Pool question, No flames please just need clarification

[Jasminetigger]

We will be headed to Wilderness Lodge this month. The In-Laws just informed us they would be joining us for a few days on our vacation. They will be staying at POFQ. My questions is can they join us at our pool as a visitor and vice versa. I thought I read on another post that as a vistior, they could. If so, do I need to let anyone know. If this is not allowed, I totally understand and we will not do this. I am not trying to cheat anyone. I am not trying to bend any rules or get through a loop hole. I just want clarification on the rules.

 

[TammiMcMan]

Of course if they are just coming over to sit by the pool and visit, then that's not a problem at all. If you or they want to swim at each others pool then technically no, but there are a few ways to handle this and still comply with the rules. First, if you have occupancy open, you can list them on your reservation and vice versa. You'll be responsible for paying the $25 fee for each adult over the limit of 2 however. For instance if it's just you and DH at the WL and the resort room limit is 5, then you can add 3 more guests to your room. If you can't accomodate the room occupancy limit, then you probably want to inquire at the front desk about this. It may depend on daily occupancy rates at the resort, or it could be a strictly enforced policy of no pool hopping period. The most accurate answer would come from them though.

 

[Alicnwondrln]

i believe tammi is right
i would also call and ask how it works
it cant hurt
have they thought of staying at the WL instead

 

[Jasminetigger]

i believe tammi is right
i would also call and ask how it works
it cant hurt
have they thought of staying at the WL instead

We tried to get them into WL, but nothing available. I was surprised they got POFQ at such a short notice.

 

[Suzanne74]

Okay - I have stayed at poly and have seen many people come in from the TTC and CR to use poly pools (sand buckets, bathing suits on etc... gave it away.) Yes, I was a little annoyed but in all honesty - the only pool in WDW that regulates guests is Beach Club. The others don't give a hoot if you are their guests or not whether it is a "law" somewhere or not - it is not enforced or people hopping off monorails in full pool gear would be questioned. I know a lot of people her on the dis will flame me but I personally would never pay a $25 per person to add someone to my guestroom if they weren't actually staying there just to spend some time with their family by the pool. It would cost you $100 for you to be "allowed" to switch back and forth. Crazy!! The amount of time by the pool will be slim and I would just visit each other and enjoy it. No one will ask you anything. Your situation, for me doesn't count as breaking any hard core rules. If WDW wanted to truly enforce no pool hopping, we would all have bands or be questioned with room keys like Beach Club.

Flame suit on!!!

 

[colleen costello]

A reasonable option if you fear the crowd (or contributing to it!) will be to swim with them at the quiet pool by the Villas end of the Lodge. It is smaller but rarely too busy and there are usually chairs available whenever you go.

Have fun!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Okay - I have stayed at poly and have seen many people come in from the TTC and CR to use poly pools (sand buckets, bathing suits on etc... gave it away.) Yes, I was a little annoyed but in all honesty - the only pool in WDW that regulates guests is Beach Club. The others don't give a hoot if you are their guests or not whether it is a "law" somewhere or not - it is not enforced or people hopping off monorails in full pool gear would be questioned. I know a lot of people her on the dis will flame me but I personally would never pay a $25 per person to add someone to my guestroom if they weren't actually staying there just to spend some time with their family by the pool. It would cost you $100 for you to be "allowed" to switch back and forth. Crazy!! The amount of time by the pool will be slim and I would just visit each other and enjoy it. No one will ask you anything. Your situation, for me doesn't count as breaking any hard core rules. If WDW wanted to truly enforce no pool hopping, we would all have bands or be questioned with room keys like Beach Club.

Flame suit on!!!

No flames here! I couldn't agree with you more.

 

[Jasminetigger]

Thank you everyone for your helpful replies. Thanks for no flames!

 

[rileyroosmom]

We stayed at the WL last year and my father came to visit for the day. We spoke to the CM at the front desk and asked if it would be a problem for him to spend the day at the pool. No problem, they put his name on the check in list at the gate.

 

[epcotfan]

Your best bet would be to ask the lifeguards as they have better knowledge of the pool capacity and occupancy, rather than the front desk. The WL pool is very small compared to other resorts.

 

[MelanieC]

Okay - I have stayed at poly and have seen many people come in from the TTC and CR to use poly pools (sand buckets, bathing suits on etc... gave it away.) Yes, I was a little annoyed but in all honesty - the only pool in WDW that regulates guests is Beach Club. The others don't give a hoot if you are their guests or not whether it is a "law" somewhere or not - it is not enforced or people hopping off monorails in full pool gear would be questioned. I know a lot of people her on the dis will flame me but I personally would never pay a $25 per person to add someone to my guestroom if they weren't actually staying there just to spend some time with their family by the pool. It would cost you $100 for you to be "allowed" to switch back and forth. Crazy!! The amount of time by the pool will be slim and I would just visit each other and enjoy it. No one will ask you anything. Your situation, for me doesn't count as breaking any hard core rules. If WDW wanted to truly enforce no pool hopping, we would all have bands or be questioned with room keys like Beach Club.

