Picnic at the car - practical?

[fortwildernessishome]

when hubby and I go to typhoon lagoon or blizzard beach,we wil go at rope drop. we will find where we want to sit, and that wil be our home base for the day. (used to be as near to the das as possible.. now that we are over a year of quitting smoking, not so much... sigh)

when we go with other family members or friends, same thing....home base. no one sticks together the whole day!!!! hubby and I are voracious readers... hubby lies in the sun, I go off to do the shark reef thing.. he is bored, goes for a smoke (in days past) I come back, he is gone, I go to the washroom, he goes for a beer. hey! we meet up!! we go on lazy river. etc etc.

someone in a past thread a year or so ago suggester putting the stuff under the chairs. s.. if we are both gone, we should come back to find our cahirstaken and our stuff under our chairs and then moveon, and try to find another spot... (including huby's glasses, and hearing aids.)


oh, no it was suggested that, everytime he wanted to actually USE his hearing aids, he go to the locker and GET them!! ) want to actually read a book? keep going back to the locker to GET it, and then try to find the rest of your family, since you have to keep "movin' on" everytime you left your "spot"! how silly!


you go into the water park .. you find a spot. put your stuff onit. go have fun (and I wouldn't leave too much noney behind) cme back.. enjoy your spot. (now, if I had kids I I knew they were not going to use loungers, I wouldn't save 6 loungers for a family with 4 kids.. maybe 3 or 4. depending. teen girls??? definitely need the loungers. they love to tan.)
someone on a thread a coule years ago suggested just keeping everything ON you that you needed.

um, so you go down the slides or in the lazy river with your book in your back pocket? eyeglasses? hearing aids?

Truly, the people making these silly locker comments are either not thinking clearly or have never been to a waterpark.

My kids use googles at the Lazy River. They do not use them on the other slides/rides. Throughout the day they grab and then return their goggles to our spot.......yeah, no way, would you keep going back to your locker to retrieve your stuff. If you did that you would spend your whole day wearing a path into the pavement going back and fourth.....back and fourth......back and fourth to your locker. Luckily, we dont have to do this, because Disney doesnt want you to!!!!! They didnt set up their waterparks for people to store everything in a locker. Heck, if you were NOT suppose to store your stuff on your chair, Disney would add the price of a locker to your admission, and require everybody to use a locker.........but they dont!!! Why??? Because that is not Disney expectation.......they expect you to use their chairs for not only your body, but for your stuff as well.

Thanks for sharing your experieince. Sadly, there are some posters on the Dis just like to argue, even when they in fact know they are wrong. That is what we are seeing here.

I would suggest to a anybody that is confused about what to do with their stuff at a Disney watrerpark, just ask a cast member. They will assure you what I and other posters have said. Grab some chairs, put your stuff there and enjoy your day. If you want to rent a locker, then by all means do, but it is not necessary!

At any rate, it is kinda funny to be insulted on a forum for doing what Disney expects/wants you to do!!!

 

[SaraJayne]

Truly, the people making these silly locker comments are either not thinking clearly or have never been to a waterpark.

My kids use googles at the Lazy River. They do not use them on the other slides/rides. Throughout the day they grab and then return their goggles to our spot.......yeah, no way, would you keep going back to your locker to retrieve your stuff. If you did that you would spend your whole day wearing a path into the pavement going back and fourth.....back and fourth......back and fourth to your locker. Luckily, we dont have to do this, because Disney doesnt want you to!!!!! They didnt set up their waterparks for people to store everything in a locker. Heck, if you were NOT suppose to store your stuff on your chair, Disney would add the price of a locker to your admission, and require everybody to use a locker.........but they dont!!! Why??? Because that is not Disney expectation.......they expect you to use their chairs for not only your body, but for your stuff as well.

Thanks for sharing your experieince. Sadly, there are some posters on the Dis just like to argue, even when they in fact know they are wrong. That is what we are seeing here.

I would suggest to a anybody that is confused about what to do with their stuff at a Disney watrerpark, just ask a cast member. They will assure you what I and other posters have said. Grab some chairs, put your stuff there and enjoy your day. If you want to rent a locker, then by all means do, but it is not necessary!

At any rate, it is kinda funny to be insulted on a forum for doing what Disney expects/wants you to do!!!

