DVC Member Pool Hopping

DancingDis678

Earning My Ears
Joined
Jun 6, 2023
Messages
1
Hi! We are first time DVC owners at the Boardwalk. I know Pre-Pandemic , pool hopping was allowed for DVC between the Boardwalk and Beach/Yacht Club Resort pools. Does anyone know if this has been opened up again? Thank you!
 
Pool hopping has not returned.
Even pre-Covid, members could not use pool hopping at BC and a handful of other pools. I think I remember an instance where the pool at BWV was closed for refurbishment and guests were allowed to use the BC pool but I may have that wrong.
 
know Pre-Pandemic , pool hopping was allowed for DVC between the Boardwalk and Beach/Yacht Club Resort pools.

When pool hopping was valid, those staying at BCV could hop to BWV. The reverse was not true save when BWV was under refurb.

Stormalong Bay was not eligible for pool hopping for at least 10 years pre-pandemic.
 


When pool hopping was valid, those staying at BCV could hop to BWV. The reverse was not true save when BWV was under refurb.

Stormalong Bay was not eligible for pool hopping for at least 10 years pre-pandemic.
You couldn't hop to Stormalong Bay or the Villa leisure pools, but in theory you could hop to all the leisure pools at BC/YC.

For the OP, here is the page that will get updated with all the rules if they ever bring it back.
https://disneyvacationclub.disney.go.com/discounts-perks-offers/recreation-relaxation/pools/
 
I understand the restrictions on hopping to Stormalong Bay but are they really strict about hopping from OKW to Port Orleans? We are hoping to go over there for the beignets and thought grandson would like their pool ( if I remember correctly its more toddler sized than the other pools).
Thanks,
Tony
 
I understand the restrictions on hopping to Stormalong Bay but are they really strict about hopping from OKW to Port Orleans? We are hoping to go over there for the beignets and thought grandson would like their pool ( if I remember correctly its more toddler sized than the other pools).
Thanks,
Tony
Pool hopping is not permitted at Disney resorts.
 
it would be fun to bring this back. I suspect it was a small minority of folks who even used this perk, but it could make for a fun part of the day. I find it interesting some of the things that are still listed on the disney website as "temporarily suspended". I'm curious why they continue to list it... It has been nearly 5 years at this point.
 
I believe at BC you are asked to show a wrist band upon entry. What other resort pools does this occur at? My DVC stays are limited to SSR where they certainly don't check for this, so I'm curious as to which resorts require you to stay there to use the pool.
 
I believe at BC you are asked to show a wrist band upon entry. What other resort pools does this occur at? My DVC stays are limited to SSR where they certainly don't check for this, so I'm curious as to which resorts require you to stay there to use the pool.
my understanding was all of them require you to be a registered guest at that resort to use the pool.
 
I thought I just read in another thread that the pools were a free for all and they don’t even check if you are staying anywhere on property in Florida.

Edit: meaning no wristbands and no checking
 
As far as I know BC is the only one that takes things very seriously with limiting pool access to only those staying there. Getting into SAB is harder than crossing from East Berlin to West Berlin in 1980. But all the other pools are unguarded and honestly the gates are no match for those with a will to get in. I never really understood why someone or even a whole family would get in their bathing suits and travel by bus or monorail to another resort to use their pool. I can see the allure of BW to use BC since it's right there or maybe those at the Swan and Dolphin but honestly...those pools are just fine. I did buy at BC specifically for SAB but when I stay at BW or Swan I dig the vibes of their pool. I'd feel weird going to another resort to use their pool. I want to be near my room!
 
As far as I know BC is the only one that takes things very seriously with limiting pool access to only those staying there. Getting into SAB is harder than crossing from East Berlin to West Berlin in 1980. But all the other pools are unguarded and honestly the gates are no match for those with a will to get in. I never really understood why someone or even a whole family would get in their bathing suits and travel by bus or monorail to another resort to use their pool. I can see the allure of BW to use BC since it's right there or maybe those at the Swan and Dolphin but honestly...those pools are just fine. I did buy at BC specifically for SAB but when I stay at BW or Swan I dig the vibes of their pool. I'd feel weird going to another resort to use their pool. I want to be near my room!
We used pool hopping once. About 17 years ago, we were at MK and we hopped to WL for a few hours . My DD and DGD used the pool. I think we were staying either at BCV or BW , and WL was just so much easier for a few hours. We then went back to MK.
 
