POP Guests Are Being Allowed To Swim @AoA

[WEDWDW]

There are several reports that the RFID "gates" at The Big Blue and Cozy Cone Pools(Cars is not open to Guests until Monday,but the Cozy Cone Pool is open-CMs are staying in Cars to give the AoA Cast some "practice") are not "turned on" and ANYONE can access the Pools.

There are reports that POP Guests are using the pools via the Generation Gap Bridge routinely.

I am not passing judgment on anyone,just very curious why Disney is allowing this considering the effort they put into fencing and gating the pools.It seems very "strange".

Disney has even added AoA to the list of resorts whose pools are off-limits to DVC members.

Is Disney allowing this to give the lifeguards some "practice" with a lot of Guests since the resort is only partially open?Thanks.

 

[spiceycat]

does seem strange. especially the pop guests who next time won't be allowed to swim at AoA and will be complaining....

sometimes Disney does not seem to talk to other parts of disney.

 

[tiggermurr]

There are several reports that the RFID "gates" at The Big Blue and Cozy Cone Pools(Cars is not open to Guests until Monday,but the Cozy Cone Pool is open-CMs are staying in Cars to give the AoA Cast some "practice") are not "turned on" and ANYONE can access the Pools.

There are reports that POP Guests are using the pools via the Generation Gap Bridge routinely.

I am not passing judgment on anyone,just very curious why Disney is allowing this considering the effort they put into fencing and gating the pools.It seems very "strange".

Disney has even added AoA to the list of resorts whose pools are off-limits to DVC members.

Is Disney allowing this to give the lifeguards some "practice" with a lot of Guests since the resort is only partially open?Thanks.

We were just at Pop for 6 days and I noticed this as well. We were in the Hippy pool one day and a family in the pool was discussing if they liked the pop pools or the nemo pool better. They all said Nemo and then got out of the hippy pool to go back to nemo. I didn't say anything obviously, but thought they were not allowed. Personally, I wouldn't want to walk all the way down there just to swim. The pop pools were just as nice even if their pools do not talk!

 

[*Fantasia*]

We were just at Pop for 6 days and I noticed this as well. We were in the Hippy pool one day and a family in the pool was discussing if they liked the pop pools or the nemo pool better. They all said Nemo and then got out of the hippy pool to go back to nemo. I didn't say anything obviously, but thought they were not allowed. Personally, I wouldn't want to walk all the way down there just to swim. The pop pools were just as nice even if their pools do not talk!

I will give the family the benefit of the doubt that they are totally clueless and probably didn't even bother to read the signs that AoA pools are for AoA guests only. We are just more knowledgeable because we're on the DIS.

It may be their first time on-site and they happen to stay at POP which has a bridge that leads to AoA and they probably thought that it is still part of POP.

The AoA staff didn't stop them, so maybe the lifeguards are doing their practice with a little more fuller people in the pool. Maybe it's harder to practice when there are hardly anybody in the pool.

 

[disnut8]

Personally, I wouldn't want to walk all the way down there just to swim. The pop pools were just as nice even if their pools do not talk!

I agree. I guess I just don't understand the allure of a different pool other than your own resort. I can only think of one pool in all of the Disney resorts where I've stayed (and it's just about all of them) that I didn't like. But, that resort had other options that I used. I'm not 100% sure (and too lazy to look it up) but I think all Disney resorts have more than one pool for their guests. Pop Century has 3, the All Star complex has six. The deluxes I've stayed at all have had quiet pools and a main pool. Moderates have several. So why bother to go somewhere else?

 

[BearcatsFan]

I agree. I guess I just don't understand the allure of a different pool other than your own resort. I can only think of one pool in all of the Disney resorts where I've stayed (and it's just about all of them) that I didn't like. But, that resort had other options that I used. I'm not 100% sure (and too lazy to look it up) but I think all Disney resorts have more than one pool for their guests. Pop Century has 3, the All Star complex has six. The deluxes I've stayed at all have had quiet pools and a main pool. Moderates have several. So why bother to go somewhere else?

POFQ only has one ... but we can go over and swim at POR, which does have several.

My take on the POP/AoA pool sharing? If WDW didn't want it to happen, it wouldn't be happening. They'd have a CM posted out there to make sure it didn't happen by checking room keys since the gates aren't working. If there's no enforcement ...

JMHO

 

[WEDWDW]

I will give the family the benefit of the doubt that they are totally clueless and probably didn't even bother to read the signs that AoA pools are for AoA guests only. We are just more knowledgeable because we're on the DIS.

It may be their first time on-site and they happen to stay at POP which has a bridge that leads to AoA and they probably thought that it is still part of POP.

The AoA staff didn't stop them, so maybe the lifeguards are doing their practice with a little more fuller people in the pool. Maybe it's harder to practice when there are hardly anybody in the pool.

Yes,I think you are probably right that most POP Guests don't know that the AoA pools are supposed to be only for AoA Guests(and vice-versa)especially since the All-Stars "share" pools.

There was just SO much build up before AoA opened about the "gated pools" with "RFID access ONLY" and how "locked down" the pools were going to be(as mentioned previously,the AoA pools have even been added to the small list of off-limit pools for DVC members).

As another poster mentioned,"if" the AoA pool restriction is eventually inacted,this precedent could cause Disney problems with complaints from Guests who will want to know why they aren't allowed to use the pools when others were allowed.

