Pool "Hopping Mad" UPDATED

[Joeblack]

Steve:

I am sure you wouldn't feel the same if you and your family had been asked to leave while you were at the pool. Pool Hopping is not guaranteed but if there is a limitation on a particular day, it should be enforced upon every one and upon arival at the pool. So far..pool hopping IS A RIGHT of DVC owners until it is expressly taken away.

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

When I had a major problem making a reservation at the Portofino Bay Hotel last year, I posted my experience on the Universal Board, and received many replies, including someone who provided the general manager's e-mail address. I e-mailed him with the link to the thread, and he responded, as well as forwarded the information to to someone who handled the problem much to my satisfaction. I think it would be a good idea to forward this thread...

 

[PamOKW]

I agree that I would like to see crowds at the pool controlled but in this instance the guest has done nothing wrong. They went to the pool as part of the pool hopping of a DVC guest staying on points at a DVC resort. They were not questioned when they went in. When asked for an ID they produced it. They even said they were BWV owners (pay the dues for the pool).

A whole can of worms opens up here as to what causes the overcrowding...repeated mentions of folks who still use the pools whether a guest of any WDW resort at all (I can see plenty of folks walking into BWV as part of the Boardwalk experience). How about those extra 2, 3, 4 folks in a room when the resort is at capacity that people maintain make no difference? Guests of guests using the pool, etc. DVC members should not be the first asked to leave a DVC pool. At another resort I could see them possibly enforcing a time limit at the pool or non-entrance at all during busy times. Even put a time limit on DVC guests if you like, but do it on the way in. Why should we be embarrassed? I'm sure others at the pool assumed these folks were "crashers" which they certainly were not.

I would not expect any monetary/point compensation but I believe you are owed an explanation. It's ridiculous to have you sit in the office for an hour and make up a resort ID. How about pick up the phone and/or walk over to the pool and say "Let these folks in"?

 

[KNWVIKING]

"Pool Hopping" is basically a phrase only DVC members would understand. Would it be too difficult for the resorts to post a "No Pool Hopping" sign at the pool area enterances so this doesn't happen. But I also strongely agree-once your in,never ask someone to leave. I would almost bet the people who jumped into your chairs are the ones that alerted the "pool cop". They probably know what the DVC tote bag means. I don't believe the pool hopping perk is a contractural agreement,it's more of an added perk to membership. I think if Disney keeps getting bombarded with complaints-they'll just end pool hopping altogether. It seems that all the resorts act like little independant countries, free to enforce or make up policy as they go along. I'd be willing to bet you could poll all staff members at all resorts about pool hopping and get hundreds of different answers.

 

[DebbieB]

The part that would really make me mad is that fact that you own at Boardwalk, you pay your dues there. Boardwalk members pay the highest dues of the 3 WDW resorts and part of that is supposed to be due to the pool slide. It would have been different if it would have been announced that pool hopping to Boardwalk was not permitted this week or if they had a sign up. They had no right to embarrass you in front of others. I would think seeing your DVC bag would have made them go past you, not single you out. I could understand that being a flag at a non-DVC resort, but not at Boardwalk.

 

[DVCDAVE]

I agree with KNWVIKING 100%. As bad as what happened to LIDISNEYFAN is, I almost feel that this poolhopping "privilage" is getting to be a royal pain in the "______" (fill in the blank) to the Disney, and they are going to take it away. Regardless of what the CM said when LIDISNEY bought, in the paperwork we all signed, says that poolhopping is a privelage, NOT a right. We also signed a form that said we read the paperwork. If the paperwork contradicted what the CM said, it is the buyers responsibility to get clarifacation, and if necessary, have the paerwork changed, or the CM's supervisor correct the CM.

LIDISNEY's strongest arguement is that he is a BWV resort owner. I can not find any rule that would exclude him from the property. On this he has a point, maybe we do need clarifacation in this area.

But, before we all tear down the place for what has happened here to LIDISNEYFAN, lets realize that we all have something to loose here. I think the clock IS running out on pool hopping already, to much noise about it is going to make them pull the plug only quicker.

Does aanyone believe they will still allow pool hopping at SAB after the BCV open ???? Not me, that day, in my mind, will mark the end of all pool hopping....everywhere.

