Pool Hopping

[Stitch1404]

W are DVC members, but we're all out of points for the year so we are staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge and Pop for our next trip on a cash reservation. For our "rest" day I planned no parks and the character breakfast at 'Ohana and dinner at the Grand Floridian Cafe. We will not have a car and at this point in our trip we will be at Pop. I know it can take quite some time to get from resort to resort and I was just wondering if we could just have our breakfast at 'Ohana and then swim all day at the Poly, GF, or Contemporary pools all day before heading to Grand Floridian Cafe for dinner. I just don't know if this is allowed since we are not using our points, we are just paying cash. I know DVC members are allowed to pool hop, but does this apply to even when you're not using DVC for your stay? Also, do any of the pools have a shower area where we can freshen up and change before dinner? Which pool is the nicest? The Poly looks cool, I have never even seen the Contemporary's pool, and I haven't stayed at the GF since it got a new pool. Thanks for any help!

 

[Marthasor]

The only showers available near the pools are the ones in the rooms of the guests paying to stay at the resort and swim in the pool.

 

[safetymom]

At the moderates there is a shower near the main pool so I would imagine there is one at the deluxes.

 

[Stitch1404]

Originally posted by Marathasor:
The only showers available near the pools are the ones in the rooms of the guests paying to stay at the resort and swim in the pool.

umm...DVC members are allowed to swim in any Disney pool they want to except Stormalong Bay and the Uzima pool at AKL. I don't know if that was supposed to sound mean, but it did. I am not trying to cheat the system, I know we are allowed to swim where we want, I am just making sure it applies to this trip.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

You are only allowed to pool hop when you are staying on points. Your card key pretty much lets you know when you can hop. If it says *member* on it...then hop away....If it doesn't then you can't. The same rules apply for valet parking.

This thread would probably have better been posted on the DVC board.

PS. As far as I know there are shower/changing areas near the deluxe pools.

 

[Stitch1404]

Alright, I'm officially confused. I just got back from a trip where we paid cash to stay at AKL and then used points for Beach Club Villas. When we checked in at AKL our keys said "member" on them. How they even knew we were members is beyond me, we didn't use points and I didn't think we told them...

 

[Letsbgoofy]

Are you sorry you asked the question yet?? I thought that was what these boards were about...

The Poly used to have a shower and bathroom that was big enough to change in. I haven't been there since they renovated the pool though. The pool at the Contemporary is nothing special IMHO. I love the new GF pool, but don't know about shower facilities.

 

[Stitch1404]

Yep! I'm sorry I asked the question, maybe I should have just called Member Services. I am still wondering what pools people prefer though.

 

[CarolMN]

Stitch1404 - To legally pool hop, you need to be staying at a DVC resort on points. You can check out the Members' website for the exact wording of the policy.

Best wishes -

 

[Doctor P]

umm...DVC members are allowed to swim in any Disney pool they want to except Stormalong Bay and the Uzima pool at AKL. I don't know if that was supposed to sound mean, but it did. I am not trying to cheat the system, I know we are allowed to swim where we want, I am just making sure it applies to this trip.

No. DVC members are only allowed to pool hop at certain times of the year, which is being slowly reduced it seems, and then are only allowed to pool hop if they are staying at one of the DVC resorts on points.

 

[Stitch1404]

Originally posted by DoctorP:
No. DVC members are only allowed to pool hop at certain times of the year, which is being slowly reduced it seems.

Yeah, I knew that, just didn't think I needed to be that specific in my post. All I really needed to know is that we aren't allowed to hop since we aren't on points. We will just deal with the bus system and swim at Pop. I wasn't trying to start any kind of debate by bringing up this topic, I really just wanted to know if I was allowed. Sorry for the trouble, next time I will just call member services.

 

[rwcmath]

Alright, I'm officially confused. I just got back from a trip where we paid cash to stay at AKL and then used points for Beach Club Villas. When we checked in at AKL our keys said "member" on them. How they even knew we were members is beyond me, we didn't use points and I didn't think we told them...

We had a Pop/BWV stay recently, and our Pop keys didn't say Members on them.

rwc

 

[Antonia]

What if you are renting points from a member? Can you pool hop then if it is a time when hopping is allowed?

 

[Dean]

What if you are renting points from a member? Can you pool hop then if it is a time when hopping is allowed?

Renters technically can't pool hop but many renters cards have said member on them.

 

[Doctor P]

It is intended to be a member's only perk. Renters are, therefore, not supposed to be eligible to pool hop.

 

[Antonia]

I probably wouldn't hop anyway - just wondered. I'll be too busy in the parks and enjoying the WL.

 

[Dean]

It is intended to be a member's only perk. Renters are, therefore, not supposed to be eligible to pool hop.

For some perks but not for others. Most perks are also technically availalbe for guests. Drawing the line between renters and guests is a far more vaue and artificial line than between members and non members.

 

[Doctor P]

I agree fully. However, in my experience, the definiton of a "guest" in such circumstances generally involves the presence of a member at the time of using the services (think about country clubs for example). FWIW, the IRS would feel the same way--if the people travel with you, they are guests. If they travel and use the facilities without your presence, they are renters (including immediate family members who are not on a deed) regardless of whether any money changes hands.

 

[Dean]

I agree fully. However, in my experience, the definiton of a "guest" in such circumstances generally involves the presence of a member at the time of using the services (think about country clubs for example). FWIW, the IRS would feel the same way--if the people travel with you, they are guests. If they travel and use the facilities without your presence, they are renters (including immediate family members who are not on a deed) regardless of whether any money changes hands.

DVC has a definition of a guest and it does not require the member to be present even on the trip, much less at the origin of the perk.

 

[Doctor P]

Perhaps you are right, but I'm not sure they have ever put that in writing. However, for the pool hopping perk, the definition of guest IS in writing and it says that the guest must be "staying with you", so in terms of the specific topic of this thread, pool hopping is a member's only perk that is for members and the guests staying with them at a DVC resort.