DVC Pools, Pool Hopping, Etc.

[3DisneyNUTS]

Originally posted by Dean
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.

Our guide suggested we could do this but call ahead to make sure it was ok. So they do imply that you can use the pool if you are not officially staying there. That is not an official perk but he did say they will allow it with a call ahead. Now it may break the official rules but it is being used as part of the sales presentation. So maybe this is where some people got the idea it was ok as long as they are dvc members.

In our case we would never attempt this being we live in NY and to go to Disney and stay offsite is unthinkable! Plus I am not a big fan of the pool hopping idea anyway. Too much work LOL. But I think it should still be a perk.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Originally posted by Desperado
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.

If it is not in the contract, it was not purchased. Disney used to offer TONS of perks for DVC members. Ask the owners who purchased at the time the free passes were being handed out. I don't know if they still get the free passes, but at the time it was a selling point, I am sure helped people decide to buy. If the original DVC members no longer get the free passes, can they complain to Disney that it is what they purchased when buy DVC? I don't think so. Free passes are not in the contract.

I believe there is fine print somewhere stating that any DVC perk that Disney offers, can be taken away any time. It used to be you could use your DVC member card for discounts all over WDW, now you are lucky to find one store who allows a discount. Pool hopping is a perk, and Disney can close it down anytime.

A curious question though? Would someone really base their decision to purchase something for THOUSANDS of dollars all because they can use other resort pools?

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

Originally posted by Disney1fan2002
If it is not in the contract, it was not purchased. Disney used to offer TONS of perks for DVC members. Ask the owners who purchased at the time the free passes were being handed out. I don't know if they still get the free passes, but at the time it was a selling point, I am sure helped people decide to buy. If the original DVC members no longer get the free passes, can they complain to Disney that it is what they purchased when buy DVC? I don't think so. Free passes are not in the contract.

I believe there is fine print somewhere stating that any DVC perk that Disney offers, can be taken away any time. It used to be you could use your DVC member card for discounts all over WDW, now you are lucky to find one store who allows a discount. Pool hopping is a perk, and Disney can close it down anytime.

A curious question though? Would someone really base their decision to purchase something for THOUSANDS of dollars all because they can use other resort pools?

I can answer on my end...definitely not!

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Is it really that important for some of you to be able to swim in another resort pool while on vacation?

Personally I think ALL the pools in WDW resorts are great, EVEN the All Star pools. Also, for myself, I think I would feel "out of place" if I were not swimming at my own resort. But maybe that is just me.

 

[3DisneyNUTS]

I agree. It is too much work and not being to go back to your room isn't worth it IMO. I save the hassle of dragging my bathing suits and stuff around for a waterpark day. While the only thing we miss is the slide at the pop resort the kid is fine without one. The pop century has those fountains that pop up. DS is thrilled with that so it makes up for it and all the cool toys around. I really wished they made that theme a moderate I love it there! It is amaing now if it were a moderate it would be all the more great!

 

[las3888]

Well, I guess I will weigh in with my 2 cents after reading this thread. We are a kid-less couple who really really really appreciate a quiet pool atmostphere type experience. We recently stayed at BWV and used the quiet pool everyday. Most days we did really well - very few kids if any were using the pool. It was downright serene. On the days when there were kids, even though they are just being kids, it really ruins the atmosphere. Kids voices have a way of just piercing through a pool area. It makes it really hard to concentrate when reading a book or dozing.

I hope you don't flame me for having said that, but really, there are people, actually, quite a few people, who do go to Disney without kids. The quiet pools are something that we treasure, and since Disney has no rules, when reading this post, it is obvious that those with kids feel very entitled to use the quiet pools, even though there are pools designed for kids yards away.

