Pool Not Hopping

[Suellen]

Do you think if we wanted to go have a drink at another pool that would be allowed? Sit by the pool and have a drink or a snack?

Just curious.... I'm actually thinking like Bay Lake Towers, Beach Club or Animal Kingdom Lodge.... we are DVC members and can hop to any but those...

We are going with friends who have never been before and I was thinking they might like to see these pools and it would be a fun twist on resort hopping.

Thoughts?

Note: We would not have swimsuits or plan to swim at all.

 

[babyrich]

Do you think if we wanted to go have a drink at another pool that would be allowed? Sit by the pool and have a drink or a snack?

Just curious.... I'm actually thinking like Bay Lake Towers, Beach Club or Animal Kingdom Lodge.... we are DVC members and can hop to any but those...

We are going with friends who have never been before and I was thinking they might like to see these pools and it would be a fun twist on resort hopping.

Thoughts?

Note: We would not have swimsuits or plan to swim at all.

We stayed at Beach Club last year and anytime we went near the pool they checked to see if we had a room key. So my guess is that you wont be able to hang out by the pool unless your staying there.

 

[Suellen]

Last time we stayed they didn't check them after a certain time.... dark maybe... I'm just not sure if the pool bar would even be open then.

I suppose we could just ask.... it wouldn't hurt to ask.

Beach Club probably isn't that big of a deal... but Animal Kingdom would be nice.

 

[luvdisney24]

Do you think if we wanted to go have a drink at another pool that would be allowed? Sit by the pool and have a drink or a snack?

Just curious.... I'm actually thinking like Bay Lake Towers, Beach Club or Animal Kingdom Lodge.... we are DVC members and can hop to any but those...

We are going with friends who have never been before and I was thinking they might like to see these pools and it would be a fun twist on resort hopping.

Thoughts?

Note: We would not have swimsuits or plan to swim at all.

You can easily sit at the bar at Animal Kingdom Lodge. When I stayed at BLT, there was a gate around the pool which required a room key to access it so that may not be an option for you. Beach Club they usually ask for room keys.

 

[goofy4tink]

BLT is gated...you need a room key to access it. Othewise, you should be okay.
I have gone into the SAB area, with no wristband. You need a wristband to swim, not to sit. If you choose to head to any pools, where you aren't swimming, I would choose a seat somewhat removed from the edge of the pool. I have taken a chaise at SAB in the past, while waiting for someone to checkin at YC. I chose a chaise that was towards the rear of the pool area.
You don't want to take up prime real estate from those staying at the resort.

 

[Suellen]

Oh I wouldn't do that, we would always sit out of the way... and try to go at a not prime time.

 

[Jestocost]

BLT is gated...you need a room key to access it. Othewise, you should be okay.
I have gone into the SAB area, with no wristband. You need a wristband to swim, not to sit. If you choose to head to any pools, where you aren't swimming, I would choose a seat somewhat removed from the edge of the pool. I have taken a chaise at SAB in the past, while waiting for someone to checkin at YC. I chose a chaise that was towards the rear of the pool area.
You don't want to take up prime real estate from those staying at the resort.

We've actually stayed at BC when they were checking wristbands before allowing anyone into the pool area. That said, Hurricane Hanna's is outside the "secure area," so you could get a drink without a wristband even if they are being strict about it at that time. You just might have more limited seating options.

It shouldn't be a problem at all at AKL, since there is seating for the Mara that you could use after ordering a drink from the pool bar.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

Just to let you know - last summer was the first time they were checking wristbands even at night.

You could sit at Hurricane Hannah's, just not in the pool area proper.

 

[Suellen]

Just to let you know - last summer was the first time they were checking wristbands even at night.

You could sit at Hurricane Hannah's, just not in the pool area proper.

Hmmmm wonder if that was a busy time type thing... when we were there in December (it was warm enough that the pool was open) was when the lifeguard said they don't check them after sunset.

Either way.... as long as we can get over to the bar area I am happy.

 

[bookgirl]

Do you think if we wanted to go have a drink at another pool that would be allowed? Sit by the pool and have a drink or a snack?

Just curious.... I'm actually thinking like Bay Lake Towers, Beach Club or Animal Kingdom Lodge.... we are DVC members and can hop to any but those...

We are going with friends who have never been before and I was thinking they might like to see these pools and it would be a fun twist on resort hopping.

Thoughts?

Note: We would not have swimsuits or plan to swim at all.

At BC you can get a drink but you can't get into SAB to sit by the pool, BUT you can get your drink then go sit on the beach were there is seating. They are pretty strict about the showing of the keycard, even to sit or watch.

 

[goofy4tink]

I'm thrilled that they are making every person at the pool get a wristband. That hasn't been my experience to date, but it makes me very happy. Heck, I saw many people in the pool without wristbands!!! I also have seen people just walk by the CM at the towel shack, where they hand out wristbands, and no one said a word. Those people just walked in, sat down, and jumped in the pool.

