Pool Chair Question

[Tinkerbellie16]

I have to applaud Universal for this because they regularly 'sweep' their chairs and remove all used towels and replace them with new ones so the chairs are 'available' again. If there are any personal belongings, they won't do this. But this saves the guests from doing it and possibly getting into a confrontation.

As for Disney, I would either get another chair or ask a CM/Lifeguard if the seats are taken (or if they could do a 'sweep').

I am actually of the 'remove the towel' group but I did have someone get very angry with me for doing this. I found a chair with a towel and sat down. About 10 minutes later, an EXTREMELY angry woman came over and chewed me out. She had saved four chairs for her and her family and they were all in the pool. I apologized and said I didn't realize it was taken and I was just trying to sit near the pool to watch my two kids since I was the only adult. Didn't matter - they were livid. I found another chair and by golly, one of them sat in tone of the chairs the whole time and scowled at me. They were angry to have to sit there and angry with me. (This was at the Poly.) It was an extremely unpleasant experience because I thought for sure they would be understanding. And what was so annoying, is they only sat in ONE of the FOUR chairs the whole time I was there.

The only behavior you can change is yours so just be aware of this when you 'save' chairs. Do you really need 4? Or maybe just 2? Are you even going to sit at all?

And of course, practice the prowl and pounce method Prowl for someone leaving and pounce on their emptied chair!

 

[HubbDave]

People who put a towel on a chair and think therefore the chair is theirs for hours do not deserve Disney Magic

 

[OllieDannyandMe]

I would never move anyone's personal belongings. But if a chair has only a resort towel on it, I have no problem taking it. Many people forget to return their towels and the chairs really are abandoned.

I have returned towels and claimed chairs on just about every trip I have ever made to Disney. Not once has anyone ever walked up and said that I was sitting in their chair. If they ever do, I would apologize, say that I thought the chair was abandoned, and then, move. I don't think it would be a big deal.

 

[MissElizabeth]

A resort we stayed at last year in Myrtle Beach had signs hanging all over the pool areas saying "Lounge chairs are for the lounging. A towel on a lounge chair will be construed as abandoned- the only way to reserve deck chairs is to sit in them"

I thought it was a bit harsh, but I liked the sentiment. I also think most people have little or no intention on lounging, they just want somewhere to stash their stuff.

 

[daisyduck123]

At the GF the CM walk around on a regular base and just remove the towels on chairs that are not used for a while. Simple and effective.

I've seen that done at the Kidani Village pool.

 

[daisyduck123]

I wish they had a safe area to put your items if you don't plan on using a chair or table. Sometimes it's just the kids and I at the pool, and I'm swimming with them. In that case, we don't need seats, but I do need a place to put our bag and towels that's not in a walkway or easily stepped on or damaged.

.

Stormalong Bay has lockers right by the poolside gift shop. We've used them before for this very reason.

 

[smidgy]

just to play devil's advocate here.... when hubby and I are at the pool, we are there for a while.. lounging, tanning, reading, swimming, using the slide, etc.
we always leave books, flip flops etc. becuase we WILL return to our chairs. and we will spend quite some time there,
however. take stormalong bay, for example. by the time I walk over to a DSA, leisurely enjoy a smoke, then, as long as I'm up, use the restroom, and then refill the mugs, it may well be over 20 minutes. I believe everyone wants smokers to LEAVE their loungers and use the DSAs? should we have our smoke, then run all the way back to the entrance, wait in line, show our oom key,walk to the lounger... TAG it! ok, now the clock restarts for the 20 minutes, and now go all the way back to exit, go to the washroom. go back to the entrance, wiat in line, show your room key.. oh wait! what if I am really thirsty and I paid for a refillable mug? aren't I alllowed to leave my lounger to refill my mug?
apparently not at the same time I have a smoke, or use the restroom.
this is why we always seave personal belongings. if someone removes my flip flops, t shirt, etc. they KNOW they took a seat someone else is using.
an old, wet towel? probably someone was lazy and left it. another reason we always deposit our used towels in the bin when we leave.

 

[si-am]

I love sitting by the pool, but I cannot do it without cooling off in the water every 15 minutes or so. I usually go 15 minutes in the pool, 15 minutes out, etc. I'd be pretty unhappy if someone took my chair while I was in the pool! I always leave shoes, cover-ups, sunblock, etc there, so it doesn't look abandoned.

