Just off the Dream: Deck Chair HOGS

[CWO4DVC]

I think that this issue has been blown out of proportion with extreme examples on both sides. I don't think there are lots of uptight guests looking for rule violators on the ship and who go around moving people's belongings. The only time I've seen a heated discussion about seat saving was in the front of the Walt Disney THeater.

I also think that it would be presumptuous to assume that someone sitting in "your" chair when you returned did so out of malice. A CM could have removed your belongings and a fellow guest may have innocently sat in the chair as there was nothing indicating that it was yours. For you to ask them to move is wrong IMO. All you've done is make yourself look rude and make the other guest uncomfortable on his/her vacation for doing something we all do nearly everyday - taking an empty seat in a public place.

I have never seen or heard of CM's removing a persons belongings without cause. If a guest asks for items to be removed and a CM removes them then I will hold the CM accountable for messing with my property as I will only be gone from my chair for a small amout of time. My bottom line is if every one is doing it than Disney's rule is null. They (Disney) should go up on deck at 7:30 am and remove the hundreds of items holding chairs. If they allow the practice then I will join the hundreds that reserve bum holders.

 

[manning]

Just off the Dream Feb. 10. A fantastic trip with 100% satisfaction - except with families and deck chairs.

It seems that if you 'claim' a deck chair with a book, mug, t-shirt, flip-flops, pacifier, or other personal item, you keep the chair indefinitely. From the first night (of the Super Bowl) every deck chair facing the big screen and pool on the main level was taken. Some folks left their lounge chair time after time to take a dip or get food. But no-one could dare take the unoccupied seat because of personal junk left on it. You might have a chance if there was just a white towel.

Each morning we saw Grandmas or Moms set up personal things on four or more reclining chairs, while the family was grabbing breakfast. They then would camp out for the day, going to their room, or kids zones, and not even take their junk with them. They had a front row for the shows, games, movies, and trivia.

There must be a guideline on this. It is beyond asking someone "is this seat taken". If it is without a body on it - GRAB IT. No one should be allowed to 'claim' a deck chair for the day.

Again, this is just the pool and big screen area. The adult lounging areas had seats to spare.

On our next trip we will bring throwaway 'props' like t-shirts, books, and a colored beach towel. And just try to stay out of our way - just try!

SOE

Where's my junk?

Well ma'am, there was this big gust of wind and it was last seen blowing overboard.

 

[buster 101]

I have never seen or heard of CM's removing a persons belongings without cause. If a guest asks for items to be removed and a CM removes them then I will hold the CM accountable for messing with my property as I will only be gone from my chair for a small amout of time. My bottom line is if every one is doing it than Disney's rule is null. They (Disney) should go up on deck at 7:30 am and remove the hundreds of items holding chairs. If they allow the practice then I will join the hundreds that reserve bum holders.

if you leave your items on a chair then you have abandon them and deserve to loose them.

 

[CWO4DVC]

if you leave your items on a chair then you have abandon them and deserve to loose them.

To give up with the intent of never again claiming a right or interest in...... Need another word, that one does not fit the bill....

 

[m_kasch]

OK, jumping in here...

I understand that people should not be putting things in chairs and leaving for hours without using them.

However, none of the strict enforcers on here have answered the question, what are you to do with your stuff? If I go on a cruise by myself, and want to ride the aquaduck while i'm at the pool...where do I put my things? Am I just supposed to throw them on the floor, or carry them over my head hoping they do not get wet on the ride? And what about while people are IN the pool...where are they supposed to keep their things? Obviously, not in the water? Disney does not provide an alternative for these people, so I think the only alternative currently is to leave them on your chair.

So to all you who say if your bum is not in the chair, you cannot occupy it at all...please answer the question what do you do with your things, as Disney does not provide anywhere to keep them?

 

[missj1975]

How do you know no one cared? Perhaps they were just being polite or there simply weren't a lot of cruisers on your winter cruise who wanted to spend time lounging?

I don't think that anyone really spends a lot of time watching for chair hogs or others who disregard Disney's published policies and rules while on their vacation. I've never seen any disputes over chair hogging by the pools and we spend a lot of our time by the pools on our cruises. So for those of you who are glad you don't use the pools, it's not the free-for-all that this thread makes it seem like. It's actually quite enjoyable and a good alternative to just staying on the verandah. Plus, the verandah's don't have loungers (at least mine didn't as I wasn't in a suite) and the verandah isn't always in the sun.

