Polynesian Pool Hopping

[thumpersfriend]

This is practically a deal breaker for me. We only get to go every 3-4 years and I am trying so hard to save money for this trip. The dream was to stay at the Poly and enjoy the pool because we hear such great things about it. But, that being said, it is not worth even the potential worry that it could be invaded by people that aren't paying the top dollar. I worry that if people aren't paying for the privelege that they may have a lack of respect for it and make it miserable for some families that work hard to make this dream happen. I would even write to someone just on the chance it could happen. Think the poly is out for me now. I am so dissappointed though.

 

[sotoalf]

thumpersfriend: I'm sorry, but you're being too indecisive. Most of the posters have outlined worst-case scenarios. During the time of year in which you're going the thundering horders will have largely vanished. Go ahead and reserve a room at the Polynesian! It's a wonderful hotel, and even if the volcano pool looks too crowded, there's always the quiet pool - which I vastly prefer.

 

[thumpersfriend]

We are going to be there in April, first part so it could be busy. It just isn't right that we would have to go to another pool so others that didn't pay at the Poly can swim there. I don't think I am being indecisive but this has really a surprise to me that I never expected. The pool was the main reason we wanted to stay there.

 

[madalex]

Originally posted by Sammie

I have also wondered why pools are considered fair game for the " I did not pay for this, but should be able to enjoy it experience." No one would ever think they could walk into a restaurant and eat without paying, or go to the parks without a ticket.

I fully agree with your sentiments, but it seems that there are all sorts of people on these boards who seem to think it is okay to do those things, if they could get away with it (5 people in a room? sure go ahead! bring in a 10 year old on a child's ticket? sure go ahead! reuse refillable mugs for the rest of your life? sure go ahead!).

I truly am surprised that we have not yet seen a thread entitled,"Is it okay to take food from the buffet without paying for it?"

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by Sammie
No one would ever think they could walk into a restaurant and eat without paying, or go to the parks without a ticket.

Actually plenty of people here don't think there's a problem with sneaking their 3 year old in without a ticket or lying aobut his age so he can eat free at the character meals. "he doesn't eat much, he's not tall enough to go on many rides"

 

[thumpersfriend]

I'm starting to relax about this a little now that the shock has worn off. Think I will still consider the Poly and hope that most people have not even considered they could just hop on over to another resorts pool. I know I never did !

 

[steveanddonna]

it seems that there are all sorts of people on these boards who seem to think it is okay to do those things, if they could get away with it (5 people in a room? sure go ahead! bring in a 10 year old on a child's ticket? sure go ahead!

You said exactly what I was going to post! Those threads had me seeing red. It always seems to me that the very people who think it's OK to break the rules, 'cuz "gee, who's it hurting?" are the same people who complain the loudest when things don't go smoothly because of the rulebreakers.

As far as poolhoppers at the Poly pool, it's a longstanding problem. We always stay at the Poly and the crowds haven't been a problem for us, even in March. It is often hard to get a table or lounge chairs, but we usually manage. I think it's a bigger problem during summer months. We have, on occasion, pointed out to a lifeguard (usually one on the pool deck, not on the tower) groups that we believe to be poolhopping, and they have been very responsive. The guards on the tower can't leave their post to chase poolhoppers.

 

[thumpersfriend]

What do you do if you can't get a table or chair?

 

[steveanddonna]

DH has eagle eyes, so he's great at spotting someone about to leave. Ususally it's not an issue. This past March when it was a bit more crowded than we're used to, we asked another couple if we could share their table, since they were basically just parking their stuff, which is pretty much what we wanted to do. Actually ended up having a nice conversation with them after swimming. Other people were parking their gear near occupied tables, or dragging chaise longues from the beach to the edge of the sand facing the pool. We don't go at the busiest times of year, so I don't know how bad it really gets. There are so many other reasons to stay at the Poly besides the pool, though - I hope you keep your ressies there.

 

[Kimberle]

They pool hop at WL too. When we were there is Sept, lots of people from FW were enjoying "our" pool. They weren't shy to say so......

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by thumpersfriend
What do you do if you can't get a table or chair?

You put a towel on the cement and watch all of the offsite and people from other resorts enjoy their day at the tables and lounges. We have stayed there for years and have never seen the lifeguards ask anyone to leave. Since so many people read the internet and unofficial guidebooks and internet sites, they know that ID's aren't checked and that they can park there for the day, use the monorail and pool as much as they want and no one will say anything. Last year was the worst I have ever seen it.

We go during the summer, though. It may not be so bad during the rest of the year.

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by Kimberle
They pool hop at WL too. When we were there is Sept, lots of people from FW were enjoying "our" pool. They weren't shy to say so......

Plenty of them were also at the Polynesian last year.

 

[thumpersfriend]

This still is pitiful to me. If you book consierge can you take some kind of chairs to the pool? There would be 7 of us so it might be harder to get that many. Do people hop the the GF too? We stayed at FW cabins 5 times and never even thought people pool hopped to the WL. Guess some people are different.

 

[chadfromdallas]

Ha!

