Polynesian Pool Hopping

[catnik]

Unless you are going over Thanksgiving, November should not be peak crowds so you should be fine

 

[crashbunny]

Nope not thanksgiving
beginning of Nov. not as crowded then
and cold at home
great time to go for us!

 

[thumpersfriend]

So do you think the better pools would be at the moderate resorts? Probably everyone that pool hops would be going to the delux pools. I have seen pictures of the mod pools and they look very nice. Maybe if pools were important to you the mods might be less crowded? I don't really know, just asking. Look at POR & POFQ, there are two pools to use. Do they get as busy as the delux pools?

 

[crashbunny]

we usually swim at our resort but we also do the waterparks as well - so if our pool is really crowded we can go and hit one of those! we have a ball there as well

 

[jlima]

The best system is to fence the pool & require every guest, regardless of age, to present a valid room key that is swiped by staff that would allow entry. If you don't have a room key you don't get in. Period. Many resorts here in Las Vegas (esp. Mandalay Bay) have this procedure. It works. They have to - with over 4000 hotel rooms using one pool complex, letting in non-hotel guests would be bedlam.

As for the DL pools, the times I've stayed at the GC and the DLH, you have to use a room key to enter the pool area but people are always standing around waiting for someone with a key to let them in. Having a CM swipe a room key is much more intimidating to some freeloader.

Can't believe the Poly doesn't do this. This thread has been an eye-opener. Hope my experience this June is a positive one!!!

 

[thumpersfriend]

I know I changed my mind about the POLY just for this reason, call me shallow but I don't want to put myself in the position of getting upset by other non paying people. It's not worth it to me. I hope they can figure something out.

 

[BCV23]

We've stayed at the Polynesian many, many times. At times, it does get crowded in the main pool but I really think people reading this thread will get the wrong impression. It's never wall to wall people. It might be hard to find a table during spring break but I'd take it over SAB. There is plenty of room on the beaches...3 of them. You might have to hunt for a chair on the busiest of the three but again tons better than SAB.

I do wish IDs were checked more often but also understand preserving the magic for the guest.

And most importantly....please no fences!!!

 

[Sammie]

It has been so crowded the last trips we made in the summer that we won't repeat it. And yes we overheard many brag about being nonguests. We also stayed at the BC the same trip and Polynesian was much worse.

I do not feel it is my place to pool police the area I feel this is Disney's job for the amount I am paying.

Until they decide to correct the problem I won't be back.

BCV23 were your trips during the summer months?

 

[BCV23]

Sammie, of our Polynesian stays (which have to be close to 30 now) only two have been in the summer....2002 and 2003.

I agree about not being Polynesian police. I just want to relax and enjoy!

 

[ducklite]

We stayed there in August of 2002, the pool was definitely to crowded to enjoy a couple of times, we went to the quiet pool instead. Saw one large group with refillable mugs from another WDW resort taking a lot of chairs (not a DVC resort), that's a pretty good indication that they "didn't belong there".

Anne

 

[Lewisc]

I stayed at PBH twice. Universal allows pool hopping from guests in the other resorts yet the pool seemed much less crowded than the pools at Disney. I found the entire resort much more relaxing than the POLY. I didn't have the sense that they were very many non-resort guests crashing the pool and otherwise "hanging" out in the resort.

The hotel was sold out. I think the pool area might be larger (relative to the number of guests) than the POLY. Some of the guests were attending a convention and may be at meetings. BUT I didn't get the sense of as many "pool crashers". There is a parking charge. Guide books and internet sources don't suggest the pools as a good activity for non-guests.

The entire overcrowding (parking and pools) makes me unwilling to pay a premium price to stay onsite.

 

[LoveThatDarnMouse]

To the above poster~I'm guessing there aren't as many pool hoppers because there aren't as many resorts on site as there are at Disney.

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by Lewisc
I stayed at PBH twice. Universal allows pool hopping from guests in the other resorts yet the pool seemed much less crowded than the pools at Disney. I found the entire resort much more relaxing than the POLY. I didn't have the sense that they were very many non-resort guests crashing the pool and otherwise "hanging" out in the resort.

The hotel was sold out. I think the pool area might be larger (relative to the number of guests) than the POLY. Some of the guests were attending a convention and may be at meetings. BUT I didn't get the sense of as many "pool crashers". There is a parking charge. Guide books and internet sources don't suggest the pools as a good activity for non-guests.

The entire overcrowding (parking and pools) makes me unwilling to pay a premium price to stay onsite.

More resorts on Disney property to contribute to the problem and as you stated more guidebooks and Internet Fourms concerning Disney.

Also I am sure the pay to park helps.

 

[suevee]

We stayed at the Poly in mid-Feb. I was sitting at the pool in my clothes, reading a book, and keeping an eye on my 8 year old granddaughter (an excellent swimmer) when I was carded. I did not mind a bit and felt good they were checking people at the pool. Maybe I did stand out a bit since I wasn't dressed for the pool.

In Feb 2003 we were at the Contemp during their pool rehab and we were told to use the Poly pool. Again we were carded to make sure we were CR guests. Maybe we just look like pool hoppers?