WL & Poly

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Last Monday we took the boat over to the Poly for lunch at Kona (very good I must say) and before we went downstairs to catch the boat to the MK I made a pit stop in the bathroom across from Ohana's and there were 2 women & 2 kids changing from their swimsuits into shorts & shirts I didn't think much about it. I met my husband and we walked to the dock to wait for the MK boat which we just missed......Anyway the 2 women & 2 kids arrived at the dock as well with their husbands. Their conversation went something like this.....I love pulling this on Disney it is so stupid people spend so much money when we can use the pools for free. Well this made me REALLY listen and the one couple explained how they had been doing this for years. They live in the area and have Floridian passes, they pick the pool they want to spend the day at (usually Poly or WL) and then change and head over to the MK.
I have to say this really bothered me....."free"? and to make it worse laughing about it and teaching their kids it was the fun thing to do. What does everyone else think?

 

[USC_Gamecocks]

 

[pepe of ohio]

I've seen it more and more every trip. Makes me irate as heck. But what can you do, I just let it pass and continue with my own vacation and enjoyment. Really wish they would wrist band guess during check in. We pay alot of money to stay deluxe and use our own ammenities. I've seen guests from FW, coolers and piles of clothes under the tables at WL pool enjoying a picnic lunch while invading and watch them change clothes and return to FW, not one but many, even seen the clothes, bags and cooler over at the Poly when we're staying there. The pools are small and do get crowded from legal resort guests and intruder have got to be stopped, too many infringements with people beating the system.

This topic has come up too many times and beat to death but I responded with the hopes of Disney staff reading people read these forums and say, hmmmm..... seems to be a popular problem and needs addressing. I have no problem wearing a wrist band or being asked for my resort ID.

 

[sarahknowles]

To be honest, I don't see a problem with guests who are staying at the Poly, for example, going over to use the GF or WL pool. IMO, if you are paying to stay at a deluxe, you should be able to use whatever WDW pool you want. But I realize that that is not what you're talking about here. People who are not even staying on Disney property should not be able to do that. It's not fair and it's a terrible thing to teach your children. That said, I've seen this happen a bunch, and Disney ought to do something about it. Maybe they could offer day passes and charge a fee or something for people not staying there?

 

[eyeheartgoofy]

That really bothers me. On another board I belong to (not Disney related) a woman just got back from an impromptu stay at the All Star resorts. During check in, she started debating whether or not to switch to a moderate resort because of the pool - the All Stars CM actually told her not to bother switching b/c she could just take a bus to MK then catch transportation to any hotel pool she wanted. The woman was a Disney novice, so this was news to her and she thought it was a great idea - she had to tell everyone on the other board that you should always stay at a value resort b/c you could use the other resort ammenities for free. I can't believe a CM suggested this to her - I mean, I believe he DID suggest b/c the woman had no clue, but I'm disappointed.

One of the reasons people pay extra to stay at a moderate or deluxe is to use the "cooler" pools. And to not even stay on site and use the pool at any resort is just plain wrong!

 

[UGAFan0829]

I agree with you all. I don't think it's very fair for these people to be able to get for free what we have to pay for. Pools are part of the determining factor for the DH and I when it comes to choosing a resort. I am huge kid at heart, so I happen to love waterslides. Since only the mods and deluxes offer slides, then it has to be between one of those. I don't think I could ever feel comfortable staying in a value but using the pool at a mod or deluxe. It just isn't fair to the people who paid to stay there.
I would definitely be open to Disney putting some kind of system in place to keep this from happening, even if it meant having to use wristbands. I've seen this done at some of the resorts in Panama City, so I don't see why it would really be that hard for Disney to do. Maybe one day they will listen to us.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

I've seen it more and more every trip. Makes me irate as heck. But what can you do, I just let it pass and continue with my own vacation and enjoyment. Really wish they would wrist band guess during check in. We pay alot of money to stay deluxe and use our own ammenities. I've seen guests from FW, coolers and piles of clothes under the tables at WL pool enjoying a picnic lunch while invading and watch them change clothes and return to FW, not one but many, even seen the clothes, bags and cooler over at the Poly when we're staying there. The pools are small and do get crowded from legal resort guests and intruder have got to be stopped, too many infringements with people beating the system.

