"saved" beach chairs at hotel pools.

[Kimberle]

Has this ever happened to anyone here? (A friend told me this).

People were getting up very early in the am (like 6 or 7) and "saving" beach chairs around the pool by placing eilther hotel towels or a personal item on it. He'd go out at like 8am and there would be hardly any chairs available. The "chair saver" people often wouldn't come out to the pool till 12 or 1pm.

Wow, I was so shocked that people could be so rude. Besides, I'd never leave anything personal, what if someone stole it.

We're planning on using the pool at the WL everyday of our trip in Sept, but not till later in the afternoon. I sure hope we can find a chair or two.

 

[ducklite]

This has been an ongoing problem at WDW for years. It's not just WDW either, many resorts around the world have the problem.

Chances are that WDW will eventually have to implement something to stop this practice.

Most people are now being proactive. If they can't find a chair, and there are chairs with nothing but a folded towel on the seat for more than about 15 minutes, they are removing the towel and taking the chair. Should someone come back to the chair dripping wet from the pool, then they would of course relinquish the chair. But if someone came around an hour later obviously just coming from whereever (and not the pool area) then it's a case of "finders keepers"

If you go this route--a little white lie might help to avoid a confrontation..."There wasn't a towel here when I sat down, perhaps the lifeguards removed it" with a big smile on your face

Anne

 

[Selket]

Out of curiosity, do people tend to favor saving the chairs that are more in the sun or the shade (in the warm months)? And do they simply leave a resort pool towel and nothing else or other personal effects?

 

[MrsPete]

I don't think you'll have much trouble with this at Wilderness Lodge. We were just there in June, and we didn't. Chairs were plentiful, and we were always able to take as many as we needed -- even at mid-day. We were not always able to sit in the "best area" in front of the slide and near the bar, but we were always able to get chairs somewhere in the pool area.

By the way, we LOVED Wilderness Lodge. You'll have a great time.

 

[>>^..^<<]

Yes this is a persistant problem at all hotels and you have to ask yourself why people do it?

Rudeness & selfishness cannot be the only answer... if there were enough chairs for all guests there would not be this problem. The chair savers must have had one heck of a bad experience somewhere to be so paranoid as to save chairs with a flip flop at 6:00am

If chairs just have a resort towel over them I will watch for a bit and if no one shows up I will move the towel and claim the space.

The worst thing that could happen is they will come back and you can decide whether or not to give them their precious chair back.

Also - people sometimes figure they need one chair per person (even kids) and that is just not so... kids don't want to lounge around they want to be in the pool - really the adults only need chairs - and half the time they don't use them either.

And seriously - if I see even personal stuff like a book or a flip flop on chairs for hours with no activity - I would tell people looking for chairs about it... it is really unfair to reserve them and not show up.

>>^..^<<

 

[airhead]

...Move the stuff!!!!! It happens everywhere not just at Disney.
A couple of weeks ago we went to a beach resort in Maine. I watched a family of 5 put their stuff on 5 chairsand an umbrella/table and went to walk the beach. Now,they left around 9am and people started to come to the pool an look for chairs. By 10am these people were still MIA and there were older folks who couldn't sit because this
ignorant family hogged chairs!! It really ticked me off. But,my friend said "mind your own business,you have a chair". Well,I
couldn't!!!!!! I went up to this elderly couple(very sweet people)
and told them that the people that were saving chairs left at 9am
(at this point,it was 10:30!!!),and that they should just use the chairs around the table to get out of the sun. Well,after about 10 minutes they decided to do just that. This rude family came back at 12:30!!!!! Where do people get off thinking that's ok????
When I saw them walking down the beach I knew they would be pissed so I felt like I needed to "help" the older folks deal with it seeing I instigated the "take over". Believe me,I couldn't wait to let loose on them!!! Well,they were really mad! They made a scene "who did we think we were!" LOLOL I said "tough, you don't like it,go get the owner!" This is the best part: The mother sends junior to go get the owner. Well, the owner comes immediately and wants to know what the problem is. When I tell him that "rude family " was holding chairs from 9-12:30 he says to the family,"tough"! They proceeded to say they wouldn't be back next year blah blah blah!!! I LOVED IT!!!!!!!!
The next day a BIG sign by the pool: NO SAVING CHAIRS/TABLES!
That's my best chair saving story for the summer!!!!!


airhead

 

[Scoootch]

Good for you airhead!!

