Walk-on's

[BobCosta]

I noticed while at SSR in April that anybody DVC member or not Can park at DTD and Walk onto the propery. use the pool on bus services and basicly any function of the resort.. why is this? We have to go through a gate to drive in , but walking from DTD it seems is a oversight in security.. We all pay for these services and it would be nice if it were exclusive to the dues payer

 

[Pluto 2]

just like the bwv

 

[DebbieB]

Beach Club and Boardwalk are also easily walked into. It's very difficult to find a parking space at BWV because of all the non guest cars parked there. VWL can be accessed by boat or bus, OKW can be accessed by bus or boat from Downtown. I don't think it's an issue particular to SSR.

 

[BobCosta]

ARE we as a Group (DVC member) OK with this?

 

[wtpclc]

ANyone on DIsney prperty can take a bus to any resort they want. Maybe SSR and the BW areas are a little easier, because you can walk, but then you'd have to haul your stuff all over too. I do not think there's much we can do about it. It'd be nice to need oyur room key to get into the pool or the gym, etc., but I do not forsee it happening soon.

 

[CarolMN]

ARE we as a Group (DVC member) OK with this?

Until/Unless Disney decides this is a problem, it doesn't much matter whether we like it or not. For example, I've complained more than once (in writing, on surveys and verbally at an annual meeting) about the parking situation at the BWV/BWI. I get an answer that basically amounts to "use valet, it's free for you" and if you don't want to do that, "too bad, so sad".

I think it would cost way more than it's worth to try to stop non-guests from visiting the DVC resorts. Not even sure we want to do it - especially if they are there to patronize the restaurants, spas or shops.

FWIW, I'm having a tough time believing that there is a significant problem with non-guests using the facilities of SSR. Lots more incentive to visit the MK or EPCOT resorts. JMHO. YMMV.

Best wishes -

 

[vascubaguy]

I don't really have an issue with non-guest visiting the resorts... I imagine some of the visitors who walk in might eventually end up being members.... however, I don't really like the idea of non-guests being allowed to use the parking lots, pools, gyms, etc.

 

[mikesmom]

You do have to show a card to use the gym (or pay a fee for the privilege).

 

[dianeschlicht]

You do have to show a card to use the gym (or pay a fee for the privilege).

At OKW, they used to have a key access to the excersise room, but no longer. At SSR, there is a spa fee with discounts for members, but it is usually assumed that anyone in the pool area is there because they are entitled to be. That's odd, since there is always such a todo about folks not being able to pool hop to SAB, but it seems locals can encroach on both SSR and OKW without so much as an eye batted.

 

[vascubaguy]

At OKW, they used to have a key access to the excersise room, but no longer. At SSR, there is a spa fee with discounts for members, but it is usually assumed that anyone in the pool area is there because they are entitled to be. That's odd, since there is always such a todo about folks not being able to pool hop to SAB, but it seems locals can encroach on both SSR and OKW without so much as an eye batted.

*Puts on Flame Suit*
Maybe it's because OKW and SSR owners don't complain as much....

 

[rocketriter]

...It'd be nice to need oyur room key to get into the pool or the gym, etc., but I do not forsee it happening soon.

We just returned from a Marriott timeshare (traded through II) where you used your key card to get into places like the pool, recreation area, gym and so forth.

 

[BobCosta]

I really dont have a problem showing my Card. I carry it for the chargeing feature anyway.. or just maybe put a turnstile at the walkway to DTD? I dont know? just seemed wierd to me....

 

[jarestel]

BobCosta, I see you're a relatively new poster here. Welcome!

I think your concerns are definitely valid, but as you "hang-out" here more, you'll find that one of the things many members will not have any part of is agreeing to anything that will raise dues. If the pools had a permanent CM/lifeguard checking IDs, it might raise dues a dollar or 2 a year. Granted, it would make the member experience better, but the cost is unacceptable for many. So we live with things a lot.

As far as people coming onto the property, I don't think there's any way to prevent/prohibit people from walking over to SSR from DTD. They can walk, boat, or bus onto the property at will for any number of reasons, valid or not. This is a problem at all resorts, not just SSR as has been pointed out.

