>> Using Pools at Other Resorts - FAQ and Questions Thread (No Debate) <<

[Deb & Bill]

Well, why won't they just buy more pool chairs? duh... press the easy button!

Exactly WHAT is the THEME for the Contemporary themed pool and how is it that the other one isn't themed. I know that the Grandstand pool at Saratoga is one of the quiet pools, not the "Feature" pool, and it is very well themed. So I wouldn't say that only the main Feature pool at all resorts is themed.

Themed pools are usually the ones with the slides and lifeguards.

 

[Lynne M]

Just a friendly reminder.....this is a no-debate FAQ. The rules are what they are.

 

[Mindy5767]

Themed pools are usually the ones with the slides and lifeguards.

Slides and Lifeguards are a theme? Its gotta have a contemporary "Jetson" like theme.. right?

Personally, I think the giant volcano at Poly and the big sand castle at OKW are pretty good themeing. I think the maniacal clown slide at the Boardwalk is "good themeing" per se... but boy is it scary!

 

[nbenson]

Disney will be giving admission (arm bands?) for a couple days, for each of my father's grandchildren,at the YC. Hooray!!!!!!
We are such are large group 40-46. We would have never been able to select a single resort,that would accomadate all.So I was confused, why meeting at a resort, was to be such a large ordeal.
They have been nothing but accomadating since we have booked our packages,and the planners have been great.Planning various meals and experiences with other families in our group.You can also pay (very expensive$$$$) a VIP service to hold seats, and provide transportation around the park.I am so relieved for my father.
I personally feel the rules are great,but I am also glad Disney is not black and white,and sees when exceptions need to be made. Just wanted to update for anyone else in this situation.
Thanks All

 

[Deb & Bill]

Disney will be giving admission (arm bands?) for a couple days, for each of my father's grandchildren,at the YC. Hooray!!!!!!
We are such are large group 40-46. We would have never been able to select a single resort,that would accomadate all.So I was confused, why meeting at a resort, was to be such a large ordeal.
They have been nothing but accomadating since we have booked our packages,and the planners have been great.Planning various meals and experiences with other families in our group.You can also pay (very expensive$$$$) a VIP service to hold seats, and provide transportation around the park.I am so relieved for my father.
I personally feel the rules are great,but I am also glad Disney is not black and white,and sees when exceptions need to be made. Just wanted to update for anyone else in this situation.
Thanks All

I hope for you and your family's sake that all this happens when you arrive. It ultimately is the lifeguards' responsibility at the pool not the concierge staff.

 

[Disneyadore]

I hope for you and your family's sake that all this happens when you arrive. It ultimately is the lifeguards' responsibility at the pool not the concierge staff.

I can only tell what happened to us. We were heading to Beaches an Cream to enjoy the famous "Kitchen Sink".
We got of the boat and took the wrong side to enter the Board Walk and ended up at th pool entrance. (Yeh we got lost but wait until you get old )
We were stopped right away and we were just send back. No discussion.
When I explained the to the pool guard we only wanted to go to the restaurant he escorted us along the pool and made sure we left.
There was NO way we could have swim there and that was very good. This was on a very slow day in May and the pool was almost empty.
BTW the pool was not even attractive to us. I guess us old farts are way better of at "our "Grand Floridian pool.

 

[travelitis]

NBenson - so glad you got that worked out. I felt common sense would prevail in the end. Disney wants happy guests, and your group represents a lot of guests and a lot of $$. A concierge is just the person to get special things done and attend to guest's individual needs that no one else can. That's exactly their purpose. Rules exist for a purpose, and a concierge knows when to bend them and has the authority to do so. Disney cares more about their guests enjoying their vacations than about keeping this family from swimming at the same resort. They have 46 guests from 1 family staying in Disney hotels. You bet they are going to let them meet for a swim rather than inconveniencing them by forcing them to change reservations. This is only basic good customer service.

 

[BGE]

Dont aska a question about pools unless it's in the pool section!!

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I understand both arguments...really, even staying offsite Disney will be getting a whole heck of alot of my money, is it such a terrible thing to wonder about a little convenience for a family of 4 including two children under 3?

Then again, if I was staying at the resort and it was packed with non-guests that would probably annoy me a little bit...however, I see no reason why the resorts don't sell a limited amount of day passes.

