Pool Hopping

[PamOKW]

Mention of pool hopping not being permitted at SSR have come up several times lately. I'm wondering where this information is coming from? Have new owners of SSR been told that they wouldn't be permitted to pool hop and/or that their pool would be excluded. I'm just wondering if this conjecture by folks or whether something has been said.

 

[Werner Weiss]

I have not ever seen official, published information that DVC members at SSR would not be allowed to pool hop, nor that other DVC members would not be allowed to pool hop to SSR — not in a Vacation Magic mailing, not in a Member's Clubhouse e-mail newsletter, not on the DVC Member Web site, and not in any other DVC communication.

Please correct me if I've overlooked an offical announcement from DVC.

I have seen it mentioned numerous times on this board as evidence that pool hoppng is going away entirely.

 

[Desperado]

Good question, I thought I read it on this forum (can't dig up where right now), but it would be great for this to be clarified.

I hope it is not true and that pool hopping will be allowed at SSR and will continue at all currently eligible resorts for DVC members. I fear that is not the case. I hope that concern is wrong and pool hopping continues for a long, long time.

I'd really like to see an official stance on this as well, I don't want to be in error re-reporting what I read earlier if it is not correct. Can anyone clarify?
Thanks.

 

[DrTomorrow]

We bought into SSR last fall, and such a prohibition was not in any of the paperwork we received. I do remember that it was already being mentioned - here in the DIS DVC forum - in Sept. 2003 while I was doing my research. It was usually in the context of "SSR is so close to DTD it seems likely that they'll restrict pool-hopping".

 

[BWVDee]

I do not know of any official announcement from Disney but it seems as though Disney is not too good with giving DVC members advance formal announcements--OKW slide is a perfect example.
The stopping of pool hopping is speculation from posters on this board.
The building of a slide at OKW and thus making all the DVC resorts with a slide and life guards; makes many people feel this is the next step in the elimination of pool hopping.
Pool hopping has been a source of aggrevation for Disney for years, I would be willing to bet they would be more than happy to cease pool hopping for DVC members and they will do just that once SSR opens and OKW gets an enhanced main pool.
But time will tell.

 

[PamOKW]

I was just curious since I also had not seen anything about no pool hopping at SSR or pool hopping being discontinued. Sometimes things can take on a life of their own on these boards and become fact when they are just rumor and guesses. Just wanted to clarify. It's interesting that DVC has posted dates for the remainder of 2004 for when pool hopping will be restricted. As far as I can recall, this is the first time the whole year has been laid out in advance. For those who enjoy pool hopping, it looks like it will be safe through the year. I guess we'll know for sure in a few more months whether SSR will be added to the "no hopping" list.

Dr. T, did they mention pool hopping as one of the perks of ownership or did they just let SSR members discover that perk on their own?

DVC did make an official announcement about the slide during at least two of the annual membership meetings. From the notes people shared, they also said they did not have actual plans for the slide to share.

 

[Dean]

Someone posted they were told that by someone at DVC. I don't remember if it was a guide or MS or someone else. I tend not to believe it as I think it would be unlikely for a DVC only resort to be locked out of PH. If it is true, you can count on the end of PH within the next 2-3 years.

 

[pal6860]

I just had my DVC tour for the SSR 9 days ago with a "senior consultant" (at least that's what it said on his business card), and I asked him specifically about pool hopping. He said that although in the past it was allowed, this is no longer true, and pool hopping is no longer allowed. I was specifically asking about BCV. Two days ago I called DVC and asked a sales associate on the phone (just to reconfirm this), and she told me pretty much the same thing, but with this caveat: You have to call the front desk of the RESORT and ask them if they are busy or sold out. If so, hopping will not be allowed. During low season, it will be allowed.

How they intend on enforcing this I'm not sure. But the senior consultant was pretty emphatic about this issue, that pool hopping will no longer be allowed, period. He implied that it is (or will be in the very near future) the new policy throughout DVC.

I hope I'm wrong.

 

[PamOKW]

Pal -- The information you were given that pool hopping is not allowed to BC and that you must call a resort before you pool hop is the policy that has been in effect since BCV opened. Pool hopping to AKL is also not allowed.

 

[Werner Weiss]

This makes me wonder if this is just another case of misunderstanding — just like with some Disney Store CMs, who think that the DVC discount at Disney Stores has ended, just because the Disney Club discount is a thing of the past.

The pools at YC/BC (including SAB) are no longer part of pool hopping. Could some CMs, by mistake, be misapplying this restriction to SSR?

As PamOKW pointed out, DVC has published the details of pool hopping restrictions through the end of 2004. SSR will open in May 2004, yet there's no mention of SSR in the restrictions.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Sorry it took a while to answer, Pam.

It was never mentioned by our Guide, and I don't recall seeing it in the non-fine print.

 

[BWVDee]

Originally posted by DrTomorrow
[B.... and I don't recall seeing it in the non-fine print. [/B]

If this information is not included in the info that SSR members are receiving; this is a change. It has been included in past DVC literature but with the explanation that it is not guaranteed etc.
Now the info is missing all together??? Hmmmmm

 

[PamOKW]

I'm not sure where the pool hopping info appears. Is it just in the Member Handbook or does it appear elsewhere in POS documents?

 

[Desperado]

Originally posted by BWVDee
If this information is not included in the info that SSR members are receiving; this is a change. It has been included in past DVC literature but with the explanation that it is not guaranteed etc.
Now the info is missing all together??? Hmmmmm

Ut oh
here we go
not a good sign that this is omited.
any confirmation by others?

 

[zulaya]

Somebody call their guide already and find out 1) if pool hopping is over and 2) where it is in writing.

I thought they had something about pool hopping not being available around Easter in the recent Member Clubhouse.

 

[PamOKW]

I don't think pool hopping is or ever has been included in the papers that we sign. It is among the many perks we are given that are subject to change and used to be included in the Member Guidebook that had the removable pages (updating the perks every year). This is akin to the Disney Store discount that is also not in any of the signed documents. Now, they seem to do this on the website.

Here is the current pool hopping policy that is off the website and the black-out dates for the year.

Pool-Hopping Information for 2004
Members and their Guests staying with them at Disney's Old Key West Resort, Disney's BoardWalk Villas, The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, and Disney's Beach Club Villas are permitted to use other Disney Vacation Club and Walt Disney World® resort hotel pools (in addition to the resort hotel at which you are staying) if the resort hotel pools are not at capacity. If the pool you are visiting reaches capacity, you may be asked to leave in order to accommodate Guests of that resort hotel. Please check with a Host/Hostess at the Front Desk of the resort hotel you wish to visit to find out about pool-access availability. You must present your Walt Disney World® Resort ID card with your "DVC Member" designation on it to use the other pools. This offer is not available at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts.

Resort hotel pools may become unavailable from time to time due to capacity limitations. Due to the high occupancy that is expected, Disney Vacation Club Members may not "pool hop" during the following dates*:
April 3 - 11, 2004
May 28 - 31, 2004
June 28 - July 4, 2004
November 22 - 28, 2004
December 18, 2004 - January 2, 2005

*Other restricted dates may be added based on projected pool capacity.