Personally, I have to say it is a little inconsiderate. Kids have the run of house just about everywhere at Disney, and we kid-less people have to deal with them everywhere else we go. A respite away from them would be ideal. I am not totally blaming you families, because unless it is something that Disney would institute and enforce, anything goes, but it sure would be nice and considerate if you could react to your situation. If you show up to a quiet pool (again, when the kids active pool is just yards away) and it truly is quiet - i.e. just a few adults either dozing or calmly treading in the water, please try not to bring your family with kids there. I can't say it in any other ways that it is just inconsiderate to the people who are already there. Again, this has nothing to do with your rights, but it's just a matter of common sense and consideration.

I know this opinion will not be highly regarded, but this has (obviously) bothered me for a while. While you may totally ignore me, just remember that everytime you bring your kids to a serene quiet pool atmosphere, everybody else who was there before you will be pretty frustrated with you.

 

[Mickmse2002]

OK, now I gotta jump back in. Some of the behavior I have seen described isn't appropriate for ANY pool, be it a "kid" pool, "quiet" pool, or whatever other kind of descriptor you choose to use. I have seen a lot of boorish behavior from supposed adults so I think it should be kept in perpsective: it ain't just the kids. I have seen some self-righteous posting around here before but some of this is really starting to irk me. If I bring my three kids, ages 13, 11 and 8 to a pool and they splash around and god forbid actually enjoy themselves the we're not breaking ANY rules. Just because "kidless" people are laying around reading doesn't mean I should feel guilty for using a resort amenity I bought and paid for. I said it before and I will say it again: if you can't handle being around kids go somewhere else because WDW is the kid capital of the world. That's what Walt built Disneyland and WDW for: families to enjoy themselves! WDW markets to families and sells it self as a premier family experience. I certainly cannot recall reading ANYWHERE that my kids do not have the same right of usage as ANYONE else!

 

[gmboy95]

Allow me to be the first to flame you.....why would you ever,ever,ever travel to disney if you find childrens voices piercing....is it not like going to a boxing match if you cant stand violence.....I have been reading this thread for a bit and have resisted responding until now.

It is inconcievable that disney would even consider an adult only pool area. The whole business model is tailored towards families...and i believe, with all due respect, that someone traveling to disney expecting a quiet retreat is barking up the wrong tree....c'mon people, kids make noise due to the simple incurable fact that they are KIDS!!!!!

I agree that if a person is using the pool after hours, they need to be considerate. That is not my issue here....what is bothering me is I sometimes read these subtle metions of "kids behaving badly" references, and this definitely irritates me....if you are looking for a vacation where you can sit poolside and read a book in a quiet atmosphere....might i suggest a trip to the islands.

 

[Mickmse2002]

Originally posted by gmboy95
Allow me to be the first to flame you.....why would you ever,ever,ever travel to disney if you find childrens voices piercing....is it not like going to a boxing match if you cant stand violence.....I have been reading this thread for a bit and have resisted responding until now.

Beat you to the flamethrower.

 

[las3888]

why would you ever,ever,ever travel to disney if you find childrens voices piercing....

You obviously don't understand my point. All I ask is for those to be considerate. If you see a quiet pool nice and QUIET, please take your kids to the kid's pool. I don't think that's too much to ask.

All of your other points are not pertaining to the issue. I of course can take my vacations wherever I want. I of course know there are kids everywhere. I love Disney, and kids have nothing to do with it.

Sticking to my point - if you see a quiet pool nice and quiet and kidless, think twice!

And, PS - I never mentioned kids behaving badly.

 

[Mickmse2002]

Originally posted by las3888

You obviously don't understand my point. All I ask is for those to be considerate. If you see a quiet pool nice and QUIET, please take your kids to the kid's pool. I don't think that's too much to ask.

Sticking to my point - if you see a quiet pool nice and quiet and kidless, think twice!

I think we do understand your point. Just don't agree with it. What is your definition of "quiet"? I haven't seen anywhere on any sign at the pools that you must be quiet. It ain't a church....it's a pool. I will NOT think twice about using an amenity I am entitled to use in the manner it was intended.

