How Closely do they monitor pool entry at YC/BC?

[WDWDennis]

I have stayed there many times and they only seem strict on busy days!! Heck, even when they are strict, I've walked right in from the bar area with no problem at all. I say ask the front desk or lifeguard.

Really people.....what is the difference?? IF its crowded, then I can see making an issue, but if the pool is not crowded, then it is no big deal!! I pay tons of money at other deluxes with much smaller pools and I have to share it with DVC and other people. I can see why the rule is in place, b/c that pool is so popular, but on uncrowded days, they shoud be willing to make exceptions.

 

[NCombs]

I have stayed there many times and they only seem strict on busy days!! Heck, even when they are strict, I've walked right in from the bar area with no problem at all. I say ask the front desk or lifeguard.

Really people.....what is the difference?? IF its crowded, then I can see making an issue, but if the pool is not crowded, then it is no big deal!! I pay tons of money at other deluxes with much smaller pools and I have to share it with DVC and other people. I can see why the rule is in place, b/c that pool is so popular, but on uncrowded days, they shoud be willing to make exceptions.

If you are talking about someone staying there having a guest or 2 come in, I agree, probably not a big deal. But if you mean in general, that anyone should be able to come in and use the pool, busy or not, I would respectfully disagree with you on that.

 

[cjsmith]

Hanging out by the pool and swimming are 2 different things. Hanging out might be OK - swimming is not. Is good of you to ask first but think about the times where you paid big bucks to stay at a nice hotel and picture everyone else bringing in extra guests for a swim. I really wish they would enforce these rules a lot more. I have read threads where people will book a value resort and then use the pool at SAB or BW. Even day guests at the parks have been known to take a shuttle or monorail over to one of the resorts and crash at the pool. Not good.

Actually hanging out at the pool takes up the chairs and lounge chairs so it is the same.

 

[cjsmith]

We stay the at the Yacht Club a lot and have done so for many years. They are usually very strict and do check everyone's ID, meaning everyone in your party needs their ID with them. During the slower season and off weekends they may not check as frequently. There have been times, January 2 was one of them, when we had to show ID just to walk through the pool area, we didn't even have suits on!
When it's slow, they may allow you have to guests there. One time when we stayed and the resort was almost empty they did allow our friends who live in Orlando (2 adults) to come sit by the pool and enjoy cocktails for an hour. I guess it was empty and they figured we were spending money. I did ask the front desk prior to our friends arrival and was told that the guest policy all depends on the occupancy of the hotel and the amount of the guests you are bringing. Clearly if it's a crowded time of year, the answer will be no and rightfully so.

 

[WDWDennis]

If you are talking about someone staying there having a guest or 2 come in, I agree, probably not a big deal. But if you mean in general, that anyone should be able to come in and use the pool, busy or not, I would respectfully disagree with you on that.

I am only talking about other Disney resort guests for the most part. I also don't have any problem with the OP's situation(bringing in a friend or two to play). IF it should be a crowded day, then I don't really think it is fair and maybe they should either hang at the quiet pool or go to a water park!!

 

[barb45]

I'm pretty sure I'll get flamed here but I think it is never OK. Picture 100 people in the pool (not to crowded) and 50 are not guests of the resort for whatever reason. How would you like to get in line for the slide and those 50 people are in front of you? What about every guest in the pool bringing in a couple of friends and you can't get a chair? It's easy to say "be nice" it's just a couple more people but I think it's better just to have a policy and stick to it. I've pool hopped with DVC and it just didn't feel right.

 

[Cass]

They did not check us in October 2004.
FYI, DD ended up not particularly liking SAB. She liked the DVC pool in the back of the villas better.

Isn't that funny, after all the build up to stormalong bay -my daughter didn't like it at all, in fact it took her about 5 days to start enjoying it. She kept asking to back to the pool at AKL

 

[snoopy5386]

this is my experience from last july. After 4 pm they did not check bracelets. When i went to get bracelets in the morning they asked if i needed any extras, so those are two ways to help you out.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

This is what is so complicated about Walt Disney World's rules and policies. The CM's are trained to follow the rules of the resorts or parks, but if they feel that they can make a guest's vacation more "magical", they are pretty much given carte blanche to make it happen. That was Walt Disney's (the man) true policy and it overrides all others. If the CM determines that a guest's request of having her family join her at the pool of the resort at which she is staying is not going to take away from another guests experience, they'll do it. It's the kind of customer service that most guests have come to expect from WDW.
I've read on many occasions where a CM has replaced a missing toy or autograph book for a child free of charge. Complaining about CMs allowing extra guests at the pool is kind of like complaining that the CM who replaced the toy is stealing and the child is the accomplice because no one paid for the toy and everyone else has to. Why should they get it for free while I have to pay!! It's not fair! I read about this happening all of the time and noone complains about that kind of thing, probably because you'd be laughed off the thread!
After spending a couple days on this board, we all know should know that this kind of "magical" treatment goes on every day at WDW, and I personally wouldn't want it any other way!.

