Pools at other resorts

[JanaDee]

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.

In all the years I've been going to Disney, it has never crossed my mind to wonder whether fellow guests in the pool area are resorts guests or not.

 

[tinkerbella16]

Last Oct we were killing time before a Cape May ADR, we were staying at Board Walk as usual. While just strolling near the pool at YC, not through the pool area, a CM asked to scan our bands, we told her we were just checking the place out for future reference, in street clothes, and we were made to leave. Over the top IMHO.

Bill From PA

This happened to us after having dinner at Cape May! Lol we weren't asked to leave because we talked to the lifeguard for a few minutes. They literally start walking towards you before you even get near the pool there! All we wanted was to take pictures. It was funny but that pool is so awesome, that it is understandable since so many people that weren't staying at YC/BC used to use that pool in the past.

 

[JanaDee]

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.

No one knows what Walt Disney would have said, so that is a straw man argument.

 

[bumbershoot]

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!

You are welcome to pool hop at Universal.

But over in Anaheim, there is NO pool hopping, not even for DVC members. Only if your onsite resort's pool is closed, and then they'll tell you what pool you are allowed to go to.

It's WDW that has "no pool hopping for regular resort stays, but you can hop to SOME resorts if you're a DVC member staying on points". More of a semi-middle ground.

 

[JaimeA]

I saw it happen at BWV labor day week. We were asked everyday if we were staying there and then for three days we had our bands scanned and given wristbands like at SAB. They said too many people come from Epcot and HS to swim that shouldn't. We also saw a family very upset that their friends or relatives were not granted permission to stay and swim after being scanned and found to not belong. I am not sure if they were guests of another Disney hotel or not.

 

[GBBTomorrow]

Thinking of all the pools I have been to at WDW, not counting DVC: POR, CS, CB, All Stars, Pop, Contemporary...in all of those pools over twenty years I don't recall EVER being asked for a room key or other identification at the pool.

I'm sure it is different at Polynesian and Stormalong Bay, and for those that require a key to open a gate, but otherwise I can't imagine why it would be a problem for your friends to come and swim.

 

[Cuppie]

Wonder what the odds will be in September, my cousin lives about 3 hrs from disney and is planning to drive up to visit with us and bring her son (he is 12), hoping that her son will be able to swim at the pool in place of me and my mom who won't be in the actual pool, just pool side sipping drinks and catching up with my cousin..and waiting for the MNSSHP, that they will also attend with us.

Since we are going by guest count.. technically we would be allowed 4 bodies in the pool as our ressie is for 4.. either way, will ask lifeguard our first day there and see if it would even be possible before they make the drive up. Since we are staying at a deluxe.

 

[Marionnette]

Wonder what the odds will be in September, my cousin lives about 3 hrs from disney and is planning to drive up to visit with us and bring her son (he is 12), hoping that her son will be able to swim at the pool in place of me and my mom who won't be in the actual pool, just pool side sipping drinks and catching up with my cousin..and waiting for the MNSSHP, that they will also attend with us.

Since we are going by guest count.. technically we would be allowed 4 bodies in the pool as our ressie is for 4.. either way, will ask lifeguard our first day there and see if it would even be possible before they make the drive up. Since we are staying at a deluxe.

Well, the signs are pretty clear. The pool AREA is for the exclusive use of guests staying at the resort. It's not just the pool but the entire pool area that is technically off limits to non-resort guests.

But as others have pointed out, your best course of action is to ask. Disney CMs can either grant permission or deny your request.

 

[Cuppie]

Yea you never know until you ask. But with FD, they may still be crowded even at the end of sept.

 

[Reddog1134]

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?

Yes. That's how it works with DVC pool hopping.