 

[las3888]

if you can't handle being around kids go somewhere else because WDW is the kid capital of the world. That's what Walt built Disneyland and WDW for: families to enjoy themselves! WDW markets to families and sells it self as a premier family experience. I certainly cannot recall reading ANYWHERE that my kids do not have the same right of usage as ANYONE else!

I guess it's easier to get defensive than just be considerate of those around you. I have also seen adults act boorishly and that bothers me as well.

There was probably a reason Disney started 'quiet' pools, probably somewhat along the lines of having a nice 'quiet' place for those without kids or wanting some 'quiet' to have a place to go. Unfortunately, probably too many families with kids complained, so Disney reacted and seems to now be calling them 'leisure' pools (although I have yet to see this). Obviously, they can't pull the trigger to actually call them 'adult only' and enforce that, because there are obviously many families with kids who would complain, but I'm just tellin' ya...there are people out here who still want to go to Disney, despite it being the kid capital of the world, and while we know we will be dealing with your kids all day long, it is nice to have a 'quiet' pool to get away from them. We particularly choose resorts with 'quiet' pools for this reason. We do not like to stay at AKL because there is only the one main pool.

All I'm saying is that you're really thinking too much of yourselves if you can't just go to the kid's pool, especially if it isn't crowded, when you see the adult pool nice and serene in front of you. Just because you see a nice quiet pool with a handful of quiet adults in front of you, and just because there are no rules against your using it, doesn't make it the considerate thing to do. If you have kids, I'm sure you'll disagree with this, but it's just common sense and consideration. For those of you that want to flame me - I write you off because you will never get it.

 

[jarestel]

I understand your point completely, it's great to sit by a pool and quietly relax. I like that also. However ( there's always a however ), it's not very likely that children will ever be banned from having fun at WDW. And unfortunately, noise is often a by-product of children having fun in a pool area. There are reasons why some families prefer the smaller pools. For instance, it's easier to keep an eye on the kids, it's not as crowded as the main pools, kids aren't comfortable in the deeper pools, etc. Now I agree there is a large difference between children behaving in an appropriate, albeit noisy manner, and mis-behaving. I also realize many people do go to WDW without children, but let's face it, if they happen to encounter children at WDW, it shouldn't be that big of a surprise. As I said, I understand totally where you're coming from, but felt obliged to point out the obvious.

 

[gmboy95]

I have to reply a second time because the post by las38 has me pretty fired up.....this was your quote...

"If you show up to a quiet pool (again, when the kids active pool is just yards away) and it truly is quiet - i.e. just a few adults either dozing or calmly treading in the water, please try not to bring your family with kids there. I can't say it in any other ways that it is just inconsiderate to the people who are already there. Again, this has nothing to do with your rights, but it's just a matter of common sense and consideration."


Huh!!!!......let me get this straight....you travel to the "kid capital" of the world, and you feel it is appropriate that the vast majority should tailor their experience to meet the need of the small few......I mean next time i am at a patriot game in foxboro i am going to demand that all fans remain seated during the game because the game is a much more pleasurable experience for me when I am seated.....oh and the next time I am at chuck-e-cheese i am going to ask the staff to monitor the voice level of the children, because i want to enjoy a quiet meal....your argument is flawed.

Also your reference to having to "deal with them" everywhere else you go is, with all due respect, laugh out loud funny....once again i repeat YOU ARE IN DISNEY WORLD!!!!......you ought to immediately call your DVC rep and complain about the sales job that was given to you, because your post makes me feel you may have not been told about the whole "family" thing.

 

[las3888]

I haven't seen anywhere on any sign at the pools that you must be quiet.

I am looking at the map I received when I checked into BWV just 2 months ago. The pool I am speaking of is marked as point number 21 on the map. 21 is labelled as 'QUIET POOL'.

QUIET is defined as

the quality or state of being quiet : TRANQUILLITY

in Webster's dictionary.

