fencing in pools at FW

[Boopuff]

I know Disney is slowly fencing in all pools on property and adding magic bands for entry. Are the pools at FW currently "banded"? Or does anyone know when they will be?

 

[sippican]

I had not heard that you will need a Magic Band for access, but it seems like a good idea (that or a card key like they issued for the comfort stations). It should not be an issue at all, as long as you are a registered guest at the Fort.

 

[Boopuff]

From what I've read/seen elsewhere the locals take over the pools on weekends. Is that true?

 

[bama_ed]

From what I've read/seen elsewhere the locals take over the pools on weekends. Is that true?

Often on summer weekends. Holiday weekends are bad too (Memorial Day, July 4th, Labor Day).

There have been drownings at the resorts over the years and for some of those a fence would have helped. Pool hoppers and locals coming in would get cut down as well if this was done. I can understand that they would do the Deluxe resorts first (the Fort being a Moderate). Some pool gates have a lifeguard stationed there to watch for tailgaters which is an extra staffing costs.

Should they fence it? Sure.

Will they? That's an expense/risk management/customer experience question.

I will say that anyone who hears locals at the pool should complain LOUDLY to the front desk management and on any post-trip survey you might receive. The locals speak quite openly at the pool of coming in from off-site, discussing transportation plans, and more.

I am in favor of a fence and MB requirement.

Bama Ed

 

[amcc]

I don't think I would like a fence at the Fort because I love the wide open feel of the whole area. You can sit at a table and watch one kid at the pool, one at the playground and a couple playing flag football. It's a whole community of activities going on.

 

[PaHunter]

I don't think I would like a fence at the Fort because I love the wide open feel of the whole area. You can sit at a table and watch one kid at the pool, one at the playground and a couple playing flag football. It's a whole community of activities going on.

Amcc, it is ok, they are only going to put up a split rail fence around the pool area. This fits in with the decor and is not an obstruction to viewing.

 

[peg110]

Amcc, it is ok, they are only going to put up a split rail fence around the pool area. This fits in with the decor and is not an obstruction to viewing.

And I think that would be appropriate. It's not like you need a 6 foot high privacy fence around it or even chain link. It would be obvious if someone was trying to come in over a split rail fence just as it would if it were chain link.

I am not opposed fencing the pools. I just feel that it's sad that it's needed.

 

[amylevan]

Ok, here's my weird side question. We will be at WDW in February. My parents are camping at FW and we opted to leave the camper at home, fly down and stay at WL. If the weather cooperates, the kids want to spend a day at the pool. Can we come over and swim with my parents at FW? We don't get to see my parents much since they live several hours away and we are vacationing together - just at different resorts.

 

[Boopuff]

I'm pretty sure based on some other posts that the pool is unfenced and no one cares much who comes and goes. I'm sure you'll be fine!

 

[KristinU]

Ok, here's my weird side question. We will be at WDW in February. My parents are camping at FW and we opted to leave the camper at home, fly down and stay at WL. If the weather cooperates, the kids want to spend a day at the pool. Can we come over and swim with my parents at FW? We don't get to see my parents much since they live several hours away and we are vacationing together - just at different resorts.

I'm not sure of the official answer, but we've vacationed together with my parents at different resorts in the past and have gone swimming at one another's resort pools a few times without issue. Probably not officially OK, but of course grandparents want to spend time with the kids

 

[Boopuff]

Now if we're getting into pool-hopping areas.... well at some of the other resorts where the pools are fenced you must be a hotel guest to swim and your magic band opens the gate. So your parents at FW can NOT swim at WL. but since FW doesn't monitor the pool access you can swim at FW. (should you is another "gray" area in the pool hopping world)

 

[peg110]

I think the gray area is even grayer because of a family relationship. Most place you have to be a guest or a guest's visitor to use the facilities.

I don't think the intention of what is being suggested is intended to be ill will or theft of services (so to speak), particularly if both guests are staying at a Disney resort.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) The pool DOES get fencing.
2) Purpose
. . . to keep non-Disney-resort-guests and/or locals and/or employees out.
. . . to stop resort pool-hopping.
. . . to stop campers from inviting friends or relatives (not on their site's reservation list) joining them in the pool.
3) Sorry, but too many people have abused pool privileges at Disney pools and the are putting an end to it . . . property-wide.

