Pools at other resorts

[HopperFan]

Quiet pools don't have lifeguards.

YES, some of them do. The POP quiet pools, while very quiet, are larger pools and they both have lifeguards, multiple, for long hours.

 

[Marionnette]

YES, some of them do. The POP quiet pools, while very quiet, are larger pools and they both have lifeguards, multiple, for long hours.

The "non-feature" Pools at the Values are considered "secondary Pools",not Quiet/Leisure Pools and are subject to Lifeguarded hours only.

Secondary Pools are much larger than the Quiet/Leisure Pools.

 

[ArwenMarie]

From the DVC Member website (you would have to be a member to be able to sign in and view this:

When staying on your Membership at any Disney Vacation Club Resort at Walt Disney World Resort, or Disney's Vero Beach Resort, you and any Guests staying with you are permitted to use most of the other Disney Vacation Club and Walt Disney World Resort hotel pools (in addition to the pool at the resort hotel at which you are staying) if they are not at capacity. If the pool you are visiting reaches capacity, you may be asked to leave in order to accommodate Guests of that Resort hotel. Please check with a host or hostess at the front desk of the resort you wish to visit before you go to find out about pool-access availability.

You must present your Magic Band or current Key to the World card with your "DVC Member" designation on it to use the other select Resort hotel pools. Pool hopping is not available at Bay Cove Pool at Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort, Uzima Pool and Samawati Springs Pool at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge, Stormalong Bay at Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts, the leisure pool at Disney's Beach Club Villas, the Lava Pool and leisure pool at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort and the pools at Disney's Art of Animation Resort. There are no exceptions to this policy.

Resort hotel pools may become unavailable from time to time due to capacity limitations. Due to the high occupancy that is expected, you and any Guests staying with you may not pool hop during the following dates*:

November 24 - 29 (Mon - Sat)
Dec 20, 2014 - Jan. 4, 2015 (Sat - Sun)
February 14 - 21, 2015 (Sun-Sat)
March 21 - April 5, 2015 (Sat - Sat)
June 27 - July 11, 2015 (Sat - Mon)
September 5 - September 7, 2015 (Fri - Mon)
November 22 - 29, 2015 (Sun- Sun)
Dec 19, 2015 - Jan. 3, 2016 (Sat - Sun)
*Other restricted dates may be added based on projected pool capacity.

As a reminder, please be mindful of the limited number of pool chairs available, and refrain from leaving towels or personal items on unoccupied pool chairs.​

Wow that is a lot of rules!

 

[HopperFan]

Sorry, everyone. I had no idea this was on the controversial topic list

Yeah, it is ..... it's hot because it is a well published rule at Disney pools with signs posted as you can see from a PP photo. The issue here is that the pools difference from one level resort to another is substantial and that is a major amenity that guests are being charged for. DVC members that can pool hop have paid dearly for that perk. If you have ever wandered a Disney hotel pool searching for a lounger let alone a couple together - you have felt the impact.

Many folks have tried to justify why it should be no big deal but there is also the flip side to consider:
- Where do you draw a line, one kid, three kids, five kids, no parent, two parents .... I doubt in most situations it is one child coming alone to swim. What if that day 10 families asked to have friends.
- Each of those people are also likely to place their towels, shoes, shirts on a lounger.
- Loungers, priceless commodity at some resorts. I saw AKL example given, one of the hardest pools to get a chair. It's frustrating. It's not right for chairs to be used by non hotel guests, your lounger is at another hotel. If you are hanging out and visiting you are likely lounging.
- Sure a life guard can tell you at 12 pm that it's fine and then at 2 pm a flood of folks come from the park and the pool is packed. Is the lifeguard going to ask all non guests to raise their hand so they can ask them to leave?

I understand ... yes we do go to Disney with family - always staying at different resorts. We have never joined at the pools. We plan a water park day and have a great time swimming, visiting, eating lunch. Otherwise our pool time is without each other just relaxing with our own families. There is plenty of other things to do together that we have fun doing.

PS Yes I have heard numerous times people in pool bragging they are pool hopping, even from offsite resorts....

 

[HopperFan]

Semantics. They are the called by most quiet pools because they have no activities, no games, no music blaring, no movies .... they have lifeguards.

 

[Allison]

I could probably give you 20 threads on this forum in about 5 minutes that have nothing to do with attractions and strategies.

I guess somebody should be moving them all then.

 

[anniemae]

Just curious, why would your friends think they could go to another resort and use the pool there?

You have to scan your band to get into SAB. Your friends would have seen that. They'd have to follow someone in. Wouldn't that be a clue?

