Pool hopping?

[paults]

Is pool hopping also allowed for people renting DVC points?

The week before Thanksgiving, I'm going to stay at BLT on rented points. I would like to pool hop to the Grand Floridian Villas beach pool.

I believe the VGF are resort guests only (no pool hopping) same at BLT.

 

[carlbarry]

I believe the VGF are resort guests only (no pool hopping) same at BLT.

Check Post 15 above. Pool hopping is available at VGF, but as with all pool hopping, for DVC members only; you must present your Key to the World with DVC notation on it.

 

[FPminusCommando]

Check Post 15 above. Pool hopping is available at VGF, but as with all pool hopping, for DVC members only; you must present your Key to the World with DVC notation on it.

Do you know that for a fact? Last year my whole group were staying at BLT and we were allowed up to the bar on the roof, no problem. We showed our Key To the World card, which had "DVC" printed on them. And in general I've always heard "when you rent points you are treated no different from being a DVC member"...

 

[carlbarry]

Do you know that for a fact? Last year my whole group were staying at BLT and we were allowed up to the bar on the roof, no problem. We showed our Key To the World card, which had "DVC" printed on them. And in general I've always heard "when you rent points you are treated no different from being a DVC member"...

No, I don't. I've never been asked for ID when pool hopping. I'm just quoting the rules propagated by DVC.
On the other hand, when I went to Top of the World last December, my DVC card was checked.
When you stay on points, the Cast Members will treat you like a DVC member--which is the same way they treat everybody. However, there are perquisites available to DVC members only.

 

[wcpamotm]

Do you know that for a fact? Last year my whole group were staying at BLT and we were allowed up to the bar on the roof, no problem. We showed our Key To the World card, which had "DVC" printed on them. And in general I've always heard "when you rent points you are treated no different from being a DVC member"...

I think this is more of a "what can happen" rather than a "what will happen".

 

[carlbarry]

I think this is more of a "what can happen" rather than a "what will happen".

Exactly. There are many posts by people who were pool hopping legitimately, and yet were challenged by Cast Members who had no idea that pool hopping is allowed.

 

[FPminusCommando]

Here's an anecdote. Spring Break 2013 we were staying at BLT, renting points. We hopped over to Poly one day to swim. All was well and the Mojitos were tasty. My daughter and I walked over to the marina to get her a life preserver. The young lady behind the counter asked for my Key to the World card, typed a few things on her computer and ask "are you staying here?" I said no, we are at BLT. At first she said we were not allowed to swim there. I told her I thought it was ok since we are staying at a DVC resort. She walked into the back room, I think to talk with someone else, and a few minutes later popped out and said all was well. She gave us the life preserver.

My daughter is now old enough to swim without a life preserver. So since there is no gate at GF villas, from a practical standpoint I don't see anything blocking us from hopping over there. And from the official-looking DVC rules posted above, it appears I'm (amazingly for me) within Disney guidelines too.

 

[carlbarry]

My daughter is now old enough to swim without a life preserver. So since there is no gate at GF villas, from a practical standpoint I don't see anything blocking us from hopping over there. And from the official-looking DVC rules posted above, it appears I'm (amazingly for me) within Disney guidelines too.

I stayed at VGF last December. It's a beautiful pool, you'll enjoy it. Nice water slide, too.

 

[jimandami]

Here's an anecdote. Spring Break 2013 we were staying at BLT, renting points. We hopped over to Poly one day to swim. All was well and the Mojitos were tasty. My daughter and I walked over to the marina to get her a life preserver. The young lady behind the counter asked for my Key to the World card, typed a few things on her computer and ask "are you staying here?" I said no, we are at BLT. At first she said we were not allowed to swim there. I told her I thought it was ok since we are staying at a DVC resort. She walked into the back room, I think to talk with someone else, and a few minutes later popped out and said all was well. She gave us the life preserver.

My daughter is now old enough to swim without a life preserver. So since there is no gate at GF villas, from a practical standpoint I don't see anything blocking us from hopping over there. And from the official-looking DVC rules posted above, it appears I'm (amazingly for me) within Disney guidelines too.

I would not be so sure about this. You will not have a Key to the World card anymore so they will scan your magic band. It might or might not be "allowed" but no it isn't within Disney rules. As the rules stated above, a DVC member (which you are not) can pool hop to the resorts that allow it. I'm not saying they won't let you, I am just saying they might not let it and it is not within the rules.

 

[jerseygal]

Check Post 15 above. Pool hopping is available at VGF, but as with all pool hopping, for DVC members only; you must present your Key to the World with DVC notation on it.

So this means to always carry your DVC member cards as well as show magic bands correct?

