Unauthorized pool visits +

[kreckl]

We know that many people use the pool at AK (both J and K) and don't stay there. I have seen it happen. People come for dinner/breakfast at Boma or Mara, then go out to swim. They are enjoying the campfires and pool for hours. I've read a lot about the rules re pool hopping- some people aren't even staying on property! How is this handled? How do the CM know who's allowed to use the facilities and who isn't? I have never seen anyone ever checking cards/ID's.
It also happens at BWV as people can walk over from the parks

 

[JWG]

During really busy times they'll ask to see resort cards (KTTW).

I suppose if it gets bad enough they could start doing the Aulani process of wrist bands. Maybe at some point they'll have something that goes with the Magic Band to indicate resort.

 

[AmyB2006]

The only place I've seen them check IDs is SAB at BC/YC. And then at that, only when it's crowded to begin with.

Simple answer, they don't.

 

[cmwade77]

If the pools aren't too busy, what does it matter? We are DVC members and have the right to pool hop, but have never taken advantage of this...why? Because it is too complicated, we would need to bring a change of clothes, store them somewhere, get towels (or bring them) if they aren't available at the pool, check in at the front desk, etc.

But if someone wants to and it's not preventing the people who are staying at the resort form enjoying the facilities, why care about it?

 

[Diva of Dragons]

We might pool hop in Nov. We never have before. We have never really used the pools at all but we have a kidlet this time and she will want to swim! Which pools would you recommend? We are staying at AKL (Kidani), SSR & maybe VWL. It's weird, I never thought about it before but the pools are completely accessible at WDW. The pools here, at DLR, are gated and you need your key card to get in. It would be irritating to have the pools full of freeloaders. LOL!

 

[robinb]

If the pools aren't too busy, what does it matter? We are DVC members and have the right to pool hop, but have never taken advantage of this...why? Because it is too complicated, we would need to bring a change of clothes, store them somewhere, get towels (or bring them) if they aren't available at the pool, check in at the front desk, etc.

But if someone wants to and it's not preventing the people who are staying at the resort form enjoying the facilities, why care about it?

Pool hopping is not allowed at the Animal Kingdom villas (Kidani or Jambo) for DVC members. We always stay at Jambo and I feel like a poacher when I go over to Kidani for the pool (my DD prefers it). That being said, the only places I have ever been asked for my room key were at BCV and BWV (when it was super busy).

Why care about off-site people enjoying my DVC pool? Because a tiny bit of my dues covers the running of the pool. Illegal pool hoppers pay nothing and enjoy everything.

 

[n2mm]

The only place I've seen them check IDs is SAB at BC/YC. And then at that, only when it's crowded to begin with.

Simple answer, they don't.

We just returned from a week at BLT (May 11-18) and they checked room cards every day and gave us a wristband. They did not check when you came in, but checked randomly throughout the day several times a day. One day (Sunday May 12) is was packed. The CM went around checking room cards and it was like a stampede. At least 25-30 people were seen heading to the gates. Now I'm sure some were guest just heading out, but it did look stange to see that many leaving all at the exact same time. We carried our wristbands on my beachbag so each day when they checked I would show them our room card and the wristband. Some folks wore the wristbands, but we were told just to have them displayed.

 

[AmyB2006]

We just returned from a week at BLT (May 11-18) and they checked room cards every day and gave us a wristband. They did not check when you came in, but checked randomly throughout the day several times a day. One day (Sunday May 12) is was packed. The CM went around checking room cards and it was like a stampede. At least 25-30 people were seen heading to the gates. Now I'm sure some were guest just heading out, but it did look stange to see that many leaving all at the exact same time. We carried our wristbands on my beachbag so each day when they checked I would show them our room card and the wristband. Some folks wore the wristbands, but we were told just to have them displayed.

Excellent to hear!!

Why care about off-site people enjoying my DVC pool? Because a tiny bit of my dues covers the running of the pool. Illegal pool hoppers pay nothing and enjoy everything.

While I agree with you, the only way to prevent this is to put a gate up at all pools either with someone there to "guard" the gate or by using your KTTW card to access it. All of which would increase your dues way more than a few extra people in the pool. Yes it sucks. There will always be people that get away with breaking the rules. I don't concern myself with that, though. I'm on vacation!! Why am I going to let that bother me? There are better things to worry about.

 

[MinnieGirl33]

We just returned from a week at BLT (May 11-18) and they checked room cards every day and gave us a wristband. They did not check when you came in, but checked randomly throughout the day several times a day.

WooHoo! Finally!

As for pool hopping, we actually do like to hop between our two home resorts. I wish they would all use wristbands. Simple solution for legal hopping would be to require us to show our ID & pick up a wristband at the front desk.

 

[dianeschlicht]

If the pools aren't too busy, what does it matter? We are DVC members and have the right to pool hop, but have never taken advantage of this...why? Because it is too complicated, we would need to bring a change of clothes, store them somewhere, get towels (or bring them) if they aren't available at the pool, check in at the front desk, etc.

But if someone wants to and it's not preventing the people who are staying at the resort form enjoying the facilities, why care about it?

The question was about people staying off site using the pools. There is a lot of reason to care. Our dues go to the maintenance of the pools, and if you were staying at Kidani and a bunch of people not staying there were using the pool, they are taking up your space. FYI, I don't think I've ever seen the Kidani pool "empty".

 

[k3chantal]

The question was about people staying off site using the pools. There is a lot of reason to care. Our dues go to the maintenance of the pools, and if you were staying at Kidani and a bunch of people not staying there were using the pool, they are taking up your space. FYI, I don't think I've ever seen the Kidani pool "empty".