 

[ThistleMae]

Wow....sensitive topic! And some very strong opinions! I think there are exceptions to every rule. I would hope common sense and common courtesy will win the day! I think it's fine for friends staying at different resorts to share pool time, as long as the pool is not crowded. I like the idea of asking permission from the lifeguard. I would hope there is some room for flexibility in all the circumstances talked about in this thread. I wouldn't want to be the person telling some eight year old that she can't swim with her friend because she doesn't have a room at this resort. I understand that if pool hopping in general became the norm; there could be potential problems; hence the rule....but I believe the lifeguard should be able to grant permission for pool use on a slow day to families who could not get a room at the same resort. Thank you all for hearing my opinion.

 

[GBBTomorrow]

Considering that at "normal" pools (not the fancy, high-traffic ones) nobody is monitoring who goes in and out, why would the OP even have to ask a lifeguard? Just go swimming. Nobody is going to ask you who you are, at least at a regular pool.

Worst case scenario: you are swimming and somebody does ask you. Not such a big deal. Grab your stuff and relocate to one of the quiet pools, which most of the resorts have in addition to their feature pools, and which are generally deserted and have no lifeguards.

This feels like much ado about nothing.

 

[maxiesmom]

It is only much ado about nothing to those who don't think the rules, which are spelled out very clearly, apply to them.

 

[Figmentmommy]

In all the years I've been going to Disney, it has never crossed my mind to wonder whether fellow guests in the pool area are resorts guests or not.

It had never crossed my mind before these discussions!

 

[Figmentmommy]

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.

We've only ever stayed at moderate resorts. I have never been asked to prove I was a resort guest to gain access to the pool area but we did have a CM ask if we were staying at the resort at the CSR poolside campfire/marshmallow roast. Just casually - they didn't ask for any proof. It shouldn't really matter the level of resort. I'd be ok with scanning my band if I was asked.

 

[goofy4prez]

It had never crossed my mind before these discussions!

It never did mine either, but next time when I can't find a chair at the pool I'm going to be asking myself how many people have pool hopped and are not guests of the resort I'm staying at.

 

[Figmentmommy]

It never did mine either, but next time when I can't find a chair at the pool I'm going to be asking myself how many people have pool hopped and are not guests of the resort I'm staying at.

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

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Considering that at "normal" pools (not the fancy, high-traffic ones) nobody is monitoring who goes in and out, why would the OP even have to ask a lifeguard? Just go swimming. Nobody is going to ask you who you are, at least at a regular pool.

Worst case scenario: you are swimming and somebody does ask you. Not such a big deal. Grab your stuff and relocate to one of the quiet pools, which most of the resorts have in addition to their feature pools, and which are generally deserted and have no lifeguards.

This feels like much ado about nothing.

We have family in Florida, and they visit us every year when we vacation in WDW. When they come, we simply hang out at the smaller pools. The kids don't care - they want to hang out together more than they want a fancy pool. You just have to remember to bring a cooler as the pool bar is by the "fancy" pool.

 

[kelleybean]

You are welcome to pool hop at Universal.

.

I don't think they can have the same policy at Disney because Disney is so much bigger and there is more disparity between the resorts, but the pool hopping at Universal is one of my favorite things about staying there. All of their hotel pools are fantastic. We pool hopped to Royal Pacific while we were staying at Portofino last year and my son loved the pool area so much that we planned another vacation within a few months. So for us at least their flexibility netted them more $ in the end. I'm sure we weren't the only ones who visited another resort's pool then decided to stay there for a future visit.

OP, honestly I'm sure you are fine. Check with the front desk to make sure if you want to be sure that the kids won't be disappointed but I'd be surprised if it were an issue.

 

[summerw]

We have family in Florida, and they visit us every year when we vacation in WDW. When they come, we simply hang out at the smaller pools. The kids don't care - they want to hang out together more than they want a fancy pool. You just have to remember to bring a cooler as the pool bar is by the "fancy" pool.

I'm such an idiot I was sitting here thinking that we'll add our guests to our reservation but we would be one small child over the room limit and what would we do for the day if the lifeguards said no. I was totally spacing on the quiet pools. Thank you for saying that before I stupidly and unnecessarily worked myself up. Our kids just want to play together way more than they want a fancy pool.