To save or not to save...deck/pool chairs????

[crisi]

I like the cubbie idea. We seldom used a pool chair, but we did need someplace to put our coverups/sandals, etc when we were in the pool.

We got to the pool pretty early - and the first row of chairs had stuff on them. Some were DCL towels neatly folded. Those I would assume were left by CMs (they weren't, I watched the sunrise from that deck one morning - along with the people putting towels on chairs). Some were personal items. I didn't take any of the personal stuff to lost and found, but I was sorely tempted. I, too, would hate to loose my sunscreen, sunglasses and book.

 

[MrsPete]

Westjones -- a bunch of cubbies by the pool is the best idea I've heard on this subject! I bet it would prevent some of the chair hogging.

We saw lots of chair hogging on our cruise. I think the best thing to do is to try to use the pool at off-hours. Try to swim first thing in the morning, late at night, or during shore excursion times. I let my girls swim every night around 9:00, and they literally had the pool to themselves.

In closing, I agree with the majority here: if you need a chair, and lots of them are sitting there with just a Disney towel, move the stuff and sit down.

 

[PizzieDuster]

We took chairs up on Deck 10 and if our kids were swimming, we were right there on the edge, probably blocking the early riser chair hogger. (Sorry, but if my kids are in the pool, I'm right beside them). My pool bag is waterproof so I just drop it in a corner.

The chairs close to the pool looked too close together...there was more room on the edge of the pools. Seems to me if you sit in the front row you are looking at lots of behinds and are THISCLOSE to your sunbathing neighbor.

We had a great time chatting with people sitting by the pool, some in lounge chairs, some not and it turned out to be a great afternoon watching our kids play together, buying rounds for each other, it was fun! The dads took off to get the kids lunch while us moms soaked in the sun...

Just a different view point. You may make friends with the person you are sitting by OR in front of. The loungers by the pool-are so close together-and this was not my cup of tea and seemed to me to the LEAST best location by the pools. They can keep their stuff there on that lounger and know that EVERYONE will be watching their every move especially if they took two many loungers and were gone too long. Eck. Who wants to deal with that on vacation?

I like the idea of cubbies by the pool! Excellant idea!

 

[ThreeCircles]

Originally posted by inkkognito
But if I saw chairs sitting with saved items for more than a reasonable period of time, I would have to qualms about removing them. And I would have a copy of a Navigator with the "no saving" rule printed in it to whip out if anyone dared to challenge me.
Barb

I just love it!

I'm quite sad to say that we've often taken Navigators into the Walt Disney Theater for the same reason Barb!

 

[hometech99]

again-

the place for personal items left on chairs for over an hour is Lost and Found.

Just hand it to a CM and say it was laying around with no owner.

 

[BoardwalkBabe]

On the 3/27 Magic cruise, they had a CM at the adult pool who did nothing but keep tabs on chairs. If you left your towels on the chairs, he'd watch for you and then remove them so someone else could use the chair. If you left personal items on chairs and were gone for a long period of time, he'd ask around to find out where you were and you'd end up losing your chairs eventually.

We thought this was a good thing because it meant new people coming in would have a place to sit and it sent a message to the "savers" that they shouldn't do that sort of thing.

 

[Miss Eeyore]

....and I am guessing that the CM was there ALSO to make sure the adult pool stayed adult. I had a very lengthy conversation with the cruise director and one of the other officers while on the 3/20 cruise, about the adult areas not being respected. I have been abaord several times, so this was NOT my first Disney/kids experience. This was the pits!!!!! There were children everywhere! Strollers in the spa, kids at Serentity Bay, in the bars at 11 pm. I was most unhappy, and had the conversation with the upper officer types. They PROMISED that they were concerned with my concerns, and knew that I had the information from all of us on these boards to back up the complaints.

So I'[m glad to hear that they are keeping a more careful eye on the various areas to protect the "rights" of all the passengers.

 

[Tera]

Strollers in the spa? Why would children even be in there?? I would be upset if I was looking to get away from the "kid" atmosphore by going to the spa and seeing kids.

As for saving the chairs, we haven't been on our first cruise yet, but at least we won't be shocked by seeing this. Our kids will be old enough DD 12 & DD 10 that we won't have to sit right by the pool, so I'm thinking on Deck 10, we will have a better chance of finding chairs and still be close enough to keep a eye on the kids.

I'm planning to enjoy my vacation and getting up at 6:00 to get deck chairs isn't my idea of fun.

 

[GenieDana]

If someone has left a chair vacant for more than 15 minutes, then it acceptable to set their items to the side. You should make a reasonable effort to locate the squatter, asking the occupants of neighboring chairs.

Fifteen minutes is plenty of time to take care getting a bite to eat, use the restroom, return to the cabin for a need item, etc.

There a too few deck and pool chairs in the primo locations for someone to use their belonging to save them indefinitely. If they want the use of the chair to continue, they should al least return to their belongings evrery 15 minutes, or so.

