Wilderness Campers pool hop on Easter Sunday

[chips]

We have gone to Wilderness for the last four Springs. We have had great vacations each time. Last trip we did the Sammy Duvall's parasailing and loved Expedition Everest. Good rooms, good housekeeping, good check ins.

However, either the Camper problem has gotten worse or I just notice it more.
On Easter weekend they took over the tables behind the Wildernes Pool Bar. On Saturday and Sunday they were there from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. They were smoking cigars and cigarettes everytime I walked by. Loud and pounding beers.

I went to the Contemporary Marina to speak to the Sammy Duvall desk. When I went out to the boat dock, there were about 20 campers waiting for the boat after using the contemporary pool. I mentioned that the pool for the campground was pretty small. They said they never used that pool. They went on to tell me about how they like the slide at the contemporary. They like the hot tubs and the bar at the Wilderness. They think the Polynesian is overrated and their favorite is The Grand Floridian but it is hard to get to and sometimes they get kicked out.

At minimum Wilderness should have a sign like the GF that says these pools are for the use of the wilderness lodge patrons. Please be prepared to show your room key.

We went in March for two years. The spring break campers take over the hot tubs after 9pm. They told me there first choice were the villa (myword) hot tubs. But that one was under repair. Good to hear they appreciate the finer things.

We got back from MK at 11 p.m. There was a full boat going to the campground with campers in bath robes and pool towels. It really has become flagrant abuse.

I think a sign might tone down the flagrant abuse. Maybe cut it back by 20 percent. And it seems the campers that usurp the facilities are loud and pushy.

SAB is shut down like fort knox with the wrist bands.

It might be Disney management tacitly accepts the campers pool hopping. As long as the wilderness and contemporary patrons do not complain.

We are going to beach club next Spring. Wilderness I think will be our first choice the following vacation.

Sorry about the whinking. This was just a small part of a great vacation.

 

[bicker]

Shame on those campers. A little too much "me" think and too little consideration.

 

[CarolMN]

Did you complain about them to the WL/VWL management? FWIW, a sign seldom makes any difference to people who take advantage of lax enforcement. Signs/Posted rules don't apply to them - but of course you already knew that, right?

My understanding is that the "illegals" get kicked out if someone complains. I would complain if I couldn't get a spot, and especially if they were loud and obnoxious. Maybe if people complained enough, Disney would do more enforcement - I'm surprised to hear that Disney didn't do enforcement over the crowded Easter weeks.

That said, if the "crashers" weren't actually using the pool and just having a good time, Disney probably doesn't consider them "Illegal". The bars are for anyone (if they are over 21).

Best wishes -

 

[Alexander]

I complained and loudly last Easter (2005). We couldn't get near the pools at the lodge. The hot tubs were full of people bragging about coming over from the campground. I spoke to the front desk while we were there, I sent them an email when we got home, and I indicated the concern on the follow-up survey they sent. We will not be staying at the VWL until this problem is resolved. For crying out loud, you can't get near SAB without room ID, why is it so difficult to ask people to show their room keys at the other resorts?

AND....there was no pool hopping allowed for even DVC members during the Easter weeks this year or last! So those staying at other DVC resorts weren't even allowed to use the pools.

Maybe we need to really get a complaint campaign going because this problem is as bad now as it was a year ago. The WL/VWL staff are clearly not dealing with this issue.

 

[bzzelady]

I'm going to the Wilderness Lodge in the beginning of June on a cash reservation. Turst me, if I see abuse, I'll complain to management (the son of one of my friends is a manager out at Port Orleans so I will be heard if need be).

I have a 6 year old who didn't get to swim at all in October at BWV due to Wilma so she expects to be able to swim this time and I expect there to be room in the pool for her to do so.

 

[bicker]

The WL/VWL staff are clearly not dealing with this issue.

Or any such issue. Disney relies on the integrity of its guests to comply with things like this. They don't plan on their guests transgressing in such great numbers, and as a result don't have any mechanisms in place to prevent the selfishness from adversely impacting other guests. It does seem to be so pervasive, now, affecting so much of what Disney offers, exascerbated by the sharing of these "tactics" on the Internet, that something does need to be done. We really need to start writing to Disney about the overall problem. While it was nice to rely on people's better natures in the past, it just isn't working anymore. We all have to pay more one way or another: I'd rather pay a little higher prices to pay for enforcement than to pay with lowered quality of my vacation experience, due to being impact by abuse.

 

[jennypenny]

I may be wrong, but I thought pool hopping was allowed except for SAB and AKL ? The campground would be included in that. I know that disney sometimes suspends pool hopping but they hardly advertise that--if I didn't frequent the disboards I wouldn't know it either.

On the other hand, obnoxious behavior is out of bounds no matter where you are staying. I do find that I notice bad behavior more when it's crowded.