WDW:
76,77,78,87,FW
92,Offsite
95 POL
96(2), GF,Offsite
97,GF
98,99,00,FW
8/00 DVC member @ BWV
3/01 BWV, FW
3/01 DVC member @ WLV
11/01 BWV !

 

[Lesley]

I can't imagine how you even were singled out....BWV isn't exactly a small resort and you easily could have been staying there. If they are going to kick someone out of the pool who is already there it should be the non-DVC, non-BWV guests.

What I'm trying to think of is a way that DVC/BWV management could make up to you for your lost time and embarrassment, generally just their poor handling of the situation. I would like to know that the cm who did this to you (the recreation guy, or whatever) was warned about his behavior..that this is not an appropriate way to treat members (who indeed pay his salary to a certain degree!)...plus they could offer you something like...hmmm....drinks and snacks from the Leaping Horse on your next visit or something like that....a token gesture that showing that they are sorry for causing you this difficulty.

Also I was under the impression that although pool hopping can be temporarily suspended because of crowds that this would not include other DVC properties.....

Hmmm....I wonder what the wording in the contract is...let me look it up...


Lesley


1979 Contemporary
1992 Off-site
1994 Carribean Beach
1999 Fort Wilderness and Coronado Springs
2000 Polynesian and Old Key West
2002 Boardwalk Villas

 

[bwvmary]

I noticed LOTS of folks at the BWV pool who had no resort ID on them at all last time I was there. This never happens at SAB because you have to enter through a gate and show your ID if it's busy at all. I think that an ID check on entry to the BWV pool would solve 99% of the overcrowding, as non-guests and non-members would not be able to come in. It would solve 100% of the embarrassment of being tossed out once you were already in.

Mary
DVC Member BWV, HH
1976, 1985, 1989- Off property; 1990-91 - Disney Villas; 1993 - 2X - Disneyland; 1994 - Disneyland; 1997 - Beach Club; 1998 - All Star Music and Wilderness Lodge; 1999 - All Star Movies; 1999 - Boardwalk Villas; 2000 - Disney Institute and Yacht Club; 2000 - Contemporary and Boardwalk Villas; 2000 - Old Key West; 2000 - Hilton Head Island

 

[Galahad]

I assume you were staying at OKW on points and had the DVC Member printed on your resort ID. I agree with the majority here. Once they let you in they should be obligated to let you stay. If the close it to hopping in the middle of the day, wandering around looking for people to remove is unacceptable. Also, OKW should have notified you which pools were not available. We had the SAB problem a couple of years ago and by last year they had got the drill down pretty good at OKW and told us at check-in time what wasn't available.

Further, they should be obligated to a certain amount of civility about it. DVC members, over time, spend a lot more at Disney and are more pofitable to Disney than occassional renting resort guests. There should at least be a certain amount of respect shown while enforcing their ever-fluid rules.

 

[familyfun86]

I am sorry but I have to agree that this must have been a mortifying experience that nobody wants to deal with when on vacation. I understand steves point that they must accomodate resort guests and that the pool hopping is a priviledge that can be revoked at anytime but the way this family was treated is just plain wrong. Every time that we have stayed at DVC we ask during check-in if there is any pool hopping restrictions currently in place. Right before we leave to go to another resort I call the front desk and once again we ask the same question. So given that I would have been upset beyond belief if the RM had asked us to leave. I do not mind being asked for my rsort ID which has happened on a few occasions but once they saw "MEMBER" they would politely say have a nice day. This episode was completely unsatisfactory!!! It is easy to say what I would have done but I am sure that LILDis would have even been more upset if security escorted her out. I am pledging that it will take the resort manager to ask me to leave and that is only after everyones else has had an ID check, not just a targeted DVC member.

 

[Steve BW99]

LIDisneyFan said: “Sorry you feel this was a good thing - hope it happens to you next time.” I’m sorry you are so bitter. I never said I was glad you or anyone had to be asked to leave, I only said I was glad the rules were enforced. Unfortunately, the pool was deemed over-crowded by the recreation manager and asked non-Boardwalk guests to leave.

Joeblack said, “it should be enforced upon every one and upon arival at the pool.” I agree it should be enforced upon everyone, and stated so. The idea it should be enforced upon arrival is where I will disagree. In this case the recreation manager approached LIDisneyFan after 3 hours. In three hours the crowds can change dramatically. Should a BWV guest AND owner be turned away because other non-Boardwalk guests were there first?