I am not sure how else it needs to be explained. Obviously I can't do anything because it isn't enforced and now it is rumored that the name is changed to 'leisure'. All I can say is too bad for Disney for doing that, and again, explanation of quiet couldn't be more clear to me...

You can do what you want TECHNICALLY, but you will anger a number of the quiet folks there. We're all entitled to our opinions, and my opinion of that is plain and simple inconsiderate.

 

[Mickmse2002]

Perhaps as well as handing out towels the resorts should hand out earplugs and blinders to ensure TRANQUILITY for everyone.

(I'm not sure we are working with the same perception of tolerance, consideration and politeness)

We are certainly all entitled to our own opinions and I am of the opinion that what we do is plain and simple considerate.

 

[CRobin]

Originally posted by gmboy95
It is inconcievable that disney would even consider an adult only pool area.

But they obviously have altered that strategy with respect to DCL and Castaway Cay. There is an "adults only" beach, a "family" beach, and a "teens" beach, and many of the entertainment / pool areas on the ships are configured similarly.

Personally, I don't have a problem with kids in the quiet pools; I don't hang around the pool that much, and if I'm there and they make a racket that becomes intolerable, I leave.

Where I do have a problem is with the parents who ENCOURAGE their kids to race down the hallway screaming to see who can get to the door first with their key, or with the lady I encountered on our last trip who laughed while her son knocked on every door at BWV while walking toward the elevator. Really cute. Wish I had a camera for that Kodak moment.

Problem ain't with the kids, folks......

 

[gmboy95]

I just feel like we need to recognize the crowd that this resort is trying to attract....I just dont like feeling like i need to walk on egg shells with my kids at any part of the resort

 

[poohnpiglet3]

GMBoy, LAS388 was just stating a different viewpoint. No flames are necessary to get your point across.

Afterall, everyone is entitled to their opinion, no matter how wrong they may be in another's eyes... just take your signature line about John kerry... see? You're wrong on that and I'm not flame throwing.

Las388 has a very valid point. When you go there after your kids are all grown I bet you'll complain about those d@mn loud kids just like an old man telling kids to get off his grass.

There really IS a point to be made about making certain areas adult-friendly, afterall, kids are WAY too spoiled these days and assume they have all the rights that adults do. Nope, just not so. Even courts have made rulings to that end.

The Disney Cruise has an adults-only restaurant and an adults-only spot at Castaway Cay. They obviously see the need for tranquility at times.

I guess my point is that flames aren't necessary if someone wants to bring up a dissenting opinion and does it respectfully, like Las388 did.

Just my opinion.

Sherri

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by las3888
I am looking at the map I received when I checked into BWV just 2 months ago. The pool I am speaking of is marked as point number 21 on the map. 21 is labelled as 'QUIET POOL'.

QUIET is defined as

the quality or state of being quiet : TRANQUILLITY

in Webster's dictionary.

I am not sure how else it needs to be explained. Obviously I can't do anything because it isn't enforced and now it is rumored that the name is changed to 'leisure'. All I can say is too bad for Disney for doing that, and again, explanation of quiet couldn't be more clear to me...

You can do what you want TECHNICALLY, but you will anger a number of the quiet folks there. We're all entitled to our opinions, and my opinion of that is plain and simple inconsiderate.

No flames however, I disagree with your expectations. WDW has used the term quiet pool at times and in spite of the dictionary meaning of the word quiet, they never intended or suggested this be an issue of noise or age. It is a reference to less activities and pool amenities. Actually Disney doesn't use the word nearly as much as we do though at times they have labeled maps with those terms. They could have just as easily used other terms like boring, sedate, regular, bland, etc. To think quiet pool at WDW means kids should not be there or should act differently than they should act at the other pools is unreasonable. To have an adult pool at BW might be workable if you ADDED another pool but that is likely the only resort you could even consider that approach workable.

Still, a certain level of control is expected from kids and parents at ANY pool. There are other places to sit and read that are likely be actually be quiet.