Pool privileges for POFQ guests only-how strict are they?

[davispigeon]

Please don't flame me. I have gathered that talking about pool privileges can be contentious.

I'm trying to put together a pizza pool party for a group of 20 adults + 6 toddlers. We're planning on doing it at the POFQ pool. Three of the families are staying at Port Orleans, one is at AKL, one is at POP and I'm not sure about the others. I know a couple of the families are staying off-WDW.

Will we be hassled since we're not all guests at PO? Will someone ask for room keys to verify that we're all guests at the resort? We'll be eating from the POFQ food court but are going to sit in the pool area to eat to avoid herding all those toddlers into a restaurant. Do people not staying at WDW commonly go to WDW resorts to eat?

Has anybody done this before?
Thanks in advance for your advice/words of wisdom.

 

[madalex]

Pool hopping is not permitted at WDW (which you suggest you know, but have asked the question anyway). That being said, for a situation of the type you describe, your best bet is to discuss your idea with management at the resort and see if something can be worked out for your large group. I would not suggest trying to sneak people in, hoping you do not get caught, as that will only result in embarrassment for everyone if you do get caught.

 

[Sammie]

As stated the pool is only for those actually staying at that resort. I would suggest everyone meet at a water park.

Meeting at the food court to eat, would be acceptable, using the pool is not.

 

[MrsPMC00]

As stated the pool is only for those actually staying at that resort. I would suggest everyone meet at a water park.

Meeting at the food court to eat, would be acceptable, using the pool is not.

I could not agree more!!! I am staying at POFQ and would be less than thrilled to see what the OP suggests!!!

 

[spiceycat]

I would plan on eating in the food court - not outside.

florida weather is not predictability.

so plan on eating inside.

for those staying offsite you might need to verify with security that they are your guest.

so if you are waiting in the food court - either leave someone in the room to answer the phone. or see about transfering calls from your room to your cell phone.

 

[davispigeon]

Oh dear. I was afraid of this. I'm just pulling my hair out trying to organize this gathering. It's going to be too chaotic with all those wee ones to go to an actual restaurant. I thought fewer people would be bothered poolside.

I don't think meeting at a waterpark would work...we're looking at gathering for dinner (when everyone geti into town) and I can't imagine that anyone will want to pay the entry fee to a waterpark just for dinner. Plus there are transportation issues for those of us staying at WDW without rental cars.

 

[msteddom]

Why don't you have dinner at Ohana. They are great at handeling large groups!

Melissa

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) It sounds like you want to cheat the system.
2) Hold a pool party, even to the point of including people not staying on-site.
3) Just to save a few dollars.
4) I think you know better.

 

[davispigeon]

Sigh. I'm sorry that I gave the impression that I am trying to cheat the system. I am TRYING to have an enjoyable get together with friends who have small children (all under two). I certainly considered Ohana but was advised by other Disboard members that it wouldn't be a great idea with all those babies, not to mention people having different arrival times into Orlando that afternoon/evening. Many posters were horrified at the thought of taking 6 little ones to a sit-down restaurant.
The pool party idea was suggested by another Disboard member. I thought it would be a good solution.
I think I'm going to contact WDW and see what they can do for us.

BTW: I've never been to WDW so really haven't a clue how strict their policies are.

 

[hollieplus2]

Please don't bring a big group of people to the pool for a party, especially when half of the group isn't staying at POFQ. Finding a place to sit poolside is hard enough. It's not fair for the people who actually paid to use the pool. If I am at the pool and there is a big group of people who aren't actually hotel residents I would be complaining in a heart beat. I'm not going to sit on the concrete under sun and watch people cheat the system and take my shade.

 

[J.C.&ALI'SMOM]

Oh dear. I was afraid of this. I'm just pulling my hair out trying to organize this gathering. It's going to be too chaotic with all those wee ones to go to an actual restaurant. I thought fewer people would be bothered poolside.

I don't think meeting at a waterpark would work...we're looking at gathering for dinner (when everyone geti into town) and I can't imagine that anyone will want to pay the entry fee to a waterpark just for dinner. Plus there are transportation issues for those of us staying at WDW without rental cars.

It would be difficult for those staying at other WDW hotels to get to PO if they don't have a car. They would have to take a bus to a park and transfer to a PO bus. It could take a long time.

 

[Hopefully]

I think your assumption that fewer people will be bothered poolside is fundamentally incorrect. Maybe in total numbers involved.
But 26 people, including 6 active toddlers, will be a great inconvenience to those guests of POFQ, The area is not huge, and will not accomodate a lot of extra people above those registesred guests trying to swim and use their pool. Besides being against the rules it is not a good idea. Sorry to rain on your parade.

