Visiting other resorts

[goin2disneyagain]

Do you ask to sleep in the beds prior to making a decision to stay at a resort, do you sample the buffet without paying at Cape May before booking a dining reservation, I don't think so. Technically it is the same thing, it is use of something, that has a safety and capacity limit by those not paying to use it. I think one can visit a resort without using the pool to determine if they would like to book a future stay.

That's a little extreme don't you think?? Are the pools really that crowded in November anyway??

 

[Sammie]

That's a little extreme don't you think?? Are the pools really that crowded in November anyway??

Why is it extreme. Pools are as much a part of what a guest pays for as exclusive use of the actual room itself.

I appreciate that the OP is going to do the right thing and ask Disney at the resort.

My comment was in response to the comment made by djrocstar. He/she posted they would pool hop to decide whether to stay at that resort. I don't see any reason to pool hop to be able to make that decision anymore than expecting to sample the beds prior to staying there. You want to sleep in a bed at the Polynesian book a room, same with the pool.

As to the OP she is doing the right thing. She is an acutal guest who is going to ask permission to have a friend over.

 

[bicker]

That's a little extreme don't you think??

No, not extreme at all. At one point, as a matter of fact, you couldn't even go to one of the resorts (AKL) just to look around, unless you had reservations. That's not an unreasonable restriction. The promotional materials should be enough to make your decision about whether you want to stay at a hotel. The fact is that, now, Disney allows you to walk around any of the resorts, to help make your decision, and so that should be more than enough. They surely need not allow folks free pool access!

Are the pools really that crowded in November anyway??

I don't think the "pools get crowded" argument should matter much. It is surely a reason that Disney imposed policing of some pools, but that doesn't mean that where and when they don't police it's okay to violate.

All consumer-facing businesses have to rely on the integrity of the patrons and visitors to comply with rules. If each business had to police every aspect of service, all the time, our costs would double or triple, and that helps no one (except for security guards, I suppose). I'm sure we don't want to live in a society like that, either. It is far superior for folks to just be honest and forthright, honor the rules, etc.

 

[Mycroft]

I think a better analogy would be asking a friend who was staying another resort to visit you in your room. Maybe you wanted to have a conversation, maybe they wanted to take a shower before returning to the park together. In either case I personally would not ask the hotel's permission.

I believe the OP as well as most people are reasonable an considerate and would not to stay at a pool that was overcrowded (especially if it was a danger ). On top of that I don't think this is a common enough situation for it to even become a problem.

Yet another DBTFORI (that's a DIS Board thread full of righteous indignation)

 

[tekmom]

Hi, hope you have a great wedding and a wonderful trip! I only suggested a water park because on previous threads regarding this same topic, I had seen that suggested as an alternative. I think the other posts suggesting asking the resort is your best option. Have a great trip!

 

[DisneyMommyMichelle]

See, as a Value Resort guest, that bothers me. I know as well as anyone how crowded the pools get there, but you know what - You pay for that, you get that. You have NO right to go to a Deluxe Resort and use that pool. I'm the last person for segregating Value and Deluxe guests, but that's just not right, and if I were staying at a Deluxe Resort, I'd be mad about that.

I totally agree with this!

 

[Sammie]

I think a better analogy would be asking a friend who was staying another resort to visit you in your room. Maybe you wanted to have a conversation, maybe they wanted to take a shower before returning to the park together. In either case I personally would not ask the hotel's permission.

I believe the OP as well as most people are reasonable an considerate and would not to stay at a pool that was overcrowded (especially if it was a danger ). On top of that I don't think this is a common enough situation for it to even become a problem.

Yet another DBTFORI (that's a DIS Board thread full of righteous indignation)

It is not the same.

If one does allow a friend to visit them at their room, take a shower, etc in the room, who does it inconvenience. No one.

However if that same guest at the resort brings a friend to the pool and several more do the same, yes it does inconvenience others by making it over crowded. Only by asking can you determine if it will be a problem. Believe me it is common enough to already be a problem.

Why is using something one pays for or not using something one does not pay for, righteous indignation.

Many of us are not saying the OP is wrong, as she plans to ask at the resort, always the best policy. But responding to others who think, why even ask.

