Pools exclusive? About This Page:

[abcangie87]

HI there!

Virgin DVC'ers here... wondering if "non DVC" people can use our DVC pools? For example at BLT... the contemporary guests won't be using our pool, right? I know it works the other way around-- we can go to *most* all of the Disney pools, but they can't come to ours, right?

We don't want to share lol...!

Disney hugs from happy new owners

[Shelley the Pooh]

At Animal Kingdom Lodge the "club Level" service guests were allowed to use the Kidani Village pool if they so desired. Atleast that was what we were told by Cast Member, Morgan, checking us in. But not the other pools at other resorts.

[tjkraz]

At the Bay Lake Tower, there have been reports of a sign posted outside the new pool stating that it's for BLT guests only. If true, that will be the first of its kind. There are no other situations where guests staying one part of a single resort (in this case, the Contemporary) are barred from using amenities in another section.

At the Animal Kingdom Lodge / Villas, guests staying at either Jambo House or Kidani Village can use either pool. That's true of both DVC members and cash guests.

DVC members have access to a perk called Pool Hopping which gives us access to most resort pools throughout Walt Disney World. There are blackout dates when pool hopping is prohibited. And the pools at the Yacht/Beach Clubs and Animal Kingdom Lodge/Villas are always excluded. BLT may join that list but we don't know for certain at this time.

Aside from that, cash guests are not permitted to pool hop. However you'll find that it's a fairly common practice and thus far Disney has not shown much interest in cracking down on it. Some pools have pool hopping deterrents like wrist bands and key card entry, but folks get around those pretty easily.

Resort pools really aren't any sort of members-only clubs. Even at the pools with restrictions you'll be surrounded by a mixed group of members, guests of members, non-members renting points, cash guests (Disney still sells rooms at DVC resorts at a nightly rate) and even illegal pool hoppers.

[abcangie87]

Originally Posted by tjkraz

(Disney still sells rooms at DVC resorts at a nightly rate) and even illegal pool hoppers.

So I think I knew this since I've booked SSR for a client before...but how does that work out timing-wise. I assume since owner's can't book their own property till 11 months out-- and owners can book other properties 7 months out--- when does Disney open availability up to the general public? Because I'd be ticked to not get in somewhere at the 7 month mark because some non-owner had booked it- what are their guidelines on that?

[tjkraz]

Originally Posted by abcangie87

So I think I knew this since I've booked SSR for a client before...but how does that work out timing-wise. I assume since owner's can't book their own property till 11 months out-- and owners can book other properties 7 months out--- when does Disney open availability up to the general public? Because I'd be ticked to not get in somewhere at the 7 month mark because some non-owner had booked it- what are their guidelines on that?

Member inventory and cash inventory are actually tracked separately.

Disney still owns points at most (if not all) DVC resorts--more points at the resorts that have been recently completed and are still in active sales. Disney can use their ownership to free-up rooms for cash guests.

Also, when members use their points to book outside of the DVC resorts, the net result is rooms end up available to cash guests. The progression goes something like this:

1. Member commits points to Disney Cruise
2. DVC takes points and transfers payment to DCL
3. In order to recoup payment to DCL, Disney sets-aside DVC villas for rental to cash guests

It's not only possible but probable that you will find DVC villas available for booking at Walt Disney World Resort while those rooms are not available to members wishing to book with points. Again, the cash and points inventories are separate and there is typically little crossover.

There are also provisions which state that any unbooked villas 60 days prior to arrival are made available to CRO for cash bookings. That's viewed as a sort of last resort. Members have had 9 months to book the rooms and chosen not to do so. Therefore the rooms are made available to cash guests rather than letting them sit unbooked.

[spiceypj]

the 60 day is a good thing - because DVC share of the money goes directly into that resort general fund - so the maintence fees are lower for all dvc members that own at that resort.

this is only for declared inventory at DVC - undeclared inventory still beyonds to the developer and can be rented and all profits kept.

