Must Be Kidding !!!

[Beachangel]

Never wanted to, never did it, never would pool hop. I'm always amazed over the outrage that the pool hopping perk creates. So many complain about the lack of perks given to members but this little "pool perk" is a major importance to many. I just don't get it.

I've been a "cash" guest many times in the spring at BC and have always been carded & had my hand stamped at the pool. Overcrowded pools are a pain in the neck and its my opinion that pools should be for resort guests only.

Employees can use gym facilities?! Ridiculus!!Don't get me started - I already complain that employees of my apt building are using the gym facilities - that I pay for. Call me a snob but I don't want to work out with my doorman!

Great just great!

"Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the THINKS you can think up, if only you try." Dr. Seuss

 

[PamOKW]

Just curious. I haven't seen this employee use of the gyms anywhere but in this original post. Where did that info come from?

 

[winjones]

In answer to your query: I was checking out the different gym facilities (a DVC member privlege). Went to Y&BC, it was after 4 PM, seemed crowded, so I asked CM when the least crowded times were. She replied, it's usually crowded at this time because the resort employees are allowed to use the gym's... Next day went to VWL to use the gym, noticed how "chatty" the CM was with certain people using the facilities, appeared to know each other personally, CM later told me they were employees.

My interest in the gym facilites is personal & professional. The OKW (where we are members) facility was clearly an after-thought (it is NOT GOOD). I am a firefighter, even on vacation I cannot slack-off. Please keep in mind the generational changes occuring in this wonderful Country of ours; IMHO that is why Disney is putting in the nicer gym facilities in the newer resorts. That is why the $$$ is being spent to create the space and fill it with good equipment. OKW is over a decade old. I love OKW, have not been sorry for one nano-second we bought in to OKW, it's the best.

I started this post because I DO NOT want to see our privileges chipped away again and again...pool hopping, member golf tourney, AKL...WHAT ELSE !?

 

[Zimbubba]

I love the pool hopping thread almost as much as the towel thread.

I think many posts have hit it right on the head...it is about what we are losing. Pool hopping was used as a point of sale enticement. It was not listed as a conditional item. It is even in the video we received prior to purchasing.

Indeed..what is next?

 

[HorizonsFan]

1. Until the pool hopping privilege is gone, let's not complain about it being "chipped away". As other posters have said, SB restriction has been around for some time.

2. I don't think it was ever stated that gyms were for exclusive use of DVC members.

3. No priveleges at AKL were ever given to DVC members so how could they be taken away?

Just MHO...

Dave

 

[winjones]

Okey-Doke, I seem to be lacky clarity....sorry.

Dave, re: AKL, please read the newest VM issue, DVC members will not be allowed to pool hop to AKL, at all (possibly ever?). It appears it has nothing to do with crowding...something about the animals...are they using the pool...rediculous!
Re: gym use; I NEVER said the gym's were for DVC member exclusive use, again that would be rediculous! I used the gym use as an analogy to the pool use issue. If crowding is truly the issue, then why are resort employees allowed to use the gyms when the equipment is very limited and the resort employees contribute to crowding.

 

[HorizonsFan]

winjones:

I'm not trying to be antagonistic but as I read the thread, I saw posters complaining that their privileges were being chipped away.
My point regarding AKL is; how can they take away a privilege that was never given? Pool hopping is not a right guaranteed by our contract. It is a privilege that can be given as DVC sees fit. They chose not to give us that privilege at AKL; they didn't take anything away.
As for the gyms, they are paid for with dues. If I remember correctly, doesn't Disney own about 4% of each DVC resort? Should Disney let their employees use their 4% of the gym time? I don't
know the answer to that one, but you can bet that the contract we all signed was designed to let Disney control the resorts the way they want.
The bottom line is that we can complain about "losing" privileges all we want, but as long as DVC points are selling as fast as they become available we may as well save our breath.