 

[nuthut]

Just because you are a Boardwalk owner, does not give you the right to swim there. You can only swim when you are a registered guest (either points or cash) at the Boardwalk Inn or Villas or if you were staying on DVC points at the OKW resort or WLV resort and pool hopping at the Boardwalk was not closed. Was pool hopping closed that day? If so, what is your complaint, and if not, complain to the resort management.

 

[Tiggeriffic]

My question is: "Why were they the only ones approached?" Just because they had a DVC bag means nothing. I'm assuming that a lot of people staying at the BWV have these bags as well and would have every right to be there.

It only seems fair that they would ask EVERYONE for id if they're trying to reduce the crowds. That would be the only fair way to deal with it. Then those who have no right to be there should be asked to leave first (i.e. people who aren't actually staying at the BWV or DVC members staying on points). Only after that should they even consider asking DVC members staying at another resort to leave.

I agree that pool hopping is a privilege and that it can be taken away. However, I believe that it is DVC's responsibility to notify us if they are going to take away that privilege. Currently, the rules are "check before you go" and you'll be notified if it is allowed. I don't remember reading anything about a 3 hour limit.

 

[Joeblack]

Steve. A guest and owner at BWV should NEVER be asked to leave. I said "enforced upon arrival" meaning that if you are a DVC member staying on points, you should ALWAYS be allowed. Only (And Only) when the pool has reached capacity (It is posted by ever pool), should no more people be allowed in until somebody else leaves voluntarily (It is just a matter of courtesy). I would hate to be asked to leave a restaurant because there are people waiting for a table. Looking for who to ask out and making up reasons was a big and rude mistake made by this CM, and I hope he takes the severance offer from Disney or this is the right time to send letters to expedite this bureaucrat's departure from WDW.

I am sorry if I sound harsh, but WDW is an already expensive holiday location and one of the main reasons it is so is the level of service provided. Inneficient, intolerant or rude people should look for work elsewhere, not in a place where people go to spend hard earned dollars on a magic holiday.


As far as Pool Hopping being cancelled because of complaints in this board, I seriously doubt it.
As great as the DIS is, we, the DVCers in this Board are a very small percentage of the total.

 

[baileybrad]

has been in danger forever....NOT, if the procedures were followed disallowing "outsider ie people who have no business at a particular Disney pool" were removed, then there would not be an overcrowded situation to begin with except on the rarest occasions such as SAB during spring break. Pool hopping has been "going away" for several years according to some "the sky is also falling". I did a survey on pool hopping a few weeks ago and it appears that this practice has very little impact on pool capacities. To say someone complaining about unbalanced treatment will cause people to loose a priviledge just doesn't make sense to me. I think that someone, a low level employee in this case, made a rash/rude decision. I wish there was a way to find out if the BW main pool had been closed to other DVC guests on this particular day and if so when. I still believe that the main reason any WDW pool gets packed is because of what I have seen in the past...complete outsiders using the pools or regular Disney guests trespassing at other resort's pools. I once saw a dozen folks removed at the WL in about 5 minutes and that does not count the ones that figured out that folks were being asked to present proper resort ids and bailed on their on...at least a dozen more. I do believe that if the BW main pool had been shutdown to outside DVC guests on this day that being a BW owner who happened to be staying at another DVC resort on points would not allow you to pool hop on that day either because the pool would have been designated closed to pool hopping. Does anyone have firsthand knowledge of any resort's pool, besides the SAB area a few weeks a year, ever being closed to DVC guests for pool hopping. I myself have not .

 

[DVCDAVE]

"Pool hopping.... has been in danger forever....NOT," from above post.

May I kindly point out that when WDW opened in 1971....Pool hopping was promoted as a perk to ALL resort guests upon check in. Is that around today ??? NOT.... !

WDW:
76,77,78,87,FW
92,Offsite
95 POL
96(2), GF,Offsite
97,GF
98,99,00,FW
8/00 DVC member @ BWV
3/01 BWV, FW
3/01 DVC member @ WLV
11/01 BWV !

 

[Olaf]

What a horrible experience for you and your family. I hope you notified your guide as well. I'm tempted to call mine. We just bought in March and pool hopping was definitely part of the sales pitch. I hope you got the name of the CM as well.

