Poly Pool Hopping Problems

[Goofy Fan]

I was recently at BWV, and on July 8 I had ressies for a character breakfast at Ohanas, and then was planning to pool hop at the Poly pool into the afternoon. Security was very blunt and gave me a pass until 12:00 when I arrived at 8:30 for breakfast. He said he had instructions that no all day parking was to be had at the Poly. I showed him by DVC card and explained our plans, but to no avail. I asked does this policy apply to DVC members. All he told me were his instructions. Pool Hopping was in fact restricted from June 28 through July 5 due to the holiday crowds. I did call on the 7th and pool hopping was back in effect.

The guy was not rude, just professional. However, the right to pool hop by DVC members does not seem to filter down to the troops, or they are imposing a time limit. I also felt that he was looking at me saying, "Right buddy. You're just here to park and use the monorail. Who are you kidding?" That kind of attitude from CM's really gets under my skin if that was indeed the issue. But being told that you have 3 1/2 hours for breakfast and to use to pool is not what I think our privilege implies.

Anyone else run into this type of situation?

 

[PamOKW]

I'm sorry to hear they had parking restrictions in effect. This isn't actually a restriction our ability to pool hop. You just have to take WDW transportation (or a cab) if you plan to spend more than 3 hours at the resort. I agree this is inconvenient for planning out an entire day.

Thanks for sharing the info. It's something we'll have to keep in mind when making pool hopping plans.

 

[KarenB]

We were there in mid-June and took a drive to the Poly to pool hop. DH told the guard that we were simply visiting the resort. He gave us a parking pass no questions asked, for about 4 hours.

I was asked for ID at the pool when looking for towels. I know I looked extremely lost trying to find these towels! But I had my card ready and the man was very nice! I did notice that he was asking everyone for IDs...not just confused, lost people like myself

 

[Goofy Fan]

I guess it makes sense for the 4 hour parking pass to control spaces in the parking lot. It just seems inconvenient if you have your own car. I can pool hop morning till night if I take a bus from BWV to Poly, but if I drive I can only pool hop for 4 hours as they need to control spaces. I don't see parking spaces being exhausted by DVC member's cars, but I'll buy the reasoning. Thanks.

 

[Shadeaux]

Originally posted by Goofy Fan

The guy was not rude, just professional. However, the right to pool hop by DVC members does not seem to filter down to the troops, or they are imposing a time limit. I also felt that he was looking at me saying, "Right buddy. You're just here to park and use the monorail. Who are you kidding?" That kind of attitude from CM's really gets under my skin if that was indeed the issue. But being told that you have 3 1/2 hours for breakfast and to use to pool is not what I think our privilege implies.

We had a similar experience at the Poly in early June. We were planning to eat breakfast, wander around the Poly awhile, then swim. Most likely, the wandering would have involved spending money in one of the shops. The guard insisted on seeing our OKW room key even though we had the parking permit that says DVC member on it and refused to give us a parking pass for longer than 3 hours. I also go the impression that he was accusing us of trying to park at the Poly to use the monorail. I didn't like the way we were treated, so we ended up going elsewhere to eat & spend our money. Eating & shopping at the Poly is something we usually do a couple times while at WDW, but not this year. We also went to AKL, Yacht Club, Beach Club, Boardwalk & Port Orleans several times during our stay & were waved in at every resort after the guard saw the parking permit in the window. I don't understand why the guards at the Poly seem so snotty. I was going to call the manager at the Poly, but decided not to waste my time.

 

[LisaR]

The same thing happened to us in May (well, almost). We went to the Poly with dinner PS and then planned to shop. While the guard was not rude, he was not very nice. He gave us a pass for exactly 3 hours! I parked the car and threw the pass in the garbage. I understand that they have rules to enforce but I am sorry, I am there to spend money. If I want to spend 4 hours instead of 3, I will. As it turned out, we were out of there in the alloted 3 hours but I wouldn't hesitate to throw the parking pass away again. I can understand them cracking down when the parking lot is full. However, when we were there, there was PLENTY of parking. I also understand their concern that people are parking at the Poly to use the monorail. I don't know how they can figure out if a person is lying to the guard or not. However, my conscience was clear so I didn't worry about it.

Lisa

 

[Kick it up a notch!]

It must really stink for them to have to tell people stuff like that and have people give them crap about it all day long. I work in the restaurant business and you really can only take so much crap from people before it affects your attitude. They are just doing their jobs.

Parking at the Poly is a problem and I'm sure the paying guests there complain about it regularly. If people did it at the DVC resorts I'm sure we would all be upset too. They are trying to make a delicate balance and trying to keep everyone happy.

 

[Peter Johnson]

We had the opposite experience when we visited the Poly in late May. At the guard shack I already had my OKW ID out, as well as my OKW parking pass in the window. When the guard saw I was a DVC member, he said normally parking is only 3 hours, but for DVC members there's no limit.

This happened on two separate occasions with different guards. I asked a friend of ours who works in MK Security, but he didn't know what the resort rules were.

BTW, yes, we did go to MK for the day from the Poly. We had a friend with us who is wheelchair-bound, and we refuse to use the ridiculous handicap "accessible" parking at MK.

 

[Richyams]

Do you have the same problem with the parking pass and its time restriction if you valet park?

