Throwing the gauntlet on VAK pool hopping...

[slappy magoo]

Great, another pool-hopping thread. But this time, it's just about ONE pool.

I'm not the sort of DVC member to wave pool-hopping privileges in the face of those poor dolts not savvy enough to join DVC (and if you have to be told that I'm not really that obnoxious, you're no son of mine). But it is nice that you have some options if you were visiting some other DVC resorts that you and/or your kids can take a quick dip...

Now, I get why Beach Club is excluded - aside from practically being a mini-water park, it's also shared by the non-villas at Beach Club as well as Yacht Club. Plus, it's such a brief walk from Epcot Int'l Gateway, too many DVC members might split Epcot (or even the Studios) for a swim, congesting the Yacht Club and even worse, stop spending money in the parks!

Similar deal with Bay Lake Tower being within walking distance or a monorail stop from MK. So I get why that one is not allowed.

But Animal Kingdom Villas? Really? Even just the Kidani Village pool?

I get that it's a great little interactive play area. And I understand that lots of people resort hop. But at any given day, I just refuse to believe that there are so many DVC members, who aren't staying at the Animal Kingdom Villas but going out of their way to drive or take a bus to visit, that they could overwhelm the pools. Even people who go Animal Kingdom Lodge to eat dinner at Boma or Jiko, they have to take a long walk or another bus to get to the Kidani Village pool. It's really out of the way (unless you're dining at Sanaa or there specifically to animal watch). Like I said, I can't believe so many DVC-member-non-guests would flood their pool (no pun intended)

I know that pool hopping at all is a perk, not a guarantee, we in the DVC are paying for less-expensive stays and everything extra is gravy yadda yadda yadda. But if they're going to allow some pool hopping, I don't understand why they restrict VAK like they so BLT or BCV.

 

[Tiggerish]

I never learned how to swim, and am the fairest-skinned (and therefore least likely to be found sunning by a pool) person you will ever see, so I have no horse in this race, but I agree with you on this one. :lol: Your reasoning is incredibly sound (as usual). :wave:

I'll be interested to see if anyone can come up with an explanation. :lookaroun

 

[DisneyJoe]

I believe that both AKL pools are off limits to DVC pool hopping.

 

[The Mom]

I believe that both AKL pools are off limits to DVC pool hopping.

The OP knows that. He was just wondering if anyone knew the reasoning behind it. :shrug: Why is it allowed at the Boardwalk, which is a deluxe resort, but not at Animal Kingdom. It would be understandable if they didn't allow DVC pool hopping at any deluxe resort. The reasons for not allowing it at Contemporary (on the monorail) and Beach Club (very fancy pool) make sense.

 

[Pioneer Hall]

I think part of it is to use it as a perk for selling...you can hop, but you are also the only one who can use this pool when you stay there. I also think that Disney is just concerned about the potential numbers of people who might come to swim to see the animals. I personally think at this point, they could probably see it isn't a concern.

 

[slappy magoo]

I think part of it is to use it as a perk for selling...you can hop, but you are also the only one who can use this pool when you stay there. I also think that Disney is just concerned about the potential numbers of people who might come to swim to see the animals. I personally think at this point, they could probably see it isn't a concern.

I'd agree more if they put the kibosh on all DVC pool hopping. Don't get me wrong, if I were staying at VAK I'd want as few of you interlopers in there as possible But when I hear people talk about any rooms in the Animal Kingdom Lodge - regular rooms or DVC - the #1 complaint by a country mile seems to be "location." People feel like it takes too long to get anywhere from there, so I can't imagine many more people using DVC transportation to get there if they're staying elsewhere barring meal reservations. More likely if you have a car. But allowing DVC members to swim there may influence quite a few members to want to stay there, maybe even buy points there. "I don't care if it takes longer to get anywhere from here; I love it!"

 

[slappy magoo]

I believe that both AKL pools are off limits to DVC pool hopping.

As The Mom indicated, yeah, I did know that. And I can understand if they still wanted to say that DVC members staying somewhere else can't stay in the original pool. But I think there's like a half-mile between the two pools, so if DVC members are going all the way out of the way to check out Kidani, what the hack let 'em take a dip, let the kids play in the water area. You see, I can be generous with other people's pools like that.

 

[tjkraz]

I believe it dates back to the opening of Animal Kingdom Lodge when non-guests were all but prohibited from entering the property. IIRC, Disney anticipated that lookie-loos would ride buses or drive over to the resort just to enjoy the savanna...perhaps even as an alternative to paying for admission to DAK. Unless you were a registered guest or had a dining reservation, they wouldn't let folks in the front gate.

The ban against pool hopping was just part of keeping non-guests off property. In that sense, I guess you could call it a somewhat antiquated policy which has never been reversed.

The size of facilities may play some role, too. Jambo still has about 1000 hotel rooms and 100+ DVC villas with just the one pool. Granted it's a large pool but compare to resorts like BoardWalk which has the feature pool plus two quiet pools. Kidani also has the one pool which isn't particularly large.

 

[disneyeater]

The OP knows that. He was just wondering if anyone knew the reasoning behind it. :shrug: Why is it allowed at the Boardwalk, which is a deluxe resort, but not at Animal Kingdom. It would be understandable if they didn't allow DVC pool hopping at any deluxe resort. The reasons for not allowing it at Contemporary (on the monorail) and Beach Club (very fancy pool) make sense.

I believe DVC members can pool hop at the contemporary pool, just not at the BLT pool.

