Pool hopping?

[PamOKW]

The clown doesn't make it undesireable. It's those little, itty bitty rooms.

Please no flames --- so far I love all my DVC resorts....just poking a little fun since I endured an attack on my OKW pools.

 

[nuthut]

Stop to think about it. My last stay at the Boardwalk, I never used the slide. In at least 10 stays, I have used it once. And the slide at SAB, once was enough for me, And I have hopped over there countless times. I with you Pam, forget the slide, just give me a margarita and some sun at the turtle pond pool and I can forget all the other commotion.

 

[Windjammer]

I hope we are all making a mountain out of a molehill. In my opinion the 205 units at BCV will not require a wholesale elimination of pool hopping at all resorts and DVC properties. I do not think that the number of people from BCV who will spend a day at SAB will necessitate the end of pool hopping 365 days a year at all DVC properties and resorts.

After all, as Werner said, part of the attractiveness of pool hopping is not that one pool is "better" than another, but rather that they are "different." If we hop to SAB it is not just for the slide, but to spend the afternoon, walking around, getting some ice cream etc. If we hop to the polynesian, it is to swim after going to Ohana's for breakfast and perhaps a visit to the gift shop and a ride on the monorail. If we hop to Riverside, it is after a morning of cane pole fishing and lunch at the cotton mill. Next trip we plan on visiting the pool at CSR and having dinner at the pepper market. I can foresee that we will hop to OKW as well. After all, our kids don't use the slides 100% of the time we are at the pool. They swim, play with other kids, throw a ball, etc.
It is an easy, enjoyable, inexpensive way to immerse our kids in the different theming of each resort.

We rarely swim for long, nor do I feel we negatively affect others at the pools. At most, we will share one or two chairs.
BCV owners will act similarly, I think. They will swim at SAB but will also swim at BCV's own pool and will hop to BWV and other resorts.

Lets all remember that one of the perceived negatives of time share resorts is the feeling that one will get bored visiting the same place year after year. Pool hopping, in my opinion, is a major perk and selling point. No matter how good my resort's pool is, I would get bored if that was the only pool I could visit for 40 years.

The elimination of pool hopping would be a serious blow to the flexibility we feel we have when we visit Disney, and at least for us, would reduce the enjoyment and value of our DVC membership.

Continued pool hopping will continue to be a selling point for DVC and for those members that will sell their interest at some point. It keeps the value of the points up. I don't see any need to discontinue pool hopping based upon there being a potential problem at SAB. First, the problem of pool crashers should be dealt with. Then, if restrictions need to be put in place they should only be a last resort and should be the least restrictve restrictions possible, tailored only to redress the immediate problem. We should not concede that elimination of pool hoping to SAB is a foregone conclusion. I sure hope they don't eliminate it merely as a sales tool to induce people to buy at BCV. That would not be fair.

 

[ncligs]

Windjammer,

Very well said, and I am sure mostly all of DVC owners would agree with you 100%.

 

[Dean]

Windjammer, I agree right up to the point where you seemed to think DVC wanted to continue the program. Unfortunately, it's already an ever eroding perk even before the BCV opens. I truthfully hope you're right but I fear you are not. We don't pool hop but I'd prefer this perk to continue for my fellow members sake. Don't confuse my predictions with my desires, they are frequently not the same.

 

[PamOKW]

Hey Nuthut, let's forget the OKW slide and see what we can do about having someone "bring us our drinks by the pool". Maybe a few appetizers as well???

 

[Granny]

Pam....you're making good sense as usual. But let's not restrict that perk to the OKW pool!!!

I've been doing my best to stay out of this and the "rent for profit" threads, but I think I do have one point that I don't remember anyone mentioning about pool hopping.

DVD is just now opening BCV. Evidently, they will soon (2003?) be opening up the new DI Villas. And supposedly, the EPV is still out there somewhere.

Pool hopping is a nice selling tool, and DVD has a bunch of points to sell just in BCV and DIV. While the restrictions may grow somewhat, I think it is in their own best interest to keep pool hopping alive in some form while they continue to sell new Villas.

And ultimately, what is in their best interest will always supercede what is in the DVC members' interest.

I would hope that the suspension of pool hopping at certain locations or times would be on an "as needed" basis. I don't see any reason for Disney to make blanket pool hopping restrictions (though they already have) when they can just handle on a day to day basis.

Okay...back to the lurk mode.

 

[ralphd]

Wonder if anyone has an opinion on pool hopping?

Interesting subject. Maybe we can start a debate on the merits of continuing the benefit.

By the way, I agree with you Granny.


ralphd

 

[PKS44]

Is this too complicated a question for a poll? How about it? I don't even know how you creat a poll but I would be curious how much hopping actually goes on- Maybe just how many days a year do you pool hop? That can be one poll- then we can find out if people hop mostly to one pool (SAB?) or if they mostly hop from OKW,etc...

Ok- now I get to give my opinions FWIW:

1)Pool hopping costs Disney NOTHING and at the same time can be used as a selling point- I agree that as long as they need to sell timeshares- they WILL want to continue this perk at as many pools as possible. If they ever stop having resorts to sell- then good bye any perk not in the contract.

2)How many DVC people are on site at any time? How many are pool hopping any given day? 40? 50? 10? I doubt it affects capacity much most of the time.

