Why do people pool hop?

[loriandmatt]

I think another issue is those travelers that used to go to WDW back in the 90's. At that time you could swim in any pool. I

i have to agree with this statement. i think those of us here on this and other such forums forget that not every (and quite frankly the majority of) WDW guests is not anywhere near as up on all things in or out at WDW.

i have a co-worker who LOVES WDW, but because of family reasons hasn't been there in years. she is very excited to be planning an upcoming trip and has asked me (the onsite WDW nut) to help her plan. She was shocked and disapointed to find that she could no longer pool hop. that used to be sold as a perk for any onsite resort booking.

i do thing that many who pool hop now are not evil-doers trying to get one over on anyone...they honestly don't know that this can't be done.

 

[xipetotec]

I don't get it either... but then again, i stay at BCV with SAB

 

[spiceycat]

the pool hopping was only for a year or two in the 90's when Sports first opened - by the time Music was open - that plan was done away with.

it was to get guests to start staying at Sports.

it was not a long time at all.

 

[tinkerbell60]

A few years ago we saw a very large group (10-12 family members) get on the monorail at the GF - all wearing wet bathing suitsand carrying towels. It seemed pretty obvious they had been swimming. They did not get off at MK, so we assumed they were returning to the parking lot. I guess if you are a local, $11 for a day of swimming for a family of $12 is not a bad deal!

 

[EnnEss]

I think if kids see a pool they want to swim in it. But, at Disney they really don't just walk by them, they're out of the way and there isn't much walking around resorts other than yours. Im not sure why someone would pool hop. Water is water, kids will have fun wherever. Seems like a lot of hassle. i can see though, if your friends/family are at another resort. That makes sense.

 

[goofy4tink]

Before I starting visiting the DIS, I thought it was permitted. It wasn't until I became a DIS member and read it that I learned it was against the rules. I would bet many folks that stay at WDW resorts (non-board members) don't realize that its against the rules. Maybe they just want to see a resort before actually staying there. Not everyone reads the DIS. TA's don't tell you, or at least mine didn't mention it.

That may be so, but there is signage at every single pool...values to deluxe...that state the use of the pool is for guests staying at that particular resort. I can not imagine how anyone could not realize it wasn't allowed.

Perhaps Disney should start selling a 'swim pass'...good for swimming at any resort pool, a bit more for SAB.

 

[WillCAD]

A few years ago we saw a very large group (10-12 family members) get on the monorail at the GF - all wearing wet bathing suitsand carrying towels. It seemed pretty obvious they had been swimming. They did not get off at MK, so we assumed they were returning to the parking lot. I guess if you are a local, $11 for a day of swimming for a family of $12 is not a bad deal!

Remember, DVC members ARE allowed to pool-hop, except at AKL and SAB, so these may have been DVC members trying the pools at the monorail hotels.

 

[MagicMe]

I know my sisters are both DVC members and they often pool hop. Now you have to understand that they've been to WDW many many times and when they go down for a week (or even five days or so) they often only plan a couple of days in the parks and spend the rest of their time like a resort vacation. So they may plan on driving over to the Poly for an afternoon of swimming, etc.

 

[spiceycat]

yea but both GF and Polyn allow DVC member to park for 3 hours - can't believe anyone would pool hop longer than that.

 

[Dznefreek]

the pool hopping was only for a year or two in the 90's when Sports first opened - by the time Music was open - that plan was done away with.

it was to get guests to start staying at Sports.

it was not a long time at all.

They are sister resorts. It is allowed.

I think another issue is those travelers that used to go to WDW back in the 90's. At that time you could swim in any pool.

Are you sure about that . . . . . . .

 

[Cass]

I pool hopped once, but I had no idea it was against the rules. We were staying at POFQ and I had dinner reservations at Park Fare, I was trying to figure out what to do with the rest of the day and thought we would hang out at the GF and swim until dinner time... so that's what we did.

I found out much later that it was a no no.

 

[ShellyLynn3630]

Does anyone out there think that it would just be extremely embarrasing to get caught pool hopping. I do. Wonder just what Disney would do? Isn't it the lifeguards that are on patrol for such as this?

