Just Back from OKW ~ Great Time, but WHY do people still reserve chairs!!!

[Mickeydad]

Hi All!

We had a GREAT stay at OKW (1bd) ~ me, DW, DD15, DS12 and DD3. We used an air mattress that my DS used and the girls slept in the pull out bed. We really love OKW, it was the first resort we stayed at when we joined back in 2001.

Still... I can't believe people are so INCONSIDERATE that they would leave 1 sandal, 1 magazine, 1 hat, etc. on pool chairs to reserve them... yet, they never came to the pool for HOURS! I was happy to see a sign had been put up advising guests NOT to do this, yet people still did it.

All I can say is if fellow DVC Members are doing this, PLEASE STOP!!!! It's wrong.

We guessed that the people doing this were renters or cash guests. IT'S JUST RUDE. So many people complained about the "reserving of chairs". In fact, I picked up stuff and took chairs after using one chair for my family for hours, while the other "reserved" chairs were never used. When the inconsiderate people finally showed up wondering why all the chairs were not there, I said that maybe they were at the parks too long and guests must of gotten pissed that they RUDELY saved the chairs, yet never used them.

Anyway... if you are a DVC Member that does do this, PLEASE STOP! It's about having fun with the family on vacation. Saving chairs so you have the best seat by the pool after spending 4 hours at the parks is shameful.

Ok... I'm off my soapbox.

Have a Magical Day!

Mickeydad

 

[smjj]

I don't let that stop us. We had the same problem. If there were not chairs available, we watch and if they are not sat in in 30 min. or so, I move the stuff. I have done this on two seperate occasions and not once confronted on it. Maybe the people saw us and decided not to challange us because they know they were in the wrong or maybe they had not come back yet. The rules are the rules and that it that...smjj

 

[Chuck S]

It must be a summer-time thing, or mainly at the Hospitality House pool. Honestly, I've never seen that at OKW at the quiet pools, and we travel early June and either Nov., Dec. or Jan. Everyone I've seen saving a chair has either been in the pool or hot tub.

 

[donaldbuzz&minnie]

I've never moved anyone's stuff because I've never been able to figure out who has camped out for hours and who is in the pool. Too bad the staff can't keep an eye out for stuff that's parked for the day.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I would call out "who's stuff is this?" and if no one answered, it would be moved.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I would call out "who's stuff is this?" and if no one answered, it would be moved.

The only problem with that is if I go over to get towels at BCV or run into the rest room, I'd hate to come back to see my chair taken. It's much too loud for me to hear anything, what with all the splish-splashing (and behind doors in the rest room), and my trips are solo, so there's no way anyone else in my family can hold my chair for a few minutes. Personally, I like the 30 minute rule, or even 15. Heck, make it 10 minutes-that should be enough time!

 

[Sammie]

i go with the 30 minute rule, truly if someone is not going to use a chair more often than 30 minutes they do not need a chair.

If I move someone's stuff and they come back before 30 minutes is up I will graciously give them their chair back, after 30 minutes of being abandoned I figure all chairs are up for grabs.

 

[DVCconvert]

I would call out "who's stuff is this?" and if no one answered, it would be moved.

Please remember to walk into the men's room and make your annoucement too -- I'd hate to lose my chair if I weren't immediately available to "defend myself"

 

[JimMIA]

I don't have any problem distinguishing between chairs which are truly occupied by someone at the pool and those which have been saved by some kind person for me. I actually would encourage folks to go put towels on the preferred lounges early in the AM before going to the theme parks; I really appreciate their efforts...plus I get an extra towel!

I've never had anyone come up and say they were saving the lounge with that towel, but if anyone ever does, another item on my bucket list will be fulfilled!

 

[fishermouse]

We were at SSR in July and the lifegaurds would walk around and remove towels every 1/2 hour or so. nobody ever complained..

 

[disneydawn6]

I like to swim laps for 30 minutes and then hit the hot tub for 15... Don't get mad at me

 

[schewy]

I usually take a chair and move stuff if it appears no one is truly using it. I always keep the itmes moved close by and if the owner returns I will give up the chair if they question me. I apologize and tell them I thought no one was using the chair. I then move on and grab another one. I don't "reserve" or "save" chairs, but I sometimes I offer my chair up when others can't seem to find one especially if I am by myself.

 

[Greg K.]

...so what are you supposed to do?

You hike from your villa wearing a tee shirt and sandals...carrying a small bag with sunscreen and a book. What are you supposed to do with them while you're in the water?

While we're on this subject...I had a towel-moving experience at OKW just last week. I deposited one towel and one tee shirt on one lounge chair, and slid by sandals and bag underneath. I went into the pool for about 20 minutes. I came back to find all my stuff moved to the next chair over. Evidently, two young ladies wanted two chairs together and decided, well, let's just move this set of stuff one chair over.