My $0.02

 

[inkkognito]

ThreeCircles, I can see why you'd bring the nav to the theater! We just got off the Wonder, and on the first night I was one of the first in line for the Golden Mickeys. I went down to the front row...there were people sitting on one end, so I went to the other and sat down (we like to take end seats). A teenager/young adult said to me, "Sorry, I'm reserving these nine seats" (i.e. the rest of the row). As you can imagine, I did NOT move...I explained the "no reserve" policy to him and told him to take it up with a crew member if he had a problem with that. I don't mind if a person save a couple of seats, but nine?! And the front row yet!
Child enforcement was in full swing on this cruise. We didn't go to Serenity Bay, but I saw kids kicked out of the adult pool several times and there were several reminders that you had to be over 18 at the 70's party. There was no sign of strollers in the spa, and when a boy came in and said he was bringing something to his parents in the exercise room, he was quickly intercepted. If I ever saw the rules not being enforced, I would complain to a crew member immediately rather than waiting to talk to the cruise director or someone later.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[mmouse37]

Another area where I often see children and they are not supposed to be there is at the Art of Entertaining series....it specifically says in the Navigator that no one under 18 permitted but parents still bring their kids in....most are not disruptful, but it bothers me that some think the rules do not apply to them or that their kids would be more interested in atteninding than mine, so it's alright for them to bring them. My kids would have been very interested in some of the things but I told they could not attend because they were not 18.

MJ

 

[inkkognito]

MJ, that is a big pet peeve of mine too. Disney is usually great about enforcement, but they never seem to do anything on the Magic for the Art of Entertainment, the round table discussions, or the other programming like that. As you say, the kids are not usually disruptive, but during one talk with the cast in Sessions, a man had a toddler who literally whined during the whole thing. They weren't even there for the talk. They just sat there in another part of the lounge, and the kid kept making this wordless whine noise throughout the whole presentation. It was VERY annoying. And even when the children are not disruptive, if something is listed as being for adults, it should be enforced. Otherwise, if people can bring kids to one "adult" activity, they are more likely to not abide by the rules in the other adult areas. And even though I would not be disruptive, I'm sure parents wouldn't want me crashing the Mickey slide or their kids' pajama party or flubber making session.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.clm

 

[makaylee]

Originally posted by GenieDana
If someone has left a chair vacant for more than 15 minutes, then it acceptable to set their items to the side. You should make a reasonable effort to locate the squatter, asking the occupants of neighboring chairs.

Fifteen minutes is plenty of time to take care getting a bite to eat, use the restroom, return to the cabin for a need item, etc.

There a too few deck and pool chairs in the primo locations for someone to use their belonging to save them indefinitely. If they want the use of the chair to continue, they should al least return to their belongings evrery 15 minutes, or so.

My $0.02

Well Put!

 

[Miss Eeyore]

Barb-

YTou can bet that I DID NOT wait to point out children where they did not belong. Each time I encountered a child where adults only are allowed, I pointed it out to whichever CM I could find. Without exception they all just kind of shuffled and dodged, and said they were "uncomfortable" kicking the kids out, since so many of the parents come absolutel unglued when their kids are asked to leave. So after four times being told this, I went to guest services to say that that was NOT an acceptable response to the situation, and that something needed to be done. The young man at guest services said he was sorry, but that there were lots of kids aboard, and he understood that CMs were reluctant to step in since so many of them had been treated horribley by irate parents. He suggested it was MY JOB to help enforce....I should call guest services every time I saw a no-no. I informed him that I was on VACATION, and it was certainly NOT my job to enforce their stated and promised policies. I then quickly stated my urgent desire to speak with someone about the whole situation....the kids, the CMs who wouldn't enforce, and the guest services guy who said it was my job to enforce the rules. That is when I was invited to lunch with the cruise director and one of the other officers. We had a productive conversation, and both siad they would address the situation.

From the reports of the next cruise, the rules are now being enforced.

 

[inkkognito]

Wow, that is awful! I can understand your frustration with the situation being handled that way. I understand DCL's point because I have personally witnessed parents verbally abusing CMs when they have enforced the rules, but in those cases I think they should be threatened with Security. After all, what would they do if every person who didn't feel like following a particular rule could get their own way by becoming unglued? Sounds like you have a valid complaint. One of the things I love about Disney is the adults only areas, and I would not be happy if that were their typical response.
Barb
Visit the Platinum Castaway Club at: www.castawayclub.com

 

[Nysie]

It's a shame that some parents don't have a clue! I have 2 dd's 8 and 11 that I know wouldn't be disruptive, but they are KIDS and don't belong in adult only places!! When my kids are at the club/lab, that's when I will attend the adult only gatherings!! I sure don't want to be bothered by someone else's while I'm trying to relax!! If the CM's are afaraid of parents going nuts on them, then they should be able to call security!! Then, other's will get the HINT!!

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

I can't find the no saving policy printed in any of the navigators I've seen. Can someone tell me where they print this?

 

[MamaGriz]

http://www.dcltribute.com/navigators/west_carib/daily.htm
page 3, about halfway down the right side is the comment about not saving seats. This is from the navigators from our cruise on 2/28/04, and I think the comment is in each navigator.

 

[MamaGriz]

Oops, I mean page 4

 

[BoardwalkBabe]

On the 3/27 Magic, the CM who was enforcing the chair rules was also taking care of the children situation in regards to the adult pool. Teens were asked for proof of age and if they weren't 18, they were asked to leave (the two teens who had been in the chairs near us -- who we assumed were of age -- did not go gracefully - some foul language was used by them towards the CM). I saw one guy give the CM a hard time because he was told to take his two young daughters to one of the other two pools and he didn't see why he should have to leave because "this pool was empty."

I will never understand why some folks think that rules do not apply to them!