Pool Pass?

[tampapirate]

This past week at the YC I ran into someone who mentioned they have a “pool pass" to Disney. Since I own nearly every pass there is to Disney (DDE, DVC and PAP), I was very curious of this card. Has anyone ever heard of this before?

 

[epcotfan]

Nope. Never heard of it.

 

[msteddom]

My guess would be that they were referring to DVC pool hopping privledges.

 

[Tiger Fan]

I hate to even mention this, it will really get some people worked up. In all fairness, I was pretty worked up when it happened, but here goes. In June, 2001 we were staying at The Yacht Club. We were enjoying Storm-a-long Bay until a group (45+) of daycare kids and their 2-3 staff members arrived. They all came in a single file line and it was very obvious they were with a childcare group. Me being curious I began to speak with one of the ladies in charge of this group and found out she owns a daycare and Disney gives them pool passes for a "great deal". I was livid! I proceeded to go to one of the lifeguards and question this and was told that this group comes once a week. The kids were not that bad, but it did make an already crowded area worse. I complained to the front desk later that day and really couldn't get a straight answer from anyone. Lots of passing the buck, "we'll check on that" kind of thing. I mentioned it again at check-out and wrote a note on our comment card, but never heard a word back. I try very hard not to gripe and complain, especially about Disney as I'm very loyal, but this was a big disappointment. Just had to share this one experience on the "pool pass".
Lisa

 

[admiral nelson]

Some little kids stole a bit of your pool time. Oh the horror!
If they were well behaved, why would you make such a big deal out of it?

 

[MrsPete]

Admiral Nelson -- I DO think this is a big deal! This person has paid a premium price for a deluxe hotel room, and he or she expects to have use of one of the nicest pools on Disney property. No pool is fun when it's overcrowded (and this person did say that the pool was already crowded when these 45 kids showed up). I think it's very wrong for Disney to allow non-hotel guests to use the pools.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by admiral nelson
Some little kids stole a bit of your pool time. Oh the horror!
If they were well behaved, why would you make such a big deal out of it?

Because they added to the already croded situation, as the poster remarked.

Anne

 

[Scoootch]

I thought that is why they have waterparks?!!

Is it just me or would that have made more sense?!!

 

[Lewisc]

Originally posted by Scoootch
I thought that is why they have waterparks?!!

Is it just me or would that have made more sense?!!

I believe the poster but agree this doesn't make much sense. Could it be some type of day care on Disney property for cast members? That's about the only thing that makes sense.

 

[Eeyore1954]

Originally posted by MrsPete
Admiral Nelson -- I DO think this is a big deal! This person has paid a premium price for a deluxe hotel room, and he or she expects to have use of one of the nicest pools on Disney property. No pool is fun when it's overcrowded (and this person did say that the pool was already crowded when these 45 kids showed up). I think it's very wrong for Disney to allow non-hotel guests to use the pools.

Disney does OWN the property, so I imagine they can do whatever they want to with it.

This was one day out of this person's vacation. Unless they were there for only 1 night, I imagine there were other days to enjoy the pool.

Besides it's not like guests OWN the pool.

 

[Tiger Fan]

"Could it be some type of day care on Disney property for cast members? "

In my talking with the lady she stated the name of her daycare. It was something like Ms. Kelly's Kids (not this, but a similar name, heck it's been two years - !) She was very forthcoming about how Disney was so great in letting them get pool passes for the summer. They were not affiliated with Disney and I could tell she felt like they were welcome to be there. The lifeguards all seemed well aware of this group, but a couple did complain that now they were babysitting. I made sure to check this out with different lifeguards and the front desk and I was disappointed how the front desk staff were very vague and non-committal about this "program". While I was pleasant, it was obvious that I didn't think this a good idea and they made an effort to minimize the situation and promise "get back to you", when they never did. This was our first stay at a deluxe at that time and while it didn't ruin our stay amiral nelson, I do feel that this type of "pool pass" in inappropriate. Just sharing my experience.
Lisa

 

[photobob]

I have to agree, if you pay the huge amount that YC and BC requires you are paying for the priviledge of use of the facilities. I would be cheesed as well if 45 kids were allowed to use the pool. When we were there during Memorial day weekend you had to show your resort key and get a wristband to use the pool. Later in the week however when crowds were lower there were no such restrictions.

 

[MrsPete]

It's true that Disney does own the pool, but they make it very clear that people from other hotels are not free to pool-hop into Storm-along Bay. Why? Because they don't want the pool to be overcrowded. Why then would they sell pool passes to locals? Especially to large groups of children?

I don't see the "it's only one day" logic at all. I have only one week for my Disney vacation. I expect to have use of the facilities for which I've paid for all seven days! Plus, this certainly isn't the only pool pass that's been sold. Suppose other groups show up on other days? Is that fair to people who have paid $400/night to stay at this hotel?

For those who say it doesn't matter, how about this:

You've paid for concierge service. Do you mind if I just sneak in for a few minutes -- I promise I'll just have a cup of coffee, read the paper, and I'll be out of there.

Sure, you've rented that nice waterfront room for the week, but Disney does OWN the room. So you won't mind if they allow me to come sit on your balcony a while, will you?

How about if I drive in from HoJos and park in the Yacht Club parking lot so I can catch the bus over to the Magic Kingdom? After all, why should I pay for parking?

