Towels at the VWL pool?

[ftwildernessguy]

Whenever we camp at FW, we like to use the pool at our "sister" resort, WL. We thought maybe this time the smaller pool by the Villas would be a little quieter. I know there are plenty of towels at the main pool, but are there also towels at the pool at the Villas, or do we need to bring one over from the main pool?

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Unfortunately, guests from Fort Wilderness are not permitted to pool hop to either of the pools at the WL or WLV.

 

[jugman]

Unfortunately, guests from Fort Wilderness are not permitted to pool hop to either of the pools at the WL or WLV.

So can you pool hop if you stay at a resort?

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Unfortunately, guests from Fort Wilderness are not permitted to pool hop to either of the pools at the WL or WLV.

Right.

 

[Alexander]

So can you pool hop if you stay at a resort?

If you are a DVC member staying on DVC points and it is not a peak season time you are permitted to pool hop to all of pools on property except Animal Kingdom and Yacht/Beach Club. There are blackout dates around busy times (Easter, July 4th, etc.) for the other pools.

So in response to the OP's question, yes there are towels at the VWL pool but you are not allowed to swim there. This is a very touchy subject with WL and VWL guests by the way! Fort Wilderness is not a sister resort and is completely seperate from the Wilderness Lodge.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

If you are a DVC member staying on DVC points and it is not a peak season time you are permitted to pool hop to all of pools on property except Animal Kingdom and Yacht/Beach Club. There are blackout dates around busy times (Easter, July 4th, etc.) for the other pools.

So in response to the OP's question, yes there are towels at the VWL pool but you are not allowed to swim there. This is a very touchy subject with WL and VWL guests by the way! Fort Wilderness is not a sister resort and is completely seperate from the Wilderness Lodge.

Well, I called a CM at the desk at FW and they said it was okay to use the pool at WL.

 

[Alexander]

Right.

Seriously, you aren't allowed to swim there. I know many people do, and I have repeatedly requested that they ask for resort ID as they do at Stormalong Bay because too many people who don't belong in those pools are crowding it out for those of us who do belong.

 

[jugman]

How do they know if your a dvc member. Do you have to carry around a card to show or do they take your word for it.

 

[Lynne M]

Pool-hopping isn't permitted at WDW resorts, with the following exceptions:

• If you're staying at one of the All-Star resorts, you may use the pools at All-Star Music, Sports, and Movies.
  
• If you're staying at POR or POFQ, you may use the pools at either resort.
  
• If you're a DVC member, staying on points, you may use any pool except those at YC/BC/BCV and AKL/AKV.

FW and WL aren't sister resorts (as, for instance, POR/POFQ), and they don't share pools. WL has been doing random resort ID checks at the pools lately.....anyone who can't produce a WL or VWL resort ID is asked to leave.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

So can you pool hop if you stay at a resort?

As stated above, there are very limited situations where guests at any resort can pool hop. DVC members on points during limited times of the year. Those staying at POR/POFQ can use either pool and I believe the All-Stars guests can pool hop among the Sports, Movies, and Music pools. Other than that, pool hopping is not permitted. Whoever informed the OP that it was okay was mistaken.

 

[Lynne M]

How do they know if your a dvc member. Do you have to carry around a card to show or do they take your word for it.

Yes, DVC members have a card that they show to get the member perks.

 

[Lynne M]

Well, I called a CM at the desk at FW and they said it was okay to use the pool at WL.

I don't think the CM's at FW much care who swims in the WL pool. If you'd called the front desk at WL, you would have gotten a different answer.

 

[jugman]

Well, I have one more question. Why do people want to pool hop anyway? Is the water different in one pool to the other.

 

[Alexander]

Well, I have one more question. Why do people want to pool hop anyway? Is the water different in one pool to the other.

No, the water is no different. From what I understand the pool at FW is too small to accomodate all of the guests. I am not speaking from experience, just from what I've heard. Therefore, many FW guests think they can swim at the Wilderness Lodge. However, as the OP indicated the main pool is usually pretty busy and crowded. Much is due to the FW guests mind you. Therefore the OP wanted to move to a quieter pool at the villas. That pool lately has been pretty busy and overcrowded too due to the influx of FW guests.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Really, I'm a DVC member and have never wanted to travel around WDW to just go swimming. There are signs at every WDW resort stating that the pools are for the guest staying at that resort. Anyone who starts this kind of thread just wants to get everyones blood a boiling.

 

[SpaceGirl]

Well, I called a CM at the desk at FW and they said it was okay to use the pool at WL.

Right.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Well, I've used the WL pool for ten years and have never been asked for a resort id. I think it's more the WL people don't want to associate with us from FW, since Disney obviously doesn't care and in fact considers the two resorts sister resorts. They are even managed by the same manager, so I don't see what calling the front desk at WL would do. I guess I'll just grab a towel at the main pool and use it at the smaller pool.

 

[debster812]

Well, I've used the WL pool for ten years and have never been asked for a resort id. I think it's more the WL people don't want to associate with us from FW, since Disney obviously doesn't care and in fact considers the two resorts sister resorts. They are even managed by the same manager, so I don't see what calling the front desk at WL would do. I guess I'll just grab a towel at the main pool and use it at the smaller pool.

Interesting. The last time we were at Ft Wilderness, (within the past 18 months) we were made to sign a document stating we knew we could NOT pool hop.

 

[TammiMcMan]

I guess I'll just grab a towel at the main pool and use it at the smaller pool.

Not if I call and reserve all the FW campsites before you . Well, then you could still swim in the virtual pool.

 

[IMDORY]

Not if I call and reserve all the FW campsites before you . Well, then you could still swim in the virtual pool.

Seriously-I've stayed at WL 4 times and I get sooo annoyed when the FW people come over and add to the already crowded little WL pool.

And I'm not just a snobby WL person-I've camped in FW twice before and even own a camper myself-but it is NOT appropriate to hog up another resorts pool space if you aren't a paying customer to that resort! (of course, exempting the DVC people-who are by virtue of their DVC contracts-paying customers)