Dave

 

[Peggy Sue]

Spent two weeks at OKW/BWV 4/28-5/12 last year. When we checked, both resorts handed us a flyer advising we could not pool hop to BC due expected high occupancy. I believe by the later half of our second week this restriction had been removed. I have no problem with being told to stay away from another resorts pool during peak times. The guest of the BC have paid top dollar to stay at their resort and they should be able to enjoy their pool without over crowding. I realize that not every DVC guest will try to "hop" to the BC pool, but I think they are being fair to the guests at the BC to protect what they have paid for. It really isn't chipping away at anything..our documents clearly state we are to call the resort ahead of time to check and see if their pool is available for our use.

I can remember our first trip to the Poly..at that time if you were a WDW guest, you could hop to any resort pool. Of course, there wasn't many resorts to choose from, so this wasn't a problem..but as they built moderates and budget resorts, all WDW guests have been advised they cannot use another resorts pool. (there may be a few exceptions to this rule) That seems fair too, couldn't have all resort guests heading over to storm along bay!

I see any perk we receive from DVC as a gift and I'm sure as time goes along some will be taken away and new ones will be given. I don't expect the perks, but they are welcome.

We don't pool hop. We like the quiet pools. However, it is a nice perk to have and I'm sure those that do take advantage of it have spent many wonderful afternoons at other resort pools.

Have a wonderful day!

 

[TampaDisneyFreaks]

I think it is great that we have the PRIVILEGE of pool hopping as DVC members. We have not taken advantage of this yet, however we might in the future, and it is comforting to know that privilege is there if we want to use it. We have to remember (as Peggy Sue pointed out), that non-DVC member Disney Resort quests are NOT allowed to pool hop (except in the rare circumstances such as Poly's pool being closed to be rebuilt). One reason that Disney states this, is that most people would end up going to Stormalong Bay (we were told this upon check-in at Disney resorts by CM's, before we were DVC members). So that fact that we, as DVC members, can pool hop there most of the time (except some peak times) is great. Would much rather have it available MOST of the time, than not at all. Pool hopping was never even mentioned to us by our guide, ever. I found out about it on this board! That is also a PRIVILEGE that is subject to change. I can understand why they aren't allowing pool hopping to go on at AKL to begin with, until the novelty wears off. Otherwise loads of people (which WOULD disturb the animals more than the fewer amount of people that would be at the pool without pool-hopping) would go to the AKL pool to use the new pool at the new hotel and go see the animals for free that the paying guests had to pay to see. Before jumping all over DIsney for the smallest little policy restrictions, take a moment to think of why and also that they are restricting a benefit that only DVC members have, and the whole privilege COULD be taken away at any moment as it is not a guaranteed right as a DVC member. Also think of how you (a general "you")feel when non-DVC members pool hop to DVC resorts. You don't like it very much as we paid to have an ownership in that resort and to stay there. The guests at other Disney resorts paid to have "exclusive" (I use that term loosely) use of the pool and amenities at that resort and are probably preturbed that someone else is using "their" pool. We paid X amountof dollars for 42 (now 41 and dropping) years of use of DVC. They just plunked down what amounts to good chunk of what we paid for DVC, but just for a few days or a week or so at that resort, so they would feel just as defensive about a stranger in their pool as we would. I know this is very long, but I want to add one final thought. I would hope that pool hopping is not the main reason that anyone bought into the DVC to begin with. There are many other reasons to own in the DVC and enjoy it other than pool hopping. Thanks for letting me put in my 2 cents worth.

 

[Beachangel]

That didn't entice me buy into DVC especially since I've heard more than once firsthand hand that even non-resort guests have used Disney resort pools. Haven't you ever heard someone say that? I sure have.

What would make me happy - "exclusive members only" perks. Whatever they may be.

"Think left and think right and think low and think high. Oh, the THINKS you can think up, if only you try." Dr. Seuss

 

[DownNeckBoy]

I agree that the pool hopping privilege was not an enticement for my purchase of a DVC interest. It seems to me that the very last place I would want to be, during the most crowded part of the year, is at an overcrowded pool. For those of you that do pool hop extensively, is it worth the additional effort? Just curious. Thanks. <IMG SRC="/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif" alt="confused">