relatives want to pool hop to our hotel...help!

[TammiMcMan]

I am surprised that no one has mentioned this!! You CAN NOT POOL HOP!! DVC members can---but NOT to SAB and AKL.

Well, technically it might not be pool hopping in this case and hopefully OP's in-laws don't read the DIS boards . At the GF, maximum room occupany is 5 guests. If the OP has 3 listed in her room, then I believe she would not be breaking any rules by having her MIL & FIL added to her room reservation for the day. It would cost her an additional $50 for the 2 extra adults, but that's all. They would be given their own room keys and be allowed to swim at their pleasure.

 

[Bill From PA]

Ah, In-Laws, can't live with 'em, can't strangle them and throw them in a ditch. What to do! First, some unsolicited advice. Either directly or subtly, don't allow anyone to 'self-invite', it's a sure path to relationship hell and loss of self respect. We have a cottage in the White Trash Mountains in PA to which fair weather realtives are constantly inviting themselves, as in your case, not to spend time with us, on our terms, but when we're not there. They also request we give them the key and we haven't and won't. We reply to these requests by giving a list of dates we'll be there and entertaining and invite them. None ever accept.

As for the advice you asked for, it's all been said. You'll need all your keys for EMH, they don't have to be informed you're not doing EMH. If you're one of those who refuse to blur the truth under any circumstances, go to the front desk, tell them exactly what Minnie the Moocher proposed and I'm sure the CM will shoot down the idea. Inform your dear friends of the reply. Good luck.

Bill From PA

 

[DisneyFans4]

I don't think they will give your inlaws the key anyway, especially since you are not there. They are not going to believe whether they are your inlaws or not. If that were the case, anyone could come into the hotel and try to use their amenities by claiming they are family of someone staying there.
I really wouldn't worry about it.

 

[stlrod]

OH for goodness sakes they are your parents...leave a key and let them enjoy the pool. You paid a kings ransom to stay at that joint let them enjoy it...Dont be such a stickler and just ask your MIL not to smoke in the room. If you cant ask her that simple request its your problem not hers

I think I agree with this poster. If you are not comfortable doing it, tell them so. Do not "forget" to leave the key. That will just make a bad situation worse.

 

[tlbwriter]

I'm confused. I've only stayed at the world once, but my room key *was* my park ticket. Wouldn't that be the case for anyone unless they had an AP or were staying offsite? Under what other circumstances do you have separate room keys and park tickets?

 

[DisneyFans4]

If your staying at the Swan/Dolphin your room key is not your park ticket, they do it separately. They will also do it separately if you ask because if you have small children you may not want them to have a combo key like that in case they lose it.

 

[maryliz]

If you don't want them to do this, tell them it's not allowed. If you really don't care, then call the front desk of the GF and ask them if it's possible to leave a key for a visiting guest. My guess is that they won't allow it because if you're not there to let them into your room, how are they considered a visiting guest ... they're obviously NOT visiting YOU !

I would make sure this is cleared up ahead of time ... you don't want to be "forgetting to leave the key" ... that's just going to cause more hard feelings.

Good luck ... my FIL would never even consider going to WDW so I'll never have this problem

MaryLiz

 

[NCombs]

I'm confused. I've only stayed at the world once, but my room key *was* my park ticket. Wouldn't that be the case for anyone unless they had an AP or were staying offsite? Under what other circumstances do you have separate room keys and park tickets?

They are 2 separate things if you buy your tickets separately and make a room only reservation. I already have my 8 day tickets ordered from Ticketmania and my room key will be separate.

 

[Star Wars Guy]

You could tell them that you checked with Disney Info (they won't know it's this board), and that it's not allowed, especially since you'll be in the park at the time of their arrival which invalidates them being a 'guest' of yours. Then you tell them in your best Darth Vader voice "I find your lack of respect, disturbing!"

