Pools at other resorts

[maxiesmom]

I'm staying at a moderate resort right now and I'm glad people not here are so fast and loose with the amenities I have paid for.

 

[piccolopat]

These are the types of artificial arguments that occur on the DIS that never replicate themselves in real life. Outside of Stormalong Bay, it's not likely to be an issue.

I agree that you may not see an issue with this at all resort pools, but it can be an issue at any resort that is easily accessible from a park or if a resort's pool is special in any way. If Disney didn't check everyone's MB, what would stop a family from hopping the monorail to use the Poly pool midday when they were hot? Resort amenities should only be for the resort guests who pay for them.

 

[LaurenT]

But it is. If your daughter's friend did not pay to stay at a resort and that stay includes the use of the pool, she shouldn't be allowed to use the pool. Either way, she is expecting to use something that she hasn't paid for, whether that is park access, the room next to yours or use of a resort pool.

We just disagree. I don't think every use is comparable, you do. That's ok. If the room is just me and my DD and a friend comes to play, I don't see that as being different than having the friend stay in our room.

 

[Marionnette]

Every main pool at Disney resorts has a sign similar to this one:

So, there you have it in writing...the pools are for use by the registered guests of that resort. They are not for use by guests staying at another resort and visiting friends staying at that resort. That's the OFFICIAL word on the subject.

Then there's what happens in practice, which is an entirely different thing. Disney is pretty lax in enforcing their own rules if it means making a guest unhappy. So quite often the answer is "yes" on a case-by-case basis when the official policy is an unequivocal "no".

I think that the best you can do is ask either at the front desk or one of the lifeguards before bringing your friends to your resort. If the answer is "no" then there's always the option of going to one of the water parks so that the families can enjoy pool time together.

 

[piccolopat]

We just disagree. I don't think every use is comparable, you do. That's ok. If the room is just me and my DD and a friend comes to play, I don't see that as being different than having the friend stay in our room.

Register her as a guest in your room and I would agree she can use the pool.

 

[prudence64]

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

 

[maxiesmom]

We just disagree. I don't think every use is comparable, you do. That's ok. If the room is just me and my DD and a friend comes to play, I don't see that as being different than having the friend stay in our room.

And I'm sure you are aware every guest in a room is supposed to be noted on the reservation. And the appropriate fees paid.

 

[Marionnette]

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

No worries! You have your answer. At least you'll be prepared before your trip. Enjoy it regardless of where you end up swimming!

 

[CinderElsa]

I would neither notice nor care if a little girl's visiting friend swam with her. I don't go on vacation to be the Pool Police.

It would be considerate to ask a lifeguard.

 

[LaurenT]

And I'm sure you are aware every guest in a room is supposed to be noted on the reservation. And the appropriate fees paid.

Yes. As a DVC owner, I can have five people in my room and not pay a penny more than if it's just me. So, I can note her on the reservation even if she's not staying in the room and have Disney issue extra MBs, but I don't see the point in doing that. Again? I haven't had anyone join me at the pool, I just don't see it as a big deal if the pool is not crowded. Just my opinion - everyone is more than welcome to think I'm evil, lol.

 

[Figmentmommy]

Pools at the individual resorts are for registered guests of that specific resort only. Everyone should just use the pool where they are staying - if you want to swim at a different pool then reserve a room at that resort. In all the years I've been going to Disney it has never crossed my mind to swim at another resort's pool. On site guest or off site guest - if you're not staying there the pool is not an amenity available to you.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

I know there's no real way of finding out, but I have to admit I'd be ticked if I'm trying to find an empty couple chairs by the pool and can't because they're all taken by people who aren't even staying there! Or my kids are having to wait forever for the slide because everyone's brought extra friends along to enjoy the pool, even though they're not paying for a room there. And I'm only talking about a moderate!

The thing is a lot of people say, "Eh, what's the big deal?" Well, the deal is pools get crowded. So even if it's not crowded when you show up with your friends and your friends' friends and aunts and uncles and grandma and grandpa and cousin Herb, it could get busy later on. Is the lifeguard supposed to find the people that don't belong there and kick them out? Or should I just have to put up with an overcrowded pool area at the resort I'm PAYING for?

Or what if you just bring a friend or two.....and everyone at the resort does the same thing? And if it's allowed for your friend, shouldn't it be allowed for everyone's friends?

