Using amenities and pools at other resorts

[Elephantay]

I understand there's no pool hopping. But its also pretty widely known that many people do go to other pools, and also use the amenities ( movies, crafts, etc. at resorts they aren't staying in.
With the parks and pools and transportation being so crowded, why doesn't Disney institute consistent rules for all? Why are BLT and CR and AKL and SS pools and so many others open, and others require a MB?
On our last trip, we had a long skyline ride with a local family that openly talked about their ( and many others living locally) weekly use of WDW transportation, pool and showers. They preferred AKL for this, but their friends like SSR with its easy access from DS.On other occasions, I've heard similar things...
Why aren't the pools only for resort guests??

 

[Sandisw]

They are supposed to be and this past summer, they did a pilot of wristbands at CBR.

It would be nice to see MB access for all resort pools and maybe at some point they will.

However, my guess is that a place like SSR is not going to be on a priority list for them.

 

[Cfabar1]

It would also be nice to see the return of pool hopping - which is an amenity I suspect was scarcely used anyways.

 

[Nabas]

On our last trip, we had a long skyline ride with a local family that openly talked about their ( and many others living locally) weekly use of WDW transportation, pool and showers. They preferred AKL for this, but their friends like SSR with its easy access from DS.On other occasions, I've heard similar things...
Why aren't the pools only for resort guests??

The pools are supposed to be only for resort guests but I frequently encounter those not staying onsite who are using the pools.

As @Sandisw mentions, the best way to address this is with wrist bands, which Disney already has at Stormalong Bay and Aulani.

 

[Cfabar1]

The pools are supposed to be only for resort guests but I frequently encounter those not staying onsite who are using the pools.

As @Sandisw mentions, the best way to address this is with wrist bands, which Disney already has at Stormalong Bay and Aulani.

and at the very least having the room key cards actually lock the entrances and exits rather than just having card readers there for fun.

 

[eticketplease]

Why are BLT and CR and AKL and SS pools and so many others open, and others require a MB?

Is BLT no longer working? We have always had to use our MB there.

 

[focusondisney]

movies, crafts, etc. at resorts they aren't staying in.

I don’t think these things are restricted to resort guests only. At least I’ve never seen anything that says they are. There are not signs that say resort guests only, like there are for pools. The movies are usually in open public spaces with plenty of room & no one trying to restrict access. And crafts are paid activities, so they’re available to anyone willing to pay for them.

 

[Elephantay]

I don’t think these things are restricted to resort guests only. At least I’ve never seen anything that says they are. There are not signs that say resort guests only, like there are for pools. The movies are usually in open public spaces with plenty of room & no one trying to restrict access. And crafts are paid activities, so they’re available to anyone willing to pay for them.

The movies are not on public spaces, they are on the specific resorts space. And some resorts have free crafts, which are for the enjoyment of the resort guests.

I can't imagine going to a resort anywhere else and just joining things meant for guests! Just show up at the Hilton at Disney Springs or someplace else?
Wristband access would be easy.

 

[focusondisney]

The movies are not on public spaces, they are on the specific resorts space. And some resorts have free crafts, which are for the enjoyment of the resort guests.

I can't imagine going to a resort anywhere else and just joining things meant for guests! Just show up at the Hilton at Disney Springs or someplace else?
Wristband access would be easy.

Disagree. And movies are held in the resorts public spaces. They are not in a restricted area & have no signage to indicate “resort guests only.” The movies at Y & Beach Club are on the beach…open to anyone. Boardwalk is on the lawn, as they are at many other resort. There is nothing to indicate they are for resort guests only. Fort Wilderness was the first place to have movies many years ago. It was openly promoted by Disney as something anyone could go to. If any of the crafts are restricted to resort guests only, the CMs will have you provide your room number to participate. If the CMs don’t require that info….. then you don’t have to be a resort guests only to participate.

 

[eticketplease]

The movies are not on public spaces, they are on the specific resorts space. And some resorts have free crafts, which are for the enjoyment of the resort guests.

I can't imagine going to a resort anywhere else and just joining things meant for guests! Just show up at the Hilton at Disney Springs or someplace else?
Wristband access would be easy.

All of the crafts we have ever partaken in have been paid extras.

Now if we are staying at PVB or VGF we will hop on the Monorail and visit BLT's Community Hall since there is not one at that location.

Are you getting irritated that my child is coloring on sheets of paper? That is the only free "craft" that I can think of. Beaded bracelets we certainly pay for along with the pillows and pottery we have done throughout the years. Doing the crafts at Community Hall is very rewarding and often time the cheapest souvenir we bring home but they are certainly not free.

 

[Narcoossee11]

Resorts really only if there are 'others' locals ' are over running the event.
If 'others' come in and are polite, calm; the resort really don't notice.
BUT
when others cause a scene, that ruines it for everyone.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

It would also be nice to see the return of pool hopping - which is an amenity I suspect was scarcely used anyways.

Seems like it was used enough that they felt the need to change the policies over the years. Probably much easier to just say no pool hopping, as they've done. Years ago, there were less resorts. I remember back in 2016/17 or so when only DVC guests staying at a DVC resort could pool hop - and even then half the pools were not allowed - no Stormalong Bay, no AKL, etc. Now there are too many resorts and too few "interesting" pools people would like to use away from their resort. Still makes way more sense to me that if you want to enjoy SAB, then stay at BC/YC. I'm sure folks take Disney transportation and sneak their way into a different pool when they know they shouldn't and they know they probably won't be checked - if it's that important for them, so be it. But with the current cost of resort rooms at Disney, the pool is something that comes as an amenity to the actual guests of that resort. They offer water parks for guests looking for something different in a swimming experience.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Let’s say pool hopping did come back for resort guests only. Which pools would you want it open to? Hard no for SAB or main pool at Poly - they are crowded enough already.

I’m inclined to say that my family would enjoy pool hopping but realistically there’s only one pool I’d want access to (Caribbean Beach when staying at Riviera). Anything else feels too inconvenient.

 

[wdw4rfam]

I never got the pool hopping anyways. Why would you want to pack stuff up, travel to another resort (that’s a process in itself), then have to use public showers and lug all your wet stuff back to your resort. Even if I was staying at Saratoga and was allowed to go to SAB, I would not.

 

[eticketplease]

Anything else feels too inconvenient.

Totally agree. It is bad enough hauling goggles and every pool toy imaginable down to my own resort pool let alone trying to drag it to a different resorts pool.

 

[eticketplease]

I never got the pool hopping anyways. Why would you want to pack stuff up, travel to another resort (that’s a process in itself), then have to use public showers and lug all your wet stuff back to your resort. Even if I was staying at Saratoga and was allowed to go to SAB, I would not.

Exactly!!

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

Perhaps if you can drive to another resort and park there? Or if you could walk between the resorts? Like GF/Poly, BC/Boardwalk, or CB/Riviera.

 

[theMoreDisneytheBetter]

It does seem like a relatively easy thing to make a DVC-Y perk for those staying on points. Free, but not many people would take advantage, and can be confirmed by MB with minimal effort by Disney IT.

 

[disneydreamer1980]

I have heard from friends that live in Orlando that locals taking their kids to Disney and/or Universal resorts to swim in their pools and use the amenities is a popular activity. There’s apparently facebook groups about it, which resort is the easiest to crash and has the best stuff to do etc. I suspect eventually they will make MB/room card checking mandatory at every pool.

 

[focusondisney]

Let’s say pool hopping did come back for resort guests only.

Pool hopping was only allowed for DVC members staying on points, not any other resort guests.