Poly pool hoppers - recent guests please chime in

[DisneyMomx7]

BC/YC checks IDs and I still saw pool hoppers there. My dd was playing with a little girl who told us she was staying at Carribean Beach and came over from EPCOT to swim!

I definitely saw pool hoppers when we were at the Poly in January. I even saw them take the kids to the bathroom to change and were discussing the best way to get back to POP!

I never reported them because I felt bad for the kids - I know it was the parents fault and I definitely hate to see the pools get more crowded, I just felt bad for the kids.

 

[minnie61650]

The year we stayed, we were never checked. The pools were both pretty full all the time. Because the pools aren't all that big, I just figured that the crowding was due to many Poly people choosing to swim during the hot time of day (it was in August). Didn't occur to me that other people might be there.

I agree the small pools at the Poly are the #1 reason why the Poly pool gets so crowded. The pools are just too small for a resort that size.

The Poly has 853 guest rooms which (not including Suites) can hold up to 5 guests each.
POFQ has 1,008 rooms which can hold up to 4 guests each.

The main pool at the Poly holds 110 guests
The main pool at POFQ holds 243 guests.

Gee even the quiet pool (NOT the main pool which is 3-4 times as large) at All Star Music holds 118 guests, which is 8 more guests than the main pool at the Poly!

It really is a shame that the Poly pool is so small.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[spiceycat]

hey it is bigger than the old pool.

but yea when they built Tahiti - they use have put another quiet pool in the area.

I remember back before Disney closed off SALB. some people were coming over from Epcot. They tried to stop this by only giving people with a room key towels.

well they just got towels from the quiet pools. I ask him why he though he had a right to pool hop. the reply I spend so much for the WDW tickets....

see why that places needs a fence.



anyway folks if you aren't going to report pool hoppers - Polyn management does not know it is going on. they can't stop a problem that they don't know about. Despite getting everyone upset. If you don't want other resorts guests not to mention WDW guests using your pool - then you got to report them. or stop complainting about how busy the pool is?

 

[disneyfan67]

I think it isn't just FL residents but guests that decide they need a swim.

Last week I was sitting at a table near the Volcano pool watching my two boys swim for a afternoon break. A woman asked if she could have one of my chairs and of course I gave it to her. She sat near my table and started talking. She openly admitted that her 4 kids/teens were using the pool as a break from MK and she was staying at one of the All Stars. I didn't say anything and was polite to her, but found it funny because she was in clear view of the "pool rules" sign and didn't care. I was laughing to myself a little, because the thoughts of the many pool hopping debates we have had on these boards, came to mind. It was time for me to move on anyway and get my kids out of the pool. I didn't say anything because, I was on vacation and felt it wasn't my place to say anything. I have a good feeling she knew the rules because she was only a few feet from the sign, but to each their own I guess. It's the job of the Polynesian to provide better control of their property and the amenities they provide, not mine. I certainly wasn't going to get into a live "pool hopping" debate.


I did mention the problem in a email to WDW on how good the staff was on my visit to the Polynesian. Disney needs to crack down on the pool hopping, because there's hardly any room for the guests who pay to stay there, let alone people who pop in from other resorts.

 

[dkostel]

I just returned from the Poly last week and although I did notice pool hoppers (got right back on the monorail in wet suits & towels) the pools weren't very crowded. I always got a chair.
I spent the last 2 nights at the WL and the problem there was people saving chairs they weren't even using. Literally one night there were no more than 15-20 people in the pool and almost every chair had a towel on it. That's just rudeness.

 

[Tam1067]

We were there in July 2006 and July 2007, both times for 8 nights. We never saw anyone checking resort IDs at the pool. We also some people who appeared to be hopping both times. Though they don't have a "pool hopper" stamp on their foreheads, you'll know them by the overloaded strollers which obviously have been at the MK all day, and those changing into or out of bathing suits in the nearby bathrooms. The Polynesian should do something about it, and it's not really fair for guests to feel they need to speak up. But when it's obvious to a guest, then it should be obvious to the Polynesian management, and they should take steps to deal with it.

 

[MEM]

Speaking as a DVC member and "legal" pool hopper at the Polynesian, I really wish they would use wrist bands at the pool. The last (and first) time we hopped I had my DVC card out and ready but no one ever checked. To the casual observer my family would have looked like interlopers because we changed clothes in the bathrooms and had our backpacks with us at the pool.

 

[spiceycat]

Speaking as a DVC member and "legal" pool hopper at the Polynesian, I really wish they would use wrist bands at the pool. The last (and first) time we hopped I had my DVC card out and ready but no one ever checked. To the casual observer my family would have looked like interlopers because we changed clothes in the bathrooms and had our backpacks with us at the pool.

if the Polyn goes like BC and they start using wrist band. All Hoping (yes even DVC members) would be stopped. To hard to monitor otherwise.

 

[spiceycat]

he Polynesian should do something about it, and it's not really fair for guests to feel they need to speak up. But when it's obvious to a guest, then it should be obvious to the Polynesian management, and they should take steps to deal with it.

how if the Polyn management surpose to know about it if you don't tell them.
I really doubt the management spends alot of time at the pool.

it is not the life guard job. In fact it might cost him his job to tell management that other guests are pool hopping to the Polyn.

too many times people except management to be mind readers - they aren't - if you have a problem tell Polyn management. if nothing is still done - then go send Disney a letter.

 

[MEM]

if the Polyn goes like BC and they start using wrist band. All Hoping (yes even DVC members) would be stopped. To hard to monitor otherwise.

