Resort pool hopping....who's done it?

[soozaay]

We are planning on doing some pool hopping during our November (weather permitted) trip to WDW...who's done this?

Any tips or recommendations?

PS...I know we cannot crash the BCV or AKV pools (unfortunately)

Thanks!

 

[DFD]

We are planning on doing some pool hopping during our November (weather permitted) trip to WDW...who's done this?

Any tips or recommendations?

PS...I know we cannot crash the BCV or AKV pools (unfortunately)

Thanks!

[/I]

I dont think my answer will be helpful but will share anyway... Was staying at SSR and I had my Godson with me. He enjoyed our TL time that he kept on asking when are we going back (he was 5 then) so I explained to him we are going in a different pool today and maybe at the end of the week will start where we 1st went. He enjoys taking the Bus so our 1st Stop was the BWV from SSR... he enjoyed the clown slide very much and did some games at the Boardwalk. The next day we did WLV, Lunch at Whispering Canyon and then back to SSR... I guess as long as you dont mind carrying a bag its just like going to your resort pool. 3 days of park and finally our last stop was OKW Pool... that was the easiet bec. Mark of SSR CM drove us in hisn golf cart from Congress Park to OKW Main Pool I dont know which was more excitign for him the pool or the golf cart ride

 

[Deb & Bill]

Way back when you could still pool hop to SAB (before BCV was built) we'd hop over there. My son was younger and he and his dad would have fun.

Here's the info on Pool Hopping from the Member Website:

Pool Hopping Information

Whenever you are staying on your Membership at Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort, Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas, Disney's Beach Club Villas, Disney's BoardWalk Villas, Disney's Old Key West Resort, Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa, Disney's Vero Beach Resort, or The Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge, 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 hotel you wish to visit before you go to find out about pool-access availability. You must present your current "Key to the World" card with your "DVC Member" designation on it to use the other 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, and the leisure pool at Disney's Beach Club Villas. There are no exceptions to this policy. As a reminder, during times of high occupancy, please be mindful of the limited number of pool chairs available, and refrain from leaving towels or personal items on unoccupied pool chairs.

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

•February 14-20, 2010 (Sun – Sat)
•March 27 – April 10, 2010 (Sun – Sat)
•May 28 – 31, 2010 (Fri – Mon)
•June 27 – July 5 (Sun – Mon)
•Sept 3 – 6, 2010 (Fri – Mon)
•Nov 22 – 28, 2010 (Mon – Sun)
•Dec 12, 2010 – Jan 2, 2011 (Sun – Mon)

*Other restricted dates may be added based on projected pool capacity

 

[Psychodisney]

We enjoy taking a break on our MK days to hop to one of the pools around Bay Lake/Seven Seas Lagoon. We've done GF, Poly and WL. There are large bathroom/changing rooms. We typically pack our swim suits in a bag and get a locker at the park.

 

[DFD]

Please check with a Host or Hostess at the Front Desk of the resort hotel you wish to visit before you go to find out about pool-access availability. You must present your current "Key to the World" card with your "DVC Member" designation on it to use the other resort hotel pools.

the 1st day I did this and the CM at BWV said that if I dont see a DVC hostess or theres a long line to go ahead and just have dvc card/KTTK card handy...

And yes pls. make sure you are have your KTTK card... when we were at OKW... my nephew befriended another kid and mentioned that we are now staying at OKW... the kid must have mention it to the mother and thank God I did stop by at the front desk and had chatted with the front desk peeps about us swimming that day there... she complained to a CM stating that we are swimming at OKW and we are outsiders and should not be there!!! CM came and I showed all my cards...

 

[quirty30]

We stayed at BLT last month and decided to pool hop on the monorail one afternoon. First we went to the Poly and had lunch at Capt. Cook's (a nice change of pace from the Contempo & we got Dole Whips!) Then we tried out the GF (our favorite pool slide of the day.) Then we made it back to the CR and tried out their pools. Oddly enough, we much preferred the CR pool area to the Poly. In fact, I'd say the Poly pool was a letdown - I don't get all the hype. I would definitely walk over to the CR pool on our next BLT stay. But I don't think I'd go to the trouble of heading back to the Poly or GF (but it was sure nice that we were able to.)

 

[soozaay]

Thanks everyone!

 

[castleri]

We hopped to Coronado Springs back when there were food vouchers instead of the DDP and we liked to eat at The Pepper Market. The kids loved that pool although I didn't see anything all that great about it except the size was good for actually swimming. We had a rental car so getting there was easy and no one ever questioned us about being there - it was in September so a relatively slow time and not many people at the pool.