I've been to lots of waterparks. We go to Wisconsin Dells multiple times during the summer. You know, the water park capital of the world?

Yes, most people keep their things in lockers at the water parks in Wis Dells. They don't leave their stuff laying around.

Just because Disney may not say anything doesn't mean it's ok. Disney is notorious for looking the other way, for fear of potentially upsetting guests.

If you ever come to Wis Dells, plan on getting a locker.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Truly, the people making these silly locker comments are either not thinking clearly or have never been to a waterpark.

Just to be clear, it appears that we've got 2 separate topics - Waterparks and DISNEY Waterparks. The WisDells comment was spot on. EVERYONE at Noah's Ark gets a locker. And honestly, the only place I haven't gotten one was Great Wolf Lodge & that's because the only people who are in there are staying there. So, we left 90% of our stuff in the room (they even provide towels) and staked out 1 chair for 4 people. The setup at most waterparks does not make the wave pool a particularly convenient "home base" anyway. Many times the lockers are more centrally located. We were in Noah's Ark for 4 hours before we even SAW the wave pool

Anyway, this may be one of those times compromise is a good policy. If 1-2 people in your party of 6 will utilize the chairs FREQUENTLY, it's probably fine to take up 2 or 3 chairs for the day, or more IF it doesn't leave someone else with no chair. But, if the bulk of your party is going to be away from the chairs 90% of the day, it kind of seems silly to save them ALL a spot. Naturally, this is premised on the idea that there are a limited # of chairs. Maybe it's not a problem at the Disney parks. But, it would be lots of other places.

 

[livie1205]

geezzz buy lunch in the park,your on vacation.

 

[NotUrsula]

I felt the need to re-quote this because it's important - you're obviously aware that there are a limited amount of chairs and you're taking them up for your stuff. Still not sure why getting a locker is such an odd concept for you...

What I thought was laughable about this post? You're bringing "EVERYBODY" into it - if you want to be selfish do so, but don't include the rest of the world in your foolishness. I am wondering - are you one of those folks that takes up tables in the QS places to save them for their group while others are wandering around with full trays? Sounds like you might be, because "everybody" does it, right?

Yes I have been to the water parks. To answer your question? Put your towels and snacks in a locker.

Yes, that first statement does seem to be kind of an oxymoron, until you parse it a bit. I'm not the person who said it, but I'll pitch in a little bit of clarification that she left out: there are chairs, and then there are LOUNGE CHAIRS. What the poster you replied to was referring to when she mentioned the rush to claim "chairs" at rope drop was actually the claiming of full-lenth lounge chairs. There are a limited number of LOUNGE CHAIRS, but there are more regular upright sand chairs than could be used even if the park pools were at full capacity. IME, there is never a time of day even on a summer Saturday when there are not stacks of regular sand chairs remaining available at some locations, but all of the large lounge chairs are ordinarily claimed by about 90 minutes after opening, and large numbers of them don't free up again until around 2 pm.

I don't use the "everyone is doing it" logic, but I do use the logic that the park is designed with the idea that guests will stake out a home base for the day. The limited number of lockers relative to the capacity of the park tells me that the lockers are provided for those guests who have valuables to secure; the PP is right in implying that if every guest party tried to rent a locker to put away things like towels and shoes, they would all be gone in the first hour. There are FAR fewer lockers available than lounge chairs, actually, and of the two I'd rather you "save" the lounge chair, because if I need to put away a wallet or camera I want to be able to lock it up. (Not that we ever do, because we just don't bring in valuables that cannot be kept on our persons. I stash a SealLine pouch under my swimsuit containing our identification, car keys and park passes. We use waterproof gift cards for buying snacks rather than carrying cash that can get soggy.)

I'm not going to say that someone who never sets up a home base has never been to a water park. IME people tend to do what they are used to doing, and if your habit is to put your belongings in a locker, then I'm sure you probably do that without considering the alternative, but I assure you, at least at Disney's waterparks, it really is not necessary to lock up ordinary clothing and towels.

