DVC Pools, Pool Hopping, Etc.

[LakeAriel]

The same thought crossed my mind Desperado. I don't pay a membership fee as mentioned by Diznyfan. I bought the points and pay dues. A member would know this. By the way, those dues are maintaining the pools for the GUESTS!

 

[DIZNYFAN]

We are DVC members at HHI and have a sale pending at SSR and hopefully another add on at BWV. So yes we pay dues and we also have our monthly payment to Disney and honestly other people using the pools in not high on my list of things to worry about. I purchased my first contract direct through Disney in Oct of 01

 

[BriarRosie]

Originally posted by SSRex
We stayed one night at the Pop Century before moving over to BCV for 5 days and we both commented on what a different crowd there was at the Beach Club. You get what you pay for and I also felt that pool hopping was not a priviledge afforded only to DVC members, but also any dishonest or illiterate people (based on not being able to read the signs posted at Luna Pool). Kind of makes me think of Ellis Is. immigants verses illegal aliens.
Disney appears to be policing the pool gates like our government watches the borders. I had to send my kids to find someone to give them a wrist band at SAB. I was very upset at no restriction to enter. If pool hopping ends it will only be over for honest DVC members, not the rest of the pool crashers that are not checked.

Hm. I did the one night at Pop Century, then 5 nights at BCV thing in May. I didn't really think the Pop Century pool guests were much different. And I had no problems getting my wristband at Stormalong Bay, either. I saw a cast member giving wristbands near the towel cabinet, right by the entrance
gate. I'm happy that they were diligent in checking our resort IDs, too.

And I believe the people who ignore the signs aren't illiterate...just dishonest.

 

[BriarRosie]

Originally posted by trainfun
Fourth, security at Disney has definitely declined over the years. On our first visit in 1991, our room ID's were asked for to get towels at the Poly pool, and we had to show our ID's to get on buses or on to the monorail. That doesn't happen anymore.

So, more day trippers are using Disney transportation to go to resorts and use the pools illegally. I believe this is much more of a problem than the DVC pool hopping policy. Asking to see ID's to get on to the resort monorail, and all buses to/from resorts would make it much harder for day trippers to use the resort pools. I don't know why Disney stopped doing this, but it should start again. I think this would eliminate about 90% of the problem.

I find a little flaw with this. Disney actively encourages people to explore the resorts, and if money falls out of people's pockets at the gift shops and restaurants, it's a side-effect Disney is willing to live with.

I've only stayed at a monorail resort once, but I've visited the resorts many times, usually because I like their restaurants!
(In May, I ate at Citrico's and 'ohana, but I was staying at
Pop Century and BCV for my stay.) And I never pool hop.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by DIZNYFAN
We are DVC members at HHI and have a sale pending at SSR and hopefully another add on at BWV. So yes we pay dues and we also have our monthly payment to Disney and honestly other people using the pools in not high on my list of things to worry about. I purchased my first contract direct through Disney in Oct of 01

Being a member isn't applicable per se. One must be a member staying at a DVC resort on points, not be during a blackout time period and call ahead to the resort in question to ger permission. Anything else is crashing. And DVC members are not entitled to use even their home resort unless staying there or staying at another DVC resort on points. Technically even if one is staying on a member cash discount PH wouldn't be allowed.

 

[DIZNYFAN]

The only time we do not stay on points is for weekends we never use our points for weekend stays we like to try the other resorts. Next trip we are checking out Pop Century. We have tried Dixie Coronado all 3 All Stars and we have stayed at OKW BWV and VWL. We have rented out our points to pay cash for our cruise as it was a far better option than using points. We are staying at OKW in a GV for the 4 days prior to the cruise and then at SSR in a 2 bdrm for the 4 days after the cruise. So we PH at resorts while staying on points but honestly we could care less abvout others using the pools. It is also known that when staying at the All Stars you can use any other All Star pool so essentially they are allowing pool hopping there. Yes I realize they are all linked resorts just different theming but numerous guests take this to mean they can use all pools on property like that.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

Originally posted by Happy Birthday Cat
I disagree strongly that silence needs to be guaranteed at a pool.