 

[daisyduck123]

I'm thrilled that they are making every person at the pool get a wristband. That hasn't been my experience to date, but it makes me very happy. Heck, I saw many people in the pool without wristbands!!! I also have seen people just walk by the CM at the towel shack, where they hand out wristbands, and no one said a word. Those people just walked in, sat down, and jumped in the pool.

Just last summer I saw a guy (early 20s maybe) get tossed from SAB for not having a wristband. It was a lifeguard that called out to him in the water, told him he needed one, or he had to leave. He kind of shook his head, but exited the water. She then spoke into her radio & less than 60 seconds later a CM appeared to escort the young man to the boardwalk.

The CM at the SAB entrance even made me go back to the room to retrieve DS13's room key as they would not let him enter without it. Bad for me, but I was glad they were doing this.

 

[mmmagic7754]

AKL Jambo shouldn't be a problem but Kidani has a gated pool and you have to scan your room key.

 

[*Fantasia*]

I'm thrilled that they are making every person at the pool get a wristband. That hasn't been my experience to date, but it makes me very happy. Heck, I saw many people in the pool without wristbands!!! I also have seen people just walk by the CM at the towel shack, where they hand out wristbands, and no one said a word. Those people just walked in, sat down, and jumped in the pool.

Hmmm.. I wonder if those folks are friends/families of the CM/s. They just get wristbands so no other CMs will question them. I'm just curious. If they have rules.. enforce them. Do they only pick and choose when to enforce their rules when it's peak season vs. slow season? It shouldn't be like that.

 

[sjaakie]

A picture tells more than thousand words.

 

[MissionMouse]

In our experience at BC, the only people allowed within the pool fence are BC/YC resort guest who can produce their room key. You are stopped at any of the gates. Anyone found inside without a wrist band of the day were removed. Hurricane Hanna's is accessed inside the fence area and outside from the Epcot resort walkway. Non guest would have to get their order and use one of the tables/chairs outside of the pool fenced area. This is one of the better managed pool areas of all the deluxes. A good reason to stay here if you want to spend a lot of time at your resort's pool.

 

[mmmears]

In our experience at BC, the only people allowed within the pool fence are BC/YC resort guest who can produce their room key. You are stopped at any of the gates. Anyone found inside without a wrist band of the day were removed. Hurricane Hanna's is accessed inside the fence area and outside from the Epcot resort walkway. Non guest would have to get their order and use one of the tables/chairs outside of the pool fenced area. This is one of the better managed pool areas of all the deluxes. A good reason to stay here if you want to spend a lot of time at your resort's pool.

That's been my experience as well. They even wanted us to have one key per person, which surprised us since our DD doesn't generally have a key.

Like other PPs have said, it's possible to sit at the bar by the pool at AKL.

 

[Polydweller]

There is a lot of talk going around that all Disney resort pools will be fenced and gated. Apparently the Poly will be doing that sometime in the next year. Apparently checking of resort IDs has increased.

 

[Fuhnuh]

We were staying at BC late last August and decided to take a stroll through SAB on our arrival day after DD11 got some braids. We came in through the Hurricane Hannah's entrance and were asked for our room keys about seven steps in and again before we got back to the hotel. During our stay, we were asked for our keys every time except one time. That time I asked a inattentive CM for wristbands because they seemed to be on it within the pool area. I was wearing my wristband on my left wrist and was told by several CM's that I needed a wrist band. Looking for it on the right hand? I felt they did a pretty good job monitoring it overall.

 

[goofy4tink]

Just last summer I saw a guy (early 20s maybe) get tossed from SAB for not having a wristband. It was a lifeguard that called out to him in the water, told him he needed one, or he had to leave. He kind of shook his head, but exited the water. She then spoke into her radio & less than 60 seconds later a CM appeared to escort the young man to the boardwalk.

The CM at the SAB entrance even made me go back to the room to retrieve DS13's room key as they would not let him enter without it. Bad for me, but I was glad they were doing this.

Hmmm.. I wonder if those folks are friends/families of the CM/s. They just get wristbands so no other CMs will question them. I'm just curious. If they have rules.. enforce them. Do they only pick and choose when to enforce their rules when it's peak season vs. slow season? It shouldn't be like that.

There is a lit of talk going around that all Disney resort pools will be fenced and gated. Apparently the Poly will be doing that sometime in the next year. Apparently checkin of resort IDs has increased.

Hearing these experiences makes me really happy. I wish that all the pool areas were gated and had key access only. I have had to search for decent seating at most of the resorts that have nearby park access....Polynesian, YC/BC, BW. Drives me nuts. This is the reason I no longer stay at YC/BC....I hated seeing a lot of people in the pool area without wristbands.
I think it would be so easy to fence in the pool areas. Disney is very good at 'hiding' stuff...shouldn't be an issue to make the pool areas accessible by guests only, while maintaining it's themeing.