Pool hopping

[Bill K]

I don't know if I missed this post or not, but on our most recent stay 7/26/04 thru 8/5/04 we were told that we could no longer pool hop to Non- DVC pools (this includes SAB). We were a little dissapointed because the kids like the pool at the poly. Our only choices since we stayed at the BWV were OKW, WLV, or SSR. We checked out the pool @ SSR, kids had a good time. There is now a big sign at Luna Park that states that the pool is only available to registered guests of the BWI and BWV and that Hotel IDs were required.

 

[Dean]

Were you asking about SAB. SAB and AKL have been out of the PH arena for a while now. Actually any YC/BC pools are off limits. There are lockoff times and rules where you must call ahead; but PH is still very much alive otherwise.

 

[Bill K]

We were not interested in SAB or AKL, we did call BWV front desk and Poly ahead of time. Both desks gave us the information that non- DVC resorts were no longer available. We had a character breakfast at the poly and thought it would be nice to enjoy the pool after breakfast. They had no problems with our ressies at Ohana's but we could not use the pool.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Bill K
We were not interested in SAB or AKL, we did call BWV front desk and Poly ahead of time. Both desks gave us the information that non- DVC resorts were no longer available. We had a character breakfast at the poly and thought it would be nice to enjoy the pool after breakfast. They had no problems with our ressies at Ohana's but we could not use the pool.

You either got ill informed CM and/or they were closed for the day due to being "at capacity", likely the former.

 

[Simba's Mom]

While I hope this is the case-either CM was ill-informed or pool was at capacity, I'm kind of nervous. Can Disney choose to exclude DVC members from "their" pools without DVC having any say? I hope to see more follow-up on this.

 

[CRobin]

Originally posted by Simba's Mom
While I hope this is the case-either CM was ill-informed or pool was at capacity, I'm kind of nervous. Can Disney choose to exclude DVC members from "their" pools without DVC having any say? I hope to see more follow-up on this.

Given the apparent increase of CM's not knowing the rules, my suggestion would be for all Pool Hoppers to print out the guidelines from the online Member Guidebook, and bring them along when you PH.

Of course, you must call ahead to ensure that they have not restricted the PH due to capacity.

BTW, don't waste your time getting into a debate with the first CM at the front desk. If they don't acknowledge the documentation, ask for a manager.

 

[JFS]

There's a good chance that the CM is ill-informed. Once we called front desk at BW to tell them that we would like to pool hop and the CM had no idea what we were talking about. You can always call member services to check into it.

 

[LisaSt]

I would guess it was just wrong info as we have PH'd to the pools all over Disney and never had any problems.

 

[patsal]

I think you ran into a misinformed CM. All pools except SAB and AKL were available to us during much of that time frame. We used points to stay at BCV to be able to use SAB.

 

[vernon]

I had this with Coronado Springs a couple of years back. The CM would not accept that DVC members were allowed to pool hop so I asked to talk to their superviser, explained the situation, offered to fax a copy of the guidelines and the superviser said they would make sure their staff were aware of the DVC situation.

I think you got a CM that wasn't aware of the situation.

 

[Bill K]

I am surprised that so many CM's are not informed, knowing that these employees go through a pretty intensive training program! Or is it a way to control us from pool hopping?

 

[Lesley]

Putting on the flame proof suit here....but knowing that the CM's are so misinformed (or uninformed....) I would not bother to call ahead about pool hopping. Or if you really want to go "by the book"....I'd call until I got the answer I wanted.

My general approach is to just go. Usually we go at times no one, or very few people, are at the pool anyway. Back when SAB was available we pool hopped on over and we were almost the only people there.

My disclaimer is that if the pool were obviously full, we'd skip on it.

I've seen too much about "illegal" pool hopping that they do nothing about, when the pools are so crowded no one can actually swim, to be concerned that I'll be kicked out for pool hopping when its part of our member benefits. I'm quite sure I'd leave voluntarily before the pool was closed to pool hopping due to capacity. I hate a crowded pool.

Bill K...I believe the training programs were cut back significantly several years ago. Many have noticed a big difference in the quality of service compared to years ago....but that's usually a topic of conversation over on the Rumors board, not here....

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Lesley
Putting on the flame proof suit here....but knowing that the CM's are so misinformed (or uninformed....) I would not bother to call ahead about pool hopping. Or if you really want to go "by the book"....I'd call until I got the answer I wanted.

My general approach is to just go. Usually we go at times no one, or very few people, are at the pool anyway. Back when SAB was available we pool hopped on over and we were almost the only people there.

My disclaimer is that if the pool were obviously full, we'd skip on it.

I've seen too much about "illegal" pool hopping that they do nothing about, when the pools are so crowded no one can actually swim, to be concerned that I'll be kicked out for pool hopping when its part of our member benefits. I'm quite sure I'd leave voluntarily before the pool was closed to pool hopping due to capacity. I hate a crowded pool.

Bill K...I believe the training programs were cut back significantly several years ago. Many have noticed a big difference in the quality of service compared to years ago....but that's usually a topic of conversation over on the Rumors board, not here....

As long as you're willing to be turned away, that is a very valid approach. The problem is you may get that same uninformed CM on your arrival at the PH desination.

 

[Disney Doll]

You know, we have only pool-hopped once, to BWV when we were staying at OKW but were spending the day at Epcot that day, and we just walked in and started swimming. I dind't realize that you had to call first etc. Nobody said a word to us. Of course, the pool was nowhere near capacity, so maybe they didn't care, and if it had been closer to capacity, someone might have said something. Of course, if the pool had been near capacity, we probably wouldn't have stayed either! Conversely, if a CM had told us we couldn't pool hop, we'd have probably just said "OK" and left, no biggie.

I seem to recall reading in either the newsletter or somewhere that pool-hopping would be banned for a period of time in July, but that may have been around 4th of July. I didn't pay much attention to it because we weren't going to be there!

In any event, I find that there are some CMs who are not terribly well-versed in the DVC rules & regs, so I generally make a copy of anything that I think might be pertinent for me on the trip, so that I can show it to them as reference. You can also have them call DVC MS to get the right info.

 

[Kewz1]

We don't pool hop very often but now when we do we no longer call the other resort. EVERYTIME we have done this the CM has NO idea what we are talking about. Once when we called the Poly my DH was on hold for 15-20 minutes while they transferred him to four different CMs. Now, we just show up. If the pool is busy we don't stay. Fortunately, we travel off season most of the time so we haven't had any problems.

Kristen

 

[lovwdwalot]

I'm with Disney Doll on this one. As I recall from the newsletter there is a black out date were you are not allowed to pool hop because of the resorts being busy. I'll check the disney web site for the dates.

 

[lovwdwalot]

OK, here is the info on pool hopping from the DVC Disney web site;

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.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Originally posted by Bill K
I am surprised that so many CM's are not informed, knowing that these employees go through a pretty intensive training program! Or is it a way to control us from pool hopping?

While it's no excuse, there must be an incredible amount of rules, regulation, procedures and policies for a CM to learn. Start with the fact that Disney is a large corp., then add in that fact that it is "Disney", finally factor in the dealing.with.the.public.issue, but they must have rules by the busload. And since DVC poolhopping is a limited perk - and even some of the DVCers don't call ahead - I'm not surprised that this is a very infrequent situation for the average CM to encounter.

That's why I, too, always bring a printout if it is something out of the ordinary....