I don't know, they just said they went swimming at sab one afternoon after epcot. I just assumed it was like the moderate resorts. We always stay at moderates and have always just walked into the pool area without any questions or band scanning. I was just thinking it was like that at all resorts so I didn't question them. When they went, I don't know how long the magic bands had been around, I think it was still a testing phase, so maybe they just recently started scanning?

 

[Marionnette]

I don't know, they just said they went swimming at sab one afternoon after epcot. I just assumed it was like the moderate resorts. We always stay at moderates and have always just walked into the pool area without any questions or band scanning. I was just thinking it was like that at all resorts so I didn't question them. When they went, I don't know how long the magic bands had been around, I think it was still a testing phase, so maybe they just recently started scanning?

No. We were there during the testing phase and they scanned MBs or asked for your KTTW (not everyone wanted to test the MBs).

You've needed a room key to get into SAB for a very long time and the CMs are very strict about EVERYONE, including children, having their MB or KTTW.

 

[grecorj]

Simple answer: The answer is no.

BUT the pool sign someone posted previously also said everyone must shower before entering the pool. Does everyone do that? I don't (unless you count the shower I took when I woke up that morning). Does anyone do that?? But it's a rule, just like the "exclusive use" rule.

My point is: these are the rules. Some may seem silly. Obey or disobey at your own risk. I doubt anyone is on shower check duty at the pool. But they may check your MB/room key. YMMV.

Some folks have helpfully suggested asking permission - great idea, but be prepared to accept "no" as the answer because like it or not it is the rule.

Mahalo.

 

[Nancyg56]

I think it is sad that so many people know what the rules are, and simply don't care. I guess for some it truly is what you can get away with doing, and not if it is something you should be doing. Asking permission from the life guard is one thing. Deciding for yourself to break the rules is another.

Exactly. If one has gained permission to do something from those in authority, it is not breaking a rule. Many times DIsney extends courtesies to guests that even if the folks on the DIS disagree with, the courtesy is still not breaking rules.

 

[Goofy_Disney_Dad]

A few years ago, when my oldest was in the college program, we spent many an afternoon at a resort pool. Deluxe, moderate or value, he seemed to be able to get us in whenever we wanted. He must have had friends at the resorts that bent the rules I suppose. We were offsite guests and weren't staying at any Disney resort. We must have gotten extremely lucky over and over again.

 

[Kristine316]

Yeah, it is ..... it's hot because it is a well published rule at Disney pools with signs posted as you can see from a PP photo. The issue here is that the pools difference from one level resort to another is substantial and that is a major amenity that guests are being charged for. DVC members that can pool hop have paid dearly for that perk. If you have ever wandered a Disney hotel pool searching for a lounger let alone a couple together - you have felt the impact.

Many folks have tried to justify why it should be no big deal but there is also the flip side to consider:
- Where do you draw a line, one kid, three kids, five kids, no parent, two parents .... I doubt in most situations it is one child coming alone to swim. What if that day 10 families asked to have friends.
- Each of those people are also likely to place their towels, shoes, shirts on a lounger.
- Loungers, priceless commodity at some resorts. I saw AKL example given, one of the hardest pools to get a chair. It's frustrating. It's not right for chairs to be used by non hotel guests, your lounger is at another hotel. If you are hanging out and visiting you are likely lounging.
- Sure a life guard can tell you at 12 pm that it's fine and then at 2 pm a flood of folks come from the park and the pool is packed. Is the lifeguard going to ask all non guests to raise their hand so they can ask them to leave?

I understand ... yes we do go to Disney with family - always staying at different resorts. We have never joined at the pools. We plan a water park day and have a great time swimming, visiting, eating lunch. Otherwise our pool time is without each other just relaxing with our own families. There is plenty of other things to do together that we have fun doing.

PS Yes I have heard numerous times people in pool bragging they are pool hopping, even from offsite resorts....

This 1000 times this!
Where do you draw the line?
Someone brings in a friend or two or three and then a pool gets busy very busy .. then do you tell the next guest who wants to bring in their family or friends not staying at the resort that now it's not ok? No, that hardly seems fair, if it was ok for this group, it should be ok for another.. Pretty soon the pool is packed and it is lessening the enjoyment for the family who actually paid premium prices to stay at that resort.

Some people will always think its ok and think those of us who don't like it are being uptight and over reacting. you know.... If the pool isn't busy what's the big deal type of attitude.

 

[prudence64]

OP here - just to be clear, I'm perfectly ok with taking no as the answer.

 

[cakebaker]

OP here - just to be clear, I'm perfectly ok with taking no as the answer.

Are you trying to stop a perfectly good dead horse beating?

 

[LuvGoofy6]

I don't know, they just said they went swimming at sab one afternoon after epcot. I just assumed it was like the moderate resorts. We always stay at moderates and have always just walked into the pool area without any questions or band scanning. I was just thinking it was like that at all resorts so I didn't question them. When they went, I don't know how long the magic bands had been around, I think it was still a testing phase, so maybe they just recently started scanning?