 

[Cass]

They just ask you to leave from what I've read.

 

[Kid in Me]

I have stayed on-site the past twelve years and can honestly say I have never seen a pool hopper. How do you determine what one is? I am so busy counting heads at the pool and sipping my tropical drink to notice what is happening around me. I agree that it is unfortunate that people would take advantage using a pool where they are not a registered guest. I think I would be insulted if I were asked for an i.d. at the pool. I would have to assume that I didn't look as though I belonged there. Has anyone seen Disney enforce this? Because I have never seen anyone asked except when we stayed at Beach Club and you needed a key to enter the pool. Perhaps Disney should make that a requirement at all pools.

 

[dvczerfs]

IM A DVCer, i dont make it a habit of going swimmimg but the times we have gone w/ our dd, i have never been asked if i was staying at the hotel or asked for any id. even boarding the resort bus's. walk on , walk off. anyone ever seen anybody ask to leave? or for id?

 

[Feralpeg]

Most of the locals I know have a pool in their backyard. Seems odd that they would go to the trouble to pool hop at a resort. You can't throw a stick in Orlando without hitting a pool.

 

[Lynne M]

IM A DVCer, i dont make it a habit of going swimmimg but the times we have gone w/ our dd, i have never been asked if i was staying at the hotel or asked for any id. even boarding the resort bus's. walk on , walk off. anyone ever seen anybody ask to leave? or for id?

Yeah, I saw folks asked to leave at the WL main pool a couple of years back. The security guards were walking around, asking for ID from everyone in the pool area. They even came down to the beach, where I was sitting, or I wouldn't have noticed it was going on.

At least one family was asked to leave. The guard stood by while they packed up their stuff. They looked pretty unhappy. I would have been mortified, considering that they had the attention of everyone in the area, what with the guard standing there.

 

[Pooh Bear Hugs]

The only resort I've seen id checks is AKL DH was drinking at the pool bar but was never checked. No-one in the pool was checked either just people wandering around.
I must admit to being very tempted to use the pools at GF on a morning as they are always empty and warmer than the pool at the poly, we spent so much time there last trip that even the manager though we were staying there. Still I don't get the idea of getting twobuses to get to another resort to swim.

 

[Pooh Bear Hugs]

Pool hopping was still being allowed as late as 2000 the bus drivers even recomended where to go in their speil. Back in the days before that horrible automated speil.

 

[dclfun]

A couple of items from my memories- around 1999 or so after we had been DVC members for a few years my family of 6 pool hopped ( permitted by DVC) to the Contemporary. We were asked to show ID when we got towels, then a CM walked around twice during our 1 1/2 hour visit and checked everyone's ID's, asking to see all 6 of ours. I was a little miffed since I'm sure it was the "towel girl" who didn't get it that we, as DVC members, had permission to swim there and told her manager to boot us out, which of course he didn't. It wasn't even crowded so I can't imagine any other reason they were checking everybody out. I also have a friend who lives about an hour away whose family camps at Ft. Wilderness frequently. They always pool hopped until the day they were asked to leave at SAB ( the Dad was a local dentist, no less ). This was before the ID checks and fencing and yes, they knew they weren't supposed to be there but felt their AP's entitled them to go wherever they pleased ( their words). I've read lots of complaints on this board about crowds at the Poly pools- it definitely does impact the guest who has spent dearly to stay at a deluxe resort and then not be able to enjoy the resort pool due to pool hoppers that aren't supposed to be there. I can't believe everyone is a DVC member either but when I'm at a pool I have no intention of judging anyone- that's up to the CM's who work there and should be helping preserve the pool for those who have paid for the right to be there. During peak times DVC members aren't allowed to pool hop anywhere either and in fact there's a # we're supposed to call before heading to any resort pool to make sure it's not at capacity, plus we know we can be denied once there if there are too many resort guests already who belong there. So unless you are s/a a particular resort then it's not guaranteed admission to the pool.---Kathy