For example at the BWV quiet pool they hand out noodles at the Community Hall for use in the pool. I know when my kids are using them they are not quiet. But they are also not rude and/or unmannered.

HBC

I am sure your kids are not rude, just being kids. I'm not even saying that all 'quiet' pools have to be quiet, just that at resorts where it is possible (ie where there is more that one quiet pool), at least one pool be a quiet 'quiet' pool.

The fact they hand out noodles at the villa side quiet pool is why we walk across the lobby and use the Inn side quiet pool.

When I vacation, I like to relax, and I don't necessarily want to be around children 24/7.

Andrew

 

[Sammie]

If the pool hours state it closes at 11pm I think anyone using the pool after the closing should be quiet enough to bother no one nearby.

We had a room facing this pool before and the same thing happened. We called security and at 1am they closed the pool and asked everyone to leave.

I guess it depends on who they send down there to check the situation.

 

[Andrew Bichard]

Originally posted by vernon

Andrew, don't know if you've thought of this answer to your dilema. If there is only you and your wife in your room ( no mention of kids) you could register your friends (or FIL) as guests in your room. That way you would have 4 room keys/ID. As your room would be designated as taking up to 4 guests I don't think anyone is going to complain that those guests don't choose to sleep in the room. Not that I think your situation is viewed as a infringement of rules anyway.

Vernon, our kids are all grown up now, so my wife & I have the luxury of visiting WDW on our own after Labor day when kids are generally back at school and the resort pools mostly empty during the day. As a result we have never been challenged, and don't expect we ever will be. If challenged however, we would do (or offer to do) exactly as you suggest.

Andrew

 

[Dean]

ANY pool should quiet down after a certain time, say 10:30 to 11 pm, but Disney and DVC never intended the term quiet pool to refer to enforced noise level, only less activities. And there would be no REASONABLE way for DVC to enforce or set up an adult only pool with the pool setup provided. To do so would require multiple pools in the same immediate area with the costs and other issues it would entail.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by Sammie
I guess it depends on who they send down there to check the situation.

Bingo!

I need my sleep on vacation. If there was a rowdy group outside my window at inappropriate hours, sure, I'd be on the phone to the front desk. And if I saw a CM fail to address the situation, I'd be on the phone again.

It's kinda hard to believe that the desk wouldn't have gotten more calls from guests. There are dozens of rooms surrounding those pools at BWV.

On the issue of 'adults only' pools, I'm pretty indifferent. If they had such pools, we would obviously respect the designation and probably even use the pools when we don't have the kiddies with us.

WDW has survived 30+ years without a public outcry for private pools, and the entire organization prides itself on being family oriented. It just doesn't feel like something that would be on Disney's radar.

 

[Desperado]

Originally posted by DIZNYFAN
It is also known that when staying at the All Stars you can use any other All Star pool so essentially they are allowing pool hopping there. Yes I realize they are all linked resorts just different theming but numerous guests take this to mean they can use all pools on property like that.

Yes, but as informed DVC members who understand pool hopping priviledges, we all know that those numerous guests using any other pool but all stars pools are violating the rules as well as common courtesy and common sense by doing so. These are pool crashers, that Disney needs to address prior to eliminating purchased pool hopping priviledges from DVC members.

Originally posted by Dean
Being a member isn't applicable per se. One must be a member staying at a DVC resort on points, not be during a blackout time period and call ahead to the resort in question to ger permission. Anything else is crashing. And DVC members are not entitled to use even their home resort unless staying there or staying at another DVC resort on points. Technically even if one is staying on a member cash discount PH wouldn't be allowed.

Great points. If someone mistakenly thought they purchased a year round pool membership by purchasing DVC points, they are mistaken. Think of what that would be like at HH if several locals bought some points, but decided they would use the facilities year round. What a hinderance that would be to DVC guests staying at the resort.

One can make all the rationalizations they want, but regardless of improper pool hopping by non-DVC members being against the rules, it's also inconsiderate and plain not right. Doesn't plain common courtesy and common sense factor into this somewhere? Or is it just abuse the system as much as I can for my own benefit thinking that wins out.