We stayed at YC before magic bands and were expected to show our room key. My son went down to meet my daughter and didn't have his room key and had to return to the room to get it.

Some people will always think its ok and think those of us who don't like it are being uptight and over reacting. you know.... If the pool isn't busy what's the big deal type of attitude.

Agree! As a family that paid to stay in the resort for the amenity of the pool I am glad they are strict. I looked at our upcoming dates to see resort price difference (not all were available) but I priced standard rooms. AK was $420, WL was $425 and the YC was $499. The difference between AK and YC is $79 a night x 6 nights is $474 more than what I would pay to stay at AK. So I am not ok with other resorts (even other Deluxe resorts) being able to pool hop.

 

[Reddog1134]

AK was $420, WL was $425 and the YC was $499. The difference between AK and YC is $79 a night x 6 nights is $474 more than what I would pay to stay at AK. So I am not ok with other resorts (even other Deluxe resorts) being able to pool hop.

Using that logic, it's OK to pool hop to a "lesser" resort but not a "better" resort.

 

[donnsuz]

Since this thread isn't locked yet, let me add another, similar, question. What about non-resort guests using the pool bars? Other than the Tambu lounge, which opens at 1:00pm all of the other WDW resort liquor establishments don't open until 5pm-ish. After a long, hot morning at the parks my DH and I like to find a quiet spot to have a libation in the very early afternoon. (Yes, I know this is early in the day but what with the time difference and we're on vacation, etc - it's 5 oclock somewhere, right). Because of the time of day, this leaves us with the pool bars as an option. We always stay off-site, so no we're not adding to the mouse's account for lodging. However, we have gone to parks, shopped, dined etc for nearly 50 days this past year, so it's not like they're not making a buck off of us. We wouldn't dream of using the pools nor do we sit in the lounges, use pool towels, etc. We usually sit at the bar, have a drink or two, chat with folks and move on. Yes, we tried to go to Stormalong Bay a couple of years ago - and yes, we were banned We always go in the off season so crowding has never been an issue. However, sitting at the pool bars at Poly, Wilderness, and AKL has been nice. I am seeing that with the new fencing it appears that we will soon be segregated out.

 

[ThistleMae]

We usually travel late fall so fortunately we haven't experienced not being able to get a lounge chair!

LOL! I've talked to people who travel in November and many of them have no interest in swimming at that time of year. I don't expect the pools to be crowded. And...I think it's perfectly fine to share swim time with family, who could not get into the same resort that you did! Sorry if this offends anyone...but just my opinion....obviously one of many. I do understand the aggravation if you are not able to get a chair...but this may be the case whether there is anyone from another resort there or not....just not enough chairs! Maintain the magical attitude....no matter what!

 

[ThistleMae]

Since this thread isn't locked yet, let me add another, similar, question. What about non-resort guests using the pool bars? Other than the Tambu lounge, which opens at 1:00pm all of the other WDW resort liquor establishments don't open until 5pm-ish. After a long, hot morning at the parks my DH and I like to find a quiet spot to have a libation in the very early afternoon. (Yes, I know this is early in the day but what with the time difference and we're on vacation, etc - it's 5 oclock somewhere, right). Because of the time of day, this leaves us with the pool bars as an option. We always stay off-site, so no we're not adding to the mouse's account for lodging. However, we have gone to parks, shopped, dined etc for nearly 50 days this past year, so it's not like they're not making a buck off of us. We wouldn't dream of using the pools nor do we sit in the lounges, use pool towels, etc. We usually sit at the bar, have a drink or two, chat with folks and move on. Yes, we tried to go to Stormalong Bay a couple of years ago - and yes, we were banned We always go in the off season so crowding has never been an issue. However, sitting at the pool bars at Poly, Wilderness, and AKL has been nice. I am seeing that with the new fencing it appears that we will soon be segregated out.

I don't know...I thought Disney was for everyone to enjoy! I think you will still have access to the bars....they are open to everyone....no matter what resort you are staying at. Maybe if there are no seats...we should start asking whether people are staying at the resort.

 

[ThistleMae]

I thought the "quiet pools" had lifeguards as well? At POP, the Bowling Pin Pool had three lifeguards every day even when the pool had two people in it.

I've stayed at POP several times. Whenever I've come back late, people are in the pool...there are no lifeguards there at that time of night. It's been very quiet and people are very considerate...it's one of the reason's I enjoy POP so much. This year I'm staying at Poly...in the fall...and it seems the pool hours will end early. I'm a little disappointed that I won't be able to swim at night and....I'm paying the big bucks to stay there. I'm not happy with this but I'm not going to let it ruin my vacation.