I've often thought that resort guests should be issued some sort of plastic bracelet on checkin. They could be colored coded and changed frequently. Guests would be instructed to wear their bracelet and when they didn't have it on, be asked for resort ID.

We have friends who regularly camp at FW. They've told us that they pool hop all the time.

To be honest, I'm a little afraid to use this privilege. I'd would die of embarrassment if someone did that to me. My DH would come unglued. I'll have to give that some thought.

My 2 cents.

Steph
DL - 1966
DL - 1970
WDW - 1973 - Contemporary
WDW - 1975 - Day trip
DL - 1988 - Day trip
WDW - 1993 - CBR
WDW - 1995 - SOG
WDW - 1997 - SOG
WDW - 1999 - SOG
WDW - 2001 - SOG & PO

 

[Werner Weiss]

After reading this thread, I decided to spring for a long distance phone call to the OKW front desk. I asked several questions to a helpful cast member. Here's what I learned:

• The pools at Boardwalk and at Yacht & Beach were officially unavailable for pool hopping yesterday.
• It is not unusual for the Boardwalk pool to be unavailable for pool hopping; it's happened several days this week.
• The OKW front desk does not know what pools are available or unavailable for pool hopping on any given day, so a DVC member staying at OKW should not call the OKW front desk to inquire about pool hopping.
• Instead, the DVC member should dial "0" on their room phone and ask to be put through to the front desk at the resort where the pool is located.
• There should never be a case where a member is told over the phone that the pool is available, but is then asked to leave from the pool.

These answers contradict my previous understanding in two ways:

• I had previously understood that the only pool area that was ever declared unavailable was Stormalong Bay at Yacht & Beach -- although Disney announced a few years ago that any pool could be made unavailable for capacity reasons.
• I had previously understood that I should call the OKW front desk if staying at OKW (which is what I did when we pool hopped to Stormalong Bay in August 1999).

I can understand why the restriction was added a few years ago, but even Vacation Magic made it seem that, in reality, it only applied to Stormalong Bay and only for a very limited amount of time over the course of the year.

Now, having said all that, I think it was really, really wrong for a Boardwalk CM to ask a family to leave in the middle of the afternoon. DVC needs to do a better job helping DVC members determine whether a pool is unavailable. (How about a simple recording that DVC members can dial directly from their rooms?) And busy pool areas need to check every family's resort IDs upon entry to the pool area in a way that's fast, fair, and friendly. If someone who is neither a guest of that resort nor a DVC member staying with points at a DVC resort, the CM should politely turn them away ("we hope you'll stay with us in the future.") If a DVC member attempts to enter a pool area that is unavailable for hopping that day, the CM should suggest alternatives in a friendly manner. And if a DVC member is hopping to a pool that's available, the CM should welcome them just as they would a guest of that resort.

Pool hopping is a good thing for DVC Sales and for DVC members. It's a selling point and a benefit. DVC continues to promote pool hopping as a benefit -- and it is a good benefit. I'm sure it helps DVC sell memberships, and it leads to increased DVC customer satisfaction. Pool hopping is one answer to the question, "What are we going to do at WDW if we go year after year?"

I'm tired of reading some posters on this board who suggest that pool hopping will be eliminated or should be eliminated. With some minor tweaking, especially in terms of communications with DVC members, there's no reason why pool hopping shouldn't continue until 2042.

-----
Werner Weiss, Curator of Yesterland, featuring discontinued Disneyland attractions

[This message was edited by Werner Weiss on 04-12-01 at 06:42 PM.]

 

[Dean]

I would whole heartedly agree that what was done AND how it was done was inappropriate. I have only heard that SAB has been closed, has anyone else heard of BW being closed?

However, pool hoping is not part of the contract and can be changed or removed at any time. The current rules state that you are to call the front desk and check as to whether pool hoping is currently available or not. I assume they will either have a list or will check individually.

One point that is that many timeshares offer use of facilities to members on a year round basis, DVC does not do that. Therefore being a BW member has nothing to do with this scenario.

Please let us know what you hear back.

Dean

 

[Dean]

Sorry Werner, read your post after I had responded. It was also my understanding that you called the resort desk where you are staying. If the pool was officially closed to pool hoping, that certainly springs a new light on this subject. It should have been handled better or probably not at all. A simple, check first next time please, would have been the best alternative.

Dean