I thought I just read in another thread that the pools were a free for all and they don’t even check if you are staying anywhere on property in Florida.

Edit: meaning no wristbands and no checking
In my experience, SAB is the only pool where they check. This is incredibly frustrating when we are staying at VGF and the pools are packed, no chairs - I have evidence but I’m betting not all of those people are/were GF guests. We are at BCV now and there were SSR guests at the villa quiet pool (i think they had friends/family here) - I know because they talked about how they needed to get back there to get ready for dinner. It’s both fine and not fine - lots of space at quiet pool but totally against the rules.
 
I thought I just read in another thread that the pools were a free for all and they don’t even check if you are staying anywhere on property in Florida.

Edit: meaning no wristbands and no checking
They were pilot testing wristbands and checking at other pools this summer. I believe Caribbean Beach was being check.

https://wdwnt.com/2024/07/disneys-c...g-wristbands-to-enjoy-fuentes-del-morro-pool/

And in any case most of the pools are behind locked gates so they aren’t a free for all. But you are write bad actors do attempt to sneak into the pools and can get away with it.

to answer the original question a few posts back. In general it’s very clear no matter how easy entering a pool may seem, Disney currently intends no pool hopping and only guests of the resort to have access to.
 
Most pools require a Magic Band or room key to access, though if you are really intent on getting in.... I was at the BRV pool onetime when a recreation CM came around and asked to see everyone's MB or keycard and scanned them. That was a first. I wish they would routinely check at all the pools, there are days when getting a chair can be challenging and nothing is worse than people soup (well, relatively speaking). I was also there on one vacation when a person was having a birthday party for their child at the pool, and they were local, not a hotel guest.
 
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Most pools require a Magic Band or room key to access,
Honestly, at the busier pools like Poly or BW, people are constantly streaming in and out. One wouldn't have to wait too long before a guest opens the gate either going in or going out. If you really want to play it up just go grab some food first and people will gladly hold the gate open for you! Now I will say I know of a Trojan Horse to get into SAB but as an owner I'll keep that to myself lol.
 
I really hope with Poly Island Tower opening up that GF will crack down on the pool situation.

Really the problem is that, in my view, for a resort family vacation Disney just needs more pools for their deluxe properties.

On the other hand, the Swan & Dolphin pools are almost always empty.
 
In my experience, SAB is the only pool where they check. This is incredibly frustrating when we are staying at VGF and the pools are packed, no chairs - I have evidence but I’m betting not all of those people are/were GF guests. We are at BCV now and there were SSR guests at the villa quiet pool (i think they had friends/family here) - I know because they talked about how they needed to get back there to get ready for dinner. It’s both fine and not fine - lots of space at quiet pool but totally against the rules.
I do just have to add I had scenarios where others listening could think same of our family. My parents have a condo at Disney so they stay there. However when we book a room that has extra space on reservation we add them so they can come to pool with us. Not saying for certain that’s what happened here but I definitely get the most of my reservation (for pools, parking, deluxe hours etc) when booking even if more comfortable for parents to actually sleep in condo.
 
I do just have to add I had scenarios where others listening could think same of our family. My parents have a condo at Disney so they stay there. However when we book a room that has extra space on reservation we add them so they can come to pool with us. Not saying for certain that’s what happened here but I definitely get the most of my reservation (for pools, parking, deluxe hours etc) when booking even if more comfortable for parents to actually sleep in condo.
Technically, this is a legit way to access the pool. If you're entitled to 8 people in your room, you're entitled to 8 people on the res and at the pool. It's the other folks saying the gate might swing open and you can sneak in without a MB or without a resort reservation who are breaking the rules.
 

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