For us, if we can't find two chairs together, we simply just go up to Deck 10 (On the magic/wonder) when there are no seats available by the pool. It often works better as there is a lot of shade by the pools. I'm not going to stand around counting 30 minutes or an hour to watch for a chair to open up.

And I won't take off anyone's stuff. If I am relaxing next to a chair occupied by stuff and not a person, and someone came up to me and asked if the chair next to me was taken, I would let that person know that no one had been there since I'd been there and suggest they ask a CM to remove the stuff on the chair. That way it could be returned to lost and found as published in the Navigator.

I can understand why someone who was inconvenienced on their cruise because there were a lot of seats constantly being occupied by "objects" instead of people could return from their vacation and express their frustration on a board like this. They probably do it to make others aware of the fact that they might be inadvertently breaking Disney's rules by keeping their stuff on chairs for prolonged periods. Whether or not your stuff was moved is irrelevant. While your belongings were on a chair that you didn't use, perhaps one or more couples who wanted to lounge by the pool and read a book could not locate two chairs close together as your stuff (and other people doing the same thing) was sitting on unoccupied chairs. They probably let it go and just moved on and it didn't ruin their vacation. They may have noted it in the back of their mind and when a thread like this pops up, they might join in to say that they were inconvenienced and express that they think others should be more courteous when on vacation by actually abiding by the rules set forth by Disney about not saving chairs by the pools.

This is printed on the Navigator each and every day::



I realize that many guests ignore Disney's policies if it inconveniences them on their vacation. It's not like they are going to issue you a fine (except perhaps for smoking in the rooms). I also don't think that there are a lot of hall monitors out there looking for violators as some on this thread seem to think. I do think that it's easy to judge on these boards and condemn others for expressing an opinion as it appears others are doing on this thread.

I know no one cared because there were plenty of empty loungers. If there weren't any empty loungers, I would have put my stuff behind an empty chair until I was done swimming. I just didn't want to put my stuff on the ground because of wet ground.

The one time I couldn't find an empty lounger at Castaway Cay, I found a chair that only had a wet towel on it. I moved the towel and took the chair. No one came out of the woodworks to yell at me for stealing "their" chair.

I think your post sums it up whole issue the best!!! Kudos for having the most diplomatic response!!!

 

[jiminyC_fan]

Regarding the Aquaduck question, there isn't any great spot to just drop our stuff and ride it. If we put things on the deck floor people will trip over them and complain. If we leave our stuff on our chair, people will complain. If DCL adds lockers or cubbies, people will complain that it took up too much space and more chairs are needed. You just can't please 100% of the people 100% of the time.

 

[buster 101]

I know no one cared because there were plenty of empty loungers. If there weren't any empty loungers, I would have put my stuff behind an empty chair until I was done swimming. I just didn't want to put my stuff on the ground because of wet ground.

The one time I couldn't find an empty lounger at Castaway Cay, I found a chair that only had a wet towel on it. I moved the towel and took the chair. No one came out of the woodworks to yell at me for stealing "their" chair.

I think your post sums it up whole issue the best!!! Kudos for having the most diplomatic response!!!

that was my wet towel lol

 

[buster 101]

Regarding the Aquaduck question, there isn't any great spot to just drop our stuff and ride it. If we put things on the deck floor people will trip over them and complain. If we leave our stuff on our chair, people will complain. If DCL adds lockers or cubbies, people will complain that it took up too much space and more chairs are needed. You just can't please 100% of the people 100% of the time.

what stuff do absolutely have to have, that you cant leave in your room, shoes ok they dont need a chair, and where water shoes!

 

[FJS961]

Well, I'm the one that said that, and I wasn't judging why others like to sit around the pool. We have a pool at home, so we don't feel the desire to sit around the pool on the ship. It's just too noisy and crowded. And I always sit in the shade, anyway, so my verandah is more pleasant. For me. Which I suppose is good for those who DO like to sit by the pool, so my butt isn't hogging a chair that someone else might want.

I'm with you on this also. This thread has a fair amount of entertainment value. Although I do feel it is rude and obnoxious to put personal crap on chairs to 'reserve' them for later, I wouldn't be participating in the melee in first place. We found the pool situation on the ship to be, well, pretty pathetic. The kids enjoy the pools at WDW resorts and water parks. In addition, we will enjoy the water at CC, Atlantis and other ports. More chairs for everyone else

 

[KevieKev05]

what stuff do absolutely have to have, that you cant leave in your room, shoes ok they dont need a chair, and where water shoes!

