Resort POOL hopping?

[bibbity bobbity boo]

We are staying at the Carribbean Beach Resort. Are we able to use Disney transportation and go to a different resort pool? I would love to go to The Beach Clubs sand bottom pool.

 

[Luv Bunnies]

No, pool hopping is against the rules. Many resorts check resort IDs in the pool areas to make sure only registered guests are using the pools. I've read that the Beach Club is especially strict about pool use because their pool is so popular. It would be unfair to hotel guests if the pool was always crowded with guests from other hotels.

Carribean Beach Resort has some nice pools. I'm sure you'll enjoy using those.

 

[all4fun]

Right, Disney doesn't allow pool hopping, with the exception of DVC members, some of the DVC resorts do allow pool hopping by the members. Even though the Beach club villas (DVC resort) shares the Stormalong Bay pool with the Yacht & Beach club, we as DVC members are not allowed to pool hop at SAB from say the Boardwalk, where we usually stay. The pool is extremely popular and because it shared by three resorts, it just would be overcrowded all the time if people from other resorts were allowed to use it.

 

[Jetsong]

Beach and Yacht Clubs...Your room key is checked and you get a wrist band....to prevent pool hopping

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

I wish they the bracelets at WL, I know a lot of drama goes on on the boards about pool hopping, but i wish at the deluxe resorts they were gated or were checked as you entered because how is it fair that I am paying 300+ a night and someone from say a value( not in any way putting a value guest down) comes and tries to use the pool and takes up pool chairs for someone that is an actual guest of that resort. I say if someone from another resort wishes to use the pool should have to pay a fee to use the pool, I read on another board that Poly has a lot of pool hopping problems as well...oh well i guess not all of WDW can be happy lol.

 

[bibbity bobbity boo]

I wish they the bracelets at WL, I know a lot of drama goes on on the boards about pool hopping, but i wish at the deluxe resorts they were gated or were checked as you entered because how is it fair that I am paying 300+ a night and someone from say a value( not in any way putting a value guest down) comes and tries to use the pool and takes up pool chairs for someone that is an actual guest of that resort. I say if someone from another resort wishes to use the pool should have to pay a fee to use the pool, I read on another board that Poly has a lot of pool hopping problems as well...oh well i guess not all of WDW can be happy lol.

You bring up some great points. I sure am glad I asked before I embarrased myself and family and got thrown out though! Its so true what you say about certain pools getting overcrowded with people that arent even staying at that particular resort.

 

[nbodyhome]

I've seen them check ID at the WL in the past, not sure how often they do it.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

I think CBR has several nice pools....

 

[TinkerbellLuvr7]

I've seen them check ID at the WL in the past, not sure how often they do it.

Thats good to know, we've been there mostly in the summer and they have never checked our ID but often times we have come out of the resort via the side doors so perhaps someone noticed, also when you see ppl pool hopping they usually show up via boat and have a ton of stuff, if you simply have some suntain lotion, magazine, and maybe your mug for a drink they prolly dont even bother you. I'm sure the lifeguards and other staff members are able to tell guests from non guests.

 

[crisi]

Thats good to know, we've been there mostly in the summer and they have never checked our ID but often times we have come out of the resort via the side doors so perhaps someone noticed, also when you see ppl pool hopping they usually show up via boat and have a ton of stuff, if you simply have some suntain lotion, magazine, and maybe your mug for a drink they prolly dont even bother you. I'm sure the lifeguards and other staff members are able to tell guests from non guests.

SOME of those people may be DVC members and thus entitled to hop.

I think all pools should give out wristbands like SAB. You need to show your room key or BLUE DVC member card (not the room key that says DVC member). Particularly the pools that are relatively close to the parks - the Poly, WL, and BW all have the pool hopping problem because they are all convienent "take a midday break from the Parks" pools.

To the OP - you'll love the CBR pool - its a good one. Do yourself a favor and don't even go look at the Y&BC pool or you may end up with a $300+ room night next trip to use it. If you want some variety, both waterparks are great, too.

 

[kcminnie]

We stayed at WL last summer. There were several people from the campground that came over & used the pool. It was very easy to spot them as they brought their own beach towels & would take the boat back & forth.
The main pool was very crowded.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I have to say that on our last two trips to Disney, we took note that they are now asking for room keys and then issuing wrist bands. It seems that every entry point into the pool and slide area is manned by someone checking your room key. When we stayed there in December, my kids wanted to use the pool so we let them go down on their own (it was too cold for me and DH). They were back to the room within minutes saying they needed to show their room key to use the pool. My DVC rep also told me that Stormalong Bay is the only pool that is not open to hopping even for us DVC members (unless you are staying there with DVC or that is your home resort).

If I came from another resort I'd feel terrible if were were turned away because my kids would be so let down and sad.

 

[dis-happy]

We stayed at WL last summer. There were several people from the campground that came over & used the pool. It was very easy to spot them as they brought their own beach towels & would take the boat back & forth.
The main pool was very crowded.

It's not just FW! I saw a group of dripping wet people standing in line to catch the boat back to CR. Argh.

