Just off the Dream: Deck Chair HOGS

[AbsyBabsy]

I have been on DCL 7 times but I am not big on sitting by the pool. However at times, I do enjoy a roast and a drink. A few times I have noticed the multiple chair saving and what I have done is sit on one chair move that stuff to the one next to it. Only once has anyone ever returned while I was using "their" chair. When they arrived (about 2 hours after I sat down) they looked for their stuff and I explained that I wanted to have a seat and moved their stuff to the chair next to me. I also offered to give up the chair if it was theirs (I really didn't want to but thought it may help alleviate the stress of the moment) They were very nice and told me to please stay there and that they would share the other chairs they saved.

I really don't appreciate others saving chairs, and even think that one hour is too long to save it. I have no problem with leaving to get a drink, use the bathroom, swim, hit the hot tub,grab a bite to eat and bring it back or go check on the kids. But, if you are going to a show, a tour, a nap inside your cabin, sit down meal - I think you should give up your chair.

 

[buster 101]

this chair hogging must be stop so that all can enjoy there cruise

 

[one princess]

For example, if you bring your mother-in-law on the cruise, just to save seats, you might be a chair hog.

LOL. I say if you bring your MIL along just to save seats you should get an exemption!

 

[Pixelfrog]

I guess my question now is this: what happens when you want to swim in the pool or ride the AquaDuck after lounging for awhile...what do you do with your shirt, room key, lotion, etc. then? Leave it on a lounger, you're a chair hog. Leave it on a chair at a table, you're a chair hog. Leave in somewhere else (like on a trash can), the chance of it getting stolen is higher. Are we expecting people to go back and forth from their room each time they want to take a dip so they can drop off the items they aren't taking in the pool with them, but might want close by (like the items listed earlier)? I'm not trying to stir the pot, I'm just genuinely wondering what you're expected to do?

In my opinion, and I may be in the minority on this, it's perfectly reasonable behavior to claim your chair (or chairs, if there's more than one person with you) and to maintain that claim as long as you are actively using the pool, the hot tub, the aquaduck, or using the chair for sunning and reading. It is not reasonable, and is chair hog behavior, if you dump your stuff on a chair (or chairs), go to any activity that does not directly involve the water or sunning facility, and expect that chair to be "yours" whenever you want it. If you dump your stuff and go to the buffet fully expecting to bring your plate back and eat at your chair, you're not a chair hog. If you dump your stuff, go to the buffet and eat at another location, if you dump your stuff to hold your chair while you go to the spa for a quick workout or massage, if you dump your stuff to hold your chair while you attend origami class, you are a chair hog.

It is not unreasonable to lay claim to a chair while you are utlizing pool or sunbathing activities. I would absolutely expect someone to hold a chair while enjoying the aquaduck if they intended to come back.

 

[justmestace]

Maybe they should make the little place-holder cards like they have at some buffet restaurants:

"Riding the Aqua Duck....Back in 30 Minutes".

 

[HappyontheLake]

Maybe they should make the little place-holder cards like they have at some buffet restaurants:

"Riding the Aqua Duck....Back in 30 Minutes".

Ooh -- I may just make that sign for our family!

 

[buster 101]

if i board the ship and claim a chair it should be mine for the whole cruise? what is the difference ?

 

[jiminyC_fan]

LOL. I say if you bring your MIL along just to save seats you should get an exemption!

 

[kcashner]

If you have a problem, let GS, the CD, or the Captain know about it! I've seen an officer directing crew members to remove items from ALL chairs without a behind planted in it! I agree that is a bit extreme, but we would each have our individual idea of what a reasonable amount of time for a vacant chair should be.

Personally, I'm in the 15-20 minute range...and if I'm standing there for that long and watch chairs "occupied" only by personal items, I'll move the items to the top of the towel bin and occupy the chair. Guests are clearly told in the Navigator and on the chair itself that it cannot be "saved." If the person who had there stuff moved wants to complain....well, that might get interesting since they were the one not following the printed rule!

 

[buster 101]

i agree! that's the rules and i wish that all would follow that.

