my gut tells me that checking IDs on a more frequent basis at the pools would really cutback on the "overcrowdedness" that causes poolhopping to be curtailed at some of the resort pools. It is also just fair to the folks that are staying at the resort. I too do not want a lockdown of Disney property but the using of the pools is flat-out trespassing, no more, no less.

I think Ohiominnie's point of following the rules is right on the money. As Carol mentioned it is really no different than walking into a neighbor's pool area and just making yourself feel right at home.

 

[RobDoc]

I sure don't want to see poolhopping disappear either. It was intended as a simple, costless perk which could be easily implemented and used as a sales tool. When OKW opened, pool hopping was not a real convenience- since you'd have to drive or bus to another resort to hop and most did not take advantage of the perk. The presence of BWV in 1996 - within walking distance of SAB- brought a new dimension to the policy....people were now actually using it!

As baileybrad suggests, a routine spot check of ID's could easily serve as a deterrent to those tresspassing at a pool. Once the word got out that ID's are actually checked, I suspect the practice would significantly change. Each resort can make it clear that guests will need their room ID to use their pool. As long as the policy is upheld by actually checking, it can work. Checking ID's will have to be done by a CM other than a lifeguard, as lifeguards do have more important duties.

 

[PrincessPoppy]

Just FYI, I called CRO to ask specifically what the policy was at Stormalong Bay. I asked if part of our party was staying at YC/BC whether the rest of the party (who was staying at BWI) would also be allowed to use the pool. The CM said yes, as long as they weren't bringing 15 people along. (I wasn't asking about DVC privileges.)

My point is that there are rules, but Disney also doesn't want to be Big Brother.

Now, what I don't understand is why the friends staying at S/D didn't want to use their pool. The summer Disney Magazine listed it in their "best pools" story as the most lush and exotic.

I also think many people honestly believe that one of the perks of staying on site is that they get to use the "on site" pools and are surprised to find that pool-hopping isn't a guest privilege.

 

[KNWVIKING]

Look at this problem from Disneys point of view: What are the pool crashers costing them ? WDW resorts have solid booking totals.The parks are almost always crowded.The pool isn't costing more to operate just because crashers are swimming.We DVC'ers complain here about it,but Disney can't build new DVC resorts fast enough. Disney knows that no matter how you got to the property,once you get there you're going to spend $$$ on food,drinks,gifts...whatever. Disney fixes things when it affects the bottom line. When WDW see's a drop in revenue and they determine pool crashers as the cause,then they'll spend whatever it takes to eliminate them. I have a real cheap idea for WDW. At each pool entrance just post a simple sign stating to the effect "Trespassers will be prosecutted to the fullest extent of the law" I'd bet you'd cut the crasher population in half. Next step would be to add staff to check ID's. They would only be needed for a short time because once word got out WDW was serious about stopping crashers-then they'd stop coming.But right now,WDW doesn't see it as a problem.

 

[Doctor P]

Actually, pool crashing could cost Disney some money if people are pool crashing rather than spending money on admission to Disney's water parks. Overcrowded pools would also be a negative that might deter repeat visitors, so pool crashing might be a factor on that dimension also.

I really hope the pool hopping privilege is retained for DVC members. My DSD loves to swim and seeing the various pools and having an opportunity to swim in them would be really neat.

 

[ez]

My friends used the s/d pool the first day and went to sab the second day, I guess because they heard it was cool & wanted the kids to play in the sand there. They did act like they were entitled to it and here I am a dvc member not going over because I could.n't pool hop on a holiday weekend.
I know my friends must have felt as though they were not hurting anybody, so it was okay to do. They did act as though this was an option afforded them by staying in the epcot resort area, although I tactfully tried to explain that it was not. I guess I was the one who came off looking like an idiot for not going,but , well, I knew I WASN'T SUPPOSED TO! Ah, ignorance is bliss. And if disney isn't worried about it...they weren't either. Can't help but feel that as a rule abiding dvc member, I got the short end of the stick on that deal.

 

[KNWVIKING]

that was my point.If the overcrowded pools deter people from staying at that resort,then it will cost WDW money,then they will address the issue. But so far people aren't staying away. The first point you mention about these people not going to the water parks- THEY aren't going to go anyway,they're freeloaders.
Now-I'm not defending the crashers-but has anyone ever seen a notice posted at any resort that says the pool is intended solely for the use of resort guest ?

 

[wdwoldtimer]

I'm not sure where, but I think I've seen a sign saying something about resort guests only, near one of the pools.
EZ, I also know people who crash our pools!! They do this every time they vacation in Orlando. They always stay at one of those HUGE convention centers on International Drive. Yet they drive over to BWV, valet park, no less!!! And hang out at the pool all day. That has got to be the tackiest thing I've ever heard of. And these people are VERY well off too. It just shows you that money and class don't go hand in hand.