I have (seen the pool empty, well, with just my kids ) And we thoroughly enjoyed it. Glad people can't pool hop here; dues are high enough!

 

[Dictator]

When we're on vacation, I tend to just stay at the pool where my room is. With the exception of staying at BCV. It's an easy walk to BWV to use their pool. We stayed at Kidani in 2009, it never occurred to me to walk over to Jambo to use their pool. If my kids complain about not going to a pool they want to swim in, I just take them back to the room.
When we were at BLT in august, they were checking room keys of people periodically throughout the day. So that was nice.

 

[dsneygirl]

We just returned from a week at BLT (May 11-18) and they checked room cards every day and gave us a wristband. They did not check when you came in, but checked randomly throughout the day several times a day. One day (Sunday May 12) is was packed. The CM went around checking room cards and it was like a stampede. At least 25-30 people were seen heading to the gates. Now I'm sure some were guest just heading out, but it did look stange to see that many leaving all at the exact same time. We carried our wristbands on my beachbag so each day when they checked I would show them our room card and the wristband. Some folks wore the wristbands, but we were told just to have them displayed.

I'm surprised at BLT since I don't think there pool is anything that great.

The only place other than BC/YC that we have been checked was at the Poly a couple years ago. We saw them ask several families to leave. I have no problem showing a room key and getting a wristband ,it's quick enough.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I'm surprised at BLT since I don't think there pool is anything that great.

Maybe not that great, but it IS close to a theme park, so it's easy for people to just walk over.

 

[delilah]

Actually, I thought this topic intriguing, because when we have stayed at Kidani, we have gone to the pool at Jambo house and stayed out and watched the animals at Jambo. Many times, we make a special trip to Jambo, particularly on our last day, so we can rest and watch animals while waiting for time to go to the airport.

I contacted guest services today, and the castmember who answered my question informed me that if I am staying at Kidani, it is fine for my family and me to use the pool at Jambo. She told me that the only DVC pool I wouldn't be allowed to use is the special themed pool at Beach club. The same is true if I would make a reservation using my points for somebody else to stay there.

Kidani is really a very short walk from Jambo (we do it all the time when we stay there). Saying that I couldn't use the pool at Jambo would be silly. It would be like saying that if I had a reservation at Jiko or Boma, I couldn't wait outside for my reservation in the pool area or in the animal observation area. I can. The pager may not have that long of a range, but, we are permitted to be out there.

 

[disneynutz]

Actually, I thought this topic intriguing, because when we have stayed at Kidani, we have gone to the pool at Jambo house and stayed out and watched the animals at Jambo. Many times, we make a special trip to Jambo, particularly on our last day, so we can rest and watch animals while waiting for time to go to the airport.

I contacted guest services today, and the castmember who answered my question informed me that if I am staying at Kidani, it is fine for my family and me to use the pool at Jambo. She told me that the only DVC pool I wouldn't be allowed to use is the special themed pool at Beach club. The same is true if I would make a reservation using my points for somebody else to stay there.

Kidani is really a very short walk from Jambo (we do it all the time when we stay there). Saying that I couldn't use the pool at Jambo would be silly. It would be like saying that if I had a reservation at Jiko or Boma, I couldn't wait outside for my reservation in the pool area or in the animal observation area. I can. The pager may not have that long of a range, but, we are permitted to be out there.

I don't know who you spoke to but what you were told does not match the published pool policy. You run the risk of each CM having a different take on what's allowed. You may be allowed to swim on one day and not the next. The policy was on the member website but I can't tell you where. I'm sure someone has a copy and I hope that they post it.

Bill

 

[Meggysmum]

I was led to believe that Kidani residents could use either pool at AKL but pool hoppers from other DVC resorts weren't able to use the Kidani pool. This may be wrong but I thought it was like when we stayed at BLT and we could use the BLT or the Contemporary pool but pool hoppers couldn't use the BLT pool.

 

[myxdvz]

AFAIK, AKL and AKV is considered the same resort - so if you are staying there, you can use both pools and that's not considered pool hopping.

If you are a DVC member staying on site, you can pool hop to some but not ALL resort pools.

If you are a DVC member, but staying offsite - you can't pool hop anywhere.

This is the full policy:

When staying on your Membership at any Disney Vacation Club Resort
at the Walt Disney World Resort or Disney’s Vero Beach Resort, 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 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, the leisure pool at Disney’s Beach Club Villas, and
the pools at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. There are no exceptions to
this policy.

Resort hotel pools may become unavailable from time to time due to
capacity limitations. Due to the high occupancy that is expected, you and
any Guests staying with you may not pool hop during the dates listed on
the next page.

 

[n2mm]

I'm surprised at BLT since I don't think there pool is anything that great.

The only place other than BC/YC that we have been checked was at the Poly a couple years ago. We saw them ask several families to leave. I have no problem showing a room key and getting a wristband ,it's quick enough.

I agree, BLT would not be my choice of pool, but we were staying there and that's where the granddaughters wanted to be. I too am glad because this pool is so small and since we needed to watch the girls every minute, it's nearly impossible to find a seat close enough to watch them. BTW--the pool at BLT is listed as a pool that does not allow hoping at (at least in the portable perk we got during checkin).

 

[circhead]

We stayed at BLT early May of this year and I asked one of the CM's why there was no pool hopping allowed to it and she said it's because it is so small.

FWIW - I wouldn't pool hop there anyway - no shade!

I stay at AKL - Jambo whenever I can get it because I love all the palm trees around the pool with lounges under them. I love being able to sit pool side and read. I burn easily and am unable to use sunscreen - every one I have ever tried makes me break out in hives, including the prescription one a dermatologist gave me. When I stay at the other resorts my pool time is after sundown.