 

[buster 101]

should i arrive at 6am with a bag of stuff and but one item on 50 seats and say that they are all mine? would the chair hogs move my stuff?

 

[FJS961]

The aggregious examples are:

Claiming chairs in early am that you don't plan to use until later - total BS

Leaving the chairs unattended without a member of your party present for an extended period and expecting them to be 'yours' indefinitely

 

[PizzieDuster]

Originally Posted by AquaDame
After 5 pages of this I have to ask... can I just toss the towel on the ground BY the chairs and lay out on that? I don't want to get involved!
lol


AquaDame....I may just bring my own beach chair! It's old and weathered and I doubt anyone would want to sit in it
But I fit in it just fine Comes with pockets, drink holder....I can put it on my back like a backpack.....hmmmmmmmm

 

[cmwade77]

After rethinking it, I think I agree with PizzieDuster.....I'll just put a blanket on the ground and lay on it...LOL

Really, there is no reason to debate it, Disney has clear rules on it, they just need to be enforced.

 

[clawmachine]

Originally Posted by AquaDame
After 5 pages of this I have to ask... can I just toss the towel on the ground BY the chairs and lay out on that? I don't want to get involved!
lol

I hear you! However, it seemed to me that the deck area around the chairs was always too wet to lay on directly. You'd also probably have little feet coming close to trampling on you. There was a guy who pretty much continuously came around with a water cleanup vacuum of sorts, because it was constantly getting re-wet!

 

[PoohJen]

The same thing goes for Hammock Hogs on CC!!!

I stayed at the Bellagio last summer - needless to say it was hot as Hades in Vegas in July and the pools - though plentiful and spacious - were PACKED. The Bellagio had a sign that unattended lounges would be taken after 1 hour. And, I don't know how they did it, but the pool attendents did indeed free up chaises that were vacant for some time (I only saw them move towels though, not personal items).

Obviously this thread is about people camping out w/o planning on being there for a long time. Of course you can swim with your family. Hey, even grab a slice of pizza. But 1/2 hour or more gone? If it's crowded, please take your stuff with you and let others enjoy the pool area who are there to...enjoy the pool area!

 

[pxidst119]

Chair hogging is everywhere. This summer I was sitting on my towel on the ground next to a campground pool. A dad and his son got up from their chairs and I asked them if they were leaving. They said yes and I went to sit down and but the woman next to me said the chairs were saved already. Did she really need 2 more? The people that got up were not a part of that party. She never even put anything on them. She just saved these chairs since she was sitting next to them along with the two "saved" empty chairs on the other side of her. Seems like she was missing out on relaxing in her own chair since she was on chair hoarding duty.

It reminds me how my toddlers would get about toys. They would have so many figurines that they could not share and held onto all of them. They couldn't enjoy any of the toys because they were holding onto too many and couldn't even play with any of them. I helped them work through these scenarios everyday in hopes that someday they will not try to hold more chairs than they can even sit in.

 

[Topper]

One idea is for everyone when you sail (any of the ships) to put on the comment cards to put cubbies/lockers in around the pool areas like in the vibe - if enough people comment on it maybe they will take notice - worth a try!

And then folks will come out at 6am to reserve the cubbies/lockers, and the problem will continue.

 

[misseulalie]

I thought there were a ton of us who already requested cubbies to DCL when we heard rumors of new ships. Guess it didn't work.

Normally I only remove towels from 1 chair though as we only need two. (I already have one) I place the towels on the chair next to it which also has towels. The people coming back don't sem to mind.
I wait 20 minutes to remove towels.

 

[ddd100]

We have a saying in Australia..... "Only bums keep seats! "

I believe that if you are sitting in your seat, and having fun for the entire day, so be it. However, if you leave to go on the Aquaduck, go for some food or even a swim... you have left that seat and someone else can now have use of it.

If you are standing in line for something and you leave your place, then it's gone and you have to line up again. Same applies to the deck chairs.
I think it shows an extreme lack of courtesy, to leave your seat with personal items on it and go for a swim, thus not allowing someone else use of that chair while you enjoy yourself and then expecting it to be there when you return.