Having guests at the resort pool

[slk537]

Good morning,

On our upcoming trip, we may also have friends taking a WDW trip at the same time, but staying off site. We are staying on points at BCV. My question is this: if they come with us to Epcot for the day, is it allowed to have them then join us at SAB? Or because they are not staying at the hotel, they cannot be there even as our guests? And if not, are they able to join us at the quiet pool? Again, if not, is SAB unique or would this hold at VWL, OKW, SSR, etc. IF we were staying there? (I am definitely not talking about bringing them with us to pool hop to other resorts where we are not using our points).

Please understand that this question is simply because we are looking for information and not planning to violate any rules - in fact, we are looking NOT to violate any rules and that is why I'm asking.

Thank you in advance.

 

[KNWVIKING]

They check resort ID's and issue wrist bands. One option: If there are only two of you staying on property & only have two guests joining you, when you check in request four keys. Let your guests use the other two as ID's.

 

[Wislodgers]

We had family staying at another Disney resort come join us at VWL to swim. We asked at the front desk, and were given permission. It was in Feb, and there was no one else even at the pool!

 

[prince of thieves]

If you have a guest that is staying off site and would like for them to swim with you at SAB then just bring them with you while you are getting ready to swim. When they check for room IDs they only need one for your entire group.

 

[kathleena]

They do check for all keys - especially when getting towels. Although the statement that they sometimes only need one key (probably at slower days) may be true sometimes, it is not true all the time. I know - I've had it happen.

You can get extra room keys for your guests - up to your room limit.

SAB is unique with the room keys and wrist bands. I would suspect at busies times that no resort would want to allow additional guests, unless the room occupancy allowed, but that's just my opinion!

 

[prince of thieves]

Agreed, SAB is very unique with the room keys and wrist bands, as it is basically the most popular pool on property and it fills up quickly with the three resorts that it caters to. As someone that used to check room keys and gave out wristbands for access to the pool I do know that one room key is all that is required for a group of people. Now, as you state, you've had an occasion where you were asked for all room keys. This could have been simply a CM that thought that all room keys were required.

 

[Scoootch]

Now, as you state, you've had an occasion where you were asked for all room keys. This could have been simply a CM that thought that all room keys were required.

Well, uninformed CM or not, if they end up asking for ALL to have a room key than obviously, you will need enough keys or they may turn you away. I have been at SAB when they asked us ALL to have a room key..including my 4 yr old (who was 3 at the time) and I also saw others running back to the room to get the rest of the keys for their group that same time...uninformed or not, they still make you have the extras if that's what they're asking for.

 

[Doctor P]

I'm sorry, I think it is rude to even consider bringing guests to SAB given the restrictions on pool hopping, etc. Though the quiet pools at BCV have similar restrictions, personally I would have less problem with guests (up to your room limit) there.

 

[Mary Ellen]

Personally I have no problem with guests up to your room limit.

 

[MagikMom]

My cousin lives in Orlando. Whenever we stay at Disney they (husband & 3 girls) always spend a day at the pool with us. At SSR they came to the main pool with us but at BCV & BWV they visited us at the "quiet" pools. I have never had a problem.



Oct. 2004 SSR
Aug. 2003 BWV
Oct. 2002 All Star Sports/BCV
March 2001 All Star Sports

 

[Doctor P]

WOW. IMHO, it is really amazing that anyone would have the gall to do this. No wonder member and guest perks get taken away or seriously restricted. I guess I am in the minority who thinks that resort amenities like pools are and should be strictly for paying guests of that resort.

 

[spiceycat]

be aware than now each ID (key) will have the guest name on it - no more your name DVC member on each ID.

also do you want your friends to have access to your room.

they can visit with you no problem - and I would also take a walk around the resort and show them SALB (anyone can do this) - but think long and hard before giving anyone room keys.

 

[salvatorejrm]

Some people seem to be pretty petty. I feel if you are staying at a resort and you have a couple of friends over you should be allowed to bring them down to the pool, gameroom, restaurants, shops etc. Lets all remember its just a pool.

 

[vernon]

I have no ethical problems with someone who has a room that is less than full capacity using up the spare capacity to bring friends to use the pool. If you have a room that sleeps 4 and it's only you and a partner I see no problem with getting 2 extra IDS and using them, IMHO you're not over using the hotel leisure facilities, you're just under using the bed space by not having them sleep there.