[abcangie87]

Wanted to ask on this pool thing again now that BLT has been open for awhile... did anyone in fact see any signage at the BLT pool stating it was for BLT guests only? Did you find the BLT pool area to be crowded more so than the Contemporary side (as in, from the Contemporary people coming to the BLT pool instead?).

I might have missed that day in kindergarten when they taught about sharing I like exclusivity... Really I'm not a snob though

[spiceypj]

blt take security a bit too serious.

the pool itself is locked - so you need your Key(ID) to get into it. but also the doors to the resort are locked so you need your key to get back inside the building.

the doors are strange - the way to open them is the furthest door away from where you put in your key. to me that was down right strange.

only a male could up with that one.

this can be a problem if you hands are full - because the door does not allow you to try the other door then still have time to open it.... even if you pick the right door first - if you hands are full - it will lock on you (sometimes many times) before it decides to let you in.....

not happy about the stupid doors.

bwv doors are not this bad by any means.

so no CR guests can't get inside the pool area. they can't even get inside BLT. Now that say the door between BLT and CR is very slow to close (really wish the outside courtyard (pool) door was more like it)- so yes if you are patience you can get inside BLT that way.

the security is so bad - that some guests of CR who got in BLT and wanted to see the fireworks were turned away. So they took the elevator to the 15th floor and walked up the stairs to the 16th floor (where top of the world is located). well disney has fixed that door so it does NOT open.... you can go down this staircase but not back up it. so it still works for fires.

not sure why DVC and disney is so strange about security here. guess they want BLT guests to feel protected or something?

at least they have gotten rid of the security guards at the deck for seeing the fireworks. those were strange - did DVC really expect a member to jump off????

they did tell some guests not to put their small childern on the ledge.

[chezp]

I thought the security at Bay Lake Tower was also a bit over the top. You seem to need your room key to get anywhere in the place. I guess the idea is to make it feel very exclusive, but it just felt a bit odd to me when we stayed there.

[tigersprinkles]

wow a fluffy dvc resort never thuoght that would happen

[spiceypj]

Originally Posted by tigersprinkles

wow a fluffy dvc resort never thuoght that would happen

yea know the feeling.

and simply don't understand it. they did not do this with BCV and to me it is in a worst place.

so really don't understand it with DVC. unless they are selling to a bunch of rich folks who want this type of security.

[saremca]

Originally Posted by spiceypj

the security is so bad - that some guests of CR who got in BLT and wanted to see the fireworks were turned away. So they took the elevator to the 15th floor and walked up the stairs to the 16th floor (where top of the world is located). well disney has fixed that door so it does NOT open.... you can go down this staircase but not back up it. so it still works for fires.

not sure why DVC and disney is so strange about security here. guess they want BLT guests to feel protected or something?

Note to self: Never stay here.

That is a little much on the "We're too exclusive for you" vibe. Wow.

[spiceypj]

Originally Posted by saremca

Note to self: Never stay here.

That is a little much on the "We're too exclusive for you" vibe. Wow.

I agree - being able to WALK to MK - makes up for a lot at this place.

really love that benefit.

[abcangie87]

lol.....really I'm not a snob, but I kind of like the exclusivity mentioned here I feel like it's an honor and a priveledge (and I know I didn't spell that right) and a blessing to be able to be a DVC owner, so I'm glad that they are maintaining some things as special just for us! We worked really hard to be able to bite the bullet and buy into the DVC, ya know what I mean? (Yes, I know too that there are people who work hard who still can't do it...and I wish you pixie dust to get to someday if you so choose!)

I do agree however that it is not great if it is a pain in the patooty for the members too I mean, let's make opening the door easy lol.

although we haven't taken our first trip yet (27 days to go) to BLT, I'm pretty confident that there is enough fabulousness to make up for a little bit of the extremities... I'll let you know if I think otherwise when we return

Thanks for the info you all shared!

[spiceypj]

just remember that anyone can stay at BLT - it just takes money. you don't have to join DVC to stay at BLT. although joining is generally cheaper in the long run.