Happy to hear you had such a good outcome after all that nonsense!

I just posted to this same topic on the DVC board yesterday and it really all just comes down to common courtesy and common sense!! If more people had some, than all this chair saving business wouldn't even be an issue

 

[jadedNYer]

This was a bit of a problem at AKL. I had a hard time finding a chair because of how many were "saved." We were always able to find one chair although not in a "prime location" and all we really needed it for was to "park" our stuff/towels while we were in the pool. Same thing at the WL. If I were still a pool lounger I would have been more upset about this chair saving practice but I have to be in the pool with my children since they are not adept swimmers. Still, I think it is very unfair for people to save chairs for hours on end.

 

[DisneyFreaks]

I can just see that scenerio in my min airhead. LoL Thumbs up to you for sticking up and helping that older couple. Rude people like that family just burn me up. Can you imagine what they are teaching their children with that kind of behavior? This happened to us at WL but a bit differently. The chair was actually empty when I sat down. Someone else must have had the opportunity to move the items but I got the fall out when the "chair saver" finally got there. A friendly CM near by overheard and told the woman that you cannot save chairs when you aren't in the pool area.

 

[airhead]

...And injustice!! My friend was right,it wasn't my business but
I just couldn't sit back and watch it happen!!
Don't remember who posted it,but they're right! If we ALL collectively DIDN'T put up with "chair-saving" nonsense,it wouldn't happen!!

airhead

 

[Epcotgal8]

One of the reasons that we decided to try the Beach Club a couple of years ago is that we fell in love with Stormalong Bay when we dined at the BC the year before. While we still enjoyed our stay there (of course) we didn't go to Stormalong Bay often for the reason you mentioned. I expected it to be crowded but by 11 a.m. there were NO chairs left that didn't have items on them. I really just wanted a chair for dh and myself but even 1 would be fine since I'm really the one who likes to lay in the chair and sunbathe. I never get chairs for the kids since they are in the pool. After not being able to find one I plopped our towels down where they wouldn't be in anyone's way and went in the pool keeping one eye out for a chair becoming free. It was amazing how long there were no people occupying or even coming back to the chairs. A couple of days later the same thing happened. But this time a thunderstorm blew up very quickly and we left the pool area and stopped to get ice cream at Beaches and Cream. While leaving I looked at the pool area and there were MANY chairs left with towels and even a book here or there getting drenched. So obviously the people who saved those chairs were nowhere near the pool area.

 

[airhead]

....the angrier I get. My trip isn't until next year,but maybe its time
to start doing something about this problem. There are a lot of people here on the DIS board,maybe we need to use our 'collective" power in starting an email writing campaign to Disney about our displeasure with the chair-saving practice. I mean,c'mon! We ALL spend a wicked LOT of $$$$ to go to Disney! All these resorts have the manpower to make sure this
ignorant practice ends. They could start by putting up a sign stating NO CHAIR SAVING. I'll send the first email. Hope you follow my lead. Remember,if you aren't willing to do something
about a problem,DON'T COMPLAIN!!!!

airhead(excuse me,are you using this chair???)

 

[SAWYERMAW1]

While we were staying at the BC in May, the lifeguard would make a periodic sweep of the pool area and remove towels, etc. that were holding chairs. If I saw just a towel folded neatly on a chair, I would not hesitate to use that chair.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Does anyone know if 'saving' is prohibited by Disney, or just a courtesy issue?

That being said, DW and I had a good laugh in Las Vegas last month. We stayed at the Mirage, and had a 22nd floor view of the pool - a very nice pool, by the way; lots of palm trees, a slide, waterfall, etc. Anyway, at 7AM we'd look out our window for the Mad Pool Rush - when the pool opened, it was like a rope drop! People were sprinting like crazy - one girl, every day, claimed 10 chairs right by the edge near the waterfall. Her group came out at about 11 on the one day we were at the pool that early. I did ask at the pool desk what the policy was, and was told that "while saving is frowned upon, the resort doesn't actively prohibit it." I did see a few confrontations, one of which ended in some shoving and hotel security getting involved.

 

[LIFERBABE]

I think the more Popular Pools should employ a Pool Maitre D!

He could work for tips! Guests would need to be seated by the Maitre D. "How many in your party?" They could ask Sunny or Shaded?
Umbrella Table or Chaise?
If the area is full, they could give you one of those beeping things when your seats are available.

