New Pool Entry Requirement? Share Wristband Experiences by Resort!

[kgou]

I've seen a few reports in various resort threads here about how more resorts are now implementing a wristband policy at their pools. To help fellow members stay informed, I thought it would be helpful to start a thread tracking where and when this is happening.

We all know this has long been the policy at BCV. @MyDogTink reported that they experienced this at AKV on their recent visit. Anywhere else?

If you’ve personally stayed at a DVC resort recently and experienced a newly implemented wristband policy, please share!

Lets keep this thread focused on firsthand experiences only, not opinions on whether or not wristbands should be used. The goal is to gather accurate and up-to-date info for the benefit of the whole DISboard community.

 

[Best Aunt]

I was wondering if this was a temporary rule, at some resorts, due to expected crowds for the Memorial Day weekend. I would be interested in hearing people's experience at the pools after Memorial Day weekend.

 

[kgou]

I was wondering if this was a temporary rule, at some resorts, due to expected crowds for the Memorial Day weekend. I would be interested in hearing people's experience at the pools after Memorial Day weekend.

DItto! Hoping we can figure out if this a permanent change or just something that was implemented for MDW!

 

[Willow Ufgood]

Maybe they're gearing up for the summer? There seems to be an influx of locals crashing the pools after the kids are out of school and the heat ramps up. With both water parks being open now, they would be leaving money on the table if it's too easy to use the resort pools for free instead of buying a water park AP.

 

[🍀TwinsMom]

We just stayed at Riviera and Grand Floridian (Big Pine Key) over Memorial weekend, and no wristbands at Riviera Thursday-Saturday that we ran into, but Grand Floridian quiet pool outside BPK a CM came over and asked to scan our MB to verify our reservations there. I believe it was Sunday morning, around 9:30, and all the chairs were already claimed with towels. She apologized for scanning, but I told her that, no, I WANT wristbands at all the pools to prevent folks without reservations from utilizing the amenities for free and clogging up the works.

I also received a survey asking about our stay at VGF, but not for Riviera. I wish there was a spot for thoughts/observations, because I would have totally complimented the new wristband pool policy.

 

[kgou]

We just stayed at Riviera and Grand Floridian (Big Pine Key) over Memorial weekend, and no wristbands at Riviera Thursday-Saturday that we ran into, but Grand Floridian quiet pool outside BPK a CM came over and asked to scan our MB to verify our reservations there. I believe it was Sunday morning, around 9:30, and all the chairs were already claimed with towels. She apologized for scanning, but I told her that, no, I WANT wristbands at all the pools to prevent folks without reservations from utilizing the amenities for free and clogging up the works.

I also received a survey asking about our stay at VGF, but not for Riviera. I wish there was a spot for thoughts/observations, because I would have totally complimented the new wristband pool policy.

thanks for your report! Very interesting.

 

[eticketplease]

I WANT wristbands at all the pools to prevent folks without reservations from utilizing the amenities for free and clogging up the works.

I'm in the minority but as a parent to a child with ASD and sensory issues I do not want them.

I certainly understand their purpose and it makes it much easier then scanning everyone's MB but for us it is not ideal.

The cast members have been accommodating for when we have gone to SAB and have made exceptions for us.

Ideally the gates would all work only with MB's but obviously even if that is the case someone can tag behind someone else or hold the door open as someone is leaving etc.
Of course they could add more to our dues and just have someone at every gate scanning all day long as well.

 

[kgou]

I'm in the minority but as a parent to a child with ASD and sensory issues I do not want them.

I certainly understand their purpose and it makes it much easier then scanning everyone's MB but for us it is not ideal.

The cast members have been accommodating for when we have gone to SAB and have made exceptions for us.

Ideally the gates would all work only with MB's but obviously even if that is the case someone can tag behind someone else or hold the door open as someone is leaving etc.
Of course they could add more to our dues and just have someone at every gate scanning all day long as well.

I understand and completely empathize with that! And agree that dues would go up if someone was scanning all day long.

However, it would be great to keep this thread limited to our firsthand experiences about where this is happening so that we can try and gather if it's a permanent change, or just temporary due to MDW/summer crowds!

 

[KrzyAsian]

Every stay at the DLR resorts [VDH (4 times) and VGC (1 time)] required wristbands to enter the pool area. I think the first time at VDH they had a printed out ledger for all the guests in the room. Subsequent visits only had to check your room key/reservation via the app.

 

[gleddo]

We are currently at VBR. You’ve always needed a room card or magic band to enter the pool area. Just a few minutes ago a CM came around checking everyone for a room card or magic band. I don’t recall that ever happening before.

 

[Girlstar30]

I went to the pool at VGC on May 11, 2025. There is a stand where cast members are standing and they ask for your name.

They have a list that they look up your name, no scanning magic bands or pulling up the app and then they lead you to find seating that works for your family. I thought it was very thoughtful and helpful.

 

[Willow Ufgood]

Years ago, we were enjoying the pool at WL on our checkout day when a CM came by and asked to scan our MB and asked where we were staying. We had a 2BR at CCV until we checked our that morning and were moving to a GV at BWV later in the day. I think someone must have overheard us talking about heading over to BWV when we were done at WL and reported to a lifeguard that we didn't belong there. I'm sure that happens a lot. But in this case, we had a legit right to be there.

 

[CarolynFH]

I also received a survey asking about our stay at VGF, but not for Riviera. I wish there was a spot for thoughts/observations, because I would have totally complimented the new wristband pool policy.

Just a little off topic, but you could email them via the member website or at dvcmembersatisfactionteam@disneyvacationclub.com.

 

[kgou]

I've only been lurking/posting here occasionally since 2023, but this is the first I've seen multiple reports of wristband/magic band scanning. Am I off base in thinking this is new at some resorts where there have been reports recently, or is this something that typically happens during times of peak demand?

 

[sndral]

I've only been lurking/posting here occasionally since 2023, but this is the first I've seen multiple reports of wristband/magic band scanning. Am I off base in thinking this is new at some resorts where there have been resorts, or is this something that typically happens during times of peak demand?

Other than SAB I think it’s new. There have been reports of lifeguards/CMs checking w/ folks on the pool deck to verify they are staying at the resort, especially at pools that tend to draw non guests like the Poly, but checking at the gate & issuing wristbands - I’ve never read about that or experienced it other than at SAB where they always do wristbands.

 

[Sandisw]

I've only been lurking/posting here occasionally since 2023, but this is the first I've seen multiple reports of wristband/magic band scanning. Am I off base in thinking this is new at some resorts where there have been reports recently, or is this something that typically happens during times of peak demand?

Yes, this is new. Last summer, they were piloting it at CBR. The CM said the plan was to potentially implement it at all pools where there was no locked gate requiring a MB to enter.

 

[MyDogTink]

It sounds like the process varied across resorts MWD. Sounds like
-AKV: confirmed resort eligibility and gave wristband
- GF: no wristbands but random checks by CMs around the pool to confirm resort eligibility
-VBR: same as GF
-RIV: no verification

Outside of MDW and more generally:
VDH: CM verifies resort eligibility / wristbands
VGC: wristbands

SAB: wristbands
CBR : wristbands

Please make corrections/ updates.

I wonder if implementation depends on the resort general manager.

 

[CarolynFH]

I wonder if implementation depends on the resort general manager.

Maybe Disney is testing different methods, too, to see if some work better than others or are easier to implement.