 

[jellymanoffspring]

See, as a Value Resort guest, that bothers me. I know as well as anyone how crowded the pools get there, but you know what - You pay for that, you get that. You have NO right to go to a Deluxe Resort and use that pool. I'm the last person for segregating Value and Deluxe guests, but that's just not right, and if I were staying at a Deluxe Resort, I'd be mad about that.

I agree.....no pool hopping here...
but I do think it is a different thing if you have friends at another resort and you want to swim together.......
( I don't think folks should plan in advance...you stay here ..we'll stay there just to use the pools....but if friends happened to be going at the same time and staying at another hotel..I see nothing wrong in them inviting us to their pool for a swim.... and vice versa)
The only exception I can see would be the one at the yacht and beach club...there I can see that they should ask permission.

Personally I am not a big pool person myself......we hardly even use the pool at WDW..too much to do and too little time...
My kids loved the look of the boardwalk hotel pool..we walked in and took a look on our last vactaion........is that ok??

 

[bicker]

I think a better analogy would be asking a friend who was staying another resort to visit you in your room. Maybe you wanted to have a conversation, maybe they wanted to take a shower before returning to the park together. In either case I personally would not ask the hotel's permission.

No, that's a bad analogy, since you have exclusive use over the space in your room, but the pools are shared space.

I believe the OP as well as most people are reasonable an considerate

Me too. However, there are so many unreasonable and/or inconsiderate people, that restrictions have become necessary, and are in place.

 

[Mycroft]

No, that's a bad analogy, since you have exclusive use over the space in your room, but the pools are shared space.

You have already stated that it doesn't matter if the pool is uncrowned. My point is that it does matter. If the pool is uncrowned, there is very little difference between inviting a guest there and inviting someone to your room. I agree that if the pool is crowded, it is inconsiderate for someone to invite a guest from another resort to the pool, but during the off season, as in original poster's case the analogy holds.

The hotel management is not needed to decide whether the pool is crowded. I can make that decision myself. I don't think there is a problem with a considerate person making this call themselves.

I would tell the OP that it is no problem as long as it is not too crowded at your resort's pool that day.

 

[Deb & Bill]

...The hotel management is not needed to decide whether the pool is crowded. I can make that decision myself. I don't think there is a problem with a considerate person making this call themselves.

I would tell the OP that it is no problem as long as it is not too crowded at your resort's pool that day.

Unless you are the guest of that resort, you are not supposed to swim in the pool. That is stated on signs and in the literature you are handed when you check in. It's not your call. It's the lifeguards' call.

 

[goin2disneyagain]

No, not extreme at all. At one point, as a matter of fact, you couldn't even go to one of the resorts (AKL) just to look around, unless you had reservations.

It really doesn't matter what policies used to be in effect, it matters what policies are in effect now. These people are visiting friends at the resort, not just going to another pool for the fun of it. They should be able to spend time with their friends if they want to. I really don't think Disney will have a problem with this and if they want these people to have a good time and to return then to WDW and spend more money then I think it will be allowed.

 

[MrsNick]

Here's my opinion as someone who has lived in apartments and now a condominium for her entire adult life...

In our last apartment, and now the condo that DH and I live in, outside guests are only able to use the pool if they are a guest of a resident. Each residency is restricted in the number of guests that they may have at one time.

To have a guest in the pool, we are required to sign them in and get them a guest pass ($5 per pass).

The policy is totally necessary, since the pool is a common area with limited space.

In our last apartment, this policy was not enforced, and every maid who came to clean an apartment, the pool staff and others would bring their friends and family in to use the pool. It was a small pool, and it got to be ridiculous. The pool would literally be full of people who did not live there, and the people who were paying a premium rent to live there could not enjoy the facilities.

Where we live now, we do not have that problem, and that's because the pool staff enforces the policy.

I think for a situation like this, perhaps a similar policy could be in place to require that a person staying at a resort be required to sign in their friends and purchase a guest pass; and if the resort or pool is already or expected to be at or near capacity the staff would turn outside visitors away. Also, there should only be one or two visitors allowed per room, with a limitation on the total number of guest passes that are issued in one day.