 

[sirenia88]

1) The pool DOES get fencing.
2) Purpose
. . . to keep non-Disney-resort-guests and/or locals and/or employees out.
. . . to stop resort pool-hopping.
. . . to stop campers from inviting friends or relatives (not on their site's reservation list) joining them in the pool.
3) Sorry, but too many people have abused pool privileges at Disney pools and the are putting an end to it . . . property-wide.

This has been going on slowly for awhile. My DW read some interesting topics on this. It was phased in at a number of the properties at Disney. I know Grand Floridan, Poly, and I want to say Pop century were the first to go needing a band to get into the pool area. When my in laws were at French Quarter, we went to their pool for an afternoon. No asked but I did see the CM glance towards my wrist. The magic band probably gave them the indicator we were on property. my in laws also got some pool time at the fort.

If the mouse is smart which they are, I could see a pool hopper option to the magic band. I think it would be cool to be able to go to other pools. Nothing really is wrong with the pool at the Fort but it does have limited snack bar hours. the pool itself is really a large 3.5 foot deep rectangle. i doubt the mouse would make it free but one could hope.

 

[amcc]

Yesterday, we scientifically studied all the pools on our resort tour. The Grand Floridian main pool does not have any fencing yet. It's completely accessible. The Polynesian has magic band controlled fencing. The Wilderness Lodge is fenced but it did not require a magic band to enter. Contemporary is accessible without fencing.

 

[4077]

Ok, here's my weird side question. We will be at WDW in February. My parents are camping at FW and we opted to leave the camper at home, fly down and stay at WL. If the weather cooperates, the kids want to spend a day at the pool. Can we come over and swim with my parents at FW? We don't get to see my parents much since they live several hours away and we are vacationing together - just at different resorts.

I'm not sure if everyone would consider this "kosher", but you can list up to the maximum number of people allowed in a site on your reservation (parents in this case... Or you on their Fort ressie....didn't catch who was staying where), thereby allowing them access as they are part of your reservation. At least they are all ready staying/paying to use Disney facilities. While I understand pool hopping is one of the things they try to prevent so as to not over crowd more popular pools, I too have kids that rarely get to see grandparents and would probably do it. I am sure there are those that would rake me over the coals about taking advantage and not using rules as intended, but some things (like grandparent/grandchildren visits) are more important. And it's not exactly crowding the pool to do it imo.

"But what if everyone did that?"

Not likely all at the same time on same day.

Really? You never break any rules? EVER?? You're a better human than me

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I understand pool hopping is one of the things they try to prevent so as to not over crowd more popular pools,

1) And, to prevent non-resort-guests fro using the pools.
2) In fact, a large percentage of non-guests are CM's.
. . . they go for their 40% Lunch discount at a resort
. . . they stay to swim
3) I would not openly admit to such a practice, but I know OTHERS who have done it.
. . . I have two "no-no's".
. . . I don't sing in public, as my voice has been compared to nails-on-a-blackboard.
. . . I don't swim much in public, as people do not want to see this body in a Speedo.

 

[wilkeliza]

The fencing I thought was due to new Florida regulations for hotels? Disney has a lot of pools grandfathered in but if they do any substatial work to the pool the fence has to be put in place. It was due to too many hotel pool drownings across the area.

 

[Teamubr]

you can list up to the maximum number of people allowed in a site on... their Fort ressie....

Jimmy beat me to it.

You can have up to 10 people on the Fort reservation. Problem solved. Everyone is nearly legal. I guess there may be a rule against having two consecutive reservations at the same time... Then again, that would mean Disney prohibited you from spending extra money... Na, that would never happen.

j

 

[Tonka's Skipper]

Just because you can break/cheat the rules does not in anyway mean you should just because someone else does!...It is still wrong.

Plus its not the way anyone should teach kids a life object lesson.

AKK.