Using amenities and pools at other resorts

[tjkraz]

MagicBands alone aren't much of a deterrent, IMO. Someone looking to crash the pools can just sidle in behind a guest opening the gate. Few people are going to slam the gate in a stranger's face and say something along the lines of "use your own band...assuming you're even a guest."

In all our trips to WDW, we've never had a situation where we couldn't find a couple pool chairs that are free. Maybe some pools would be marginally less crowded if they could keep out the riff raff. Things like outdoor movies and marshmallow roasts are never crowded.

The Caribbean Beach test was interesting. If Disney actually tracked guest counts before and during the test, they would have meaningful data on how much things changed with policing in-place. Data that could be applied to other pools.

It's easy to fantasize that 20-30% of all pool visitors are non-guests. But if it's really 2-3%, you're investing a lot of resources--and introducing a hassle factor for actual guests--without yielding any real results. It's tough for me to envision a dozen FL families going to the same Disney resort on the same day and staying for hours and hours.

It's sad that people would do that. But policing the pools and resort grounds is not a change I would make simply out of spite.

 

[tjkraz]

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.

We did it 2-3 times over the span of roughly 20 years. To me, it was mostly a situational thing. One time we stayed in the Treehouse Villas for around 10 days. Midway thru the trip we went to POFQ for a change of scenery. Another trip we didn't need to leave WDW property for our return home until around 4pm. After checking out at 11am, we drove to OKW for lunch and a swim before heading out.

The way you framed the comment implies that someone would have to throw all of their stuff in tote bags and use various Disney transport methods to reach another resort. For many, it's as easy as tossing on a t-shirt + swimsuit and hopping in the car.

I don't really care that pool hopping is gone, but it could be an interesting distraction in the right circumstances.

 

[Elephantay]

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.

It's THIS that bothers me. I don't mind at all if WDW guests go to other WDW resorts, other than the pools which I feel should be for paying guests of that resort only. But people who aren't even staying on property and use the amenities and pools because they CAN. To me, all WDW resorts should be the same as far as access ( or not).

 

[Smugpugmug]

The last time I stayed at HHI, both pool areas had CMs walking around and asking to see room keys maybe about every 90 minutes to verify that you were actually staying at the resort. I saw a decent amount of people being kicked out of the beach house pool too, so a lot of non guests do sneak in despite the gates being locked.

I wish WDW would do something similar with their pools. I remember that happening ONCE at the Copper Creek pool over at WL and the family sitting next to me were asked to leave because of it. That was during Covid and I always wondered why they stopped that.

 

[eticketplease]

The last time I stayed at HHI, both pool areas had CMs walking around and asking to see room keys maybe about every 90 minutes to verify that you were actually staying at the resort. I saw a decent amount of people being kicked out of the beach house pool too, so a lot of non guests do sneak in despite the gates being locked.

I have yet to experience that at the lil dipper or the beach house pool but maybe because it’s such a small resort and they remember you?

 

[Smugpugmug]

I have yet to experience that at the lil dipper or the beach house pool but maybe because it’s such a small resort and they remember you?

If they got rid of that too, then that stinks. I remember A LOT of people sneaking in behind guests that open the gate with their key. Apparently people that stay at the neighboring timeshares sneak into the beach house according to CMs that I spoke to.

 

[Boopuff]

Pool hopping is such a weird idea. If my kids really wanted a "fun slide" in the pool, then I'd make sure the hotel I booked had one. If I couldn't afford it, oh well, no slide for you! But I sure wouldn't travel to another hotel, and hover around the gate, waiting for someone to open in and slide right on in.

 

[muppets3d]

The last time I stayed at HHI, both pool areas had CMs walking around and asking to see room keys maybe about every 90 minutes to verify that you were actually staying at the resort. I saw a decent amount of people being kicked out of the beach house pool too, so a lot of non guests do sneak in despite the gates being locked.

I wish WDW would do something similar with their pools. I remember that happening ONCE at the Copper Creek pool over at WL and the family sitting next to me were asked to leave because of it. That was during Covid and I always wondered why they stopped that.

I've only stayed at HHI during the off-season so haven't experienced that. But interesting!

 

[jo-jo]

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

We used it once. On a trip with young granddaughter, while staying at BCV, we went to MK for the morning, then used pool at WL, then back to MK.

 

[muppets3d]

The Caribbean Beach test was interesting. If Disney actually tracked guest counts before and during the test, they would have meaningful data on how much things changed with policing in-place. Data that could be applied to other pools.

I guess they did Caribbean Beach because it's a skyliner resort, and they probably had issues with Pop/AoA guests riding the skyliner up to use the nicer pools?