Oh well. I've never tried All Stars or All Stars pools. We use the specials on DIS and stay at the Swan or Dolphin when not at DVC. Wonderful pools.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Desperado
Great points. If someone mistakenly thought they purchased a year round pool membership by purchasing DVC points, they are mistaken. Think of what that would be like at HH if several locals bought some points, but decided they would use the facilities year round. What a hinderance that would be to DVC guests staying at the resort.

The Marriott's in HH and all Marriott's I know of, allow year around day use of the facilities. Many resorts allow this and I know people that have bought a timeshare simply to get this option. I know DVC is different and it would not be workable at WDW for this option. At HH and at VB it would be a doeable option I believe if DVC chose to go that route.

 

[Desperado]

Originally posted by Dean
At HH and at VB it would be a doeable option I believe if DVC chose to go that route.

I dissagree completely. The comment borders on the absurd.

 

[Sammie]

I am curious about something.

If the sign at the pool says it closes at 11pm, why do some think that does not mean them.

 

[Disney Hot Mama]

If the sign at the pool says it closes at 11pm, why do some think that does not mean them.



One reason for this is the front desk. When I asked at the BC what the hours of the 'quiet' pool at the villas was they told me 24 hours. I asked again the next night and was told the same thing!

 

[Lisa P.]

These are pool crashers, that Disney needs to address prior to eliminating purchased pool hopping priviledges from DVC members.

This is an example of what perhaps "should" happen vs. what is simpler and cheaper. If you were a Disney bean counter and manager of a regular Disney hotel (non-DVC), which might you choose to do first in response to the complaints by your paid hotel guests re: pool overcrowding? Would you choose to first:

1. Pay $$$ to hire more staff to "police" the pool guests, or;
2. Pay $$$ to fence and gate your hotel's pool, or;
3. Pay nothing but press for the cancellation of PH by non-hotel guests (DVCers) who pay nothing toward your hotel's pool upkeep?
Just asking from another angle, not saying it's "right."

BTW, the PH privilege was not purchased. It's a freebie, subject to change at DVC's will without notice or explanation.

Doesn't plain common courtesy and common sense factor into this somewhere?

You'd hope - another "should" kind of thing.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I just want to distinguish between "normal" pool behavior and the kinds of things I'm thinking of:
Throwing baseballs, softballs, frisbees and even footballs in the pool. Not when the pool is empty, but right in the midle of where others are trying to swim/relax. And not always the soft rubber kind--often the real thing.
Throwing french fries and food of all kinds in the pool. I once saw a little girl squeezing a bottle of Catsup into the pool while her parents(?) were clutching their sides, convulsed with laughter.
Deliberately dumping soda in the pool.
Not so small kids swimming naked in the pool.
Running along the sides of the pool (right past those signs that say "No running") while almost stepping on your head as you try to relax.
Cannonballing and diving right next to people already in the pool.

Alll of which I've seen at one time or other at these "quiet" pools at OKW.

And if it's often kids of all ages doing it, most of the times they're with adults who are simply ignoring it, or , in the case of throwing things, actually participating.
So what we do now is that when we go to a quiet pool and see it's already been taken over by such groups, we get in the car and drive to a different one. If we happen to find a pool where we can really relax, and a family or two (or three) like I've described shows up--we leave.
And as I said before, we NEVER,EVER accept any room near a pool. That solves the problem of the night owls.

 

[Desperado]

Originally posted by Lisa P.
BTW, the PH privilege was not purchased. It's a freebie, subject to change at DVC's will without notice or explanation.

Sorry, but it was part of the package we purchased, and touted by the salespeople as an important perk. It is completely true that it is subject to change, and that was understood as part of the purchase. But, one must purchase DVC to have the priviledge, it is not offered to anyone who does not make the substantial investment in DVC.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Desperado
I dissagree completely. The comment borders on the absurd.

If it's limited to owners at that resort it's certainly workable. The Marriott's on HH do it as does Ocean Pointe in West Palm and the ones in Orlando. However I'm not saying they should or will do it, only that they could if they wanted.