Parking for pool hopping?

[amym2]

We're taking our first DVC vacation in October (staying at OKW and THV) and are thinking we might pool hop over to Boardwalk one day. What is the parking situation? Do we just tell the guard that we are pool hopping and do we have a certain amount of time to park there?

 

[CarolMN]

here is no time limit to parking, but October is Food & Wine Festival time at EPCOT. Parking at the Boardwalk will be restricted to guests staying at the BWI or BWV. You will be directed to park across the street - which is a good hike from the resort / pool. If that lot is full (which can easily happen, especially on the weekends), you will have no where to park.

I am not sure if they would let you valet park. If so, it will cost $12 plus tip. T

My advice is to pick another resort if you want to pool hop during that time.

 

[amym2]

Oh goodness, I hadn't thought of that! We'll definitely just avoid that area then.

Any suggestions on where to pool hop instead? We stayed at WL last year, so we won't want to go there again.

 

[dzorn]

Our DD really like the pool at CSR.

Denise in MI

 

[Sammie]

Honestly I don't think any pool at Disney is worth the hassle to pool hop.

The pools at each resort are very nice and we always just stay put. So much less stressful.

 

[Candy Orlando]

The new pool at SSR is very nice. You can park next to it. It's a beach pool with a beautiful slide and children's play area pool. The counter service is good too.

 

[amym2]

Thanks for the advice, everyone! We will definitely take advantage of the SSR pools. We're not doing the parks this trip, otherwise I'm sure pool hopping wouldn't be worth it. We'll probably do a water park and Legoland, but otherwise we just want to take advantage of our new DVC membership!

 

[amym2]

Our DD really like the pool at CSR.

Denise in MI

That one does look neat. And we've never been to CSR.

 

[ercrbc]

We swim every day and pool hop at least one day each trip. We live on a lake so a big part of our trips is having "pool" time. We went from AKV to the BWV one afternoon last Summer and had a great time. It was easier to valet there than to park in the lot and walk with our big pool bag. (we haul all kinds of toys and bring our own floaties)
The BWV pool was great, my kids loved the coaster slide. We wandered around the BW afterward and the kids got cotton candy and we enjoyed watching the performers. We spent several hours that afternoon so it was worth the $12 to valet. Plus it was a great way to check out a resort we had not stayed at yet (and we made our Jan trip there b/c of our fun afternoon!)
We have also pool hopped to SSR and that was easy to park right by the pool. I want to check out the new paddock pool next!

I have a lot of friends that think we are nuts to spend so much time at the pools when we are at Disney. But my kids are too small to go commando all day at the parks and my DH refuses to do that EVER. I am the only one who would be happy going all day and I am more than willing to spend extra time at the pool (with a frosty drink) knowing we will be back to the parks over and over the next 30 years

 

[kerriemiller]

Wait a minute DVC members can pool hop?! Oh the stuff I dont know over whelms me sometimes.

 

[Chuck S]

Wait a minute DVC members can pool hop?! Oh the stuff I dont know over whelms me sometimes.

Yes. DVC Members can pool hop to any Disney resort, EXCEPT pool hopping is not allowed to YC/BC/BCV, AKL/AKV or to the small pool behind Bay Lake tower. You must be staying at a DVC Resort on points or a cash reservation booked through Member Services.

 

[chalee94]

Wait a minute DVC members can pool hop?! Oh the stuff I dont know over whelms me sometimes.

go play around on the member site and see what you find :

DVCPoolHoppingDetailPage

Pool Hopping Information

When staying on your Membership at Disney's Vero Beach Resort or any DVC Resort at the Walt Disney World Resort, you and any Guests staying with you are permitted to use most of the other Disney Vacation Club and Walt Disney World Resort hotel pools (in addition to the pool at the resort hotel at which you are staying) if they are not at capacity. If the pool you are visiting reaches capacity, you may be asked to leave in order to accommodate Guests of that resort hotel. Please check with a host or hostess at the front desk of the resort you wish to visit before you go to find out about pool-access availability. You must present your current Key to the World card with your "DVC Member" designation on it to use the other resort hotel pools.

Pool hopping is not available at Bay Cove Pool at Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort, Uzima Pool and Samawati Springs Pool at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Stormalong Bay at Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts, and the leisure pool at Disney's Beach Club Villas. There are no exceptions to this policy. As a reminder, during times of high occupancy, please be mindful of the limited number of pool chairs available, and refrain from leaving towels or personal items on unoccupied pool chairs.

Resort hotel pools may become unavailable from time to time due to capacity limitations. Due to the high occupancy that is expected, Disney Vacation Club Members and any Guests staying with them may not pool hop during the following dates*:


2012 Blockout Dates

February 19 - 25 (Sunday - Saturday)
March 31 - April 14 (Saturday - Saturday)
May 25 - 28 (Friday – Monday)
June 29 - July 7 (Friday - Saturday)
August 31 - Sept 3 (Friday - Monday)
November 19 - 25 (Monday - Sunday)
Dec 16, 2012 - Jan. 5, 2013 (Sunday - Saturday)


*Other restricted dates may be added based on projected pool capacity

 

[amym2]

When AoA opens, are we allowed to pool hop there? I know I read that there will be a fence around the pool.

 

[CarolMN]

When AoA opens, are we allowed to pool hop there? I know I read that there will be a fence around the pool.

Nothing has been said, but my guess is that we will not be allowed to hop to that pool. We'll have to wait and see.

 

[Alexander]

When AoA opens, are we allowed to pool hop there? I know I read that there will be a fence around the pool.

UGH, that's just want I want to do! Pool hop to a value resort! The pools are the reason we don't stay at those resorts! JMHO

 

[Dean]

When AoA opens, are we allowed to pool hop there? I know I read that there will be a fence around the pool.

While I suspect PH will end sooner rather than later, I doubt they'll restrict a value pool specifically.

 

[amym2]

Seems weird, I know, but we actually have friends who will be staying at AoA while we're there. They can't hop to our pools at OKW or THV, so maybe we could hop to theirs. It would be more about the friends than the pool. Plus we'd love to check out AoA (although I'm a bit concerned that our kids will wish we were staying there!).

 

[Sammie]

I do believe AOA will be restricted to only AOA guests because the gate to the pool will be operated by AOA RFID resort IDs.

Unless the Front Desk is going to have extra keys at the desk for DVC members there would be no way to legally get in.

 

[Pirate Granny]

Just saying...the pools at Kidadi and BLT have fences, but I never need a key to open. They were always unlocked... Maybe just a fluke, but I am eagerly awaiting to take DGDs to AoA to eat and possibly swim and look around. We are there in mid-June. We had planned to spend the first night at AoA but at $300+ we decided that one night at BLT was points/money better spent!

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I do believe AOA will be restricted to only AOA guests because the gate to the pool will be operated by AOA RFID resort IDs.

Unless the Front Desk is going to have extra keys at the desk for DVC members there would be no way to legally get in.

BCV has blank keys pre-printed that they hand out for the gym, so it wouldn't be unprecedented.