Very interesting situation.

 

[RMAMom]

The sign above also says shower before entering pool. When was the last time anyone did that?

 

[pigletto]

I imagine it isn't a big deal right now because the resort was at least until recently at 25% capacity so there's going to be no risk of overcrowding. Or maybe the RFD system isn't working correctly. Who knows what the reasoning is.
I think it sends a weird message though. They gated it and put up those signs for a reason so I imagine they'll eventually start enforcing the rule. At which point people will have heard that it's ok to do and it's going to make it a little harder on the cast members who have to explain.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

We went over to AoA on Wednesday to look around and eat lunch at Landscape of Flavors. The pool gate was not locked. We went in to look at the pool area (no plans to swim ), and I was surprised how crowded it was at lunch time when the resort is only partially completed. Maybe there were guests from other resorts swimming, but I commented to DH that the pool seemed like it would not be big enough to accommodate all the AoA guests once the resort is finished.

 

[TiggerInLBV]

With any new technology there is always a test and adjust period and this is probably what is happening at the Big Blue Pool right now. I could see the lifeguard training scenario as well. Someone commented that folks may be disappointed in the future if they have been able to use the pool in the past and then are not able to use it. Really? I know, I know there is sometimes a sense of entitlement but if you want to swim in the pool pay the price and stay at the resort. As the Resort is not fully open yet I don't see it as a big issue considering the capacity is far greater in the pool and splash area than the current Resort occupancy. Also as it is the largest pool on property at a Disney Resort and there are two other pools available there should be enough capacity. Disney plans for everything after all right.

 

[SunDial]

Wonder if they plan to remove the bridge sometime in the future to limit the random walking over from Pop. I do not see it happening but wonder.

 

[WEDWDW]

Wonder if they plan to remove the bridge sometime in the future to limit the random walking over from Pop. I do not see it happening but wonder.

I think Generation Gap Bridge may eventually be renamed(it is given no name on the AoA maps),but I don't think there is any chance it will ever be torn down.

But,you never say never about ANYTHING at WDW!(except maybe Cinderella Castle!)

 

[WEDWDW]

I imagine it isn't a big deal right now because the resort was at least until recently at 25% capacity so there's going to be no risk of overcrowding. Or maybe the RFD system isn't working correctly. Who knows what the reasoning is.
I think it sends a weird message though. They gated it and put up those signs for a reason so I imagine they'll eventually start enforcing the rule. At which point people will have heard that it's ok to do and it's going to make it a little harder on the cast members who have to explain.

Yes,I agree it isn't a big deal at this point.

I would not have even given this a second thought if not for the HUGE BUILD-UP about how POP Guests would NEVER be allowed in The Big Blue and here thney are being allowed in from Day One!LOL

 

[stitch34]

Wow, that's interesting. We would never think to pool hop - too honest and follow the rules type over here... but now wondering if they really are actually aware it's happening and allowing it to happen?

That said, we will be at Pop in 10 days... and do plan on checking out AoA. Didn't plan on pool hopping. Yes, would love kids to try out Nemo pool - mainly because it's zero entry and is ONLY way my autistic son can go into a pool (he doesn't understand stepping in at steps at a pool, and it scares him.)
So yeah, does have me actually thinking for the first time ever that oh, maybe we should head over to Nemo one day and see if he can swim there? Though knowing me, I'd be inclined if went to do that to ask the lifeguard on duty first hey, is this okay?

 

[MelissathePooh]

Disney will enforce it when they're ready. We saw a family get turned away from SAB this trip - they weren't even trying to sneak - just didn't know somehow. We also were told that they don't check room keys at SAB after 5 when we went to get our wristbands one evening...as soon as that gets too overwhelmed with hoppers they'll start checking again.

Enforcement at Disney is not consistent. Heck we pulled in to BC to check in and my husband joked with the guard that we were just coming over to park, swim and see the fireworks for a couple of hours....the guard let us in!!! I quickly shouted out that we were just joking and were actually checking in, but he could have cared less. We saw tons of families parking in the BCV lot and walking the exterior path to Epcot (not to Cape May) first thing in the mornings (other resort parking passes in the windows) as we were headed out to parks (we usually drive).

 

[digiMom]

Maybe for whatever reason, they're letting people pool hop over there. (practice, technical difficulties, ???) But think about those people talking and saying they liked the Nemo pool better. And people who heard them. If they knew they could only use the AOA pool if they were guests there, would they pony up the dough to stay at AOA next time? A little bit of marketing going on perhaps? Like the guy standing in front of restaurant in a food court handing out samples of food? Who knows???

 

[Nomad70]

I don't know why anyone would want to trek to another resort pool either. Heck, we don't even USE the pools anyway! lol Too much else to do...Then again, we usually go late October thru December and it's not always "swimming" weather for us either. The last time we went over Christmas ('09) we had temps in the mid 40's to 50's. They were saying how it was the coldest winter in a long time. I actually wore my coat the whole time.

 

[DVC-Don]

I visited AoA last week and noticed one pool gate that did not even shut as it was broken.

 

[raven69david]

During the opening week, the pool gate nearest Animation Hall was closed and you needed your room key to open it up. The other gates nearest the bridge were not on and anyone could enter. I can tell you that after 9pm that we needed our room keys to go in the pool, but we only used the pool 2 nights. On both of those nights, we needed to use our room key to get in.