I'll be in Orlando for 10 days, 8 of which will be spent in WDW parks, touring WDW resorts, eating in WDW restaurants including the hideously overpriced Cindy's Royal Table, farting around in Downtown Disney etc. It'd be nice if we had reservations at Ohana for dinner one night if we could hang at the resort for a few hours before hand.

Terrible job by Disney...

 

[Deb & Bill]

Dont aska a question about pools unless it's in the pool section!!

------------------------------------

I understand both arguments...really, even staying offsite Disney will be getting a whole heck of alot of my money, is it such a terrible thing to wonder about a little convenience for a family of 4 including two children under 3?

Then again, if I was staying at the resort and it was packed with non-guests that would probably annoy me a little bit...however, I see no reason why the resorts don't sell a limited amount of day passes.

I'll be in Orlando for 10 days, 8 of which will be spent in WDW parks, touring WDW resorts, eating in WDW restaurants including the hideously overpriced Cindy's Royal Table, farting around in Downtown Disney etc. It'd be nice if we had reservations at Ohana for dinner one night if we could hang at the resort for a few hours before hand.

Terrible job by Disney...

But they could get a whole heck of a lot more money from you if you paid to stay at the other resort that has the pool you want to swim in. So instead of only paying for a Value resort, you pay for a Deluxe resort. That's a lot more money than a day pass would offer - unless they made the day pass really worth while to Disney and not to the guests.

Even so, the pools are designed for X many guests staying at that resort and don't really have room for the occasional "day guest with family".

 

[BGE]

But they could get a whole heck of a lot more money from you if you paid to stay at the other resort that has the pool you want to swim in. So instead of only paying for a Value resort, you pay for a Deluxe resort. That's a lot more money than a day pass would offer - unless they made the day pass really worth while to Disney and not to the guests.

Even so, the pools are designed for X many guests staying at that resort and don't really have room for the occasional "day guest with family".

I understand the capacity element, thats why a limited number should be available, managed individually by the resort...lets face it, if you're staying on-site for a week then you're not going to be hanging around the pools most of the time, why not make it available for $25/day to others who'll be in the area but not necessarily hitting the parks?

If Disney's argument is that, "...well, it's actually an extra $100/night to stay at a deluxe resort..." then that is simply shameful in a whole host of different ways. Especially considering how they squeeze every penny out of you anyway with everything else...

I would not be paying to stay at the deluxe resort, I would be paying to use the public areas for a limited amount of time. Definitely something that Disney should think about. Wouldn't be awful public relations either considering the state of the economy and the need for some to stay in values or offsite...

 

[Deb & Bill]

I understand the capacity element, thats why a limited number should be available, managed individually by the resort...lets face it, if you're staying on-site for a week then you're not going to be hanging around the pools most of the time, why not make it available for $25/day to others who'll be in the area but not necessarily hitting the parks?

If Disney's argument is that, "...well, it's actually an extra $100/night to stay at a deluxe resort..." then that is simply shameful in a whole host of different ways. Especially considering how they squeeze every penny out of you anyway with everything else...

I would not be paying to stay at the deluxe resort, I would be paying to use the public areas for a limited amount of time. Definitely something that Disney should think about. Wouldn't be awful public relations either considering the state of the economy and the need for some to stay in values or offsite...

Unless you plan to use that "day pass" when the pool opens in the morning for about a half hour or right before it closes at night, the pool is going to be crowded with guests staying at that resort. I take it you have never been to Stormalong Bay at the BC/YC or the Polynesian pool.

If you want to swim at a Disney resort pool, you need to make a reservation at that resort to stay there.

Disney squeezes the money out of you because they can.

 

[sndral]

If Disney's argument is that, "...well, it's actually an extra $100/night to stay at a deluxe resort..." then that is simply shameful in a whole host of different ways. Especially considering how they squeeze every penny out of you anyway with everything else...
It's more than $100 per day, sometimes lots more. No 'shame' involved, anyone willing and able to pay to stay deluxe get's to use the pool.
I would not be paying to stay at the deluxe resort, I would be paying to use the public areas for a limited amount of time. Definitely something that Disney should think about. Wouldn't be awful public relations either considering the state of the economy and the need for some to stay in values or offsite...

Actually Disney has thought about it - they have water parks which you can pay to use if you are staying offsite and want to enjoy onsite swimming. In regards to Disney resorts, including the deluxe resorts, you can use the public areas, you can eat in the restaurants, stroll around the grounds, sit in the lobby or on benches on the grounds, stroll through and buy merchandise from the stores, for free, you just can't swim in the pools.