 

[carlbarry]

So this means to always carry your DVC member cards as well as show magic bands correct?

I would think that when they scan the Magic Band the information it is linked to would indicate that one is staying on DVC points. However, if the Cast Member doesn't have a scanner, the card would be a big help.

 

[Sammie]

Do you know that for a fact? Last year my whole group were staying at BLT and we were allowed up to the bar on the roof, no problem. We showed our Key To the World card, which had "DVC" printed on them. And in general I've always heard "when you rent points you are treated no different from being a DVC member"...

Who ever told you that was wrong, You don't get the discounts, pool hopping or other perks reserved for members. You are not the actual member.

Being treated the same and getting the benefits is not the same.

As to being within the DVC Guidelines there is nothing in them that says renters are given the perks of a member. It states the member and any guests staying with that member, which means the member has to be present.

Yes, you can might be able to sneak in but that is not the same as being allowed.

 

[tjkraz]

I see two issues:

1) How the terms of any perk / offer are worded.

2) How the perk is actually administered.

As quoted previously, pool hopping perk is currently worded as such: "When staying on your Membership at any Disney Vacation Club Resort at the Walt Disney World Resort, or Disney's Vero Beach Resort, you and any Guests staying with you are permitted to use most of the other Disney Vacation Club and Walt Disney World Resort hotel pools..."

Note the bold parts. Only members and individuals staying WITH a member are allowed to hop. I'm sure this wording has changed over the years but that's the current "letter of the law."

The other issue is how it's actually policed or administered by Disney. That's where some have often slipped through the cracks. Going back 10+ years, Disney often used the KTTW card with its "DVC Member" notation to allow for use of DVC perks & benefits. Years ago, renters could even get discounts on theme park tickets during any points-based stay.

In more recent years, they've consistently stated that the blue DVC Member ID card must be presented to confirm eligibility for member perks. This is true for dining discounts, shopping discounts, DVD rentals and so on.

KTTW cards are virtually extinct right now due to MagicBands. Even if you ask for one, I don't believe it includes the "DVC Member" notation anymore.

Disney Cast Members do police pool areas with handheld RFID readers which interface with MagicBands and KTTW.

Bottom line is this: Renters are NOT eligible to pool hop. It is POSSIBLE to slip through the system...but far from guaranteed. You could be turned back at the gate, asked to leave when questioned by a Cast Member, or any other point during the visit.

 

[wdwlver]

Who ever told you that was wrong, You don't get the discounts, pool hopping or other perks reserved for members. You are not the actual member. Being treated the same and getting the benefits is not the same. As to being within the DVC Guidelines there is nothing in them that says renters are given the perks of a member. It states the member and any guests staying with that member, which means the member has to be present. Yes, you can might be able to sneak in but that is not the same as being allowed.

This. We witnessed a family asked to leave top of world lounge because they didn't have blue dvc member card.

 

[Sandisw]

I would think that when they scan the Magic Band the information it is linked to would indicate that one is staying on DVC points. However, if the Cast Member doesn't have a scanner, the card would be a big help.

I believe that you must show your DVC card, even with a Magic Band as proof that you are the DVC owner.

 

[LadyLuck24]

Can I add another twist to this thread?

When we go in November, we are staying on rented points at BLT. My brother is staying on rented points at Kidani. We know we can't pool hop as non-owners, but can we use the Kidani pool as his guests? And vice versa--could he come use the BLT pool as our guest?

 

[jimandami]

Can I add another twist to this thread? When we go in November, we are staying on rented points at BLT. My brother is staying on rented points at Kidani. We know we can't pool hop as non-owners, but can we use the Kidani pool as his guests? And vice versa--could he come use the BLT pool as our guest?

No, that is not allowed.

 

[carlbarry]

Can I add another twist to this thread?

When we go in November, we are staying on rented points at BLT. My brother is staying on rented points at Kidani. We know we can't pool hop as non-owners, but can we use the Kidani pool as his guests? And vice versa--could he come use the BLT pool as our guest?

Even if you were DVC members, BLT and AKL pools are not pool hopping pools.

 

[Dean]

Can I add another twist to this thread?

When we go in November, we are staying on rented points at BLT. My brother is staying on rented points at Kidani. We know we can't pool hop as non-owners, but can we use the Kidani pool as his guests? And vice versa--could he come use the BLT pool as our guest?

The only way to do this legally is to either ask permission (unlikely to be granted) or if one or the other has enough occupancy availability, add the other to the reservation as well.

 

[rcoaster]

We'll what you could do is when someone else is opening the pool gate door you run over grab the gate and go in and they will think your a guest at that disney hotel!