 

[chamonix]

I think the Poly pool is crowded on nice days no matter where the people come from, it's a very small pool actually. It would be nice if people obeyed the rules, but you know, we are a society of people who think the world (and that means Disney too) owes them....that rules aren't meant for them--that if they spend SOME money, they are entitled to whatever they want--free entry for their 4yo, child's price for their 11yo, whatever deluxe pool the want to swim in.. These same people are the ones who can't be bothered to actually use a parking space (10 whole more steps away) at the grocery store or bank, they just leave their car right in front of the door, so everyone else has to walk around their car to get inside.
My beef with the pool, since I haven't identified any hoppers--yet, lol, is the people who think they have to have a lounge or chair or table for their stuff . If you are going to be in the pool the whole time, why do you need to set your stuff on/under a chair?? Last time we were at the Poly pool there were no chairs within view of the pool. Don't worry, there were plenty there, but they were secluded a bit behind the great landscaping, and a few feet away from the pool's edge. But I wanted to sit and relax while keeping an eye on my young (special needs) dd swimming. Nope, all the chairs and tables in sight of the pool were taken up by......towels, and shoes. No biggie, I decided to swim with her instead, and relax under the jets by the waterfall, so I put our stuff on the ground in an out of the way spot so noone would trip on it. Please people: don't take up prime real estate poolside so your towel and shoes don't get lonely for you.
So, that's what you do if there isn't a lounger: you leave your stuff on the ground and actually swim--yes, in the pool--until a chair opens up--so your coverup and key can sit up high in style.

 

[thumpersfriend]

I think I have read that SAB has this problem too with towels and stuff on the chairs and people can't find a place to sit down. So this must be a problem everywhere?

 

[chamonix]

Oh it's like that at every pool in the world, not just in Disney World, lol. Even my dh and I who were walking around looking for a chair laughed at ourselves, because even we had the instinct or whatever to find a chair to put our stuff on. He said, there's nowhere to put our stuff; and I said, sure there is, the entire deck area, silly--there's just not a chair, LOL! They should just make a cubby place to hold shoes and coverups, lol!

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by chamonix
I think the Poly pool is crowded on nice days no matter where the people come from, it's a very small pool actually. It would be nice if people obeyed the rules, but you know, we are a society of people who think the world (and that means Disney too) owes them....that rules aren't meant for them--that if they spend SOME money, they are entitled to whatever they want--free entry for their 4yo, child's price for their 11yo, whatever deluxe pool the want to swim in.. These same people are the ones who can't be bothered to actually use a parking space (10 whole more steps away) at the grocery store or bank, they just leave their car right in front of the door, so everyone else has to walk around their car to get inside.
My beef with the pool, since I haven't identified any hoppers--yet, lol, is the people who think they have to have a lounge or chair or table for their stuff . If you are going to be in the pool the whole time, why do you need to set your stuff on/under a chair?? Last time we were at the Poly pool there were no chairs within view of the pool. Don't worry, there were plenty there, but they were secluded a bit behind the great landscaping, and a few feet away from the pool's edge. But I wanted to sit and relax while keeping an eye on my young (special needs) dd swimming. Nope, all the chairs and tables in sight of the pool were taken up by......towels, and shoes. No biggie, I decided to swim with her instead, and relax under the jets by the waterfall, so I put our stuff on the ground in an out of the way spot so noone would trip on it. Please people: don't take up prime real estate poolside so your towel and shoes don't get lonely for you.
So, that's what you do if there isn't a lounger: you leave your stuff on the ground and actually swim--yes, in the pool--until a chair opens up--so your coverup and key can sit up high in style.

Finally a kindred spirit that sees things the way I do.

 

[eclipseSD]

Here's a good way to keep pool hoppers out: If you are found entering a pool area of a resort at which you are not staying (or you are not a DVC member), your park passes will be deactivated and there will be a hefty surcharge added to your room bill for your nuisance.

That'd keep them at their All-Star poll, I think

Concierge is a great Disney experience that most miss out on. Should anybody be allowed to roam the concierge area and use the services because they want to explore all of Disney and don't want to be denied a Disney experience. Absolutely not. Concierge is for those who can afford it, just as the Poly pool is. If you can't afford it, tough luck. Though some parts of WDW were designed for anyone to afford and visit, some were designed especially for those who want and can afford a deluxe experience.

I believe pool hopping, saying a 10yo is 9, 5 in a room, and all the other little tricks of the cheap and sleazy, are wrong because not only do they contrast with specific Disney policy; they teach bad messages to their children and the children witnessing it.

 

[llebrekniT]

Well, this has been a very entertaining thread to read through.

We were staying at the GF two years ago and were taking the monorail back when two teenage boys got on the monorail at the Cont., no shirts or shoes, with towels wrapped around there necks. One of them started to get off at the Poly and the other one grabbed him and said "Dude, Grand Floridian, the slide and waterfall, remember?". I swear my mouth fell open right then and there.

Shocking but true. They got off at GF and walked right on over. I didn't report them but I guess I should have. They looked to be about 15 or 16, if they were adults I probably would have done it.

I'm with those of you that think it is wrong. I cannot see the way of thinking where you reason that it isn't fair to you that you don't get to use the nice pools while you are staying at Disney. You get what you pay for. Some of the rooms have double beds, some have queens. If you are paying for a room with a double, you can't go hopping in someone else's room because they got the queen bed. They paid more than you.

I just shake my head when I read this stuff. Pity.