 

[Deb & Bill]

This is what is so complicated about Walt Disney World's rules and policies. The CM's are trained to follow the rules of the resorts or parks, but if they feel that they can make a guest's vacation more "magical", they are pretty much given carte blanche to make it happen. That was Walt Disney's (the man) true policy and it overrides all others. If the CM determines that a guest's request of having her family join her at the pool of the resort at which she is staying is not going to take away from another guests experience, they'll do it. It's the kind of customer service that most guests have come to expect from WDW.
...

But shouldn't the other guests staying at the resort also be entitled to a magical vacation, especially since they paid for it?

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

But shouldn't the other guests staying at the resort also be entitled to a magical vacation, especially since they paid for it?

Of course, and everyone does, just not in the same way.
I'm absolutely sure that the YC/BC is not hit with a daily barrage of requests by guests who's sisters live in the Orlando area and would like them to come visit them and enjoy the pool. It might happen every once in awhile, but it isn't a common occurance. If a CM can make it happen, without taking away from another guests experience, they'll do it. This means, if the pool is already overcrowded, they'll probably deny the request, but if they feel that there's room, they grant it. It's completely up to the CMs discretion.
Another guest might get pushed in line waiting to see a character, and a CM might move them to the front of the line. If a guest loses her bag of souveniers, a CM might replace them free of charge. If a guest has a poor experience with another guest, a CM might offer to show them a little behind the scenes tour of a stage show. Everyone isn't moved to the front, or given a special tour, or a free bag of toys, but Disney does it, not only because it's great customer service, but because it's the right thing to do.
Every WDW guest's "magical" experience is probably going to be different. If your vacation goes off without a hitch, or without being granted a special request, does it make your vacation any less special?
As far as the OP, bottom line is this is not a pool hopping guest from another resort or a local resident sneaking in to use WDW's facilities. She/He is going through the correct channels and is going to ask the CMs at the resort if a few family members can come visit her for a day by the pool, a day, mind you that he/she is paying for. If the CMs feel it's appropriate they will. It's the Disney way!

 

[tnkrbell]

I pay the price of the Yacht club because of the pool and location. I do not think it is fair at all if someone is allowed to bring in friends and family who are not paying to stay here.

 

[barb45]

Do the CM's at the desk actually check to see how crowded the pool is? How do they know how crowded it is going to be later in the day when these extra people actually show up? And you might be surprised at how many people try this - a lot of people have family staying at a different resort (happened to us - but we didn't bring them in). I still say just go to a water park and make a day of it - it'll be a lot more fun anyway.

 

[ducklite]

If someone is staying there during a slow season and wants to have a couple guests at the pool, I have no problem with it. What I do have a problem with is in the summer, it's pretty much ALWAYS packed at SAB, and that family of four IS going to make a difference. I've had several times that I couldn't find a chair at SAB anywhere. I'm not talking about a prime spot, I'm talking about anywhere in the entire complex. That's the way it pretty much is every day in the summer. I'd be more than a little steamed if someone had guests at the pool and I couldn't get a chair.

I've taken perverse satisfaction in seeing people kicked out of other resorts pool areas when they weren't guests of that resort and there were people who obviously were guests trying to find a place to sit.

Like I said, if Gram and Gramps want to come up from Fort Peirce in March and watch the kiddies swim for an afternoon, no problem. But it really does become an issue May through August.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

I also think that anyone who wants to bring a guest who will actually swim (ie gram and gramps who are just sipping sweet tea and watching would be exempt) should be charged extra--maybe $5 per person--for that guest to cover the increased liability and laundry.

Anne

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

If a guest asks, and is given permission, it isn't the guest that you have an issue with, it's Walt Disney World. The CMs are taught this kind of rampant disregard for the rules at a class called Traditions that all park employees attend. It teaches that if given an opportunity to make a guests stay more magical, without infringing on others, that it isn't only the right thing to do, it's inexcusible not to do it. The class is based on the principles of Walt Disney, the man.
As far as those guests who believe that no one, even if the pool is practically empty, should be granted permission by the CMs to bring in a friend or family member...I don't know what to say. I'm at a loss.

 

[robinb]

I'm absolutely sure that the YC/BC is not hit with a daily barrage of requests by guests who's sisters live in the Orlando area and would like them to come visit them and enjoy the pool. It might happen every once in awhile, but it isn't a common occurance. If a CM can make it happen, without taking away from another guests experience, they'll do it. This means, if the pool is already overcrowded, they'll probably deny the request, but if they feel that there's room, they grant it. It's completely up to the CMs discretion.

ITA! I think the OP should ask either at the front desk, or at the SAB entrance if her family members can join them. It's up to the CMs if the family can enter and swim. The opinion of the DISers don't count.

I think you'll have an better chance getting into the pool in the morning when it is not as crowded.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

 

[LuluLovesDisney]

As a former CM, I'm with Laugh O. Grams here.

 

[FanofDis]

We will be staying at the BCV this August. Just how crowded does SAB get? I don't want to set my alarm to get a chair at the pool!!!!!