 

[maxiesmom]

I understand the capacity element, thats why a limited number should be available, managed individually by the resort...lets face it, if you're staying on-site for a week then you're not going to be hanging around the pools most of the time, why not make it available for $25/day to others who'll be in the area but not necessarily hitting the parks?

If Disney's argument is that, "...well, it's actually an extra $100/night to stay at a deluxe resort..." then that is simply shameful in a whole host of different ways. Especially considering how they squeeze every penny out of you anyway with everything else...

I would not be paying to stay at the deluxe resort, I would be paying to use the public areas for a limited amount of time. Definitely something that Disney should think about. Wouldn't be awful public relations either considering the state of the economy and the need for some to stay in values or offsite...

So, would you then be ok with getting kicked out of the pool if it hit capacity and someone actually staying at the resort wanted to swim? I'm sure that would go over big--"You there from the Pop! Haul your hinney out of the pool, another Poly guest wants in!"

The resort pools do not have a massive capacity. They have enough room for the guests who are staying at that resort, and that is about it. We are not talking giant water parks. There really isn't room for extra people.

 

[bkhemphill]

I'm sorry if this question has been answered already but since I am new to this site and at work I can't go through all the posted responses and answers....

so DH and I want to visit a beach like place without having to pay to drive to the actual beach (esp since the weather in Florida is random in December) so I have been looking up other places and I found Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. And I saw that they have paddle boats and other things at that lake and that you aren't allowed to swim in it....so I was wondering does anyone know if we would be able to just sit at that "beach" and watch the lake and the people out on the boats!?

Again this is my first real trip...please tell me if any of my information is wrong! lol

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

I'm sorry if this question has been answered already but since I am new to this site and at work I can't go through all the posted responses and answers....

so DH and I want to visit a beach like place without having to pay to drive to the actual beach (esp since the weather in Florida is random in December) so I have been looking up other places and I found Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. And I saw that they have paddle boats and other things at that lake and that you aren't allowed to swim in it....so I was wondering does anyone know if we would be able to just sit at that "beach" and watch the lake and the people out on the boats!?

Again this is my first real trip...please tell me if any of my information is wrong! lol

I know that guests not staying at the Polynesian like to watch the Electrical Water Pageant and Wishes from their beach, so I don't see anything wrong with what you want to do.

 

[bkhemphill]

I know that guests not staying at the Polynesian like to watch the Electrical Water Pageant and Wishes from their beach, so I don't see anything wrong with what you want to do.

Thanks! =) I'm super excited to go!

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Thanks! =) I'm super excited to go!

You're welcome and I hope you have a great time.

 

[sndral]

I'm sorry if this question has been answered already but since I am new to this site and at work I can't go through all the posted responses and answers....

so DH and I want to visit a beach like place without having to pay to drive to the actual beach (esp since the weather in Florida is random in December) so I have been looking up other places and I found Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort. And I saw that they have paddle boats and other things at that lake and that you aren't allowed to swim in it....so I was wondering does anyone know if we would be able to just sit at that "beach" and watch the lake and the people out on the boats!?

Again this is my first real trip...please tell me if any of my information is wrong! lol

One of my favorite things to do in Dec. is to visit the various resorts to see the Christmas decorations. In addition to the beach by the Poly, which is a monorail ride away from the MK, the Epcot resorts of YC/BC, BW and the Swan and Dolphin front a small lake. The pleasant walk between the back entrance to Epcot and DHS by these resorts is an easy way to get some 'beachy/white sand' time and if you wander into the lobbies you can see the Christmas decor.

 

[bkhemphill]

One of my favorite things to do in Dec. is to visit the various resorts to see the Christmas decorations. In addition to the beach by the Poly, which is a monorail ride away from the MK, the Epcot resorts of YC/BC, BW and the Swan and Dolphin front a small lake. The pleasant walk between the back entrance to Epcot and DHS by these resorts is an easy way to get some 'beachy/white sand' time and if you wander into the lobbies you can see the Christmas decor.

Yea we really want to go around to see the decorations but with the "pool" rules and things I wasn't sure if they would allow us to sit at the "beach". And it's so expensive to get a taxi or a rental car and I really want DH to see it all (not going to happen) but as much as we can! Thank you for your reply! I'm glad we will be able to do this or I might be super bummed!

 

[gojoe]

You can visit the other resorts. We always visit other resorts for diner and stroll around the grounds. I love the beach at Grand Floridian. Enjoy, we do.