Pool Hopping - a real perk?

[BL2020]

I realize that pool hopping is still on hold, but wondered if anyone had ever really taken advantage of this benefit due to the restrictions when it is available. We are planning our first DVC trip at our home resort at BLT (bought in 2020) for Jan 2023 when the main Contemporary pool will be closed and could lead to crowding at the Bay Cove Pool. I had hoped we would be able to pool hop to either one of the other monorail pools or even the other MK DVC resort pools, but per the rules all of these pools are excluded from the pool hopping benefit. I don't get it, am I missing something. It seems the only DVC/deluxe resorts where it is allowed are remote resorts that would be difficult to get to, like Animal Kingdom Villas/Lodge or OKW, also Board Walk (the nearby beach club would unlikely to hop to do since its own pool is nicer). So is this really a benefit others have used successfully? It almost seems like it was intentionally configured to discourage pool hopping. Below are the extensive exceptions to this perk.
Important Details

• Pool hopping is not available at the following pools at any time—with no exceptions to this policy:
  • Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort – Bay Cove Pool
  • Disney's Art of Animation Resort – pools
  • Disney’s Beach Club Villas – leisure pool
  • Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – pools
  • Disney's Polynesian Village Resort – The Lava Pool and leisure pool
  • Disney's Riviera Resort - Riviera Pool and Beau Soleil Pool
  • Disney’s Wilderness Lodge – Boulder Ridge Cove Pool and The Copper Creek Springs Pool
  • Disney's Yacht Club Resort and Disney’s Beach Club Resort – Stormalong Bay

 

[bumbershoot]

It seems the only DVC/deluxe resorts where it is allowed are remote resorts that would be difficult to get to, like Animal Kingdom Villas/Lodge or OKW, also Board Walk

I always have a car so there's no such thing as "remote resorts" for me.

I believe, and have experienced, that the Grand Flo villas pool has been open to hopping (when hopping is allowed).

I personally like to SWIM when I swim, so I love the proper swimming pools, not the bodies of water with 3000 tons of theming and meandering sight lines. Coronado Springs would have been absolutely perfect for me as a hop if it hadn't been lovebug season. I haven't done it yet, but hopping to a Value would be amazing. I'm just not into slides and stuff like that.

 

[Sandisw]

As they added more resorts, they have excluded them and I think it was a way to eventually phase out the perk.

I don’t think we will see it officially brought back either.

It s possible that they will make other accommodations for the pools when CR is closed. It may be more than just access to BLT pool.

 

[BL2020]

Thanks for the tip re: GF Villas. I don't know yet if we will have a car for the Jan trip, so was look for relative convenience for hopping.

 

[Sandisw]

I always have a car so there's no such thing as "remote resorts" for me.

I believe, and have experienced, that the Grand Flo villas pool has been open to hopping (when hopping is allowed).

I personally like to SWIM when I swim, so I love the proper swimming pools, not the bodies of water with 3000 tons of theming and meandering sight lines. Coronado Springs would have been absolutely perfect for me as a hop if it hadn't been lovebug season. I haven't done it yet, but hopping to a Value would be amazing. I'm just not into slides and stuff like that.

I have always been told VGF is off limits for pool hopping unless you have reserved a cabana.

So, if someone was allowed, it may have been an exception rather than the rule.

 

[Sandisw]

Thanks for the tip re: GF Villas. I don't know yet if we will have a car for the Jan trip, so was look for relative convenience for hopping.

I would not count on VGF. As I posted, we have always been told it is indeed off limits.

 

[crisi]

As they added more resorts, they have excluded them and I think it was a way to eventually phase out the perk.

I don’t think we will see it officially brought back either.

It s possible that they will make other accommodations for the pools when CR is closed. It may be more than just access to BLT pool.

I sort of hope so. The exclusion list is longer than the permitted list, which says something.

In 22 years we have pool hopped twice. We took an afternoon at the Poly pool back when it was permitted because we had a MK day that we wanted to take a break without heading back to the BW - and the Poly pool appealed to the kids. It was OK. And once when we stayed at BCV we hopped back to the BW because the kids liked the pool better - and its a pretty easy walk.