 

[PolyndianPrincessJes]

Stormalong Bay has lockers right by the poolside gift shop. We've used them before for this very reason.

We occasionally stay at YC or BC, but we're usually at the Poly. No such luck with lockers. Luckily we've never been when it was too busy, so taking up a chair wasn't a huge deal. Still hate taking up a space we don't need.

 

[rock_doctor]

At the GF the CM walk around on a regular base and just remove the towels on chairs that are not used for a while. Simple and effective.

This is what they do at Pop. I would complain to management that all of the chairs have towels on them and ask if the attendance is picking up the unused towels. It may be enough of a "nudge" for them to get somebody out there to tidy up the place. Imho, if it is not being "maned" the chair (saved spot) is up for grabs. I would go with the previous comment, no personal effects go for it. There has been discussion here about people who put a towel on the chair and then go into a park or what ever and come back many hours later... The pool attendance should not let this happen, that is their job. Some of the resorts are now "carding" people who come to the pool to make sure they are actually guests at that resort.

 

[goofy4tink]

THe vast majority of guests will leave some kind of personal item at the chaise. We tend to bring two beach towels from home with us..makes it so much easier to find our chaise among all the others, and it is pretty obvious that someone is using those seats. We also leave our mugs, shoes, and an article or two of clothing behind when we swim. I would be very upset if someone felt the seats weren't being used properly and moved our stuff and plopped themselves down.
BUT....if you see a chaise with just a resort towel on it, especially an obviously used one, and nothing else, I would assume it wasn't being used. No personal effects, safe to use.

 

[smidgy]

another thing is when grandma and grandpa spend the day by the pool, and yet save 4 extra chairs for the kids and grandkids, who are in the park now. this is a no-no.

at bvero beach, it gets tricky. you aren't "Supposed" to save loungers by the pool, then go spend an hour at the beach. but we saw it. one lady in particular (you got to recognize others during your stay, as there really aren't many places to go, no parks, etc) would get there at "rope drop"..
paranthetical aside... 2 pools with "rope drops":
1. stormalong bay 2. vero beach resort

...as would hubby, who would grab a spot for himself and one for me, who would be down in a bit. this lady would grab 2 tables and about 8 loungers, for 2 families. she would be there most of the day, but most of the family would spend most of their time on the beach. but when they wanted to return to the pool, they had loungers..

 

[Bee2u]

I don't agree, but in any case your 20 minute limit would lead to major confrontations at the pool amongst guests. There are many adults who either stay in the pool by themselves or with their kids for more than 20 minutes, so your suggestion is not only unreasonable but it would also be impossible to be implemented. There is and never will be signage to this effect at any of the WDW pools, and I don't think the lifeguards are going to be standing there with a stop watch. Additionally, if there are no time limits on chairs at Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon, do you really think this would ever happen at a resort pool?

Actually, WL has signs posted saying not to use resort towels to reserve chairs. 20 minutes if there's only a towel on a chair with no personal effects is a very generous amount of time to wait.

 

[saskdw]

This is actually an interesting topic to have a conversation/debate about. It's really a topic where everyone will have a slightly different opinion and almost impossible to get everyone to agree. It would really be up to the resort to post and enforce their own rules to keep everything equal. I'm not even sure my wife and I would agree on this topic, so it's easy to see why there is so many opinions...lol.

It is a common and accepted practice at a lot of exotic vacation resorts to place your towel on a chair early in the morning and have that towel reserve the chair for the entire day regardless if you are in the pool/beach area or not. I do not agree with this, but that why certain people have that attitude. Most of us would agree that isn't the acceptable practice at WDW, but if that has been the practice at every other resort you have been to and there are no rules posted can't really blame them. I think this practice is ridiculous myself, but it is considered the norm a lot of places.

However having said that, I would be extremely irritated if I come out of the pool after 20 mins and someone is sitting in my chair. It's not ok to borrow someone's chair and then move when they come out of the pool. I don't feel like I should have to tell someone they are in my chair to get them to move and I get upset when I have to. It like when you have a group of people standing in the MIDDLE of a hallway and they see you coming and don't move? I shouldn't have to say excuse me to get you to move, you are in the middle of a walkway use some common sense!

So the way I see it their are two extremes, the people who want to chairs all day and the people who think they have a right to sit in any chair that's not occupied regardless if it's someone's chair. The right way is probably somewhere in the middle, but without posted rules there are lots of different opinions.