 

[eporter66]

The only time we have pool hopped was in October 2006. We were staying at BWV's and had read here how great the SAB pool was a BCV's, so we gave it a shot. No one said a word to us - we were there all day and went back two more times during our vacation.

I like the pools at all the resorts, but could not resist trying SAB when we were staying right across the way. Not sure if we could get away with that now, but not a word was said during that trip.

 

[fitnessmouse]

When you're staying at the VGC can you also poolhop to DL hotel or PP hotel?

 

[castleri]

When you're staying at the VGC can you also poolhop to DL hotel or PP hotel?

Don't know about now but we did to PP in 2005 before there was a VGC. I think they have keyed gates at the DLH and GC pools if I remember correctly.
We had a split stay at those two while there so didn't need to hop to them.

 

[crisi]

We've done it twice now.

To the Poly from BWV via MK - not worth the hassle, but if we had a car it might have been. We had to tote all our crap, change in the bathrooms, enjoy the pool, change back. Hassle for a pool.

To BWV from BCV. After about a day of SAB my kids were asking to go back to "their" pool. So on checkout day my husband packed the room and I took swimsuited kids over from 9-10:30. Easy because the walk is pretty easy (it was almost as long from our room to SAB as from SAB to the BW pool - especially when we got luck and caught a boat back without a wait.

SAB used to be sort of off and on with checking. When we first "hopped" over there (during a BWV pool rehab) you had to ask the lifeguard for a wristband. Now though, they wrist banded me when I was in street clothes walking through. Half the exits are closed up. Attended towel carts are positioned at the open entrances and the attendant tags you. And he (or she) won't hand you wristbands either - they put them on you. They were pretty serious.

BWV however, had hoppers from the Swalphin, a kid on the slide mentioned that was "his" hotel but this pool was cooler. I didn't snitch because it was 10:15 in the morning and the pool was nearly empty - plus I had my own concerns - getting MINE out of the pool, back to BCV and changed and checked out before 10:59!

 

[Deb & Bill]

When you're staying at the VGC can you also poolhop to DL hotel or PP hotel?

Nope, no pool hopping in California.

 

[pigby]

When staying at SSR, we have hopped to WL pool - we had stayed at WL before and it brought back fond memories - even though their pool area is nothing special really - but we also like to watch the Electrical Water pageant from WL beach so it seemed a good thing to do.

Never really hopped anywhere else - had not enough time to fully enjoy our own pool on most visits.

When we stayed at BCV though, they do give you a wristband at the entrance which is really needed as when we got through couldnt find any sunbeds to lie on - shame really as we were looking forward to spending an afternoon there but I don't think it has enough beds for it's own guests so not surprised that other gueats aren't allowed in there. After that, we spent time at our 'own' BCV quiet pool - very laid back, plenty beds and nice quiet area to lounge, have a dip, read a book etc.

 

[emlutz23]

We pool-hopped for the first time last month. We were staying at Kidani and loved their pool, went almost everyday. But on our EPCOT day we had 5pm ADR's at the Captain's Grille at the YC and I knew we would not have enough time to get back to our resort for a quick dip. So I packed our bathing suits and we hopped over to BWV for our afternoon swim. It was great! And allowed us to cool off for a bit before dinner.

 

[dzorn]

We did pool hop this trip to the Poly. We went about 7 at night to swim and hang out until Wishes. DH took the kiddos in the pool and I got a quiet spot on the beach to read until it was too dark. The kids enjoyed watching the fireworks from the beach. Neither the pool or beach were crowded at all. We had a rental car for this limited park trip.

Don't think I would bother if I did not have car but I can see us taking afternoon breaks from the parks on future trips in the afternoon.

Denise in MI

 

[soozaay]

Thanks everyone...we will have a rental car...otherwise we wouldn't even consider it. We were thinking about going over to Wilderness Lodge one day...we've always liked their pool (when we stayed there)

 

[pditullio]

BWV however, had hoppers from the Swalphin, a kid on the slide mentioned that was "his" hotel but this pool was cooler.

OMG SWALPHIN!!!! I've never heard this before and I am dying!!! So funny.

 

[DVC_Corrys]

My wife and I had a two week trip last year (had to use some developer points)...

We were at SSR and were not in love with the pools, so we pool hopped a ton.

We tried; Poly, GF, Contemporary, Kidani (I broke the rules, we were the only two there), Boardwalk, and SAB (Broke them again, but at night, we asked the guard and she said no problem).

I love pool hopping. I consider it a huge plus to DVC (how pathetic is that). I love trying out decor, slides, and overall "feel".

The best was bringing our suits to the parks and hitting them for a break.

 

[Derf]

OMG SWALPHIN!!!! I've never heard this before and I am dying!!! So funny.

LOL, I'd never heard that before either and I am loving it!