My point: When you pay for a hotel room and you're promised certain amenities, you have every right to use those facilities. People who aren't guests of that hotel do not. Apparently Disney doesn't think people mind -- I suggest that everyone who does mind should write a letter telling them how you feel. I will.

 

[>>^..^<<]

Originally posted by MrsPete


My point: When you pay for a hotel room and you're promised certain amenities, you have every right to use those facilities.

People who aren't guests of that hotel do not.

MrsPete - the poster indicated that the day care goup had paid for some type of pool pass that permitted them to be there.

Selling pool priledges would be a money making venture for Disney.

>>^..^<<

 

[bratray]

hi

i too would be peeved if that large of a group came into the pool and didn't stay at the hotel

whether you stay at a value, moderate or deluxe, the pools should be for the guest of that resort

being the guest of any WDW resort; we pay a lot of money to have these privilidges and if WDW is trying to make an extra buck then they should have these groups using the water parks, not the resort pools

Lisa

 

[Eeyore1954]

Originally posted by MrsPete
It's true that Disney does own the pool, but they make it very clear that people from other hotels are not free to pool-hop into Storm-along Bay. Why? Because they don't want the pool to be overcrowded. Why then would they sell pool passes to locals? Especially to large groups of children?

To make money? After all that is what businesses do. Also maybe to promote some good will; for good publicity locally -- any number of valid reasons.

I don't see the "it's only one day" logic at all. I have only one week for my Disney vacation. I expect to have use of the facilities for which I've paid for all seven days! Plus, this certainly isn't the only pool pass that's been sold. Suppose other groups show up on other days? Is that fair to people who have paid $400/night to stay at this hotel?

No one is stopping you from using the pool. If you choose to do in the summer, you can be fairly certain Disney will be crowded, including the pools. Your $400 gives you a room and access to the pool -- not ownership rights to it.

For those who say it doesn't matter, how about this:

You've paid for concierge service. Do you mind if I just sneak in for a few minutes -- I promise I'll just have a cup of coffee, read the paper, and I'll be out of there.

Sure, you've rented that nice waterfront room for the week, but Disney does OWN the room. So you won't mind if they allow me to come sit on your balcony a while, will you?

How about if I drive in from HoJos and park in the Yacht Club parking lot so I can catch the bus over to the Magic Kingdom? After all, why should I pay for parking?

You are trying to compare apples and oranges now and your comparisons border on absurd.

My point: When you pay for a hotel room and you're promised certain amenities, you have every right to use those facilities. People who aren't guests of that hotel do not. Apparently Disney doesn't think people mind -- I suggest that everyone who does mind should write a letter telling them how you feel. I will.

As I said above, no one is stopping or preventing you from using the pool. It's a matter of sharing and when you choose to go during crowded times, you shouldn't expect exclusive use of the facilities.

 

[ducklite]

Originally posted by Eeyore1954
It's a matter of sharing and when you choose to go during crowded times, you shouldn't expect exclusive use of the facilities.

Actually, considering that Disney signage and the written info they give you at check-in all VERY SPECIFICALLY states "For the exclusive use of guests of the XXX resort", it is quite reasonable to believe that you and your fellow guests will have exclusive use of the pools. WDW is acting inappropriately. They imply a promise of exclusitivity, and are not delivering on that promise. At the very least its bad business ethics.

Anne

 

[sardan]

Oh Geez, stop the whining! Write a letter to Disney. If you don't get satisfaction (don't know what you want out of all of this), then write your Congressman. If you still aren't satisfied, then don't stay at the Y&B. If that doesn't work, vacation at Sea World.

Just please stop the whining.

 

[Eeyore1954]

Originally posted by ducklite
Actually, considering that Disney signage and the written info they give you at check-in all VERY SPECIFICALLY states "For the exclusive use of guests of the XXX resort", it is quite reasonable to believe that you and your fellow guests will have exclusive use of the pools. WDW is acting inappropriately. They imply a promise of exclusitivity, and are not delivering on that promise. At the very least its bad business ethics.

Anne

Everything I read so far did not indicate that Tiger Fan was completely prevented from using the pool. Her complaint was that it made the pool more crowded. WDW is well within their rights as the property owner to amend their rules of use anytime they desire to. They do this all the time.

As for inappropriate, it is not inappropriate as WDW did not deny use of the pool to any guest. The pool continued to be available for use. I am sure if the addition of the children would have maxed out the pool capacity, the resort manager would have done something about it.

The promise of exclusitivity does not imply a personal exclusitivity, as in, each guest has absolute exclusive access to the pool to the exclusion of all other individuals. Disney says it restricts access to SAB to guests of the YC/BC. However, they have allowed guests from other resorts and non-guests to use the pool as has been reported on the DISboards with some gusto (not to mention outrage).

Finally, as for bad business ethics, what ethics is Disney violating, except for some individual's personal desires to have a crowd-free time at SAB?

If you want to avoid crowds at Disney pools and water parks, go during the value seasons.

 

[bratray]

Sardan-welcome- i notice you are new to these wonderful boards.

i don't think anyone is whining just stating their opinion- after all this is what these boards are for.....

if people only had positive things to say about WDW we would all wonder if the posters were legit or being paid by WDW (LOL)

lisa