3)OKW is pretty with the Lighthouse, the bridge, the dolphins, but beyond looking nice - there is nothing there to engage the swimmer beyond swimming ...I think that there really is nothing compelling to make anyone want to hop to the OKW pool...all the other resorts already have quiet pools. Meanwhile, BCV will have SAB, BWV has the longest slide, VWL has the waterfall and slide at WL, but the pool "theming" at OKW is pretty dull. It could be better, and you wouldn't have to add a slide--just make it more INTERACTIVE. This would not require a huge amount of money-Why can't kids at least play around with those dolphins?...

or I will play Imagineer here---turn the dolphins to squirt water out towards the pool...or add a device shaped like a palm tree which is actually a fountain, water goes up the trunk and out along the leaves into 3 or 4 large coconut shaped buckets which fill and dump water intermittently on the happy laughing swimmers below...I've seen a hotel enhance their boring pool with a simple little water fall with a grotto kids could go into under/behind the waterfall (this consisted of a platform raised above the surface of the pool over the top of which water ran....at night they had lights on the water which changed colors...simple yet delightful-the kids loved it...I doubt most of these would add considerably to the dues--but I honestly don't know...

For those who love OKW just the way it is-please don't flame me- I was just thinking of ways it might be changed...

Paul

 

[Uncleromulus]

Paul:
Good points about OKW pool!!
As I said-it does have water. But Mrs. Uncleromulus just reminded me it is pretty shallow water.
Couldn't they just spring for an elephant to squirt water over my head?? (Like the one at Luna Park, where I often pool hop to swim). The dolphins might be altered to do that. At least they'd be doing SOMETHING!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

Some of us like the quieter slower atmosphere of the OKW pools. To each his own.

 

[Windjammer]

Dean:

If I implied that I thought that DVC wanted to continue the program then I mispoke. I don't know if wthey want to continue it but they should. I think it is a valuable selling point with few downsides or costs involved from DVC's standpoint. If capacity at one pool is going to be too great it isn't much of a problem for DVC to temporarily stop hopping to that pool.

Steve

 

[PKS44]

Originally posted by dianeschlicht
Some of us like the quieter slower atmosphere of the OKW pools. To each his own.

Diane (and others who feel this way):

I guess that's why they call it OLD Key West!

Seriously- every resort has "quiet" pools-that is what they are for ...the question is whether there should be a difference at the OKW main pool so that there is a choice at EACH of the resorts. As it is, by your own description- OKW does not offer that choice-it only has quiet pools. I would think that any one of my suggestions would enhance OKW, not eliminate the "quiet" options and not raise dues much if at all after the initial investment...Every Disney Resort (I don't know All Stars-never been) on site offers themed pool and nonthemed pool options-EXCEPT OKW-it's Themed pool is really just a quiet pool with some decorations. This cannot be disputed--your own description is that it is slow and quiet...

The problem is there is no reason to do this UNLESS OKW members want it. GF added a pool to sell more rooms. DVD doesn't have to and can't sell OKW so why should they do anything to it? They won't unless members who own 98?% of it want to make the change. From the responses we have seen here- most of the people who own there are not interested. But it seems that was more specifically a rejection of slides (and lifeguards)- I wonder if my simple enhancements would be met with the same disinterest/antagonism. Again- how about letting the kiddies play in the dolphin fountain at least!

Paul

 

[PamOKW]

I think the distinction of a quiet pool is whether there are other activities and the snack bar. In that sense, I consider OKW to have two "main" pools.

The idea of decorative enhancements is fine but I don't think it serves much purpose. I agree a waterfall would look pretty but does that satisfy UncleRomulus's desire for more action? Those who love the pools now will love them more but those who don't like the pools probably won't be satisfied by anthing less than a slide.

An idea to make it more fun for the small children might be to put in something like the pirate ship at Vero. This could go over by and/or replace the big sand pail area.

 

[ncligs]

For the people who like slides,excitement,etc...............try Blizzard Beach............

 

[Peterd]

......and don't pool hop. oops, Sorry thought you wanted to say that, but left it out..

 

[PKS44]

Originally posted by ncligs
For the people who like slides,excitement,etc...............try Blizzard Beach............

Having a pool at the resort is nearby and convenient, easy to use for short or long periods of time and free of charge. Water parks are none of the above. Here are some similarly unhelpful remarks on the topic...

1)Why not just enjoy your jacuzzi in the 1BR and up?
2) Just go on Splash Mountain!
3) Play in the jumpy water things at Epcot!
4)Play at the Boneyard at Animal Kingdom! No water but there is a slide!
etc etc... let's have some real and/or helpful suggestions.

 

[ncligs]

quote....by PKS44

This kind of comment is completely irrational and useless. I suppose it is supposed to be funny-- but it is so unrelated it's not even that.

---------------------------------------------------------------
Did you ever hear of "Freedom of Speech"????? Lighten up and get a life

 

[PamOKW]

ncligs was just pointing out that some members, as hard as it is for some to believe, really do like the OKW pools just as they are. The complaints sort of remind me of people who buy condos next to the firehouse and then lobby to get them to stop blowing the fire whistle. You knew, or had an opportunity to know, what the facilities were like at OKW before purchasing. Anything that was vitally important to your enjoyment should have been considered. Trying to force the resort to change now is unrealistic. I agree that the pool should be kept up and modernized as needed. But, modernization doesn't necessarily mean a slide.

The purpose of the pool is to provide a place to swim and relax. Suggestions were made that there are other places to find excitement and a water park atmosphere at WDW .

I question again whether adding a slide would solve the problem. Heck, if it's a slide you want, there is no need to pool hop to SAB. You can go next door to POR (when it re-opens) or around the corner to CBR. I prefer BOTH larger OKW pools to either of these. I also prefer OKW to the original pools at the Contemp, GF or Poly. I haven't seen the new pools yet to compare.

 

[ncligs]

Thank You PamOKW,

Nobody forced anybody to buy into DVC or whatever Resort they picked as there home resort.