I do however feel differently about someone who is already at capacity on their room who brings in extra people to use the hotel facilities.

the pool, gameroom,restaurant store. It's just a pool

IMHO the difference is if an off site guest uses any of the other facilities, they pay to do so. To use the pool they do not. The pool facilities are calculated to be sufficient for a certain number of guests based on the number of rooms. If if became widespread then you could get a situation where a paying guest couldn't find space at the pool because of other guests inviting hosts of friends along. Taken to the extreme you're sanctioning, for example, a group of local residents deciding to book one room at say Vero Beach or the Y+B and 300 of them coming in to use the facilities. I know that's an extreme example, but unless one ( or Disney) decides to place the acceptable line somewhere that is a possibility. The cost, between them all, would work out to less than $1 each, not bad for a days entertainment. The cost of the pools is paid for by the paying guests or by the dues paid by DVC members, if there are a load of freeloaders using the facilities, it's not Disney who pick up the tab, it's those that do pay for the facilities and that's you, me and the rest of the paying customers. It's not a "victimless crime" it's just one where it isn't immediately obvious who the victim is.

 

[Doctor P]

I agree, Vernon, but the pool capacities are generally calculated assuming average occupancy rates and average occupancy of the rooms. Even by bringing guests when you are not at the room's stated capacity does not mean that you are not overtaxing the resort's facilities as they normally would not have built the facilities to a size that assumes all rooms are occupied and all rooms that all occupied rooms are at their stated capacity. We can agree to disagree, but IMHO if a guest is not paying to stay at the resort they should not be using the pool. Perhaps Disney will end up going the way of some other resorts and specifically charging a resort fee for every person in the room and requiring a room key for every person using the facility.

 

[Disney Enthusiast]

I have been at SAB when they asked us ALL to have a room key..including my 4 yr old (who was 3 at the time) and I also saw others running back to the room to get the rest of the keys for their group that same time...uninformed or not, they still make you have the extras if that's what they're asking for.

That's so funny. We just came back from a trip last week and the 1st day we went swimming, my DH showed his key and they put a band on him and one on the stroller for me AND the 2 kids. The next day, the girl (seemed very new) insisted she see my 3 yr old's key. No biggy, we had it. But when she kept trying to get the wristband on our baby, I thought that was a little strict. I mentioned after the 3rd time of trying to "fit" the band on the baby, that the Disney people looking for those wristbands will probably assume the baby did not visit SAB on her own and therefore probably belongs to someone a/ a room key. She finally gave up and let us thru, w/ no wristband on the baby. By the way, it was definitely their slow season and only 1 or 2 other families joined us at the time.

 

[LIFERBABE]

I mentioned after the 3rd time of trying to "fit" the band on the baby, that the Disney people looking for those wristbands will probably assume the baby did not visit SAB on her own and therefore probably belongs to someone a/ a room key. She finally gave up and let us thru, w/ no wristband on the baby.

Unless it was Baby's Day Out!

It definitely does vary at SAB on who needs the room key. I agree that if you are not over your room limit then get the extra keys for your guests. They really dont need to know your room number and that is not printed on the key.

SAB has a capacity of over 1200 people. Everyone is welcome to their opinion.

 

[slk537]

I would really like to thank all of you who have been considerate and answered my question. I really appreciate it and your quick responses are exactly why I have found this board to be so helpful. I guess we’ll have to remember to keep our little guy’s key with us when we head to the pool - just in case!

I certainly did not mean to begin a debate - I was just looking for a little information. While I do take exception to being regarded as rude simply for considering that we bring my 3 year old son's friend and parents to the pool, I realize that these boards are built on people expressing their opinions and that is what makes them valuable, right?

Thanks again to you all for taking the time to answer my question~!

 

[Nanajo1]

With the new room keys having individual names not just the DVC member's name you would have to register them at the front desk to get the room keys. Right now SAB is limited due to renovations and YC +BC guests are being referred to BW pools. Because DVC guests not staying at BC/YC are not allowed to pool hop to SAB I am not in favor of bringing guests to SAB. JMHO.

 

[paulh]

We had this in may at SSR we cotacted front desk and thet were ok with it ( they look at it as a bit like a preview of the resort the person might buy)but the only place they will not alow it is SAB a BCV but dont think its a problem with the quiet pool at BCV
Paul