Call me touchy, but I didn't appreciate someone else taking liberties with my personal belongings -- even if it was just sandals, a bag, a tee shirt and a towel. 'Specially since I wasn't gone long.

 

[franco]

...so what are you supposed to do?

You hike from your villa wearing a tee shirt and sandals...carrying a small bag with sunscreen and a book. What are you supposed to do with them while you're in the water?

While we're on this subject...I had a towel-moving experience at OKW just last week. I deposited one towel and one tee shirt on one lounge chair, and slid by sandals and bag underneath. I went into the pool for about 20 minutes. I came back to find all my stuff moved to the next chair over. Evidently, two young ladies wanted two chairs together and decided, well, let's just move this set of stuff one chair over.

Call me touchy, but I didn't appreciate someone else taking liberties with my personal belongings -- even if it was just sandals, a bag, a tee shirt and a towel. 'Specially since I wasn't gone long.

This is a different situation than someone reserving chairs and then going to the parks for the afternoon. I feel that your items were moved inappropriately if it was only 20 minutes!

 

[dianeschlicht]

...so what are you supposed to do?

You hike from your villa wearing a tee shirt and sandals...carrying a small bag with sunscreen and a book. What are you supposed to do with them while you're in the water?

While we're on this subject...I had a towel-moving experience at OKW just last week. I deposited one towel and one tee shirt on one lounge chair, and slid by sandals and bag underneath. I went into the pool for about 20 minutes. I came back to find all my stuff moved to the next chair over. Evidently, two young ladies wanted two chairs together and decided, well, let's just move this set of stuff one chair over.

Call me touchy, but I didn't appreciate someone else taking liberties with my personal belongings -- even if it was just sandals, a bag, a tee shirt and a towel. 'Specially since I wasn't gone long.

Were you planning to USE the chair when you finished swimming, or were you just using it as a storage locker for your stuff? I see no reason to hold a lounge chair hostage if you have no intention of using it. You can always find a spot to put your "stuff" bedsides a chair. Now, if you intended to swim and then come back to your chair to relax, that's a different story.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Wow, if the pool chairs aren't for the people who are actually swimming to use while in the very least drying off and putting on their shoes afterwards, they should be. If you are swimming I think you have a "right" to one of the chairs. JMO!

I'm often solo, I swim, often for an hour if I'm at BCV in the lazy river portion which I love, and I do use the chair for a bit afterwards. Fortunately, I've not had the experience of having stuff moved or brushed aside.

Bobbi

 

[maddmike]

If there was a bag there and other personal items at a chair I would consider it being used and would not think of touching it. Most people won't bring a bunch of stuff to the pool to reserve a chair for hours because someone can and will walk off with it. If a chair is "reserved" with a resort towel or hat or a flip flop, I say move it and use the chair.

 

[Chuck S]

Wow, if the pool chairs aren't for the people who are actually swimming to use while in the very least drying off and putting on their shoes afterwards, they should be. If you are swimming I think you have a "right" to one of the chairs. JMO!

I'm often solo, I swim, often for an hour if I'm at BCV in the lazy river portion which I love, and I do use the chair for a bit afterwards. Fortunately, I've not had the experience of having stuff moved or brushed aside.

Bobbi

But there should be an alternative available if people only want a place to store things, and then sit down for two seconds to put on their shoes or flip/flops rather than taking a chair for 30 or 40 minutes from someone that actually wants to relax in the sun. Especially if this chair saving is actually causing problems with chair shortages. Unfortunately, there really doesn't seem to be an alternative in place.

Maybe something similar to this, with a couple benches nearby would suffice.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I love to swim but can't bear the heat! I swim/bob etc. and then return to my seat for a few minutes, where I have my towel, sandals etc., then I return to the water. Just because I'm not in my seat the whole time doesn't mean that I'm not entitled to it and I would be royally ticked off if someone moved/removed my belongings from where I put them. As a considerate person, I would not hesitate to change seats, myself, if a party wanted to sit together and I could oblige, but it's still my call and not for someone else to decide.

There really is no rule that can be created to distinguish that reserved chairs are for the people actually at the pool and not just reserved for use at a late time. Neither the 30 minute thing nor the "hey, is this anyone's seat work for my pool usage.

Consideration is the key, however rules still won't impart that to people who can't understand the concept to begin with!

This is a very big issue at Vero and they've tried to manage it by having CM's/lifeguards remove towels from chairs periodically, but they wouldn't move a beach bag, sandals and what not.

 

[Greg K.]

Were you planning to USE the chair when you finished swimming, or were you just using it as a storage locker for your stuff? I see no reason to hold a lounge chair hostage if you have no intention of using it. You can always find a spot to put your "stuff" bedsides a chair. Now, if you intended to swim and then come back to your chair to relax, that's a different story.

Of course, I was going to use it. And of course, I did. What sort of a selfish pig uses a lounge chair for a storage space?

I toweled off and stretched out for about 15 minutes after swimming. Then the clouds came, and it threatened rain, so I left.