You want a premo spot, slip em a Jackson!

Your entire party would need to be present prior to seating. He/she could issue your towels.

He/she could be Director of Aquatic Guest Relations. They would settle all disputes and just be an ambassador of Aquatic good will.

This would eliminate chair saving as they would control the issuance of seating.
It would bring civility back to the Pool.

No more knock down drag outs between the elderly and the young and pregnant.
No more East Coast-West Coast Pool Rage!
No more disturbing confrontations for our children to witness. (Not the OP)

I for one would not mind tipping a few bucks if that lends to the enjoyment of the pool area for all and that would ensure me having a seat when I need one.

I for one do not agree with saving chairs and then leaving the vicinity. The only reason we are paying $100 more per night to stay at the BC over Labor Day weekend is because of SAB. My children have been deprived long enough! (LOL) I want them to be one of those little dirty kids playing in the sand/mud!
I do see how this practice negatively affects other guests and could impact their future Resort choice.

I for one don't like conflict, especially when on a "Relaxing" vacation and I don't like carrying that negativity around with me for the rest of the day. You ever notice how once you have had to set someone straight you are not as tolerant the rest of the day? I am not going to let anyone have that much control over my vacation. I will stand up for myself and my family, but sometimes you don't know how people are going to react so be prepared for the worse.

The only way the Early Bird gets the worm, is to stay there and catch it! Not just show up and leave and come back to claim it later!

 

[dg39]

I just got back from the GF. Every so often the lifeguard went around and straightened out the lounge chairs and got rid of the unused towels thus freeing up alot of space. THere is a sign posted at the pool that states chair saving isn't allowed. But, we all know many don't follow the rules. I think pool chair saving is just as bad, if not worse than line jumping. I remember going to the MOWC and around 9am all the lounges up front were taken. I couldn't imagine why, the pool didn't seem that crowded. Being I never save chairs, it took a few trips to the pool to finally realize what was going on. I then complained to the staff. I then noticed the lifeguard doing the same thing as the GF, he was going around picking up towels, and freeing lounges. I don't think we as guests should have to confront the "chair savers", it should be left up to the resort staff. We all spend more or less the same amount of money going to a resort to enjoy ourselves. I myself love the parks, but we're the type of family that spends most mornings and early afternoons at the pool. Yes, I do "expect" to get a lounge chair together with my family & pool chair saving is a big sore spot with me. I don't do it. I'm getting mad, just thinking about it.

 

[Mouseteacher]

I just got back from a stay at the Swan. I used the quiet pool every afternoon and there were many lounges available - so finding a spot was not an issue. However, there were towels still in the folded position from the towel cart on a number of lounges. The CM did circulate quite frequently picking up towels that I believe she kept an eye on the time they went unused (folded as well as unfolded).

The issue of "saving" lounges really is frustrating. Some people have the "all about me" mentality. How to combat it is a tough one. I agree with LIFERBABE about conflicts - particularly while I'm on vacation. Avoid at all costs to keep my blood pressure at a an even keel!

BTW - good for you, airhead! Two thumbs up!

 

[manhattan]

We didn't have much of a problem at the Poly, but Blizzard Beach was another story. We have an infant and wanted to sit by that section, of course when we got there shortly after 10:00 there were no lounges left. We found a stack of chairs and pulled them to a little area that had sun for us and shade for the baby. Next to us was a picnic table under a hut. The table had some towels, cooler and some grocery bags, there were about 6 lounges with towels and about 5 chairs with towels. We left close to 3:00 pm and only once did a teenage girl stop by to get something. We thought - aren't they afraid someone will steal something? Obviously not, but I would never give someone the opportunity to take steal from my just to save a chair!

 

[Ziggie]

I don't tolerate those "chair-savin'" folks

Unless it looks like people are *seriously* sitting there (and just off for a swim or to get a beverage) I move the towel and make myself at home.

Let 'em say something to me ~

 

[Spartan]

The first place I thought of when I saw this topic was Las Vegas, and I see someone else posted the same thing. We were out there a couple of years ago in early August, and people were out sunbathing at 8:00AM. By early afternoon you could fine lots of empty chairs, as long as you didnt' mind sitting in 110 degree sun

I guess it's because we usually go in offseason and stay at moderates using the quiet pools, but we've commented that those pools are the least crowded pools we've ever encountered while on vacation. Lots of times we were the only ones there.