Pool Hoggers

[Arthur27]

I know this may rub some people the wrong way but I am tired of the pool hoggers. People who go to the pools real early and place towels, bags etc. on a shady table by the pools and leave only to come back hours later. I was at Kidani for a few nights last week and was next to a table that I thought was being used. Well this guy showed up with his kids for a couple of hours later from breakfast or something. It may be petty but this kind of irks me. Funny thing there are signs by the pool explaining not to do these things. I thought about coming back the next morning and taking his stuff off the table so someone who follows the rules can have a fair take at the desired realestate.

 

[DisneyNutMary]

Omigosh, this drove me crazy at HHI! Last trip there, my sister and I saw a woman drop off her big bag at the pool in the morning when we were going for coffee. She set up on a table and a few lounge chairs with towels.
A few hours later, we saw her at the beach house- she was still on her lounge when we headed back to the resort, but when we got back to our villa (overlooking the pool, we noticed her bag and towels where she had left them in the morning.
We took to having a cup of coffee on the balcony every morning after that, and watched her set up every morning, the same way

Fortunately for us, she was the only one who did that- so we never had a problem getting a table or lounge chairs by the pool.

 

[MinnieVanMom]

We found the same thing happening at BCV where table space is at a premium. I don't know why people have that mentality?

 

[LoveKermit]

We were just in Mexico (where the people are even less confrontational). The palapas at the pool seemed perpetually saved. Some of them had floaties on them in the evening long after the pool closed for the next day. There were signs there too.

Oh yeah, the signs also said, "No Topless." We saw that ignored too. Everyone decides when they can and cannot read the language. Oy.

I'd take over-saved chairs over the topless I saw any day. My DH is scarred for life.

(though there's no excuse for any of it. I do feel your pain)

 

[scauzilloc1121]

When we were at OKW during 4th of July weekend, it was occurring there as well. If you didn't go down to the pool in the early morning and grab a chair, table etc... you weren't going to be able to get anything to sit at. I removed a few towels from a table area and about 2 hours later when I was about to leave a family came from the ferry boats and told me it was their table and they reserved it this morning before they headed over to DTD for breakfast. I looked over at them, pointed to the sign and decided to stay a little while longer. The father mumbled something under his breath, and went to find somewhere else to sit. About a half an hour later, I saw them leave complaining about not enjoying the pool because they can't find a place to sit. Then a different family came by with a few young children under the age of 5 and I decided to give them my table because of the excitement of the children and I didn't want to see a family that follows the rules disappointed.

 

[JimMIA]

I always look at towels on pool lounges as a very thoughtful act of kindness. How did they know that I'd come along, needing a place to plop, and find the lounges they saved for my family?

Just another little speck of pixie dust as far as I'm concerned!

 

[Donald_Quackers]

When we were at OKW during 4th of July weekend, it was occurring there as well. If you didn't go down to the pool in the early morning and grab a chair, table etc... you weren't going to be able to get anything to sit at. I removed a few towels from a table area and about 2 hours later when I was about to leave a family came from the ferry boats and told me it was their table and they reserved it this morning before they headed over to DTD for breakfast. I looked over at them, pointed to the sign and decided to stay a little while longer. The father mumbled something under his breath, and went to find somewhere else to sit. About a half an hour later, I saw them leave complaining about not enjoying the pool because they can't find a place to sit. Then a different family came by with a few young children under the age of 5 and I decided to give them my table because of the excitement of the children and I didn't want to see a family that follows the rules disappointed.

I was down there at OKW over the 4th (was at epcot that day, but saw what you were talking about) and have to applaud you for doing that. It is terribly annoying.

 

[TIGGERmetoo]

When we were at OKW during 4th of July weekend, it was occurring there as well. If you didn't go down to the pool in the early morning and grab a chair, table etc... you weren't going to be able to get anything to sit at. I removed a few towels from a table area and about 2 hours later when I was about to leave a family came from the ferry boats and told me it was their table and they reserved it this morning before they headed over to DTD for breakfast. I looked over at them, pointed to the sign and decided to stay a little while longer. The father mumbled something under his breath, and went to find somewhere else to sit. About a half an hour later, I saw them leave complaining about not enjoying the pool because they can't find a place to sit. Then a different family came by with a few young children under the age of 5 and I decided to give them my table because of the excitement of the children and I didn't want to see a family that follows the rules disappointed.

Good for you.

 

[Sammie]

At this point, I am beginning to consider the rule of possession is 9/10 of the law.

After an hour if your behind is not in the chair you are not in possession.

When they come back hours later and want to know who moved their things, look innocent and say "what things"

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

I know this may rub some people the wrong way but I am tired of the pool hoggers. People who go to the pools real early and place towels, bags etc. on a shady table by the pools and leave only to come back hours later.

I agree. I find the same problem on cruise ships. It is ridiculous that some go up to the chairs at 6 am to put towels down only to show up to the chair at 11 am.

