Stormalong

[emmrut]

I knew it was coming. The opening of the BCV means the end of poolhopping at Stormalong bay. I was hoping it would at least be open to us on a limited basis, but the booklet that we got in the mail today says that as of July1, Stormalong bay is off limits to everyone but YachtClub, Beach Club and BCV!

 

[Uncleromulus]

Yep--
Thanks Disney!!!
Improve that pool at OKW and maybe I wouldn't NEED to pool hop so much. Sort of lighten the blow--.
Well- as the song says "I can dream, can't I"?

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by Uncleromulus
Yep--
Thanks Disney!!!
Improve that pool at OKW and maybe I wouldn't NEED to pool hop so much. Sort of lighten the blow--.
Well- as the song says "I can dream, can't I"?

I'm afraid you'll have to - dream, that is. DVC members would have to pay for any pool improvements (or I assume at least 96% of them, since that is the percentage of the resort "owned" by DVC members).

It's been reported that past surveys indicate a large majority of OKW owners like the pools the way they are and are not in favor of increased dues or a special assessment to pay for things such as a slide for the main pool. Based on the results of some very unscientific surveys here on the DVC Board, I don't look for a new survey to show any significant changes to the original results.

 

[KNWVIKING]

STOP. DANGER DANGER WILL ROBINSON. DON'T GO THERE YET. I'M STILL RESTING FROM THE SOFA DEBATE :-}

 

[DeeP]

Maybe they should do a survey to see how many people at OKW pool hop to other resorts. If enough guests from OKW pool hop to other resort pools maybe that is an indication that something needs to be done with the pool. Even if the dues go up divided by all the members they would probably only go up 50-70 cents per pt. It will be interesting to see if there is an increase in the number of people that pool hop to the other resorts once SB is closed. If all of a sudden there is a big increase in the number of pool hoppers to the VWL or BWV pool the same thing will probably happen and eventually all pool hopping will be stopped.

 

[KNWVIKING]

Didn't the VWL already knock the WL pool out of the pool-hopping inventory as BCV is about to at BC. Isn't Luna pool only for BWV guests ? Maybe Disneys answer to pool hopping is to eliminate it by putting a DVC resort at every existing deluxe resort.

 

[Rock'n Robin]

Does that mean Poly DVC? My dream come true!!

Robin M.

 

[Jimbo]

Both WL and BWV are still available for pool hopping; the <u>only</u> pool off limits is SAB (and maybe AKL?). I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

And as we all know, a survey was already done on changing the OKW pool. And the members voted to leave it alone. It seems to me that, by and large, OKW owners are happy with their resort as is.

 

[Bigcat]

I would like to suggest that members staying at BCV not be allowed to pool hop to any DVC resorts. If we ( BWV members ) can't use their pool, why should they be allowed to use ours?!?

 

[DeeP]

As Jimbo said both VWL and BWV are still open for pool hopping.

Disney did a survey on whether OKW owners wanted to enhance the main pool with a slide, theming etc. The members voted no and do not want their dues raised. But, that is different than doing a survey or keeping track of resort IDs to see which resort the guest are pool hopping from in order to see how many guest staying at OKW and do not like the pool then pool hop to other resorts. (like Uncleromulus stated). If it is shown that the majority of DVC guests that pool hop are staying at OKW then the pool issue definitely needs to addressed. If the dues go up, they go up, that is what the dues are for the maintenance, upkeep and enhancement of the DVC resorts. It would be a shame for all pool hopping to be stopped because of guests consistently pool hopping due to the fact they are not pleased with the pool at the DVC resort in which they are staying.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

I don't see anything stopping anyone from pool hopping to the BCV quiet pool. The pool you are banned from hopping to is the hotel pool. There is no reason to punish people because they bought the only available DVC.

If Disney didn't do it before they should let the OKW members know how much they would have to pay via a special assessment to improve their pool. If its a penny a point maybe they would go for it.

But...I thought the main pool was nice....Disney would have to explain to me how this would improve my experience before I said go ahead.

 

[Jimbo]

DeeP - This is all just your theory, that OKW members are dissatisfied with OKW's pool and hop because of that. If it were true, wouldn't OKW members have jumped at the chance to "improve" their pool? Pool-hopping is a hassle; you've got to pack bags and find a way to get to the other resort and back. Surely paying a few cents in dues to get rid of this hassle would be worth it if your theory was true, right?

But it was voted down by 60% to 40% or so. To me that means that, as I said before, owners like OKW just the way it is. I know I do. I've only hopped twice. On time was to see the new Poly pool. But the other time was when I was staying at BWV and we walked over to SAB - because it <i>wasn't</i> a hassle.

So my theory is that BWV owners are the main culprits. Would they support additional dues to put a sandy bottom, sinking sands, etc. at Luna Park?