They probably need to do away with pool hopping. But to do that they would (should) have to make sure that all of the pools are up to disney standards. I think the campground pools are not up to disney standards and should be updated.

Jenny

 

[OhioTony]

As a side note. We stayed in the Wilderness Cabins. If you have ever priced them, they are NOT cheap. We felt it was within reason to HOP to the Lodge pool. However if we had set up a tent..I would not Pool-Hop! Hope I don't get FLAMED for my indescretion!

 

[TAKitty]

At OKW they wouldn't give me a towel without showing my room id. Do they do this at the other resorts (besides SAB). I personally feel like there shouldn't be any pool hopping. If you want to use the pool, pay the price of the room at that particular resort.

 

[dgaston]

In my surveys about stays at Ft Wilderness I often mention that I wish they would reopen the pool from the former River Country. That pool would provide more variety and was nice. Adding a hot tub or two would also alleviate a lot of the pool hopping.

 

[Lenc324]

Do Campers have Pool Hopping rights? I don't get it. If we are DVC and are paying dues for upkeep of our home resorts how do guest of the campgrounds get to pool hop at DVC resorts?????

 

[bicker]

They don't. Ft. Wilderness guests are supposed to restrict themselves to the Ft. Wilderness pools. What it sounds like is that there just were a number of them who put their own personal convenience over what is right.

 

[Lenc324]

Why isn't Disney keeping a closer watch on this? There should be someway that they have to show some ID or a pass of something to that effect.

 

[dsneygirl]

I camped at Ft Wilderness twice last year and when you check in you sign a form that is clearly stamped "NO POOL HOPPING" I guess the convient boat ride to the other resorts makes it seem more noticeable. But I'm sure there are abusers everywhere. Most campers are the most courteous people you will meet.

 

[bobbiwoz]

In my surveys about stays at Ft Wilderness I often mention that I wish they would reopen the pool from the former River Country. That pool would provide more variety and was nice. Adding a hot tub or two would also alleviate a lot of the pool hopping.

That's a great pool isn't it?? We have such fond memories of being there!

Bobbi

 

[Deb & Bill]

I may be wrong, but I thought pool hopping was allowed except for SAB and AKL ? The campground would be included in that. I know that disney sometimes suspends pool hopping but they hardly advertise that--if I didn't frequent the disboards I wouldn't know it either.

On the other hand, obnoxious behavior is out of bounds no matter where you are staying. I do find that I notice bad behavior more when it's crowded.

They probably need to do away with pool hopping. But to do that they would (should) have to make sure that all of the pools are up to disney standards. I think the campground pools are not up to disney standards and should be updated.

Jenny

I think what chips was saying was that people staying at the campground (NOT DVC) were coming over to the WL and villas pool and hot tub. They are not allowed to use the pool or hot tub at WL and the villas and are limited to the campground pool.

However, should a DVC member want to use the campground pool, as long as pool hopping was not blacked out, they could do so.

 

[chips]

I know it seems naive to suggest putting up a sign. However I don't know of any other half measures between tacitly accepting the behavior and monitoring sab style. That is require a room key to get a towel. At minimum this would demonstrate that the official policy is no pool hopping. I really feel Disney turns the other way with a no harm no foul attitude.

On average the campers leave with one towel per. I saw one woman with three towels. Who pays for these towels and where do they end up? Are our dues paying for those towels?

If I were a camper pool hopping, a public sign might moderate my behavior. I certainly wouldn't brag to the other people in the hot tub I was camping. I might not leave with pool towels on the way back to the boat. Maybe I might make some attempt to fly under the radar.

I don't know what the costs would be but reopening River Country would work. Given a choice nobody wants to wait for a boat twice to go to the pool. If wilderness patrons could go to river country I wouldn't care about the campers using wilderness facilities. Also, they would stay there and we would have another option. I think Disney would prefer the campers use Wilderness and the wilderness patrons grin and bear it.

Bob

 

[bicker]

On average the campers leave with one towel per. I saw one woman with three towels. Who pays for these towels and where do they end up? Are our dues paying for those towels?

Yes, in part. So, in essence, these people are actually stealing from the wallets of members. Members should be extra-vigilant, therefore, in reporting any instances of pool hopping, even if they don't personally see theft, because a smart thief will hide the fact that they're stealing.

 

[patsal]

It's not just over Easter it is more than likely all the time but more noticable at Easter, July 4th etc. when the resorts are really full and regular DVC pool-hopping is not allowed. I have noticed it a ton when we are at WLV in the summer.

 

[SyrCinderella]

No wonder the main pool was so crowded Easter Sunday! It was packed, busier then I've ever seen. We decided to stay at the quiet villa pool for the rest of the trip. It was very nice and relaxing.