Rules are there for a reason. Just follow them.

 

[momof2n2]

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

I know - right? I've never stayed onsite, but have reservations for a future trip. I actually thought you WERE WELCOME to pool hop. I don't know where I got that impression. Perhaps a trip report way back when? Who knows?
Well - now I know - no pool hopping!

 

[LaurenT]

I know there's no real way of finding out, but I have to admit I'd be ticked if I'm trying to find an empty couple chairs by the pool and can't because they're all taken by people who aren't even staying there! Or my kids are having to wait forever for the slide because everyone's brought extra friends along to enjoy the pool, even though they're not paying for a room there. And I'm only talking about a moderate!

The thing is a lot of people say, "Eh, what's the big deal?" Well, the deal is pools get crowded. So even if it's not crowded when you show up with your friends and your friends' friends and aunts and uncles and grandma and grandpa and cousin Herb, it could get busy later on. Is the lifeguard supposed to find the people that don't belong there and kick them out? Or should I just have to put up with an overcrowded pool area at the resort I'm PAYING for?

Or what if you just bring a friend or two.....and everyone at the resort does the same thing? And if it's allowed for your friend, shouldn't it be allowed for everyone's friends?

Rules are there for a reason. Just follow them.

I'll reply even though your scenario of the extended family all showing up is a tiny bit exaggerated
If I brought my daughter's friend over from her moderate resort to mine so the girls could play together and suddenly the pool became crowded, I would say, hey girls, let's go to the arcade. The actual instances of this happening is very low - the impact on the population at the pool in nearly non-existent. No one here is advocating for people to just hop around using pools ... This is a very specific situation - a reasonable one that doesn't impact anything and makes one afternoon more enjoyable for someone's little girl. Common sense is all that's needed here.

 

[palavra]

Last summer, my sister and her family were staying in the cabins at Ft. Wilderness and my family came to visit. We are local, about 45 minutes from Disney. Oh, and My husband works for Disney. When we visited, we went to the Chip and Dale Sing-a-Long, and afterwards, we all swam at the main fort pool. We did ask the lifeguards first and they encouraged us all to swim. It was a June evening, and the pool wasn't very crowded at all. Did I feel guilty? No. We made some family memories.

 

[Bullseye]

Stormalong bay is the only one I know of that checks room keys (MBs). That's the pool for yacht club and beach club.
Technically, only people staying at each resort are supposed to use that pool (except for dvc hopping), but if the pool isn't crowded and you're all on property, I don't think this is a big deal. I believe if Walt were alive, he'd want the kids to be able to swim together....

To your point Lauren, SAB has someone who scans your band and I know BLT has a card reader to gain access to their pool, but when we have stayed at AKV or OKW no one has even approached us upon entering the pool area. So I don't think it's quite the same at every resort. As far as the values and moderates go, I've never seen someone checking ID's at the pool.

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

Doesn't AoA have a gate around the pool now where you have to scan your band to get in?

 

[mom2AidanAndEli]

I'll reply even though your scenario of the extended family all showing up is a tiny bit exaggerated
If I brought my daughter's friend over from her moderate resort to mine so the girls could play together and suddenly the pool became crowded, I would say, hey girls, let's go to the arcade. The actual instances of this happening is very low - the impact on the population at the pool in nearly non-existent. No one here is advocating for people to just hop around using pools ... This is a very specific situation - a reasonable one that doesn't impact anything and makes one afternoon more enjoyable for someone's little girl. Common sense is all that's needed here.

And if everyone used it, along with some common courtesy for others, there wouldn't be problems. But we all know that's not reality!

 

[itchin2go]

Last summer, my sister and her family were staying in the cabins at Ft. Wilderness and my family came to visit. We are local, about 45 minutes from Disney. Oh, and My husband works for Disney. When we visited, we went to the Chip and Dale Sing-a-Long, and afterwards, we all swam at the main fort pool. We did ask the lifeguards first and they encouraged us all to swim. It was a June evening, and the pool wasn't very crowded at all. Did I feel guilty? No. We made some family memories.

You shouldn't feel guilty. You asked and got permission!

 

[maxiesmom]

If Walt were alive he would tell people that wanted to swim together to stay at the same resort or visit a water park. I doubt he would want the resort pools to be public pools open to everyone.