DVC Pools, Pool Hopping, Etc.

This is sort of on the subject and may be interesting to some--
Long time ago we belonged to a very popular pool that had "memberships". The fees were based on the # of people in your family, etc
Anyway--near the pool they had something called the "Adult Corrall"-a fenced in area with chairs, etc where adults could sit and relax w/o too much concern about being whacked in the head with a football. Didn't always work, but most of the time you could sit and relax and be out of danger.
Then about every two hours or so, they had an "Adult Swim". They'd clear the pool of all kids, and the adults (mainly seniors) could get in and at least get wet. Trouble was, the adult swim lasted only 1/2 hour and they never managed to get the kids out of the pool in that period of time. So there never was a true "adult swim" in the time we were members!!
NOTE: I'm not suggesting in ANY way that Disney should even consider this. Just a post to indicate how some attempt was made at "compromise":D :D
 
I just read this interesting thread and just have to add an interesting quiet pool story that just happened at WDW.
Friends of ours are presently staying at BWV from 7/27 untl 8/ 5. We called them on 7/28 to see how they were doing, to see if they got and were enjoying the gift basket we had sent to their villa, etc. This is an adult couple, no kids. During the course of the conversation, they were telling us how everything was at WDW and BWV and said they had only one disturbing time at BWV's quiet pool, that afternoon.
What happened was our friends (2 adults) went to the BWV quiet pool early that afternoon. As of 7/28/04 the pool is called the "quiet" pool NOT leisure, neighborhood etc pool. When they got to the pool there were several other groups there including 2 families with children. The children were playing very nicely in the pool, enjoying themselves as kids do, but were certainly not disturbing anyone. One of our friends is a smoker, so they sat in the chairs fartherest away from the pool and the other groups. Everything was just wonderful for all parties at the quiet pool for the first 40 or so minutes. Then a woman with 4 children, ages approx 7-13 came to the pool. At that point the whole atmosphere of the pool changed. These kids were repeatedly doing cannon balls into the pool, they were yelling and screaming as they were having relay races the length of the pool, they were using the pool noodles to hit each other over the head and as lassos to try and knock each other off their feet while in the pool and were tossing around 2 of those water baseballs from one end of the pool to the other. Meanwhile the woman with these kids sat at a pool table polishing her nails. The other families with children left since their poor kids were essentially forced out of the pool. The remaining adults, including our friends said nothing until one of the baseballs hit an older woman who happened to be sitting close to our friends. Our friend at that point threw them back the ball and said: "Come on guys, give us a break. You are not the only ones who want to enjoy the pool. Can't you play ball somewhere else." The kids totally ignored him and continued with their fun. Then the woman -who brought the kids left for about 15-20 mins and left the kids in the pool still continuing their "fun". A sort while later the BWV/BWI manager came to the pool. It seems as though when our friend asked the kids to play ball elsewhere, the woman got angry that someone said something to one of her kids and went to the front desk and tried to get our friends thrown out of the pool for smoking. Finally the mgr was summoned and he came out to the quiet pool to survey the situation. The end result was the woman was told that smoking is allowed at all pools, however doing cannon balls in the pool, using pool noodles as weapons, overtaking the whole pool with relay races, excessive screaming and hollering and the throwing of baseballs was not allowed at the quiet pool. The manager went on to explain to this woman that at the quiet pool, other than for specific scheduled times for pool games that last a specific amount of time and the times are posted; the quiet pool is to provide resort guests with a more quiet and relaxing pool atmosphere. That the main pool was for more actve pool actvities and that if her children wanted to partake in more actve pool activities to please take them to the main pool. He did add that even at the main pool they still would not be allowed to use the pool noodles in the fashion in which they were; they would not be allowed to have swimming relays taking up the whole length of the pool, nor would they be permitted to throw water baseballs the whole length of the pool.
The woman and her kids left in a huff. BTW, all the remaining guests at the pool cheered when they finally left.
However, I guess they were not happy with the main pool rules either because our friends heard them walking back to their room from the main pool (they had rooms right off the quiet pool) grumbling that WDW stinks and kids aren't allowed to have any fun!
From this incident it seems as though Disney does consider the quiet pools to be more quiet, much less active (except for scheduled actvities); then the main pools. There is no age limit on who can enjoy the quiet pools but it does appear as though there are certain quiet pool guidelines. At least at BWV and as of 7/28/04, there were.
I just had to share this story. What a coincidence that we were just talking with our friends about this the other day and there is a thread about it here today!
 
I believe what you have documented is a classic case of children mis-behaving and mis-using the pool facilities. I don't recall anyone on this long and winding thread defending any of these activities as being acceptable. We are probably all in agreement that these "guests" were not acting appropriately. Thanks for posting this experience.
 
Point I am making is that it does seem, at BWVs anyway, that Disney does have different guidelines and definitions between their quiet pools and main pools. Some on this thread seem to indicate that this is not so.
 

I'm glad the manager chose to say something. Although it sounds like their behavior would have gotten (and did get) them in trouble at either pool. I wonder if the manager would have done anything if they kids had been just "noisy" rather than actively misbehaving. Its hard to draw the line between "hollering" and "excessive hollering."

The real issue with Disney is that it seems like "rules" are often "guidelines" and you are as likely to get a CM who looks at you like you are nuts if you want a more sedate atmosphere at the quiet pool, while the next will enforce the guidelines. And of course - what is normal play to one person is hollering to another and excessive hollering to a third.
 