 

[Anewman]

While walking on to the property is possible, I viewed the main pool @SSR to not be very crowed at all. Also the smaller pool in Congress Park(closest walk to DTD) was almost empty at all times. WL which has no walking distance parking for non guests, the pool is always full. This was during our Aug 8-15 stay.

So while there could be a problem, there is nothing to stop right now. I am sure if/when staff begins to see evidence of pool Hoppers walking in from DTD, then it will be addressed.

 

[Nanajo1]

A few years ago there was a report about locals using the pool at OKW after playing golf. A member overheard them bragging about and reported it. They were asked to leave but there doesn't seem to be any real monitoring at OKW.

 

[HUFF590]

Why could the bus drivers, boat drivers etc simply look at your room cards when you board ? Just hold it out and after awhile everyone would know. I know there are some people who come to visit the resorts, but they could get a 20 min pass or call front desk and get a number or somthing just to make it a little harder to get in, people are lazy and wont go to the trouble to do this.

 

[vascubaguy]

Why could the bus drivers, boat drivers etc simply look at your room cards when you board ? Just hold it out and after awhile everyone would know. I know there are some people who come to visit the resorts, but they could get a 20 min pass or call front desk and get a number or somthing just to make it a little harder to get in, people are lazy and wont go to the trouble to do this.

JMO, but I think that would be a logistical nightmare. The room keys all look the same, so it wouldn't be easy to tell which resort that card came from. You also wouldn't know if it was from that particular stay. There would also be the issue of people not having their room keys with them.

I know I personally would not want the additional time it would take for the bus drivers to check all those key cards. The object is to get the people loaded as quickly as possible and move on.

Also, many of the resorts have dining facilities, Spa facilities, etc that are not restricted to guests only. Disney isn't going to want to restrict the visitors to the resorts because it could influence where those visitors want to stay next time. I know when I ate dinner at Boma one evening, I really wanted to stay at AKL during my next visit!!! (of course then I bought into DVC so instead I'll be staying at BWV)

Anyway, just my thoughts...

 

[JohnNJ]

WL which has no walking distance parking for non guests, the pool is always full.

Last time I stayed at WL I found, after speaking to several people by the pool, that folks staying in the Fort Wilderness cabins and campground take the boat over and use the pool at WL. The ones that I spoke to thought that it was all one big complex (Fort Wilderness/Wilderness Lodge) and they were entitled to use the WL pool. I'm not sure if they really believed that or just using it as an excuse. The pool was definately crowded.

A front desk CM at Fort Wilderness said that they stamp the bottom of the registration paperwork with "No pool hopping allowed."

 

[dianeschlicht]

You really can't prevent folks from using the buses or walkways. The only problem I would think they could do anything about is locals or others using the pools when they are not entitled to. Disney transportation is for all ticket carrying guests. Disney WANTS guests to visit the resorts. Some are going there for meals, while others are just checking them out to find out if they want to stay there next. I do agree that the spas, gyms and pools and community rooms should be mostly for resort guests, and I think in most cases, that is who is there.

 

[tjkraz]

Why could the bus drivers, boat drivers etc simply look at your room cards when you board ? Just hold it out and after awhile everyone would know.

Yeah, just like everyone knows about the ticket finger scans and FastPass, right?

Transportation is free to anyone with valid theme park admissions. There are no restrictions on the resorts / theme parks / restaurants you can visit with that transportation. To enact such restrictions would only frustrate guests and cause those destinations to lose business.

I'm sure that non-guests do use pools and spas from time to time. The problem is that it costs more money to administer than it's worth (gates, wristbands, CMs at checkpoints, etc.)

Then you have to factor in the guest displeasure at being denied entrance to an amenity just because they don't have the proper identification. I know, that falls under the heading of "if you forgot your keycard it's YOUR fault", but that attitude doesn't quite jive with the "magical" vacation experience Disney attempts to deliver.

Disney isn't going to spend the money to enact resort checkpoints / gates and screen guests at the pools just on the possibilty that a problem will arise. They'll act (albeit on their own timetable) only when a problem does actually manifest itself.