 

[hygienejean]

Sigh. I'm sorry that I gave the impression that I am trying to cheat the system. I am TRYING to have an enjoyable get together with friends who have small children (all under two). I certainly considered Ohana but was advised by other Disboard members that it wouldn't be a great idea with all those babies, not to mention people having different arrival times into Orlando that afternoon/evening. Many posters were horrified at the thought of taking 6 little ones to a sit-down restaurant.
The pool party idea was suggested by another Disboard member. I thought it would be a good solution.
I think I'm going to contact WDW and see what they can do for us.

BTW: I've never been to WDW so really haven't a clue how strict their policies are.

It is surely stressful trying to plan something for a large group.

I like your idea of contacting management about the pool. If that doesn't work have you thought of planning some sort of grand gathering for your group? A wishes cruise?

Just a thought... good luck!

 

[ducklite]

Because you're not all staying at the same resort and won't have cars, a more nuetral meeting place would be a better choice.

How about meeting at Dowtown Disney and eating at Earl of Sandwich then letting the kids play at the Lego Store playground or in teh splash fountain?

That's a busy, noisy area and no one would be bothered by a large group.

Anne

 

[edcrbnsoul]

Maybe Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach would be a better choice.

 

[davispigeon]

Well I called and spoke to a CM at PO and she assured me that the gathering would be no problem. She said that those of us staying at PO are allowed to have guests visit us and use the pool.
Is the pool area really so tiny that 26 people would make a huge impact?
Oh and it will be a Sunday evening in November.

 

[Allison]

Well I called and spoke to a CM at PO and she assured me that the gathering would be no problem. She said that those of us staying at PO are allowed to have guests visit us and use the pool.
Is the pool area really so tiny that 26 people would make a huge impact?
Oh and it will be a Sunday evening in November.

There are not a huge number of tables and chairs so if your group would use 26 chairs and an estimate of 7 tables, yes, that would make quite an impact. POFQ is the smallest of the moderates resorts (maybe the smallest of all resorts) and only has 1 pool.

Just a warning, I have had a lot of CM's give me incorrect information over the phone. They don't seem to be well versed on actual policy so be aware.

 

[Lynne M]

26 people would take up a significant amount of space at the POFQ pool. The resort isn't that large to begin with, and if all 20 of your adult guests took a chair.....wow. I'm trying to remember how many chairs/lounges there were at the pool, but I don't think there were more than 50. So, your group could take up nearly half of the available chairs. If I were a guest at POFQ and couldn't get a chair at the pool because of a large party consisting mostly of people who weren't staying at the resort, yes, I'd be mightily ticked off.

It's also going to be difficult for your guests to get to POFQ, if they don't have cars. The ones who are staying at WDW resorts will have to take a bus to a theme park, then transfer to a POFQ bus. The ones who are staying offsite....forget it. Take their resort shuttle to TTC, get a bus/monorail to a theme park, transfer to a POFQ bus....and that's if their resort shuttle happens to be leaving at a time that works for your party.

I think Anne's idea makes much more sense. DTD is easy for everyone to get to, there's plenty of open seating by the water, you can get ice cream at Ghirardelli, sandwiches at Earl of Sandwich, there's fountains, Lego, all kinds of stuff to keep the little ones occupied.

 

[hollieplus2]

I don't mean to be harsh but what you are planning on doing is very selfish considering all the other people who paid to sit at the pool won't be able to so you can have a party. Imagine if you were the one w/ a kid going down to the pool you paid $150 a night to use and none of the chairs were open becuase a party was going on for people who aren't even guests. You might be a little ticked off. I know it sounds like fun and even though someone might allow it doesn't always mean it's a good idea. I would try to go someplace that's open to the public and have your party there. Why not go to one of the hotels off site? I'm sure they would have a picnic area or something.

 

[ducklite]

Well I called and spoke to a CM at PO and she assured me that the gathering would be no problem. She said that those of us staying at PO are allowed to have guests visit us and use the pool.
Is the pool area really so tiny that 26 people would make a huge impact?
Oh and it will be a Sunday evening in November.

The CM's at the front desk have ZERO authority over the pool. The pool and it's surrounding deck are the auspices of the lifeguard/recreation and security staff.

That said, yes, the pool area at that resort is small enough that the extra guests could make an impact. Another thing to think about is that there are very few tables there, and you will not likely find enough side-by-side to accomodate your group.

I would seriously consider other options.

Anne