As to putting things under the chairs, yes, we do put the majority of our things under the chairs, but we do that primarily to lessen the sun/heat exposure that they get. We spread and clip large towels to the "home base" chairs, hang our cover-ups over the chair backs, and put the cooler, the street shoes, and the beach bags containing eyeglasses, sunscreen and street clothes underneath and behind the chairs out of the sun. (I would say that it is not a great idea to use freshly-purchased Disney-beach-theme towels to claim your chairs; people do sometimes steal those towels, especially if you leave the tags on, because they can be taken back to the water park gift shops and exchanged for whatever the thief might want.) Any time we go to get food we put the coverups on; out of the long-ingrained Southern habit of not patronizing an eating establishment wearing nothing but a swimsuit. (What can I say, I'm older than dirt, LOL.)

PS: Just FYI, small flexible vinyl O-rings are a nice thing to invest in if you are a water-park fan. I sew a couple inside all of our swimsuits on side seams so that we have a place to secure sunglasses or jewelry if it turns out that a slide won't allow them to be carried down the slide. Put them through the O-ring (which is grippy) and they will be secure inside your suit for the ride down the slide.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

geezzz buy lunch in the park,your on vacation.

It's funny how everyone views things differently. I don't view dashing out to the car as a big deal NORMALLY (were it more convenient like other parks) while other folks look at me like I have 2 heads when I suggest that.

OTOH, other folks think it's no biggy to have a backpack, and I'll be damned if I'm lugging a backpack around. That is just not happening. I wouldn't carry a phone or keys if I didn't HAVE to

A locker I could do. And I'm not against buying some food in the park if all else fails. Guess we all draw the line in different places.

 

[fortwildernessishome]

I've been to lots of waterparks. We go to Wisconsin Dells multiple times during the summer. You know, the water park capital of the world?

Yes, most people keep their things in lockers at the water parks in Wis Dells. They don't leave their stuff laying around.

Just because Disney may not say anything doesn't mean it's ok. Disney is notorious for looking the other way, for fear of potentially upsetting guests.

If you ever come to Wis Dells, plan on getting a locker.

Thanks for the info! the next time I find myself at the Wis Dells, I will get myself a locker!

But just to be clear, I was talking about the DISNEY waterparks!!! That is what we were discussing. This all started when the OP asked about bringing a cooler to a DISNEY waterpark. I thought that I would help out the OP and tell him what we (and the majority of the people) do at DISNEY waterparks, and that it is perfectly fine to bring a cooler to a waterpark. I went on to say what WE did, and that is claim a spot. I never could have imagined when I wrote that, I would be called "selfish" a "chair hog" and even accused of taking chairs at a restaurant that I wasnt eating at!!!

If you think that Disney "is not saying anything" and is secretly wishing that all of the guests would use lockers instead of chairs, then you should really ask a CM the next time you are at a DISNEY waterpark. Its great that the Wis Dells have lockers for everybody, that is not the case at a Disney waterpark.

Thanks for the tips about the Wis Dells!

 

[fortwildernessishome]

Yes, that first statement does seem to be kind of an oxymoron, until you parse it a bit. I'm not the person who said it, but I'll pitch in a little bit of clarification that she left out: there are chairs, and then there are LOUNGE CHAIRS. What the poster you replied to was referring to when she mentioned the rush to claim "chairs" at rope drop was actually the claiming of full-lenth lounge chairs. There are a limited number of LOUNGE CHAIRS, but there are more regular upright sand chairs than could be used even if the park pools were at full capacity. IME, there is never a time of day even on a summer Saturday when there are not stacks of regular sand chairs remaining available at some locations, but all of the large lounge chairs are ordinarily claimed by about 90 minutes after opening, and large numbers of them don't free up again until around 2 pm.

I don't use the "everyone is doing it" logic, but I do use the logic that the park is designed with the idea that guests will stake out a home base for the day. The limited number of lockers relative to the capacity of the park tells me that the lockers are provided for those guests who have valuables to secure; the PP is right in implying that if every guest party tried to rent a locker to put away things like towels and shoes, they would all be gone in the first hour. There are FAR fewer lockers available than lounge chairs, actually, and of the two I'd rather you "save" the lounge chair, because if I need to put away a wallet or camera I want to be able to lock it up. (Not that we ever do, because we just don't bring in valuables that cannot be kept on our persons. I stash a SealLine pouch under my swimsuit containing our identification, car keys and park passes. We use waterproof gift cards for buying snacks rather than carrying cash that can get soggy.)