 

[ducklite]

I have to say that on our last two trips to Disney, we took note that they are now asking for room keys and then issuing wrist bands. It seems that every entry point into the pool and slide area is manned by someone checking your room key. When we stayed there in December, my kids wanted to use the pool so we let them go down on their own (it was too cold for me and DH). They were back to the room within minutes saying they needed to show their room key to use the pool. My DVC rep also told me that Stormalong Bay is the only pool that is not open to hopping even for us DVC members (unless you are staying there with DVC or that is your home resort).

If I came from another resort I'd feel terrible if were were turned away because my kids would be so let down and sad.

The AKL pool is also off limits to DVC member hopping. And during peak seasons they suspend DVC pool hopping privileges--there's usually an announcement in the DVC quartlery magazine mailed to members.

I agree that it would be embarrasing to be turned away because you were trying to hop to a pool you weren't allowed to be at. I've seen families asked to leave several of the WDW pools over the years--it has surprised me when they get obnoxious and try to argue saying they've always been able to do it before. Just because you get away with robbing a bank a few times doesn't mean it's OK to keeping robbing banks...

The ones I have felt bad for are the ones who truly didn't know and were embarassed when asked to leave--although every single pool has a posted sign about being for the exclusive use of registered guests of that resort...

Anne

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

The AKL pool is also off limits to DVC member hopping. And during peak seasons they suspend DVC pool hopping privileges--there's usually an announcement in the DVC quartlery magazine mailed to members. Anne

Does that apply to AKV owners too? We just got in on the pre-sale, so maybe since that is our home resort it wouldn't apply to us? Good to know anyway. I'll definitely be checking that out.

 

[ducklite]

Does that apply to AKV owners too? We just got in on the pre-sale, so maybe since that is our home resort it wouldn't apply to us? Good to know anyway. I'll definitely be checking that out.

You will only be able to use the AKL pool when staying at the AKL. If you stay at a different DVC resort you will not be able to use the AKL pool.

Anne

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

You will only be able to use the AKL pool when staying at the AKL. If you stay at a different DVC resort you will not be able to use the AKL pool.

Anne

Thanks for the info. While we don't pool hop, it is good to know that.

 

[crisi]

For DVC members to use SAB, they MUST be staying at BCVs. If your home resort is BCV and you are electing to stay at SSR, you cannot hop to SAB. I would imagine VAK will be the same. Of course, if you are an SSR member staying at BCV, you get to use SAB during your stay.

(Questions are open yet about VAK - a few of the rooms are in the main lodge, but most of the DVC units will be in a different building with its own pool - the restrictions on SAB didn't come out until just before the units opened)

Also, DVC members are supposed to be staying on points to hop at all, and hopping is restricted during busy times of year. i.e. If we (BWV owners) go for a trip and stay at the Poly on cash, we can't hop over to WL. If we go over the 4th of July, there is no hopping.

We've never taken advantage of hopping as DVC members - thought about it (would be nice - at least in theory - to use the Poly pool on MK days), but we are really functionally too busy at WDW to bother moving around. And we've discovered that we like being "home" after a swim to have access to fresh clothes and a shower.

BTW, Disney used to allow even day guests to use the resort pools - way back in the 1970s - and until CBR opened, the MK resort's pools were open to all the MK resort's guests. So some guests are "hopping" based on very old rules and simply aren't aware that they've changed. Course, plenty of people know and don't care.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

(Questions are open yet about VAK - a few of the rooms are in the main lodge, but most of the DVC units will be in a different building with its own pool - the restrictions on SAB didn't come out until just before the units opened)

I'm sure your right and that things will change once the other buildings are done. Our DVC rep told us we can use the AKL pool, although he mentioned that they will have another one exclusively for those in the AKV at a later date. He didn't say what will happen when both pools are open. To me, a pool is a pool. Most of the time we would rather be in the parks, so no matter what they decide regarding pool usage, I'll abide by it. When the family is set on fun in the water we head over to TL or BB.

I agree though-most of the time we are too busy or can't be bothered hopping all over Disney just to use another resorts pool. It seems like a lot of work just to cool off with different scenery. Granted, SAB is nice, but when I just want to get cool, I don't care what the pool is like.

 

[annie1995]

I wish they the bracelets at WL, I know a lot of drama goes on on the boards about pool hopping, but i wish at the deluxe resorts they were gated or were checked as you entered because how is it fair that I am paying 300+ a night and someone from say a value( not in any way putting a value guest down) comes and tries to use the pool and takes up pool chairs for someone that is an actual guest of that resort. I say if someone from another resort wishes to use the pool should have to pay a fee to use the pool, I read on another board that Poly has a lot of pool hopping problems as well...oh well i guess not all of WDW can be happy lol.

We currently stay at values when we go. No offense taken ! And I have to agree with what you said. Its not fair to people who pay the big bucks for the deluxe rooms, to have others showing up and crowding the chairs etc. We resort hop and look at the pools and what they have to offer, but thats it. We figure that is the best way that we can see where else we would like to stay when we outgrow our beloved POP.