 

[CR Resort Fan 4 Life]

Actually, WL has signs posted saying not to use resort towels to reserve chairs. 20 minutes if there's only a towel on a chair with no personal effects is a very generous amount of time to wait.

If you actually leave the pool area then of course your chair is "fair game", but what happens if you stay in the pool for more than 20 minutes? I think the posted signs are meant for those people, and not the people who are still in the pool.

 

[Jedi]

i usually drive...and have a nice padded folding lounge chair for this very reason, no issues!

 

[Reddy]

This is actually an interesting topic to have a conversation/debate about. It's really a topic where everyone will have a slightly different opinion and almost impossible to get everyone to agree. It would really be up to the resort to post and enforce their own rules to keep everything equal. I'm not even sure my wife and I would agree on this topic, so it's easy to see why there is so many opinions...lol.

It is a common and accepted practice at a lot of exotic vacation resorts to place your towel on a chair early in the morning and have that towel reserve the chair for the entire day regardless if you are in the pool/beach area or not. I do not agree with this, but that why certain people have that attitude. Most of us would agree that isn't the acceptable practice at WDW, but if that has been the practice at every other resort you have been to and there are no rules posted can't really blame them. I think this practice is ridiculous myself, but it is considered the norm a lot of places.

However having said that, I would be extremely irritated if I come out of the pool after 20 mins and someone is sitting in my chair. It's not ok to borrow someone's chair and then move when they come out of the pool. I don't feel like I should have to tell someone they are in my chair to get them to move and I get upset when I have to. It like when you have a group of people standing in the MIDDLE of a hallway and they see you coming and don't move? I shouldn't have to say excuse me to get you to move, you are in the middle of a walkway use some common sense!

So the way I see it their are two extremes, the people who want to chairs all day and the people who think they have a right to sit in any chair that's not occupied regardless if it's someone's chair. The right way is probably somewhere in the middle, but without posted rules there are lots of different opinions.

The problem is people are putting their towels down - heading to the park until after lunch then expect to use those chairs, after being away for 4 to 6 hours - in that 4 to 6 hours - how many other people wanted to use those chairs that is right by the pool so they could see their kids & make they are safe.

you being in the pool - I understand but those at the park??

 

[MickeyNicki]

If there are just towels and no other items near or on the chairs then yes I move them. Same thing goes for tables by the pool bar, you usually see a ton of chairs around one table and no chairs by others...if there is no one there or nothing around them I grab chairs and move them to where I want to sit.

 

[WantToGoNow]

We were at the local rec center a month or so back and we left towels, shoes, t-shirts, etc. on 2 chairs - there were 3 of us. I usually spend more time out of the pool than in so one chair for me and one for my kids to share - and yes, they do get out to dry off/warm up. A group came in with 3 adults and about 6 kids. While I was in the pool, they allowed their wet kids to sit on our towels so when we got out our towels were soaked. If a chair has no personal belongings, then it's probably not being used but I would never use someone else's personal stuff nor would I have allowed my children to sit on their towels.

I ended up having to sit and watch two of their children later. One mother and a couple of kids had left. One of the little boys was running around the pool - he had been told multiple times to stop running by the lifeguards but his mother had not told him once not to run. So he was running past and fell and hit the back of his head on the cement. They ended up calling an ambulance for him and both mothers went over to the first aid center - the one with the injured child took her other child with her but the other one left sitting on a chair - I would guess they were maybe 3 and 5. We were ready to leave but I wasn't about to leave 2 little, scared kids (the one cried off and on) sitting there by themselves with their mother no where in sight. After about 30 minutes or so, the mom came back and didn't even thank me for keeping an eye on her kids but gathered up her stuff and left.

 

[Sue M]

I would never move anyones personal belongings. Although this did happen to me in April. I came back to my poolside chair after going to the pool bar to get a drink to find all of my things replaced with someone elses. As I am looking for my shoes, bag, towels, ect..some guys says to me "My family wanted to sit together so I moved your stuff over there" and "over there" was at the hot tub area. I was furious since you cannot see the pool from the hot tub area. So I spent the rest of the time at the pool standing and watching my son swim. My question was refering to resort towels only on the chairs not personal belongings. I guess next time I could just ask a CM and maybe they can help with the chair situtation. Thanks

unbelievable.