I think the option of hopping to a near park pool for a mid day break was a nice option - less nice in reality....but since the only near park resort that is hoppable is BW now, I'm not sure what it gets anyone.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

So here’s the thing we were confused about last week. The VGF pool and BWV pool had no magic band entry into the pool. There is nothing prohibiting pool hopping. My MIL seemed convinced a few people at the VGF pool were locals who come swim since they knew several cast members by name. (I told her they are probably just frequent travelers) but then I got to thinking what’s stopping that from actually happening?

 

[HappyDisneyWife]

I personally do not consider it a perk, and have never utilized it. For me, when I go to the pool- I like it to be nearby

I’m sure there are people who enjoyed hopping in the past, but my guess is that the majority of resort guests use the pool at their resort (convenience & ease).

 

[_auroraborealis_]

So here’s the thing we were confused about last week. The VGF pool and BWV pool had no magic band entry into the pool. There is nothing prohibiting pool hopping. My MIL seemed convinced a few people at the VGF pool were locals who come swim since they knew several cast members by name. (I told her they are probably just frequent travelers) but then I got to thinking what’s stopping that from actually happening?

Absolutely nothing, but if you get yourself wound about it that's a waste of energy and blood pressure meds.

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

Absolutely nothing, but if you get yourself wound about it that's a waste of energy and blood pressure meds.

It was a curiosity, definitely not wound up about it. MIL on the other hand….

 

[BL2020]

Thanks Crisi for your response. I suppose that if this perk comes back taking a mid-day park break at Epcot by going to the Boardwalk pool is an option for those not staying at an Epcot resort.

 

[Sandisw]

So here’s the thing we were confused about last week. The VGF pool and BWV pool had no magic band entry into the pool. There is nothing prohibiting pool hopping. My MIL seemed convinced a few people at the VGF pool were locals who come swim since they knew several cast members by name. (I told her they are probably just frequent travelers) but then I got to thinking what’s stopping that from actually happening?

Really nothing but to get in, if not arriving by Disney transportation, guards might not let you in. So, it may not be that practical for locals to get there.

We were at Bwv one year and they did indeed check our MB and gave us a paper wristband. It was MemorIal Day weekend.

 

[bumbershoot]

I have always been told VGF is off limits for pool hopping unless you have reserved a cabana.

So, if someone was allowed, it may have been an exception rather than the rule.

It's not listed on the restrictions list. "Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – pools" specifically does not state the villas.

 

[EilonwyWanderer]

The bathrooms at the VGF pool require a magic band to open. However, we didn't realize there was a restriction (I was pretty sure we looked on the website and it said pool hopping was okay) and we went there (it's our home resort and we were staying at Kidani where the pool and kid area was closed). Changed in the main building bathrooms then went out to the kids area. No one even looked at us twice. Kids had a great time and it sold us on staying there next time we go.

 

[Sandisw]

It's not listed on the restrictions list. "Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa – pools" specifically does not state the villas.

It states pools, plural..which means both as there are only two. If it was only the courtyard pool restricted it would say that.

Plus there isn’t really a villas pool. It’s simply called the Beach Pool. Both are owned by Disney. The feature pool is not a common element of DVC.

So, pool hopping is indeed restricted there and exactly what we were told.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It was a curiosity, definitely not wound up about it. MIL on the other hand….

There have been some threads... Hoooooo.

 

[ParkHoppers]

Stay out my poooooooool.

 

[xdan0920]

Maybe it's because AKL is so far flung, but I have never seen the gates closed. Pool hopping seems to be an honor system type thing. Despite what boards like this say.

 

[Sandisw]

Maybe it's because AKL is so far flung, but I have never seen the gates closed. Pool hopping seems to be an honor system type thing. Despite what boards like this say.

Other than BCV, yes, it’s expected owners will follow the rules on their own.

But I did witness non guests being asked to leave RIV this winter. They were clearly from CBR and sitting close enough to the life guard and others that it was clear from their conversations they were not staying at Rv

So, they were asked to leave and they did quickly.

Never saw the value in doing it myself.