Pool hopping-revisited

[Lil]

I am new to this board, but an old time WDW visitor. We have stayed in all the resorts prior to becoming DVC members. One of the big perks for us (besides the obvious) was the pool hopping priviledges. We go to Disney during some of the busiest times of the year, spring break, July, fall break (late Oct.) and every other Christmas. We have stayed at all DVC resorts, this June we will be at Wilderness Lodge.

When Disney was born, the big problem was guests leaving the parks to swim at the Contem. (which had only 1 pool) and the Polyn. -they were the only resorts on the monorail.

My husband and I enjoy pool hopping and are respectful of the other guests. We usually go early in the morning and leave by noon, or go late in the evening. Even during the busiest times, the pools are fairly empty at these times. As long as I am staying at a Disney DVC resort, I feel I have the priviledge to use the other pools. We have never been asked to leave, but have had ID checks, which is a great idea.

One of the biggest problems is non-guests using the pools, that is an age old problem. Now, we are learning that DVC members not staying at a DVC resort are causing a few of the problems. There are always those that spoil it for the rest of us.

One of my biggest concerns is non-guests being able to drive on property of the resorts.....the guards are allowing them through the gates. Although, I did feel they are tightening up when we were there in March.

Pool towels are another concern........I have seen cars pull up to the pool (didn't recognize from parking lot of OKW) and a kid jump out and take 10-15 towels. People take 6-8 towels and leave them by the pool.

Unsupervised children at the pool and in hot tub are another pet peeve.

Inspite of all this.......we love WDW.....and will not let the few spoil it for us. To age us.......our first tickets were for 2 days costing 11.00 a day.......ahhhhhhh!

 

[Towncrier]

Welcome home Lil. I remember visiting WDW when there was just a Magic Kingdom and when they still used tickets for the attractions, so I can relate to your $11/person admission price. The pool hopping topic has been a hot one here on DIS. You bring up a valid point. It's the folks who take advantage of loopholes in the system that result in the restrictions that Disney is now forced to place upon parking, pool hopping, pool towels, and even the fast pass system (remember all of those threads that told us how to get TWO fast passes at a time). If we abuse our freedoms, they will be taken away.

 

[Frank Leemadeer]

Originally posted by Lil


One of my biggest concerns is non-guests being able to drive on property of the resorts.....the guards are allowing them through the gates. Although, I did feel they are tightening up when we were there in March.

Pool towels are another concern........I have seen cars pull up to the pool (didn't recognize from parking lot of OKW) and a kid jump out and take 10-15 towels. People take 6-8 towels and leave them by the pool.

Dear Lil,

I think I'm with you on this one but let's test the water....so to speak!

As regards your first point, everybody seems to automatically jump to the conclusion that it is the 'feature' type pools that are worst hit by the unauthorised visitor. My experience is that OKW is one of the worst sufferers. Many times I have been there and suddenly been accompanied on a weekend by all sorts of people who I had not seen before and who don't appear again. I overheard one family say that they came up evry weekend from nearby so the kids could swim and they could relax in nice surroundings. My impression was that they were neither members nor guests.
My worst experience however was to be joined in conversation by a couple one day who 'confided in me' that they were staying at The Quality Inn Plaza on I drive but spent every day they could at OKW !!!!
I told a CM about that but there was nothing done and no particular interest from the cm either!

What I'm saying is that no one ever seems to 'Police' OKW in the same way they do other resorts. The security guy 8 times out of 10 will wave you through whilst on the phone to someone - who do they talk to by the way? some of their conversations seem to go on for ages....

Now your other point about towels - I too hate to see the way people just discard them or walk off from them around the pool. I ALWAYS, ALWAYS put mine in the bins provided and ALWAYS, ALWAYS clear my space.

But boy do I hate it when they try and limit me to one towel at Hanks.

I have never used the same towel to dry my face as I do for other area's of my body!
With the amount I pay in annual dues added to my initial outlay there ain't no way I'm going to accept being restricted in this way just because some other bunch of morons either don't have good manners, steal them to take to the water parks, take them to their their room or goodness knows what else.
Catch them - don't bug me that's what I say.

Perhaps if they asked for Resort ID like they do when giving out towels at other resorts some of the freeloaders might get exposed!

 

[Lil]

I agree, the security should be tightened , especially at OKW. That includes the gate, and use of the boat to Disney Village. Disney needs to toughen up with the abusers.......

 

[dtheboys]

If so many of us DVC'rs are concerned, why doesn't Disney do something about it? The bad PR, can't be good for DVC!
Most of the problem can be taken care of right at the front gate!!!

 

[minimahaki]

Lil
I am going to post this new thread after I read your above post.


IMPROVE SECURITY

Does anyone remember the days when the guard gates (especially at OKW and the Poly) were never occupied? Now they are occupied but not all of the security guards are doing what they are supposed to be doing. I think we, as members need to complain to someone in charge…. However, who is this individual? Do we call member services or the resort manager? Is there a chief of security that we can notify? I think if we all made the complaints to the correct individual maybe this would help to beef up security. Does anyone have the answer?
Lauretta
Minimahaki DVC Members since May, 1993