It's sad, but for these kinds of things, Disney's hands are tied, really. In order to treat us the way we expect, they can't enforce the "little" things too much. I'm sure if we had our ID's checked every time we went down to the pool, or used the gym, we'd be pretty insulted.

 

[ohiominnie]

wdwoldtimeer and KNWViking...

YES, they DO have signs saying that this pool is for the exclusive use of the guests of this resort. I'm SURE I've seen it at several pools, including SAB and at the Polynesian.

Keep in mind though, that this statement is on a sign with several other instructions (kids shouldn't be left unattended, no glass bottles, pool hours and etc...) ...and not many people that *I* saw were stopping to study the sign.

Maybe they need one that's more self-explanatory, something like
"IF YOU AREN'T STAYING AT THIS RESORT THEN KEEP OUT!!!!!!!!! (that means YOU!)"

FWIW I'd strike up conversations with ppl at the pools..."where ya from?" "been at WDW long?" "which resort are you staying at?" So far I've yet to "catch" anyone, and if I do, I still haven't figured out what I'd say! But maybe we should know a little about who is around us so if WE are asked to show IDs and/or asked to leave then we can mention..."oh, I think THEY are staying elsewhere too!" HA HA!

ohiominnie

 

[Disneysnel]

What about locals who just decide they would like to spend a day at SAB or another pool? I wonder how much this happens if they are not checking.

 

[rbuzzotta]

When the WL first opened and we stayed there, I recall a group of FLA residents just hanging at the pool. They were not staying at ANY WDW resort!!! If people can get away with it then they will continue to do it!!!

By the way, what is S/D?

 

[ez]

Swan & dolphin

 

[KCritter]

Here's a fairly cheap solution for Disney - Just install card readers at the entrance to the pools like they have at VB. No resort ID, no entrance.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Most people are aware that hanging out in a pool at a hotel to which they are not registered is wrong. The percentage of people doing so has to be minor and concentrated at specific pools because I gather that for the most part Disney doesn't check.

Let me add that other than an electronic entry (which would then requiring gating off the pools) there is absolutely no non-offensive way to check IDs. I guarentee you CM's would begin to cause PR problems with guests who are registered at the resort never mind the trespassers who are registered at other Diseny resorts & are unaware that they can't pool hop. (If I were of a mind to pool-hop ... other than SAB and non-Disney hotels it would have been news to me that I couldn't).

 

[RamVA]

If I'm a legitimate resort guest, and I'm told when I check in that I have to have my room key or resort ID with me to access the pool, why would I be offended? I have to have my key/ticket with me to get in the park--what's the difference?? The people who will be offended are the people who are crashing the pool, and when they get there find out they have to prove they belong there! I think this is an easy and smart solution to this problem. Until then, the only thing the rest of this can do, is to have the courage to speak up and say something to people when we become aware of what they are doing. But, that takes courage; we have become a culture of people who don't stand up, and speak up for what we know is right because it's not politically correct. I always hope that if I find myself in a situation like this I will have the personal courage to speak up and tell the offender, "What you're doing is wrong."

EZ, you should feel proud of yourself, not like an idiot. I always tell my kids, that being honest is its own reward; it's a good feeling to know who you are, and to be able to be proud of yourself--you don't need other peopl's high opinions of you, you have your own! Whenever I saw they were cheating, I would ask them what good it did them? And if they answered, "Well, I get to be the winner", I would tell them, but you know you cheated, so you KNOW you're not really the winner.
Happy to say, that they have turned out to be pretty honest kids! At least I did one thing right!

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

<If I'm a legitimate resort guest, and I'm told when I check in that I have to have my room key or resort ID with me to access the pool, why would I be offended? >

I was being delicate but to be more specific...unless CM's check everyone's IDs at a given pool (a time consuming, labor intensive process) you then either do an obviously random spot check OR more likely the CM will settle on their own profile of what sort of people don't belong at a pool such as SAB. They will then target racial minorities, ethnic minorities and youthful people of all types. And since minorities are targeted throughout life they will recognize this behaviour for what it is. Hence becoming offended.

There is a easier approach modelled on the terrible thing Jersey Shore communities do to their beach users.

Give out coded badges when guests check in at resorts wth popular pools. Guests would attach them to an item of clothing or an object that would be with them at the pool. This way the CM's only have to ask people without visible badges to show a badge or a room key. And since you aren't really worried about getting rid of 100% of the trespassers it wouldn't matter if you lost badges or two. DVC members would get a DVC badge regardless of how popular their home pool is. Guests could obtain additional passes for day visitors.

And you don't have to worry about offending people either.