Pool Crashers

[Teamubr]

The only solution would be to have a person physically check MB/Room Keys on every entry. Not very "Magical" and certainly not cost effective.

I'm staying at a Wyndham in Panama City Beach right now. They have 2 pools here that require a bracelet to enter. They actually have someone sitting at the entrance checking bracelets. I agree it isn't very magical, but it must be cost effective enough. I think the bigger problem is the 'will' to enforce the rules and potentially annoy a guest.

j

 

[tinkerdorabelle]

Not sure that guest's visiting friends should go in the pool either. Do they pay a fee for the day? Maybe during slower seasons allowing. Many times we don't go to the pool bc it is so crowded. When we were at FW in April we did go to the smaller pool but the main pool was just too crowded for us.

 

[Mary2e]

I think access to either pool should be more tightly controlled, though for the life of me I can't understand why anyone would want to drive to FW, park in the lot up front, and get on the bus just go to the pool.

When I go to a pool it's usually the quiet pool near the cabins. I've seen the main pool and it's generally packed with people.

 

[parrothead64]

People(locals) just dont drive there, they get on Disney busses with coolers and pool floats and than get on another internal bus with coolers and go to the pool. It can be stopped and it wouldn't be that hard, Disney is just lazy. Same about Halloween, people T or T their like its a neighborhood and people spend bucks on candy when they shoudn't have to.

 

[Magic Fanatic]

People(locals) just dont drive there, they get on Disney busses with coolers and pool floats and than get on another internal bus with coolers and go to the pool. It can be stopped and it wouldn't be that hard, Disney is just lazy. Same about Halloween, people T or T their like its a neighborhood and people spend bucks on candy when they shoudn't have to.

Why? Why would anyone get in their car, leave their home, drive to Disney, park their car, lug a cooler and floats to a bus stop, take the bus to Ft Wilderness, change busses to get inside Ft Widerness (still lugging a cooler and floats) just to get into an already crowded pool? Maybe there is someone out there with so much time on their hands that would do this, but not many. If I were going to go to that much trouble to slip into a pool at Disney, there are much better ones than Ft Wilderness.

As for Halloween, trick or treating at the Fort has been a tradition for years and guests from other hotels (and even locals) have always been welcome. They come over on the boats, busses and some drive to the Fort. As for those that have a problem "spending bucks on candy when they shouldn't have to", well, you don't have to. It's not mandatory that you participate if you don't wish to.

 

[tiggerdad]

My understanding has always been that off-site guests have been a problem at halloween so much so that guests complaints have been growing and Disney has "tried to limit" the offsite guest access but not sure just how much that has been actually done.

I agree that all that work for a pool is ridiculous but several have posted as having seen this.

While yhey don't have to participate in Halloween T or T, I do understand some aggravation as to handing out candy to most of the Orlando area when you intend to only be contributing to other camping families. I can see some aggravation but if I could go around Halloween I'd still give it a go.

 

[TheRustyScupper]

There is a way for everything, WDW just has to have the will. Example.... Yacht and Beach Club pool.

1) Sure.
2) But, with all the pools at WDW, they will not station a CM to check ID's or MB's.
3) Simply too expensive for the extra labor & benefits costs.

 

[Flametamr]

I'm basically okay with outsiders trick or treating. We gave away a ton of candy in 2013 and plan to do so this year. There were a lot of kids but that makes it more fun. As long as the are respectful and it is for the kids I don't mind. I did mind the drunk adults racing the golf cart around and dodging kids without security doing anything. Yet they chose to stop my licensed 16 year old son several times that night.

 

[Minniesgal]

1) Let's see . . .
2) Yes, one needs a Magic Band to open the gate for entry.
3) But, to exit the pool, one simply yanks the latch.
4) So, if one wants to enter using the EXIT, one reaches over and yanks the latch.
5) Can't make the latch fool-proof or only Magic Band activated, as it must be workable in the case of an emergency.
6) Thus, Magic Band use is only a slight deterrent.

If it can be controlled at Stormalongbay then it can be controlled anywhere. The fact is Disney choose not to

 

[2goofycampers]

Why? Why would anyone get in their car, leave their home, drive to Disney, park their car, lug a cooler and floats to a bus stop, take the bus to Ft Wilderness, change busses to get inside Ft Widerness (still lugging a cooler and floats) just to get into an already crowded pool? Maybe there is someone out there with so much time on their hands that would do this, but not many. If I were going to go to that much trouble to slip into a pool at Disney, there are much better ones than Ft Wilderness.

It's free. The only thing I can think of.

 

[Napria]

It's free. The only thing I can think of.

It's free and they aren't running the risk of being stopped, unlike crashing at the Wilderness Lodge or another, nicer pool.

2GoofyCampers, you changed your avatar.

 

[2goofycampers]

2GoofyCampers, you changed your avatar.

No, same one I've had for years.

 

[piccolopat]

T

People(locals) just dont drive there, they get on Disney busses with coolers and pool floats and than get on another internal bus with coolers and go to the pool. It can be stopped and it wouldn't be that hard, Disney is just lazy. Same about Halloween, people T or T their like its a neighborhood and people spend bucks on candy when they shoudn't have to.

They should check bands at FW on the buses.

 

[Magic Fanatic]

T

They should check bands at FW on the buses.

What if I am not staying at Disney, but want to eat at Hoop De Doo? I drive to the parking lot and get on bus to go to resteraunt but I have no band? Many locals frequent Disney resorts for dining.

 

[tiggerdad]

"Why yes, I'm coming in to go eat at Trails End. Uuuhhh, no, that isn't a cooler of drinks or food...and yes, I always wear my swimming suit and bring my pool float for dinner."

 

[2goofycampers]

When we first started going to WDW in early 1990's you had to show your KTTW card to get on WDW transportation.

 

[Flametamr]

I definitely remember showing our cards and transportation was advertised as complimentary to onsite guests.

 

[JETS70]

I, like many on here believe that Disney could stop the pool crashers if they wanted to. The problem for us is that even with our complaints, Disney is not seeing a drop in reservations. Reservations still being made........ money still coming in (and lots of it)...... what pool crashers.......

 

[Flametamr]

I agree JETS70. It is easy enough to establish a clear policy about visiting guests and enforce the rules. Maybe it is only needed during very busy times. It wouldn't cost the Fort that much to check people on busy days during busy hours. I personally have only visited the pool one time very late in the evening. The slide was closed and the crowd was light so I really didn't experience the problem. But in the future we hope to have APs and go more often to just relax and enjoy the Fort. It would burn me up to see a large family of pool crashers taking up chairs when I had to sit on the ground. I think I would say something.

 

[HopperFan]

How are you sure they were non-Fort guests? Interested for my own trip as well.

Been staying in Disney hotels regularly almost 25 years and you would not believe how common it is to hear guests talking about how nice the pool is, nicer than their at XXX-offsite hotel. You can tell by their comfort they do it all the time.

Looking for MB doesn't help because anyone can have one, they need to do periodic scans and then word will get out and the crashers won't bother. This needs to happen at Storm-Along and all others.) If I am really staying there I am happy to scan and consider it magical you are keeping my pool/lounge chair for my family that paid for it.

I remember when Storm-Along had wrist bands they gave you at check-in. Harder to crash back then than it is now. Been to several resorts with gates and the other guests hold the gate open for you to walk in. I've never swam (I'm usually there to eat), I just wanted to take a few pictures. It shouldn't be up to guests to police, Disney absolutely should be doing it, that is why you pay the prices you pay.