This topic has come up too many times and beat to death but I responded with the hopes of Disney staff reading people read these forums and say, hmmmm..... seems to be a popular problem and needs addressing. I have no problem wearing a wrist band or being asked for my resort ID.

Wristbands are a great idea!!!! I wish they would do something about it....

 

[MagicMe]

I believe they use some kind of wrist band system for the pool at the Y&B club. Storm-a-long Bay is a real favorite and people are always trying to stay there. I know that DVC members have pool-hopping privileges (as long as that pool is not super crowded with guest resorts) but even they can't pool hop at Y&B club.

 

[eliza61]

I think (always dangerous occupation for me) if you are an on-site guest you can pool hop to any pool except stromalong bay and the pool at AK. Unfortunately there will always be folks in the world who are dishonest and teach their kids about it. We call them "shisters".

 

[bennythepug]

I agree with the wristbands, other than fencing in pools- and using your room pass to gain access - how could it be prevented?

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I think (always dangerous occupation for me) if you are an on-site guest you can pool hop to any pool except stromalong bay and the pool at AK. Unfortunately there will always be folks in the world who are dishonest and teach their kids about it. We call them "shisters".

Nope. You cannot pool hop. There is a sign at every pool that states that the pool is for resort guests only. Meaning the resort that that particular pool is at. You play where you stay basically.

 

[Unregistered]

I think (always dangerous occupation for me) if you are an on-site guest you can pool hop to any pool except stromalong bay and the pool at AK. Unfortunately there will always be folks in the world who are dishonest and teach their kids about it. We call them "shisters".

Years ago, you could pool hop if you were staying onsite. But, there are so many resorts now, that if they allowed it, the best pool areas would be overcrowded.

I agree that it is a shame when people use facilities that they are not entitled to. But it happens at many resorts, not just Disney's. I am in resort management on the east coast of Florida and "Day crashers" are a constant problem.

Shamefully, I have to admit I am guilty of using Disney resort pools when I should not have. BUT, before everyone judges me, I was a teenager...it was always just me and my boyfriend (not a ton of friends) and I would NEVER do it now that I am older and wiser. Being an annual passholder since I was 9, I knew my way around and obviously this other people know too. Again, I would never do it now and I certainly would never teach my kids to do it. But if that is the WORST thing I did as a teen...still not too shabby! LOL

 

[vicki845]

I think they should have color coded wrist bands. The value's could be red, moderate's blue and deluxe's yellow. It would be fair if you are staying at a value resort you should be able to use any value resort pool ,moderates could use any moderate pool and the deluxes as well. It would'nt be fair if you paid for a value and used a pool at deluxe. I think Disney should really cracked down on people who are non resorts guess as well as guess staying at a value and using a deluxe pool. jmtc

 

[Vickie46]

I agree Disney needs a system ... That is awful.. especially on crowded days when you can't even find a chair to put your towel!

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

Nope. You cannot pool hop. There is a sign at every pool that states that the pool is for resort guests only. Meaning the resort that that particular pool is at. You play where you stay basically.

DVC quests can pool hop at certain times of the year.

I was speaking about people not staying at Disney property that come and use the pool/beach.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I agree, DVC members are the only ones that can pool hop. A regular resort guest cannot and of course people who aren't staying at a resort can't either.

 

[NEVERENOUGHWDW]

bump******

 

[captinhookedondisney]

I don't see the problem when you are staying at the resort and say "hey lets take the boat to the GF and go in the pool cause you are already paying for the hotel and you are paying money for pool care and other fun stuff. I would never just go to a resort's pool with out staying at the resort or a resort run by the same companies.

 

[captinhookedondisney]

Well I only think you can do this if you are staying at a deluxe resort and go to another Deluxe or moderate resort. Is it true that in DVC contract it gives you permission to "pool Hop?"

 

[rjeash]

I have no problem wearing a wrist band or being asked for my resort ID.

Don't they issue wrist bands at Stormalong Bay? Why can't they do that for every resort? Or, you have to swipe your KTTW card to get into the pool area. Just an idea.