We have been valet parking at the GF, eating there, doing some shopping, then using the monorail to go to MK and/or Epcot and then come back late for the car. We have never had any time restriction.

 

[Lisa F]

No, you don't have the same problem when you valet park. We always valet park when we visit monorail resorts now because it gives us a lot more freedom. They will still give you a 3 hour parking pass upon entrance but since you are paying $6 to valet your car, you may leave it there as long as you wish.

Lisa

 

[Doctor P]

I, too, think that the parking restriction is reasonable. They aren't saying you can't pool hop and go to Ohana (and take as long as you want). Several people have mentioned options already, but there is another one: park at the TTC and take the monorail. I am glad that we have free parking, and I am glad we have pool hopping privileges. I am willing to accept a minor inconvenience once in a while if it means keeping the larger privileges intact. If they need these rules to help protect these privileges and to protect the interests of individual resorts' guests, I am willing to cut some slack. Sorry you were disappointed, but I am glad you were being allowed to pool hop.

 

[nhmomx2]

The 3 hour parking limit for non-hotel guests has been in effect for a number of years - most notably at the CR. This has absolutely nothing to do with pool hopping and everything to do with guest staying at a particular resort and not having a parking space because of day visitors to that resort. Just think of how you would feel going back your resort and not having a space to park in...

 

[Dean]

This issue has been raised on this board a number of times. While I can see the delima, it doesn't make sense for me to say you can park 3 hours only but PH all day long if you want. I suspect this is a case of people not realizing this is a special situation, not wanting to put in a rule for a special situation due to the increased hassle or both. I'd write to the General Manager at Poly with a copy to MS or simply contact Jackie at MS and let here pass it along. To me, saying you can pool hop should be saying you can park to do so.

BTW, apparently it's been a lot worse at the Contemporary. I remember those being turned away from parking at all even when PH was open.

 

[gracelrm]

We generally stay at the VWL, isn't there a boat that goes from WL to the Poly? So we could use the boat to pool hop and not have to worry about parking - right? By the way, does the pool have a slide?

 

[ralphd]

Wilderness Lodge

There is a boat between the WL and The Magic Kingdom and one between the WL and the Contemporary.

ralphd

 

[Lewisc]

Grace--The boat goes to MK, switch to monorail or boat to POLY. If parking is limited it makes sense to limit parking to nonguests. It really isn't any different if you PH for more than 3 hours or have a leisurly meal and spend time looking around the resort (shopping) or if you go to the parks. There isn't enough parking to handle non-guests. You can either pay for valet parking or take Disney transportation (TTC parking is very close to POLY).

 

[Shadeaux]

Originally posted by nhmomx2
This has absolutely nothing to do with pool hopping and everything to do with guest staying at a particular resort and not having a parking space because of day visitors to that resort. Just think of how you would feel going back your resort and not having a space to park in...

Before becoming DVC members, we stayed at the Poly numerous times and never had a problem finding a parking space close to the main entrance. This was before they had a guard at the entrance of the parking lot. As I said in my previous post, we've gone to the Poly to eat every time we're at WDW; not once have I ever seen the parking lot more than half full. This past June, the lot was emptier than I've ever seen it, so the 3 hour pass made no sense. The one place they should have been giving out 3 hour passes but didn't was at the Beach Club. Half the parking lot was closed for maintenance & there were very few empty places the times we visited.

My biggest gripe about the Poly was the attitude of the guard. I had called the Poly before we went to be sure we'd be able to pool hop after we ate & was told sure, come on over. Because we'd been waved into every other resort that week and not given a 3 hour pass, I assumed the Poly would be doing the same. We should have done what LisaR did; throw the pass away & not worry about it, but decided instead to spend our money elsewhere where we felt welcome.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by Shadeaux

Before becoming DVC members, we stayed at the Poly numerous times and never had a problem finding a parking space close to the main entrance. This was before they had a guard at the entrance of the parking lot. As I said in my previous post, we've gone to the Poly to eat every time we're at WDW; not once have I ever seen the parking lot more than half full...

My biggest gripe about the Poly was the attitude of the guard...

Interestingly enough, we have had the exact opposite experience with The Poly lot. We hardly ever found a close space, and have even parked in the very back row on numerous occasions. My wife and I have fumed about this, as we knew many cars did not belong to Poly guests.

Perhaps you hit it lucky, or us unlucky.

I have never had a problem with the security guard at the parking entrance. We have always found them friendly and curtious.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

DVC pool hopping privileges does not mean DVC parking privileges.

It doesn't really matter if the parking is wide open or not. The monorail resorts have a problem with people parking to go to the Magic Kingdom. This would include DVC'ers who would otherwise have to pay to park if they drove to the Magic Kingdom. There really isn't any other way for the guards to handle this except to make it 3 hours no exceptions (although I would give an exception to Annual Passholders since they don't pay to park anyway).

There was another decidely inconvenient option...after the leisurely breakfast & shopping expedition one person could have been delegated to go out, remove the car and come back through the gate.

 

[Lewisc]

Doubletrouble--Guests at Disney resorts get free parking in the theme parks. It doesn't matter what kind of pass you have. AP holders get free parking even if they are staying offsite. Does free parking extend to DVC guests?