Cover up? Shirt? Hat? Sunglasses? Room key? Lotion?

 

[missj1975]

that was my wet towel lol

thank you for not asking a cm to confront me. I appreciate your kindness ;-)

 

[buster 101]

I'm with you on this also. This thread has a fair amount of entertainment value. Although I do feel it is rude and obnoxious to put personal crap on chairs to 'reserve' them for later, I wouldn't be participating in the melee in first place. We found the pool situation on the ship to be, well, pretty pathetic. The kids enjoy the pools at WDW resorts and water parks. In addition, we will enjoy the water at CC, Atlantis and other ports. More chairs for everyone else

some people just want to a upper hand on the next guy,they may tie up a chair for the hole day so that they can sit for 30 min

 

[buster 101]

I'm with you on this also. This thread has a fair amount of entertainment value. Although I do feel it is rude and obnoxious to put personal crap on chairs to 'reserve' them for later, I wouldn't be participating in the melee in first place. We found the pool situation on the ship to be, well, pretty pathetic. The kids enjoy the pools at WDW resorts and water parks. In addition, we will enjoy the water at CC, Atlantis and other ports. More chairs for everyone else

some people just want to a upper hand on the next guy,they may tie up a chair for the hole day so that they can sit for 30 min

 

[buster 101]

I know no one cared because there were plenty of empty loungers. If there weren't any empty loungers, I would have put my stuff behind an empty chair until I was done swimming. I just didn't want to put my stuff on the ground because of wet ground.

The one time I couldn't find an empty lounger at Castaway Cay, I found a chair that only had a wet towel on it. I moved the towel and took the chair. No one came out of the woodworks to yell at me for stealing "their" chair.

I think your post sums it up whole issue the best!!! Kudos for having the most diplomatic response!!!

that was my wet towel lol

 

[WDWboy]

Vertical tanning ! ya think 4,000 of these will fit on the dream's pool deck? No more lounge chairs.

 

[haredi]

 

[makaylee]

OK, jumping in here...

I understand that people should not be putting things in chairs and leaving for hours without using them.

However, none of the strict enforcers on here have answered the question, what are you to do with your stuff? If I go on a cruise by myself, and want to ride the aquaduck while i'm at the pool...where do I put my things? Am I just supposed to throw them on the floor, or carry them over my head hoping they do not get wet on the ride? And what about while people are IN the pool...where are they supposed to keep their things? Obviously, not in the water? Disney does not provide an alternative for these people, so I think the only alternative currently is to leave them on your chair.

So to all you who say if your bum is not in the chair, you cannot occupy it at all...please answer the question what do you do with your things, as Disney does not provide anywhere to keep them?

What I'M saying is only use ONE chair to hold your families things if you must and DO NOT be upset if they are moved when you get back. It makes no sense for someone who wants to sit at that moment to not be able to because someone might or might not be coming back for their chair.

Just my humble 2 cents not thrown at anyone in particular.

 

[Fleury]

What I'M saying is only use ONE chair to hold your families things if you must and DO NOT be upset if they are moved when you get back. It makes no sense for someone who wants to sit at that moment to not be able to because someone might or might not be coming back for their chair.

Just my humble 2 cents not thrown at anyone in particular.

I agree - I think it's important to distinguish that when it's a nice day there may be times when every single chair on the pool deck either has someone in it or has someone's stuff on it. If someone comes that wants to sit, I see no problem with them asking a CM to move the stuff that has been left unattended so they can take a seat. If the owner of the stuff returns and actually wants to sit, at that point they'd need to look for a new chair ... so they'd ask a CM to move somebody else's stuff and the circle of life would continue.

I'm a firm believer in the "if your butts not IN the chair and you've left your stuff unattended in any way" you take the risk of your stuff not being in the same spot when you come back and someone else being IN the chair. However, I wouldn't personally move someone's stuff. And of course, if I could find any other empty lounger, I would.

However, I think as previous posters have already said, if everyone in general only leaves their things on their chair for short times when they are running to the washroom, taking a quick dip, etc. and NOT if they are heading for a nap or something, it probably wouldn't be an issue for the most part.

 

[justmestace]

Maybe they should just place hooks along the outside walls near the Aqua Duck....to hang a cover up, etc.