 

[poohluvrs]

Like yourself, OP, many guests staying at GF, like you, have saved for their dream vacay... personally, this is our 1st family vacation & we're splurging on GF, that being said, think of the other paying guests of GF and how they would feel knowing other guests are allowing their non-paying non-staying relatives to use the pool, take the towels/lounge chairs/pool space the rest of us are paying $$$$ for, and I can't even express how angry I would be if on the balcony next to me & my kids there was someone smoking, let alone a non-paying mannerless "crasher"
Do the right thing, tell them it is simply not allowed! I truly feel sorry for you having family that would put you in that position and put such a damper on your looking forward to an otherwise wonderful vacation, but remember, it's not your fault, so don't feel bad...they will get over it, hopefully realize the absurdity of their request, and back off your deserved vacay, and enjoy a swim and a butt on their own at ASM...good luck

 

[Scoootch]

Okay...just pretty much skimmed through here as it's already 2 pages long but...what I haven't seen noted is this: the new system is now putting each individual person's name on each room key. Not just 1 family member. Maybe you could mention that the lifeguards do i.d. checks at the pool and you may be asked for further i.d. to match the name on the room card? Also...I'd mention that your park ticket will be on the room key and you'll need it for the parks as mentioned so you can't leave it anyway. Even if it's not, they don't need to know this isn't the case and then it becomes a non-issue. But just for a few more things you could add in case they're the type who will keep pressing you and be argumentative. FWIW, there are nice changing rooms and showers at the pool at the GF with the waterslide. But they will still be taking their chances as they may very well check i.d.'s at the pool. Best of luck. Not a great situation to have to deal with.

 

[kelscross]

Your inlaws can come to the pool as your guest but I'm sure you would have to be there. I asked about this a few months ago as a friend of mine was coming but staying at a different resort. I was told you can have up to two guests at the pool.

 

[ruttie]

They are your in laws let them stay big deal you your self said it was a treat for you guys to stay there.. Disney will have no problem with this as a matter of fact we are going for a weekend staying at the polynesian and my friend is driving over with her sons for the day ( our kids are doing the pirate cruise together) I told them they were welcome to enjoy the room and the pool after as we were going to the park but they were not and we asked at the frontdesk if it was ok they said no problem even gave us an extra key for them!!!
I would hope that you could find a way to let some pixie dust get sprinked over you so that you could just give a little on this one it is no fun being uncomfortable with the inlaws and this one is just not that big of a deal..... save it for something huge trust me i know!!!!
this shouls be a fun stress free time for all....

 

[ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!]

The way I see it is, if they can't wait to use the pool with you while you're there (they are WDW resort guests, and they just want to spend time with their family, so im sure this isnt frowned upon) then they can't use the pool at all.

Tell them when you guys plan on taking some time to use the pool, and then they can come over to visit. If they refuse, then no GF pool for them. Thats pretty logical, right?

 

[debbiedoo]

Actually, several of us DID mention that. Sadly, that argument just isn't going to work with some people, so it's good to have another option.

sorry--I was half awake when I got up this morning--

leave next week and I am in major overhall!!

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

Could you re-frame this in your mind to be an issue between Disney and your in-laws that has nothing to do with you? That's really the situation.

You could just tell them that leaving a room key at the front desk won't work for you because the keys are tied to your credit card and so can't be out of your sight. If they bug you about it, the old broken record approach might work best. Just keep repeating, "I don't feel comfortable with that." If necessary, turn the tables on them. "I'm sure you don't mean that you'd want us to take any chances with our credit card." If they assure you that nothing would happen, tell them that they are welcome to make that kind of decision with their own credit cards in this kind of a situation, but then cycle back to "I don't feel comfortable with that." That takes care of the room key situation.

As far as the pool hopping goes, you could just say something bland like, "gee, I don't think Disney allows pool-hopping. You might want to call the GF and ask if it's ok." Then drop it. Hopefully you will have other things to do when and if your in-laws show up at the pool and figure out where to change. If you want to meet them somewhere that day, make it at a restaurant!

 

[debbiedoo]

I'm confused. I've only stayed at the world once, but my room key *was* my park ticket. Wouldn't that be the case for anyone unless they had an AP or were staying offsite? Under what other circumstances do you have separate room keys and park tickets?

Also if you have AP or PAP's you will have a room key and a park ticket--but you have to show your Room key for the EMH.

 

[dpic]

I would go to the front desk and tell them the whole story, and then ask for help. I know you're asking them to do some of the dirty work for you, but they don't have to live with the consequences. They can politely ask the in-laws for I.D. (a CM probably would do this anyway) then say they are not the guest registered for the room and deny them the card.

 

[martha46]

Compromise. You could do the park in the AM and have your husband suggest that your in-laws join the family for an afternoon swim.
An unexpected/unplanned family gathering might be good for all.

 

[ducklite]

I'd tell them that you need the key for your park entry, and ask them to meet you for dinner outside teh park. And let them know about the wonderful water parks Disney offers.

it is not appropriate to leave your room key for non-resort guests to use the pool.

Anne