I'm just kidding (mostly). But do you really think Disney should have people checking resort IDs just to get an idea what the pool hopping patterns are? Not in this economy!

 

[DeeP]

Jimbo,
It is not my theory, I was responding to what Uncleromulus wrote and also to the many people I have run into at both SB(when I have stayed at YC and also when I pool hopped from BWV) and Luna Park who were DVC members at OKW but chose to pool hop to other resorts. I have met many DVC members at Luna Park who were staying at OKW and parked at BWV and went to Epcot for the morning and then came back to Luna Park for the afternoon before going back to OKW. My home resort is BWV and I have pool hopped 3 times during the course of many DVC trips: 1x when we just wanted to go to SB, 1x when we were meeting friends that were staying at OKW and wanted to pool hop to SB and once when I was staying at OKW.
The issue of the pool at OKW has come up both these boards and through Disney too many times for me to believe that there are not members who desire a pool better than what is currently at OKW. Since the cost of maintaining a pool, the salaries of the lifeguards etc all come from members dues the fairest and easiest way for Disney to deal with this issue might be to eliminate pool hopping all together. This way if you want to swim at SB you book a DVC reservation at BCV, etc.

 

[PKS44]

I don't know everything that has happened but my understanding of the OKW pool issue is that there has never actually been a true survey of OKW owners but that the issue has been voted down at OKW meetings -the people who attend those meetings are not necessarily representative of the entire membership...Many OKW members have posted here that they were never surveyed...still- it would not surprise me if most OKW members did not want any change in the pool-they knew what they had when they bought and they like it...however, they can always change their minds and therefore the issue should never be considered completely dead and off limits for discussion---I think any attempt to see which resort poolhops the most is misguided...it can only lead to war or worse -the end of poolhopping--leave it alone...this poolhopping thing affects so few it is not worth stirring up a lot of trouble over....

Paul

 

[Jimbo]

Actually, there was a survey mailed out to a representative sample of OKW members. The pool enhancement question was voted down handily.

The thing that gets under my skin about this topic is the impression that it's all about money. Maybe it's hard to believe, but people <i>like</i> OKW the way it is.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by Jimbo
...The thing that gets under my skin about this topic is the impression that it's all about money. Maybe it's hard to believe, but people <i>like</i> OKW the way it is.

While I am sure this is true for many members, I would bet there are many that don't want their dues raised, since they can reap the benefits (at no cost to them) at other DVC resorts.

 

[eva]

I'm sure that all of us here on this board don't neccessarily constitute a majority of members, but we have taken polls here about the OKW pool and the members at OKW seem to like it the way it is. I own at OKW and stay there the majority of the time. We never pool hop while at OKW. We like the laid back atmosphere at OKW and pool hopping from OKW is a hassle. Now the first 3 times that we stayed at BWV we pool hopped to SAB most everyday. The last time it was just my husband and I and we spent our pool time at the BWV quiet pool. I was one of the few that received the survey a few years ago. We had just bought and hadn't stayed at OKW yet. I did vote to put in a slide and update the pool. But I have changed my mind after staying there.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Jimbo:
Well--yeah, it IS hard to believe.
But seeing is believing, so I suppose it's true.
I can't believe anyone would want to pool hop TO OKW, so no danger there..myself, I've only been in that pool twice since 1992.
I guess the main theme of my post was to comment on the pool situation (matter? issue?) now that the SAB thing is "official"...
Well--I've vented.
Back to the Restaurant Boards.

 

[BIERMUGG]

We usually pool hop but not because we do not like the pool at OKW, we do it to check out the other resorts. Would I like to see the main pool at OKW with a slide? Sure, but my kids would be happy with a puddle of water as long as they can get wet.

George

 

[Dean]

Paul, there was a survey, it went to a random set of members. I believe hearing it went to 5000 people but am not certain on that issue by any means. There have been 3 surveys. The first went all members and the last 2 only a random number.

The Poly, BLV, BWl, etc pools are all open for pool hopping if not otherwise suspended, like during Spring Break. The only ones closed are SAB and AKL. I'm not certain about the other pools at BC/YC, my suspicion is that no one will know and if you call the front desk at BC or YC, they will say DVC members can no longer pool hop.

The survey actually laid out the anticipated cost of building on a per points basis as well as the cost of lifeguards. I don't believe it listed the cost of ongoing maint. It was "voted" down pretty handily if memory serves, pretty close to the polls done here.

I can understand the sentiments that if we can't ues their's, they can't use ours. I also understand the idea that why should a resort with less amenities mouch off the resorts with more amenties. Like I said, I understand, but I don't agree. The reality is that this is a very tenous perk, one that will vanish completely if much maint goes into it. Frankly, I expect it to vanish within the few years anyway but would hate to see a lot of complaints hasten it's demise.