To me, all WDW resorts should be the same as far as access ( or not).

I think the issue is not all WDW resorts are equally appealing for pool hoppers. Riviera is actually fairly popular due to the influencsters and the fact that it's on the Skyliner, so it is locked down (with varying levels of success). Likewise Polynesian and Stormalong Bay. But how many locals or off-property guests are sitting at the Paddock pool at Saratoga Springs right now? Or for that matter, the quiet pool at Beach Club Villas?

 

[Smugpugmug]

I've only stayed at HHI during the off-season so haven't experienced that. But interesting!

I've only stayed there during peak months (July/August) so maybe that has something to do with it? But I did appreciate it as both pools barely have any seating. You can't afford to have non guests taking them up.

 

[muppets3d]

I've only stayed there during peak months (July/August) so maybe that has something to do with it? But I did appreciate it as both pools barely have any seating. You can't afford to have non guests taking them up.

I can definitely see it being necessary during peak times for sure.

 

[eticketplease]

I've only stayed there during peak months (July/August) so maybe that has something to do with it? But I did appreciate it as both pools barely have any seating. You can't afford to have non guests taking them up.

I certainly agree about the lil dipper pool lacking with seating but in August we didn’t have a problem at the beach house. Hopefully it won’t be a problem this year as we are going in July.

 

[eticketplease]

I think the issue is not all WDW resorts are equally appealing for pool hoppers. Riviera is actually fairly popular due to the influencsters and the fact that it's on the Skyliner, so it is locked down (with varying levels of success).

I’m not sure about hopping to Riviera as that certainly would not be a top choice for us as it is very plain. I can certainly see people stopping and trying to get in via Skyliner though.

 

[muppets3d]

I’m not sure about hopping to Riviera as that certainly would not be a top choice for us as it is very plain. I can certainly see people stopping and trying to get in via Skyliner though.

I agree, I wouldn’t hop to Riviera if I were staying at any other dvc resort. The pools are nothing special. But if I were an off-property guest or staying at art of animation, it’s more appealing. And that’s the issue with their pools.

 

[Smugpugmug]

I certainly agree about the lil dipper pool lacking with seating but in August we didn’t have a problem at the beach house. Hopefully it won’t be a problem this year as we are going in July.

Last time I went in July you couldn't get a chair up there after about an hour or so after opening. The place to get food had a really long line to order but I pack a meal so never ordered anything there.

 

[robinb]

Pool hopping was a ginormous PITB. Half the time we would get the side eye even after calling over to get permission. The last time we tried was when my DD25 was a teen. She was a competitive swimmer, and needed to get laps in while on vacation. We hopped to CSR’s pools with lane markings to get in some training and the CM at the “health club” gave us a hard time even with permission from management. My DD refused to return the next day due to embarrassment.

 

[eticketplease]

Last time I went in July you couldn't get a chair up there after about an hour or so after opening. The place to get food had a really long line to order but I pack a meal so never ordered anything there.

Thanks I will certainly take that into account when we go.

The lines for food at Signals were also long for us as well. I guess that is the price you pay to get a dole whip in SC

 

[Smugpugmug]

lol just thought of this thread while out and about at WDW this week. Doing some resort hopping and I shared a Skyliner with a family who is staying at Pop but wants to go over to GF, eat lunch and then use the pool. They were very confused when I told them that only GF guests can use the pool at GF.....

 

[wdw4rfam]

MagicBands alone aren't much of a deterrent, IMO. Someone looking to crash the pools can just sidle in behind a guest opening the gate. Few people are going to slam the gate in a stranger's face and say something along the lines of "use your own band...assuming you're even a guest."

In all our trips to WDW, we've never had a situation where we couldn't find a couple pool chairs that are free. Maybe some pools would be marginally less crowded if they could keep out the riff raff. Things like outdoor movies and marshmallow roasts are never crowded.

The Caribbean Beach test was interesting. If Disney actually tracked guest counts before and during the test, they would have meaningful data on how much things changed with policing in-place. Data that could be applied to other pools.

It's easy to fantasize that 20-30% of all pool visitors are non-guests. But if it's really 2-3%, you're investing a lot of resources--and introducing a hassle factor for actual guests--without yielding any real results. It's tough for me to envision a dozen FL families going to the same Disney resort on the same day and staying for hours and hours.

It's sad that people would do that. But policing the pools and resort grounds is not a change I would make simply out of spite.

We saw a family hanging out by the gate at poly last time we were there. Literally just standing there. I walked all the way to the back gate by the beach to go in. I wasn’t letting them in