I'm not going to say that someone who never sets up a home base has never been to a water park. IME people tend to do what they are used to doing, and if your habit is to put your belongings in a locker, then I'm sure you probably do that without considering the alternative, but I assure you, at least at Disney's waterparks, it really is not necessary to lock up ordinary clothing and towels.

As to putting things under the chairs, yes, we do put the majority of our things under the chairs, but we do that primarily to lessen the sun/heat exposure that they get. We spread and clip large towels to the "home base" chairs, hang our cover-ups over the chair backs, and put the cooler, the street shoes, and the beach bags containing eyeglasses, sunscreen and street clothes underneath and behind the chairs out of the sun. (I would say that it is not a great idea to use freshly-purchased Disney-beach-theme towels to claim your chairs; people do sometimes steal those towels, especially if you leave the tags on, because they can be taken back to the water park gift shops and exchanged for whatever the thief might want.) Any time we go to get food we put the coverups on; out of the long-ingrained Southern habit of not patronizing an eating establishment wearing nothing but a swimsuit. (What can I say, I'm older than dirt, LOL.)

PS: Just FYI, small flexible vinyl O-rings are a nice thing to invest in if you are a water-park fan. I sew a couple inside all of our swimsuits on side seams so that we have a place to secure sunglasses or jewelry if it turns out that a slide won't allow them to be carried down the slide. Put them through the O-ring (which is grippy) and they will be secure inside your suit for the ride down the slide.

Thanks for your post and clearing up any confusion that I apparently made. I didnt realize that I had even written an oxymoron.

Our experience at the Disney waterparks seems to be about the same as you.

Thanks for sharing your opinion about the lockers, and having a "home base" obviously, I agree with you, we do the same thing.

I have to say though, that while we rush to get "our" spot at rope drop, we dont even both with the lounge chairs. We dont sunbathe and three people in the group have bad backs, so we need a chair with a back to it. Your right, there are many of those types of chairs stacked up, but we still rush to get a spot in the part of the park we want with the chairs we want.

As far as me saying the word "everybody" I didnt mean to upset anybody, I was just relating our experience. When I am at rope drop, everybody and I mean everybody around me scatters to get a spot/chairs. Yes, I am sure after reading these posts, there are some (or at least three families) that use a locker and dont bother with chairs. I am only speaking from my experience and what I have observed over the years.

Hope everybody has fun the next time they go to a Disney waterpark!

To the OP, I never would have guessed by answering your question about the cooler at a waterpark, would have me targeted as a selfish chairhog who NEEDS to rent a locker.

When you go to a Disney waterpark this summer, remember this discussion and look around you and see what the vast majority of people are doing..........

 

[NotUrsula]

I have to say though, that while we rush to get "our" spot at rope drop, we dont even both with the lounge chairs. We dont sunbathe and three people in the group have bad backs, so we need a chair with a back to it. Your right, there are many of those types of chairs stacked up, but we still rush to get a spot in the part of the park we want with the chairs we want.

Oh, you're one of THOSE people ...

You're absolutely right; I was a bit presumptuous and I apologize. Yes, it is very true that most of the rope drop crowd is going to be aiming primarily for getting their "home base" in their favorite spot, and that does trump the question of what kind of chair they are hoping to claim.

Still, the person who called names was speaking specifically of the use of chairs, not the issue of location, so I'll stand by my opinion in that context: if you want A chair at a Disney waterpark, you will always be able to find an empty unclaimed one -- it may not be the particular kind of chair that you prefer, and it might not be found in your favorite part of the park, but there will be available empty chairs of some sort somewhere if you need to sit your tush down.

We're lounge folks, not because we sunbathe (in fact we always go for shady spots whereever possible), but because we have been known to nap. Even my teen is a sucker for dozing off on a lounger after lunch when he's been running around a water park for 4 hours. If we can't find an open lounge chair anywhere, we have been known to raid those stacks of upright chairs and line up three of them in the shade in order to let one of the kids lie down.

 

[bumbershoot]

However, if you're out in another part of the park, it is definitely selfish to lay claim to a chair. There's even a name for it: Chair Hog.