Why, might I ask, would it be too hard to monitor? What would be so hard about checking a DVC membership card? I'll admit I'm new this year to DVC ownership but as you know, using other resorts' pools (with a few exceptions) is one of the perqs spelled out in DVC literature.

 

[minnie61650]

Why, might I ask, would it be too hard to monitor? What would be so hard about checking a DVC membership card? I'll admit I'm new this year to DVC ownership but as you know, using other resorts' pools (with a few exceptions) is one of the perqs spelled out in DVC literature.

With so many guest coming and going to the pool I imagine the easiest way to monitor the pool would be to build a fence around the pool with assess to the pool through 1 gate which could be more easily monitored.

That would be quite an expense and would detract from the overall appearance of the pool area.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[offwegotoneverland]

Granted, I'm sure it happens, but I have to wonder if this isn't taking on some sort of "urban legend" aspect. Yes, I've read the reports where people have actually heard people saying that they were from other resorts, so I do believe it does happen, but why let something that you can't control put a damper on your time?

IMO, the pool is crowded because it's small and the resort is large.

I know when at POR my son was playing/swiming with another family and the kids mentioned they were staying at a different (offsite not POFQ) resort to him. As the pool wasn't busy it wasn't worth getting into but I still thought it pretty nervey to do (and yeah mom and dad knew it was wrong as they "shushed" the kids as they were telling my son about it and look around to see if my hubbie and I were going to "do anything")

 

[spiceycat]

Why, might I ask, would it be too hard to monitor? What would be so hard about checking a DVC membership card? I'll admit I'm new this year to DVC ownership but as you know, using other resorts' pools (with a few exceptions) is one of the perqs spelled out in DVC literature.

always with the option to change. this is disney.

surposely that was one reason DVC members were no longer allowed to pool hop to SALB. only when you stay in BCV can you now use SALB. before any DVC member staying on points at a DVC resort could use it.

so if Polyn has to go the same SALB is, then that means a fence and Poly management could say no more pool hopping period.

the DVC member card does not have an expiry date on it. So even past members, who sold their membership, could still have their member cards.

the resort ID says DVC member even if they are your guests and not you.

 

[Amy&Dan]

With so many guest coming and going to the pool I imagine the easiest way to monitor the pool would be to build a fence around the pool with assess to the pool through 1 gate which could be more easily monitored.

That would be quite an expense and would detract from the overall appearance of the pool area.

Just my 2 cents.

That is exactly what all three onsite hotels at Disneyland in California do. Given that those three hotels are all three within easy, short, walking distance to the parks, if they didn't have those gates (which are acessed only via room key for that resort, no pool hopping for anybody at DLR in CA) it would be a nightmare. And those fences don't detract from the pools (all of which are very lovely) at all. It also allows them to close the pools after hours by deactivating the gates.

They should do the same at WDW resorts. I have seen pool hoppers at Boardwalk's and Saratoga Springs and CSR pools as well. Its very irritating, and in the end, people will feel quite comfortable breaking rules that are not enforced. Once they either put up a fence or start ushering dripping, embarrassed guests off the property, it might make a difference.

 

[Am_I_There_Yet]

That is exactly what all three onsite hotels at Disneyland in California do. Given that those three hotels are all three within easy, short, walking distance to the parks, if they didn't have those gates (which are acessed only via room key for that resort, no pool hopping for anybody at DLR in CA) it would be a nightmare. And those fences don't detract from the pools (all of which are very lovely) at all. It also allows them to close the pools after hours by deactivating the gates.

They should do the same at WDW resorts. I have seen pool hoppers at Boardwalk's and Saratoga Springs and CSR pools as well. Its very irritating, and in the end, people will feel quite comfortable breaking rules that are not enforced. Once they either put up a fence or start ushering dripping, embarrassed guests off the property, it might make a difference.

Wouldn't it make more sense and be less expensive for Disney, to use the same sort of wristband system that all-inclusive resorts use? A different color for each resort perhaps, and one universal color for DVC members?

I'd have no problem wearing one, and it would certainly be easy for lifeguards to spot people in the pool that didn't belong there.

I know this has been brought up on the DIS before, and that some people were against it, but for the life of me, I can't remember the reason why.

 

[skipperkim]

Hmm... I was just wondering if I appeared as a pool hopper on our last trip. We stayed at POFQ and used the hot tub and pool before changing into our clothes in the restroom. I guess things are not always as they seem.

 

[SeaSpray]

I just got back last week too, I was there the same time as Disneyfan67 (Hi Eddie ) and I tried to see if I could spot any pool hoppers but there was nothing out of the ordinary about any of the other families who were swimming at the same time as my DH and I. Honestly, I probably would not get out of the pool and go inside and report them even if I DID overhear someone admit it, but I'd probably make a call to the front desk when I went back to my room, and write a letter once I got back home. If anyone knows me via my years here on the DIS boards, it'd take an awful lot to get me aggravated while on vacation, and that's why I wouldn't allow myself to get aggravated by pool hoppers WHILE I was in the pool.

In all of our stays at the Polynesian resort, the volcano pool has never been too crowded for our enjoyment. And many times, the pool hasn't been anywhere near crowded. I don't know though...I happen to enjoy seeing and hearing families having fun, even MANY families having fun, so maybe when I see that, other people see "crowded pool" and to them, a crowded pool detracts from their fun.

I just wanted to post for the record to say that I didn't notice any pool hoppers on my recent trip, and I never found the pool to be too crowded.

Also, for the record, if the resort decided to start using wristbands and/or put up a fence, I'd be fine with that, too, and in fact I think it's a good idea, as long as the fence was done in the proper decor and design of the resort, which I'm sure could be done.