This, I think, balances the rights of the guests who are paying money to stay at a resort with the understandable desire of another guest to have a visitor.

If this is not sufficient, then maybe the parties involved could plan to book their stays at the same resort. They don't have to spend every second together just because they're at the same resort (heck, they could be at opposite ends, which would be far at a place like OKW)!

But, that's just my opinion (for what that's worth!)

 

[bicker]

The hotel management is not needed to decide whether the pool is crowded. I can make that decision myself.

In your own personal best interest, of course. How convenient. I guess I'll sign off this thread now, before I write something I'll regret.

 

[Mycroft]

In your own personal best interest, of course. How convenient. I guess I'll sign off this thread now, before I write something I'll regret.

Lol. Of course I make decisions in my best interest. Listen, you do what you feel is right, I will do what I feel is right.

If I'm not taking away from anyone's enjoyment of their resort, if I am not hurting anyone, if I'm not taking any bread out of the mouth of Disney, and if it will make my stay more enjoyable I am going to do it.

You have not answered my question. If the pool is uncrowned, what is the difference between inviting someone into your room, and inviting them to the pool?

I also have a question about this policy you speak of. Would someone please post a link to the text of the policy? I would like to check to see if the policy states that exceptions can be made at the discretion of a CM. If not, what would permission do? Would that make the policy disappear?

Say whatever you wish. I doubt anything you say can make me feel bad.

 

[MeetingMickeyin2006]

I don't mean to hijack, but we decided to stay offsite to save some money. But, I really wanted to take my son to see the giant Mr. Potato Head at POP. Can we do this since we aren't staying onsite?

 

[Deb & Bill]

...I also have a question about this policy you speak of. Would someone please post a link to the text of the policy? I would like to check to see if the policy states that exceptions can be made at the discretion of a CM. If not, what would permission do? Would that make the policy disappear?

Say whatever you wish. I doubt anything you say can make me feel bad.

When we were at the Contemporary Resort last week, I intended to take a photo of the signage at the pool that states The Pool and facilities are for the exclusive use of the guests of the Contemporary Resort. But I didn't. I wish I had to give you your policy.

But my copy of VISIONS, Disney Contemporary Resort Directory of Services (that I was given when I checked into the resort) states on page 4 that "Resort pools are intended for the exclusive use of Disney's Contemporary Resort Guests." There is nothing that states exceptions can and will be made.

Good enough for ya??

 

[DVCPAT]

"and if it will make my stay more enjoyable I am going to do it."

You might want to consider your family. It could be embarrassing if a CM asked for your room keys and you argue “I don’t follow rules, I do what’s best for my own personal interest”.

 

[Mycroft]

Each pool has a sign that says it is for the exclusive use of the guests of that resort. However, if you ask, and they approve.....

Yes. Thank you. It seems that there are no official exceptions. Any exception including a cast member dispensation is against the rules. So either it is OK to break the rules in reasonable circumstances or it isn't.

Anyway I think I strayed off point with that tangent anyway. I'm really not doing this just to troll. I'm not opposed to asking a CM and probably would myself, but whether a CM approves it or not, I really think that reasonable exceptions should be allowed and I think that people of good will who are not trying to take advantage of the system can be accommodated.

You might want to consider your family. It could be embarrassing if a CM asked for your room keys and you argue “I don’t follow rules, I do what’s best for my own personal interest”.

As to what I would do if confronted by a CM, I would tell them that I am visiting friends at that resort, and if overcrowding is not a problem, I think they would be OK with it. I honestly doubt that I would be randomly chosen for a spot check during the off season when the pool is not crowded anyway. I don't think I have ever heard of this happening. (Oh and that quote was WAY out of context. You left out the parts about not stealing and not hurting others.)


Anyway, I think it would have been better to stay away from one of the "Big 3" issues. I don't think anyone is going to be convinced on either side of any of these issues.

 

[Mycroft]

So, in other words, you feel as though Disney would look at you and decide the rules that apply to everyone else, don't apply to you?

No. Like I said, I believe there are reasonable exceptions to most rules.

I only paid for a room at All Star Movies, but if there's any rooms available, with that logic, maybe I could get upgraded to Grand Floridian Concierge!

What are you talking about?