FWIW, I've only heard the term "chair hog" on cruising forums, and it doesn't have anything to do with someone who is using the park. It refers to people who get up super-early in the morning, claim chairs, then *maybe* show up around 4pm. They've hogged the chair ALL day and didn't use it until hours and hours later. It's very different from someone using the place for its intended purpose.

 

[North of Mouse]

Yes I have been to the water parks. To answer your question? Put your towels and snacks in a locker.

Your answer is totally unacceptable to me and 99% of others that go to the water parks at Disney. No, I will not put my towels in a locker (wow, Disney would love that - hundreds of us trying to get to the limited lockers, so there won't be a personal item in view ) I will continue as I have for the last 20 years (forget when they opened) to get there early, get our loungers and park our beach bag and towels on it until we're ready to leave and that's where they will stay That has always been the way it is there and I expect it will continue to be that way regardless of your opinion. You can well get a locker for yourself and be happy, but leave the rest of us alone!

 

[NotUrsula]

FWIW, I've only heard the term "chair hog" on cruising forums, and it doesn't have anything to do with someone who is using the park. It refers to people who get up super-early in the morning, claim chairs, then *maybe* show up around 4pm. They've hogged the chair ALL day and didn't use it until hours and hours later. It's very different from someone using the place for its intended purpose.

You can find the same phenomenon at hotel pools as well; guests who get up early, park some personal item on a chair by the pool, then go somewhere else entirely, expecting to come to the pool hours later and have that chair available for immediate use. Same behavior, same name. (BTW, I LOVE hotels that head this off by having attendants place towels on all of the pool chairs in the morning. You can't claim a chair with just a supplied towel if they are already on every chair.)

However, at a beach or a water park (which is almost always designed as a "faux beach") claiming a home spot from the time you arrive until the time you leave is usually something that the place is designed to accomodate, and it is fair game to leave your belongings at the chair while you go into the water, even if that patch of land isn't visible from the area of water that you are in.

PS: For jollies I decided to go out and look at the rules and recommendations posted on the Noah's Ark website, and guess what they recommend, in writing yet?

•Parents do not need to go all day long. Noah’s Ark has 4,000 lounge chairs. Bring a fun book to read if you want to rest. Stake out your territory by plunking down a beach towel on a lounge chair early in the day.

http://www.noahsarkwaterpark.com/park-info/recommendations/

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Your answer is totally unacceptable to me and 99% of others that go to the water parks at Disney. No, I will not put my towels in a locker (wow, Disney would love that - hundreds of us trying to get to the limited lockers, so there won't be a personal item in view )

Head butting, sidetracks, & all, I'm glad we ventured into this area. What you've said (and others who've BTDT) is so completely the opposite of any other water park I've ever visited, it wouldn't have even been considered an option based on my past experiences. So it's good info to have

 

[SaraJayne]

You can find the same phenomenon at hotel pools as well; guests who get up early, park some personal item on a chair by the pool, then go somewhere else entirely, expecting to come to the pool hours later and have that chair available for immediate use. Same behavior, same name. (BTW, I LOVE hotels that head this off by having attendants place towels on all of the pool chairs in the morning. You can't claim a chair with just a supplied towel if they are already on every chair.)

However, at a beach or a water park (which is almost always designed as a "faux beach") claiming a home spot from the time you arrive until the time you leave is usually something that the place is designed to accomodate, and it is fair game to leave your belongings at the chair while you go into the water, even if that patch of land isn't visible from the area of water that you are in.

PS: For jollies I decided to go out and look at the rules and recommendations posted on the Noah's Ark website, and guess what they recommend, in writing yet?

http://www.noahsarkwaterpark.com/park-info/recommendations/

Yup, I checked earlier. Very few people do it, though.

 

[fortwildernessishome]

Head butting, sidetracks, & all, I'm glad we ventured into this area. What you've said (and others who've BTDT) is so completely the opposite of any other water park I've ever visited, it wouldn't have even been considered an option based on my past experiences. So it's good info to have

Hey Gumbo.

Glad you got some useful information! I bet when you posted your question about a picnic in the park you never could have guessed that you would get all the waterpark info too!!!