Ridiculous.

Jason

 

[Sammie]

I agree. I find the same problem on cruise ships. It is ridiculous that some go up to the chairs at 6 am to put towels down only to show up to the chair at 11 am.

Ridiculous.

Jason

 

[BBG-BLT]

I now do that as well. If I'm there with my kids and we're actually taking 30 minutes to sit I'll move people's stuff and when I'm done move it back.

If they show up and start to complain I will judge how scary they are or if they look unstable. If they're either I'll apologize and move onto the next group of "saved" chairs.

They're stressed - I'm not

 

[Princess Tink]

We just returned from a resort in Mexico that actually enforced the rule! All of our vacations, I've never seen anything like it. I called them the 'pool police', and they had a hard job. They had handy little memo pads, and would start making notes of the items left on the chair and a time, if the chairs remained unattended for 30 minutes, they removed the belongings and set the chairs back up for new guest. We watched several upset ppl, and sometimes they called security over to calm a few people down. The rules are posted everywhere, and I for one was glad to see them enforced! I wish Disney would do something like this. It was nice for those of us that followed the rules and actually planned on spending the day at the pool.

 

[dvc4life]

I hate to say, but this seems to be the trend anymore. Me, Me, Me. And how sad. Me and my DH always clean up after ourselves when we leave a pool area. That way the next people can enjoy the area just as much as we were able to. I hate when we go to a pool and there are dirty/wet towels everywhere and nobody around to claim them. I just think, what is this world coming too and didn't your parents teach you any manners. Why do people have to be so rude and disrespectful to their fellow resort guests.

After all, this is our resort, and we want to keep it nice and special for everyone who is able to come and enjoy what we are enjoying. Why can't others do the same for us.

Sorry, but I want the resorts to be wonderful for everyone, because I love going to WDW and enjoying the pool areas.

 

[kikiq]

During our May visit to VGC, my DH was sitting at the pool early reading. He watched a lady carefully lay out hotel towels on 5 lounge chairs around 8:30, then walk away. Then a man came and put out 4 towels but he sat on another lounge next them around the same time. At 9:30 am, a CM came along asked my DH if the towels on the lady's chair were his, he said no. The CM walked over and picked up the towels she had put on the chairs At 10:30, my DH left the pool area and the dad who was still sitting there by himself. My DH asked the CM the next morning when he reading about saving chairs with towels. The CM told him that they always check to make sure no one using the chairs or physically saving chairs. If they sit empty with hotel towels for an hour or more early in the day, they pick up the towels, especially if there isn't any one in the pool who could be using them. Which is why those VGC cabanas are worth every penny if you want to swim in the afternoon. My DH still wonders how long that dad sat there before his family showed up.

 

[TinksApprentice]

It's bad enough that people "save" spots that they aren't going to use for several hours, but to confront the people actually using the table and claiming it as "mine" is outrageous!

People will never stop surprising me! That's just so selfish and rude and not very magical at all!

 

[DenLo]

I have to admit that I just don't get why guests think they have the right to save chairs in this manner. I see it all the time at resorts or on cruise ships. It's all so self-centered.

It reminds of of my DSIL complaining as a newlywed that the grocery carts in her high rise apartment building could never be found when she came home with groceries. And then the next week we find a grocery cart in her living room. When asked why, she answered because I can't ever find one in the parking garage.

Really I replied so you're keeping a cart in your living room, so how does that help you get one downstairs? I didn't get an answer.

She kept the cart there for weeks, never used it once for groceries. I've often wondered if she's one of those that saves seats with towels and paperbacks.

 

[Jaybird6]

I always look at towels on pool lounges as a very thoughtful act of kindness. How did they know that I'd come along, needing a place to plop, and find the lounges they saved for my family?

Just another little speck of pixie dust as far as I'm concerned!

Awesome.

 

[rentayenta]

At this point, I am beginning to consider the rule of possession is 9/10 of the law.

After an hour if your behind is not in the chair you are not in possession.

When they come back hours later and want to know who moved their things, look innocent and say "what things"

I totally agree with the hour rule Sammie. I like to set my stuff down, go back up grab a coffee, and then come back down ready to lounge and swim. Sometimes I cannot simply carry all of stuff and must make two trips.

 

[castleri]

Was at OKW the beginning of June and went to the main pool about 3:30. It was busy but there were some chairs available so I guess I shouldn't complain but it really got me when 3 women showed up and sat on the lounges that had towels and beach shoes on them. As they talked it was obvious that at least two of them had been at seminars all day and the chairs had been set up that morning. The third one was very tan so she may have been there all day but it still doesn't seem right to tie up the other two chairs.
When I completed the survey after this trip I did make a comment on the subject and said that it was one of the things that could make a trip to the pool much less enjoyable and that while I was able to find a chair I did not think it right that people were saving chairs all day while they were somewhere else.