pool hopping recommendations?

[ibela]

Hi, I'm taking a very low key trip next month with dd7 and ds4 and wanted to go pool hopping for 2 days during our BLT stay. Any recommendations on where to go? I was thinking maybe Polynesian 1 day (our arrival day, noonish) and VWL/Wilderness Lodge the other day (we have ADR at Whispering Canyon for dinner) but am not sure.

All feedback is welcome. Thank you!!

 

[mhochman]

Hi, I'm taking a very low key trip next month with dd7 and ds4 and wanted to go pool hopping for 2 days during our BLT stay. Any recommendations on where to go? I was thinking maybe Polynesian 1 day (our arrival day, noonish) and VWL/Wilderness Lodge the other day (we have ADR at Whispering Canyon for dinner) but am not sure.

All feedback is welcome. Thank you!!

We are not going until next summer, but our plan is to stay at BLT and one day poolhop to the Poly. That's a great pool with a great slide. I don't think I'd recommend going to WL and then to dinner unless you're comfortable sitting in a cold restaurant right after being in the pool all day. IMO, that pool is a good one, but not great. We really love the pools at SSR. You'd need to take a bus with a transfer, but I think it would be worth it.

 

[jlsmith376]

The pool at Poly is very nice - I would definitely go there. Have you considered the Grand Floridian? I'm not sure if it is one that you can pool hop to, but with the ages of your children they might enjoy the new splash area near the Beach Pool. The Beach pool also has a waterslide.

 

[ibela]

They both love thrills and I want a great waterslide, my 7yr old is a strong swimmer, the 4yr old copies her and I'd stand at the bottom to catch him (and put a vest on). I found some pics and was looking through all the pools. Poly is a definite and now I'm thinking of Caribbean Beach Resort as the other one. We have 2 more pool days so 1 will be at the hotel and the last will be at AKV when we switch rooms. I don't want to make the trek with them to SSR on our arrival day, but I wanted to take advantage of the pool hopping before blackout dates (we're going into Labor Day). I wish all my decisions were this complicated !!

 

[Deb & Bill]

As long as your arrival day or the days you want to pool hop don't include Aug 30-Sept 2

 

[ibela]

As long as your arrival day or the days you want to pool hop don't include Aug 30-Sept 2

I checked that first! That's why I figured I'd hope elsewhere arrival day and plan to stay at the hotel pool during the blackout period.

 

[rlovew]

They both love thrills and I want a great waterslide, my 7yr old is a strong swimmer, the 4yr old copies her and I'd stand at the bottom to catch him (and put a vest on). I found some pics and was looking through all the pools. Poly is a definite and now I'm thinking of Caribbean Beach Resort as the other one. We have 2 more pool days so 1 will be at the hotel and the last will be at AKV when we switch rooms. I don't want to make the trek with them to SSR on our arrival day, but I wanted to take advantage of the pool hopping before blackout dates (we're going into Labor Day). I wish all my decisions were this complicated !!

Just wanted to let you know that every water slide I have been on at a Disney pool does not allow catching a child. They can come down in a life jacket but must move away by themselves.

 

[Pirate Granny]

Not true...you can catch at BWV, HOWEVER there is no lifeguard at the top, so the child would have to go up the stairs themselves if you plan to be at the bottom to catch. Also at the Caribbean beach pool. Only rope d off area I've seen was at storm along, but you can't hop there anyway. We were catching at BLT...one would take the child up, the other would be at the bottom...not necessarily catching but to assure no problems swimming away from the area. I plan to hop to the beach pool at GF in September as I expect them to close it to hopping once the DVC opens in October.

 

[jillmc40]

Just wanted to let you know that every water slide I have been on at a Disney pool does not allow catching a child. They can come down in a life jacket but must move away by themselves.

We stayed at Jambo in February...The lifeguard was encouraging us to catch dd6 because she was scared. There was a little boy going down being caught by his older brothers too...The only time they got in trouble was when they forgot to catch him

 

[Deb & Bill]

We stayed at Jambo in February...The lifeguard was encouraging us to catch dd6 because she was scared. There was a little boy going down being caught by his older brothers too...The only time they got in trouble was when they forgot to catch him

That is highly unusual. OKW and SAB won't let you catch the kids coming down the slide. And there are others that won't as well. I know at BWV, we couldn't catch our son when he was about 5.

 

[goofy4tink]

I can not tell you how many times I've heard the lifeguards at the Luna Park slide yelling at parents to not stand at the bottom of the slide. You have no idea when your particular child is coming down.
Here's the thing...and I don't want to sound nasty or rude, but....if you have to be at the bottom of the slide to catch your child, your child is probably not strong enough of a swimmer to use the slide. And I have to tell you...the slide at Luna Park is fast!!!!

 

[jillmc40]

Here's the thing...and I don't want to sound nasty or rude, but....if you have to be at the bottom of the slide to catch your child, your child is probably not strong enough of a swimmer to use the slide. And I have to tell you...the slide at Luna Park is fast!!!!

I agree! It was very slow the day we were there. I would not have done it if it were busy. Of course two times down the slide and she was scared no more!

 

[Pirate Granny]

We swam at BWV and the pool was empty, we came from the studios on a Star Wars weekend. Asked the lifeguard both about hopping and about using the slide for the 4 yr old DGS. He wanted one to catch the other to go up the stairs and ensure he got started...no issues. Although it was very hot we were the only ones in that section of the pool. Same guard was at SAB the next day and said hi to DGS and said that at this pool the adult goes Down the slide first and can wait in the water until the DGS came down, since there is a guard at the top to help and regulate the sliders. We were staying at BCV.

 

[spruce]

We're going to hop to GF that week because if GFV follows the Dvc trend, when it opens, hopping will end there.
Disclaimer..... I am not starting a rumor, I said this about BCV years ago in a post here and got bashed for being a rumormonger. Turned out my speculation was right.

 

[Pirate Granny]

I plan to hop to the beach pool at GF next month for the exact same reason...

 

[jillmc40]

I don't know this was such a thing to do!! I can barely find time to get in my own resort pool, let alone hop all over the place. Sounds fun though! Being that we are dvc newbies, maybe we will spend one day doing this. One of these years.....

 

[Princess_Nikki]

Sooooo...if you're a DVC member it's ok to pool hop?

 

[jillmc40]

Sooooo...if you're a DVC member it's ok to pool hop?

Yes! There are some restrictions with black out dates, certain pools, pools being full, etc. But after you have passed that, hop away! I am totally new to this but I remember reading it in my owners booklet.

 

[spruce]

I don't know this was such a thing to do!! I can barely find time to get in my own resort pool, let alone hop all over the place. Sounds fun though! Being that we are dvc newbies, maybe we will spend one day doing this. One of these years.....

We're not newbies, first trip in 87, next trip in 96 then 97. Dvc since 98 with lots of trips since. 4 this year. The parks never get old but there is so much more to do once you choose to slow down, pool hopping is one of them.

 

[Princess_Nikki]

Yes! There are some restrictions with black out dates, certain pools, pools being full, etc. But after you have passed that, hop away! I am totally new to this but I remember reading it in my owners booklet.

That is awesome! Another cool perk about DVC!