 

[mrerk]

I always thought AKV was the first step to banning pool hopping all together. Everything since then has not allowed pool hopping.

 

[Phonedave]

I believe it dates back to the opening of Animal Kingdom Lodge when non-guests were all but prohibited from entering the property. IIRC, Disney anticipated that lookie-loos would ride buses or drive over to the resort just to enjoy the savanna...perhaps even as an alternative to paying for admission to DAK. Unless you were a registered guest or had a dining reservation, they wouldn't let folks in the front gate.

The ban against pool hopping was just part of keeping non-guests off property. In that sense, I guess you could call it a somewhat antiquated policy which has never been reversed.

The size of facilities may play some role, too. Jambo still has about 1000 hotel rooms and 100+ DVC villas with just the one pool. Granted it's a large pool but compare to resorts like BoardWalk which has the feature pool plus two quiet pools. Kidani also has the one pool which isn't particularly large.

I also wonder if that is not part of it. Because you are not supposed to hop between Kidani and AKL pools either. It might have to do with the imbalance. In theory, if hopping was allowed, 100% of the people staying at Kidani could head over to AKL, but only 10% of the people at AKL could head up to Kidani.

I could see people wanting to swim at AKL rather than Kidani. It has better facilities, and has real food available, rather than cold sandwitches and the bar.

-dave

 

[tjkraz]

I always thought AKV was the first step to banning pool hopping all together. Everything since then has not allowed pool hopping.

Of course, "everything since then" is exactly one pool: Bay Lake Tower's Cove Pool. Hard to draw any firm conclusions with a sample size of one.

Although, consider that Saratoga Springs' Paddock feature pool opened in summer 2011 and hopping is permitted. We'll have to see what happens with the pool at the Animation Suites.

I've been reading predictions of pool hopping's demise for 10+ years now. Over time the official rules continue to get more complicated with blackout dates and exclusions. On that basis it would be very easy to end it altogether. However, it's a perk that literally costs Disney nothing to offer. It isn't used enough to have a noticeable impact on crowds at eligible pools. And I don't imagine there are many members choosing a cheaper resort simply because they can hop to the BoardWalk or Poly pool.

 

[Murphketeer]

Of course, "everything since then" is exactly one pool: Bay Lake Tower's Cove Pool. Hard to draw any firm conclusions with a sample size of one.

Although, consider that Saratoga Springs' Paddock feature pool opened in summer 2011 and hopping is permitted. We'll have to see what happens with the pool at the Animation Suites.

I've been reading predictions of pool hopping's demise for 10+ years now. Over time the official rules continue to get more complicated with blackout dates and exclusions. On that basis it would be very easy to end it altogether. However, it's a perk that literally costs Disney nothing to offer. It isn't used enough to have a noticeable impact on crowds at eligible pools. And I don't imagine there are many members choosing a cheaper resort simply because they can hop to the BoardWalk or Poly pool.

I thought I read somewhere that pool hopping at Animation was going to be limited too. I've tried to relocate the comment, but can't find it again, so maybe I dreamed it.

 

[NewfieFan]

I also wonder if that is not part of it. Because you are not supposed to hop between Kidani and AKL pools either. It might have to do with the imbalance. In theory, if hopping was allowed, 100% of the people staying at Kidani could head over to AKL, but only 10% of the people at AKL could head up to Kidani.

I could see people wanting to swim at AKL rather than Kidani. It has better facilities, and has real food available, rather than cold sandwitches and the bar.

-dave

I was always under the impression that DVC members could hop between Jambo and Kidani pools (if you were staying at either)!?!

As far as Kidani folk wanting to swim at AKL, that's a matter of opinion I guess. I think Kidani is way better than AKL for it's pool area. (Although, I'll give you the food thing, that's one big con for Kidani is the lack of counter service/quick options!) The pool may be smaller but I like the cozier feel of the pool area. The water slide is way better and kids water play area is probably the best on property! I also like the hot tub that's tucked away up in the rocks by the fitness center.

But I agree with the OP, it makes no sense why folks can't pool hop there. I can't see a big influx of tourists lining up to get to either pool. And you can't see the animals from the pool area, you have to go to one of the lookouts (which is open to the public anyway)!?! Doesn't make sense to me either!

 

[disneyeater]

I was always under the impression that DVC members could hop between Jambo and Kidani pools (if you were staying at either)!?!

As far as Kidani folk wanting to swim at AKL, that's a matter of opinion I guess. I think Kidani is way better than AKL for it's pool area. (Although, I'll give you the food thing, that's one big con for Kidani is the lack of counter service/quick options!) The pool may be smaller but I like the cozier feel of the pool area. The water slide is way better and kids water play area is probably the best on property! I also like the hot tub that's tucked away up in the rocks by the fitness center.

But I agree with the OP, it makes no sense why folks can't pool hop there. I can't see a big influx of tourists lining up to get to either pool. And you can't see the animals from the pool area, you have to go to one of the lookouts (which is open to the public anyway)!?! Doesn't make sense to me either!

You can see flamingos from the Jambo pool area.

 

[Innkeeper's Club]

In August/September 2011 when I stayed at the Boardwalk Inn on the weekends they were giving out wrist bands at the Luna Park pool. When I asked what the reason was a Lifeguard said it was the Orlando locals who were coming in and taking up all the chairs, so the BWI/BWV guests didn't have a chance to get them. I have no idea if they didn't allow DVC members to pool hopp there during that time, however this information proves that in the past the Boardwalk has had restricted access to their pool.