Thank you for the story walt4evr, you hit the nail directly on the head regarding what many of us are talking about. Tying to exaggerate the point by saying no kids in the pool, or totally quiet pool where kids are not allowed to play is pretty silly, and doesn't support or rationalize why it is OK to allow kids to mis behave and be inconsiderate to fellow guests as your story clearly indicates. In the first part of your story, you talked about kids playing nicely. That's all we are talking about. Your story makes the point crystal clear. Thanks.
 
Originally posted by Desperado
Thank you for the story walt4evr, you hit the nail directly on the head regarding what many of us are talking about. Tying to exaggerate the point by saying no kids in the pool, or ttally quiet pool where kids are not allowed to play is pretty silly, and doesn't support or rationalize why it is OK to allow kids to mis behave and be inconsiderate to fellow guests as your story clearly indicates. In the first part of your story, you talked about kids playing nicely. That's all we are talking about. Your story makes the point crystal clear. Thanks.
Yeah it really does...JThis is completely unacceptable at any pool IMO and it is good to see Disney "feels" the same way.

It is ironic that the woman brought it upon herself LOL she asked the manager to come "back her up" only to be told her family is the problem LOL.
 
/
Originally posted by 3DisneyNUTS
..(snip)...It is ironic that the woman brought it upon herself LOL she asked the manager to come "back her up" only to be told her family is the problem LOL.

But of course she doesn't think her family is the problem or that her little darlings were doing anything wrong! Wonder what she thought everyone was cheering for when they left, LOL!

I'm so glad the BWV manager came out to actually investigate for himself and then took appropriate action. Wish that happened more often.
 
Originally posted by CarolMN
But of course she doesn't think her family is the problem or that her little darlings were doing anything wrong! Wonder what she thought everyone was cheering for when they left, LOL!

I'm so glad the BWV manager came out to actually investigate for himself and then took appropriate action. Wish that happened more often.

Yeah well when the "darlings" end up in jail she will be saying in a tv interview "I did my best. They were such good kids!"
 
Sadly this long thread has proved only that:

We ain't all going to agree and;

We ain't going to solve it. Only Disney can and it doesn't look like they will for a long while.:(
 
I was reading the 18 pages or so about the pool hopping issue and thought you all might find this interesting.

I just returned from BWV (7/26 - 7/30) and there was a sign prominently posted at 2 of the pool entrances that said "POOL USE FOR BOARDWALK GUESTS ONLY".

There was also a note in the "Welcome Home" packet at check-in as well as being listed in the the little newsletter looking event brochure.
 
Originally posted by JVSJr
I just returned from BWV (7/26 - 7/30) and there was a sign prominently posted at 2 of the pool entrances that said "POOL USE FOR BOARDWALK GUESTS ONLY".
Great sign, makes sense. The problem is local pool crashers, they need a sign to inform them. Doesn't seem to be a need to post all exceptions like legitimate DVC pool hoppers. When a DVC member contacts the front desk, recieves permission to pool hop, and legitimately does they could easily fall within the definition of being a guest of boardwalk and thus legitimately pool hop. I don't see the sign as a pre-emption of the end of pool hopping in itself.
 
Great story walt4evr. It is exactly what was needed in this thread because it provides a Disney persepctive of what is expected behavior in the "quiet" pools.

HBC
 
Originally posted by Happy Birthday Cat
Great story walt4evr. It is exactly what was needed in this thread because it provides a Disney persepctive of what is expected behavior in the "quiet" pools.

HBC
Thanks for your recognition of that. It does provide a good perspective.
 
Originally posted by Happy Birthday Cat
Great story walt4evr. It is exactly what was needed in this thread because it provides a Disney persepctive of what is expected behavior in the "quiet" pools.

HBC
Agreed, but it is simply a CM interpretation and certainly not an official stance. And to generalize it out of context is certainly not possible.
 
Originally posted by JVSJr
I just returned from BWV (7/26 - 7/30) and there was a sign prominently posted at 2 of the pool entrances that said "POOL USE FOR BOARDWALK GUESTS ONLY".

Signs have noted this at the BW for a long time - at least 4 years.
Nothing new.
 
Originally posted by Dean
Agreed, but it is simply a CM interpretation and certainly not an official stance. And to generalize it out of context is certainly not possible.

I didn't generalize. I stated what it was. Being that it was a manager that dealt with the situation certainly gives it more credence as to the "official" view of what we are discussing.

HBC
 
Originally posted by Desperado
Thanks for your recognition of that. It does provide a good perspective.

Yes it does but it is exactly what I've been saying all along in this discussion. Kids are fine in the "quiet" pools as long as they are respecful of others. They don't have to be silent and a family certainly shouldn't have to keep on walking if they see an adult using the area.

HBC
 
Originally posted by Happy Birthday Cat
I didn't generalize. I stated what it was. Being that it was a manager that dealt with the situation certainly gives it more credence as to the "official" view of what we are discussing.

HBC
I wasn't refering to you, just that your post seemed the most appropriate to refer to so I could make the point. That is that the incident has no bearing on Disney's "interpretation" of the quiet pool in contrast to the feature pools. It was simply a managers response to an abusive situation.
 












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