Pool hopping

[SurferStitch]

So just to piggyback onto this, this fall we are staying at WL but some of our party is staying at Poly. Will my mom and dad be able to go swim with the grandkids at the Poly since the kid's magic bands should let them in or are they going to be strict on that?

Probably not.. The Poly Pool is very popular, and if you aren't staying there, your MB won't grant you access to the pool. You can't access a pool because you have friends or family accompanying you.

[SurferStitch]

I still suspect that it is because Thurston and Lovey Howell at the GF or BW don't want to rub elbows with us commoners(economy resorts). Magic Bands could easily be coded to permit all resort guests access to all pool areas.

And so what? Thurston and Lovey paid $500+ per night to stay at the GF and use their pools, and an economy resort guest paid hundreds less per night to use their own pool amenities. It's called getting what you pay for. You want a fancier pool? Pay the price!

[ThanxForNoticin]

We have not been to the new pool at Poly yet, but I understand there is now a boundary protecting the pool and a valid Magic Band or room key is required to enter. If that is the case, I doubt anyone not staying at Poly will be allowed to swim there, unless they can convince a cast member to allow it in this situation.

[#1donaldfan]

So just to piggyback onto this, this fall we are staying at WL but some of our party is staying at Poly. Will my mom and dad be able to go swim with the grandkids at the Poly since the kid's magic bands should let them in or are they going to be strict on that?

That's a good question. I'm thinking no, if they're enforcing entry that particular day. I witnessed those entering the YC pool area this past December a CM scanning each and every magic band going in. Not just one from each party.

[BrerGnat]

And so what? Thurston and Lovey paid $500+ per night to stay at the GF and use their pools, and an economy resort guest paid hundreds less per night to use their own pool amenities. It's called getting what you pay for. You want a fancier pool? Pay the price!

The pool at AoA is gated and requires a room key or Magic band to enter. It doesn't matter how much a hotel costs. The pool should be only for that hotel's guests.

[LynneM]

Sorry, that's not the case. It's purely a numbers game. Pool hopping was allowed at WDW when there was only one category of resort, and all the pools were roughly similar in terms of slides and other amenities.

Once they started building different levels of resorts, and the pools ranged from the very basic, no-slide pools at the All Stars to the mini-water park at YC/BC/BCV, pool hopping was no longer allowed. If any resort guest could swim at any pool, where do you think the guests in the 10000+ value resort rooms on property would swim? Would they go to the simple pool at their own resort, or would they pack their swimsuit and go to one of the much more fun pools with slides and a view of MK on the monorail loop, or the big fancy pool with a lazy river and sandy bottom that's a few steps from the back gate of Epcot?

Even 50 extra guests dropping in from MK would make the GF pool painfully overcrowded, and take up a big portion of the lounge chairs. Thurston or Lovey or not, how do you think the people who paid 300-500 a night to stay at a monorail resort or YC/BC would feel if there were so many people from other resorts in their resort's pool that they couldn't use it?

As others have said, you get what you pay for. The fancy pools are part of what you're paying extra for at a deluxe.

[#1donaldfan]

The pool at AoA is gated and requires a room key or Magic band to enter. It doesn't matter how much a hotel costs. The pool should be only for that hotel's guests.

I totally agree with you that the AoA pool is gated, however that gate is not manned. One person in your party can open the gate with their magic band and the rest follow in. On the other end of the spectrum, the pool at the Yacht / Beach Club, (while sitting at a table eating our ice cream from Beaches n Cream) I witnessed a CM check in each and every person going in. So, it seems as though special attention is given to the pools at the Deluxe Resorts as opposed to the Value.

[BrerGnat]

I totally agree with you that the AoA pool is gated, however that gate is not manned. One person in your party can open the gate with their magic band and the rest follow in. On the other end of the spectrum, the pool at the Yacht / Beach Club, (while sitting at a table eating our ice cream from Beaches n Cream) I witnessed a CM check in each and every person going in. So, it seems as though special attention is given to the pools at the Deluxe Resorts as opposed to the Value.

Well, the Y&B Club have been doing it that way for YEARS, mostly because the pool is within walking distance of Epcot. So, it makes sense.

Point is, it is easy enough to walk from Pop to AoA and try to use the pool. However, if no one feels like being nice and letting you in, you're not getting in.

[RedSoxFan]

Each of us had our MB scanned when entering the pool at YC/BC every time in December as well.