I agree!

 

[ruttie]

its just for a day and you said you tried to get them in... let them use the pool and enjoythe time with them... i think it is greatthat you are at 2 different hotels that way you can see the difference in the pools and get a little variety... enjoy!!! We just got back from AKL and had my SIL come up for the day to see us and let our kids spend time with each other i simply asked at guest services and they said no problem and issued us another car pass... i figure as long as you ask and they say it is ok your fine...

 

[Jasminetigger]

its just for a day and you said you tried to get them in... let them use the pool and enjoythe time with them... i think it is greatthat you are at 2 different hotels that way you can see the difference in the pools and get a little variety... enjoy!!! We just got back from AKL and had my SIL come up for the day to see us and let our kids spend time with each other i simply asked at guest services and they said no problem and issued us another car pass... i figure as long as you ask and they say it is ok your fine...

I'm glad to hear of your similar experience. The reason I posted this was I was hoping to get responses from people who had this situation before and see how it was handled. Hopefully all will go smoothly for us. Thanks for your opinion.

 

[ducklite]

Okay - I have stayed at poly and have seen many people come in from the TTC and CR to use poly pools (sand buckets, bathing suits on etc... gave it away.)

Actually when we were staying at the Polynesian last sumemr we saw more than a few people get the boot--the life guards were checking ID's.

I've also seen ID checks at the BW pools in the past couple of years.

To the OP--why not plan on spending a day at a water park--problem solved!

Anne

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Actually when we were staying at the Polynesian last sumemr we saw more than a few people get the boot--the life guards were checking ID's.

I've also seen ID checks at the BW pools in the past couple of years.

To the OP--why not plan on spending a day at a water park--problem solved!

Anne

Out of curiousity---how do they check. Resort ID's do not indicate the resort you are staying at and all keys look the same. Are they checking against a roster?

(Not trying to cause problems--genuinely curious!) We have not pool hopped since when WL first opened and it was allowed way back when.

 

[skiwee1]

Actually when we were staying at the Polynesian last sumemr we saw more than a few people get the boot--the life guards were checking ID's.

I've also seen ID checks at the BW pools in the past couple of years.

To the OP--why not plan on spending a day at a water park--problem solved!

Anne

Same here Anne. I have seen folks get the boot every trip in the last 3 years. We go twice a year so that is a lot of people! I go in May and October when it isn't high season so I can't imagine how many are kicked out in high season.

 

[puffkin]

I really don't think this would be a problem, especially if they are with you. I have never seen anyone booted from a pool, and we always go in the summer when it is packed.

I guess they would have to understand that they may be asked to leave if they are "caught" but I doubt that will happen if they are with you. I wouldn't even say anything and draw attention to them being with you unless the situation arises.

I think the people who get the boot most often are those who are day guests and leave the parks for a few hours to swim at the resorts. They wouldn't have resort id's.

 

[maryliz]

LLP - the code that is on your resort ID has a specific number that is unique to each resort. We wouldn't know it, but CM's can tell by the number which resort you're at.

MaryLiz

 

[Suzanne74]

To the OP--why not plan on spending a day at a water park--problem solved!

IMO, I personally don't think shelling out $30+ dollars a person for a water park just to sit by the pool and chat together is a reasonable option. Not only is it a hassle but it is expensive.

Well each family would actually be staying at one of the resorts and have a card that represents them, actually probably 2 of them - so that wouldn't be an issue even if someone did ask them - unless they started asking for photo ID's. Also, I just got back from Poly and it was very busy and did not see anyone get carded. As a matter of fact, most of time, I didn't have a card on me when dd and dh napped in the room during the day. Do you think they would tell me that I need to go back up to my room and show them? I doubt it. I am not saying it never happens but I would have to think it is for the more obvious "non resorters" with all their gear and 3 kids running around - not 2 parents of a guest. Like other people have posted, if you ask - they just add your name for the day, no fee and it is not a problem. Even if they didn't sign them in, you surely don't think her parents who visit them for the day and are sitting by the pool will actually get kicked out????

 

[Lewisc]

If all you want to do is hang out by the pool and visit just go to the quiet pool. Almost all of the "enforcement" and complaints are guests using the theme or main pool. It's questionable if the theme pools are large enough to even handle the occupancy of the resort, certainly not big enough to handle friends and relatives of registered guests. If the pool isn't mobbed the CM will probably give you permission.

Vegas hotels have had to go to the point of not only checking the room key of EVERY guest but actually scan the card to make sure it's current and active. Disney could certainly require every guest, including children, have a resort ID card and could even deactive old cards for guests that "lose" their room key so they have extras. It's a shame that many of us think that's necessary.

Generally the CM will allow family members of guest staying in another resort to hang out by the pool but some families think two people staying in the POLY should be allowed to have 10 or more guests staying in a value resort or even offsite join them at the pool.