I've learned things too, that some waterparks operate exactly the opposite of the Disney waterparks. (I also became more aware of how rude some posters are. Why two posters on here had a need to call me names just for letting you know how the Disney waterparks operate is puzzling at best. The Dis is such a wealth of information, its just too bad that some members feel the need to not only give false information, but to be rude in the process. Its all good though, because my family has had a lot of laughs at their silliness.)

Its funny, because we have two waterparks here in NH. Whales Tale and Water Country and they are operated exactly like the Disney waterparks. You stake out a spot with chairs and that is your home base for the day. I also went to a waterpark in Pa, called Camel Beach and it was run the same way.

However, I learned today that if I go to Wisconsin, I better have locker money with me in addition to my park admission........interesting.

I hope you have a great Disney trip this summer!!!

 

[fortwildernessishome]

You can find the same phenomenon at hotel pools as well; guests who get up early, park some personal item on a chair by the pool, then go somewhere else entirely, expecting to come to the pool hours later and have that chair available for immediate use. Same behavior, same name. (BTW, I LOVE hotels that head this off by having attendants place towels on all of the pool chairs in the morning. You can't claim a chair with just a supplied towel if they are already on every chair.)

However, at a beach or a water park (which is almost always designed as a "faux beach") claiming a home spot from the time you arrive until the time you leave is usually something that the place is designed to accomodate, and it is fair game to leave your belongings at the chair while you go into the water, even if that patch of land isn't visible from the area of water that you are in.

PS: For jollies I decided to go out and look at the rules and recommendations posted on the Noah's Ark website, and guess what they recommend, in writing yet?

http://www.noahsarkwaterpark.com/park-info/recommendations/

NotUrsula,

Thanks again for being a voice of reason with me in this thread!!

I also laughed out loud (many laughs with this thread!) when I read your link about the Noahs Ark waterpark!!!! Right there in black and white inviting people to grab a spot!!!! Very interesting!!!!!

Its funny how some people apparently WANT to rent a locker, then for some reason they feel the need to INSIST that everybody else do as they do.

Thanks for sharing!

 

[fortwildernessishome]

Your answer is totally unacceptable to me and 99% of others that go to the water parks at Disney. No, I will not put my towels in a locker (wow, Disney would love that - hundreds of us trying to get to the limited lockers, so there won't be a personal item in view ) I will continue as I have for the last 20 years (forget when they opened) to get there early, get our loungers and park our beach bag and towels on it until we're ready to leave and that's where they will stay That has always been the way it is there and I expect it will continue to be that way regardless of your opinion. You can well get a locker for yourself and be happy, but leave the rest of us alone!

Excellent post!!!

 

[North of Mouse]

Excellent post!!!

Thanks, love your name by the way, that is exactly the way we feel, have been staying there since '72 (kind of showing my age,eh?) That's OK though because we are still kids and really enjoy life I do know one thing, we WILL NOT be going to Wisconsin to a water park We also had some good laughs out of two of the posters -- sorry, that's not the way we do it down in the "good ole south" and we "ain't gonna change"

 

[North of Mouse]

Sorry Gumbo4x4 for getting so far from "picnic in the park" Sometimes threads take on a life all their own - that was a real sore point for all of us that have gone to Disney water parks "forever" and never heard of such "rules"!!

 

[fortwildernessishome]

Thanks, love your name by the way, that is exactly the way we feel, have been staying there since '72 (kind of showing my age,eh?) That's OK though because we are still kids and really enjoy life I do know one thing, we WILL NOT be going to Wisconsin to a water park We also had some good laughs out of two of the posters -- sorry, that's not the way we do it down in the "good ole south" and we "ain't gonna change"

Thanks, yes, Fort Wilderness is the BEST!!!! I went the first time as a kid back in 1976. In fact for us the perfect Disney vacation is staying at the fort and going to the waterparks. We usually spend as many days at the waterparks as we do at the theme parks.

Ya, we wont be going to the Wis dells anytime soon either!

Yes, many laughs with this thread. My eldest is home from college for the weekend. He's a HUGE Disney fan......I had him in hysterics reading some of the posts on here.........I can almost guarantee that on our next trip to a Disney waterpark we will be looking around and joking about the "selfish chairhogs"......yes, this thread will provide us with many future laughs!!!!