FW Privelages????

[Plau]

We are planning a trip next Spring along with 2 other families. Our Family will be staying in a DVC Villa, hopefully the Wilderness Lodge, and the other two families will be staying at Fort Wilderness. We are accustomed to our special resort privelages and I was wondering if they will have the same privelages as FW guests?
1) Will they be allowed to Pool Hop?
2) Are they entitled to Early Morning our Extended Evening hours.

I certainly hope that they have the same privelages. With the cost of their campsite fees they should have some privelages!

 

[Disney Campers]

Fort Wilderness guest enjoy the same resort benefits as any other Disney Resort. Pool hopping though is not a regular guest benefit, this is only for DVC members as i understand it.

 

[Gillian]

The FW/WL recreation map specifies that the FW pools are for FW guests, and that the WL pools are for WL guests. You can hop to the FW pool as a DVC member staying on points, though, right?

Depending on your DVC unit, you could also add people to get more cards so they can use the WL pool. Am I going to get flamed for that?

I have also heard that asking at the front desk if you can have guests for a few hours you will often be told Yes.

And of course, the water parks are fun for everyone!

If any of you have AAA, you can get a small discount on rooms/campsites, but the discounts for 2007 will probably not be out until this summer. You can book that through WDW reservations or an AAA agent.

 

[Rhonda]

If any of you have AAA, you can get a small discount on rooms/campsites, but the discounts for 2007 will probably not be out until this summer. You can book that through WDW reservations or an AAA agent.

You can also get the AAA discount if you book room-only reservations through any other TA!

If you want to book a AAA discounted package that includes tickets and dining though, you'll need to book directly through WDW or through an AAA agent.

 

[Gillian]

You can also get the AAA discount if you book room-only reservations through any other TA!

Oops! How could I forget that?

Dreams Unlimited is a great WDW agency, BTW!

 

[Rhonda]

Thanks Gillian!!

 

[Plau]

Gillian - What do you mean add more cards? We always ask for 4 room key cards if tha is what you mean. Of course we could give the kids cards to the adults from the other families for pool use.

Thanks for everyone's input.

 

[Gillian]

Plau, I meant that if you were staying in a 2 BR, you could perhaps register some of them as guests in your room, if you didn't have 8 people. With the other units, you can't do this if there are 4 in your family.

 

[GoofyGolferGirl]

We were at WL last year for 12 days around the 4th of July and several times they asked to see room keys at WL usually the pool cleared out quick. Lots of families were embarassed.

 

[susancl]

We were at WL last year for 12 days around the 4th of July and several times they asked to see room keys at WL usually the pool cleared out quick. Lots of families were embarassed.

I don't get this. I remember when pool-hopping was allowed and, yes, it was fun to try different pools. But, it was also inconvenient. You had to pack a bag and get on a bus to get there. It was also time-consuming. You couldn't just take a quick swim before you were off to the next activity if you left your own resort to pool-hop.

If you are going to leave your resort for a change of scenery, why not go to a water park? Even Sorm along Bay can't compare to Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon. Is it that people don't want to spend the money? If that's it, then there is something wrong with that thought process. WDW is an expert at separating you from your money. It all doesn't make sense to me.

 

[Gillian]

I honestly believe there are people who don't know it isn't allowed. And other pools look cool! You wouldn't know how much trouble it is until you go & try. With towels there, you don't need to bring much.

I've also heard of ids being checked at WL when the pool gets crowded.

The water parks are really fun! Just more expensive and not as relaxing as sharing your resort pool with friends.

 

[Disney Campers]

I honestly believe there are people who don't know it isn't allowed

when you check in at the Fort they rubber stamp your bill no pool hopping and limit 1 car per site and make you initial that you read this.

 

[susancl]

The water parks are really fun! Just more expensive and not as relaxing as sharing your resort pool with friends.

I can totally understand wanting to hang out at your resorts pool with friends who may be staying someplace else. If a pool is not crowded, I think this should be allowed.

 

[Plau]

Thanks again. Since you are allowed a total of 10 people per site. ( I know an additional fee is required for the adults), we will probably register at one of their sites and that would solve that problem. Neither one of them has a car so ours would be the only car at the site.
As for the Water Parks, our time is limited and the one family has never been to WDW and wants to see as much of the Parks as posible, so I doubt that we will want to spend enough time at a Water Park to make it worth the admission and the transportation time. I was just wondering if they could come and use ours since the WL has a slide plus the beach area. Since we will be coming a few days earlier, I guess we can watch just how much they check ID's. The only time I have seen them really check IDs closely was when we stayed at the BCV over a Spring Break. I have never seen them check cards at WL.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Regardless of whether or not resort id's are checked, no pool hopping is allowed except for DVC members.

 

[susancl]

I was just wondering if they could come and use ours since the WL has a slide plus the beach area.

Ask when you check in. Often the CM will say it's fine. I know many people don't like this, but it's true. WDW employees can make magic sometimes.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

CM's are frequently a misinformed lot. I have seen some at FW who did not think there was an arcade at FW and had no idea there was a movie at night. I think frequently they are just working there temporarily and normally work at another resort. That being said, it might be a bit difficult and rather embarrassing if you are trying to explain to the CM at WL that you are using the pool with a FW resort id because a CM at FW said it was okay.

 

[auntie]

We have stayed at the WL often. We have been asked for resort ID. This is usually when the pool is very crowded. Mind you..they don't pull anyone out of the pool for it..just those who are using the lounge chairs and tables. That being said...we also were vacationing with friends a few years ago..and her brother was visiting. They did ask management at the front desk if her brother and his family would be allowed to swim. It wasn't a problem. I am one of those people who remember the "back in the day"...when you were actually permitted to pool hop. It was part of the Disney advertisement infact. That soon came to a screetching halt once the Beach Club and Storm Along Bay was built. Also...no one is having their id checked at the Villa pool. It isn't as exciting..but if you are looking for a spot to gather with the others in your party, that is probably a spot where no one is really going to bother you one way or the other. We found ourselves at the villa pool quite a bit, when the Lodge pool was crowded and we had enough of the slide. It was very relaxing.

 

[susancl]

CM's at FW have actually given my DM a "pass" to use the pool at WL. She is a senior and the pool in January at FW is usually too cold for her to swim.

 

[Rhonda]

CM's at FW have actually given my DM a "pass" to use the pool at WL. She is a senior and the pool in January at FW is usually too cold for her to swim.

The last time I asked, I was told that all the resort pools were kept at the same temperature (82) during the winter months.

Maybe this has changed?