What would you have done? Saving pool chairs dilemma.......

[Cora]

We just returned from HH yesterday and the saving chair disease was very much there. Our room overlooked the pool and it was amazing and amusing to watch the people come down at 7am (yes, and the pool is not yet open!) and lay down their magazine on one chair, shoes on another, towel on another, etc., etc.

In one morning I saw one woman come down at 7am and take 4 lounge chairs and a table and 4 chairs. I then watched another gentleman (I'm using the term loosely) come and "reserve" a table and 4 chairs. There were several others who did the same thing. However, this particular morning a manager type showed up. She had a very disgusted look on her face and told the Lifeguard that this was unacceptable and to move everything on to one chair. I then started speaking with her and she told me that this is happens all over WDW and is ridiculous. She also told me, at least at HH, they are trying to figure out a way to stop it.

Too bad I wasn't there when these people finally did show up (FYI I had been on the balconey for 2 hours after the lady showed up and there was still no sign of her!)

So for what it's worth, DVC/WDW knows it's a problem and are working on it but I agree with the others an email/letter couldn't hurt.
Cora

 

[DVCPAT]

I think Disney could solve this problem with a small, inexpensive clip-on timer. It could be available at the towel containers. The timer would have a rotating lever ( Mickey ears ) set for one hour.

Clip the timer on the pool chair, set it and its reserved. Once the hour expires simply reset the timer. If you see a chair with an expired timer, it's yours. It would be very inexpensive and solve a big problem.

 

[childsplay]

I would simply like to see DVC have a CM on duty, patroling the pool area starting at 7:00 am, agressively enforcing the policy prohibiting "chair saving" (just the thought of it brings to mind visions of snotty grade school children). If the pools open at 9:00, its an extra two hours, and probably wouldn't even be necessary year round.
IMHO well worth the cost to put a stop to this rude behavior.

 

[Rootee]

Here's the deal about smoking outside - whether you choose to believe the many studies on 2nd-hand smoke:

If I don't have the right to light up 4 sticks of stinky incense next to my pool chair, then the people next to me shouldn't have the right to light up their burning garbage either.

I really don't see the difference. Stinks is stinks, and it bothers many people.

Ruth

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by CarolMN
I also wish that the CMs/Lifeguards/Pool Attendants would do some minimal policing of the chairs. However, I do not look for it to happen no matter how many of us contact DVC. If Disney decided to eliminate most advance room assignments due to guests who didn't want to accept the check in time of 4:00 p.m., why would they want to get in the middle of a "no-win/likely to initiate a confrontation with a guest" situation?

IMHO, we are all better off to just do as NEM did and several other posters say they do. If it is obvious that the chair and/or table has been "saved" by a towel and the savers are not present in the area, just sit down and politely stand your ground when/if the boors come back and complain. FWIW, few of them actually confront you based on my experience. I think NEM's experience is quite rare.

The practice of "saving" pool chairs ahead of time with a towel only works if others respect the right of a towel to hold a chair.

No federal, state or local law I ever heard of says anything at all about the rights of towels. IIRC, there are no towel rights mentioned in any of the DVC papers I signed at purchase. None of the etiquette/good manners books mention towel rights. In fact, I doubt if there is even one single group in these United States (and maybe in the whole world) whose platform includes promoting the rights of towels.

TOWELS HAVE NO RIGHTS AND THAT"S THE WAY I LIKE IT!!!!

Flame me if you like. I won't change my mind!

I support you 100%. The last time this subject came up I was flamed for my opinion. Basically my family does not put our things in a chair unless we are immediately going to occupy that chair. I will not use up a chair to hold my things while in the pool even for a short period of time and especially not for hours. When we get out of the pool to sun we find chairs for all of us. I think the chairs were put there to use to sun in, not to hold my personal belongings while I am swimming. To me this is no different than putting personal items on the curb at MK and expecting that place to be saved for you when the parade beings hours later. My policy is possession of the space must be reserved with a human body. Disney will not enforce this as it confrontational unless more people complain about it while at the resort. Letters can be ignored, angry guests are harder to ignore.

Maybe they need a rent a chair policy like the beach resorts do.

 

[Dean]

I like the squirt gun idea. I'll have to get to Wal Mart and buy one of those giant 300 ft super soakers today. That way I'll be ready for whatever happens. Too bad FL has finally decided to implement and enforce the smoking ban in restaurants, I could have gotten in some target practice at lunch today.

 

[lurontravel]

Originally posted by childsplay
I would simply like to see DVC have a CM on duty, patroling the pool area starting at 7:00 am, agressively enforcing the policy prohibiting "chair saving" (just the thought of it brings to mind visions of snotty grade school children). If the pools open at 9:00, its an extra two hours, and probably wouldn't even be necessary year round.
IMHO well worth the cost to put a stop to this rude behavior.

\
I don't have a problem with this solution, other then it will serve to increase our dues. I still suport the "card towel" idea, and will be contacting DVC with my idea. I think that it will be a lot more cost effective then having the CM's police the area for lonely towels, as well as serve to decrease the waste of towels which will also keep our dues in check.

 

[Dean]

On a serious note, this is a problem all over. A resort I owned in Aruba had the staff tagging unattended chairs and after 2 hours they would take everything up, personal items included.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

No federal, state or local law I ever heard of says anything at all about the rights of towels. IIRC, there are no towel rights mentioned in any of the DVC papers I signed at purchase. None of the etiquette/good manners books mention towel rights. In fact, I doubt if there is even one single group in these United States (and maybe in the whole world) whose platform includes promoting the rights of towels.

TOWELS HAVE NO RIGHTS AND THAT"S THE WAY I LIKE IT!!!!

LMAO!!!! Ok, now you have done it. Soon, the ACLU will be on this. FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS FOR TOWELS! THEY HAVE BEEN AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HAMPER FOR TOO LONG!

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Originally posted by Dean
I like the squirt gun idea. I'll have to get to Wal Mart and buy one of those giant 300 ft super soakers today. That way I'll be ready for whatever happens. Too bad FL has finally decided to implement and enforce the smoking ban in restaurants, I could have gotten in some target practice at lunch today.

Dean, be careful with the SUPER SOAKER, they are pretty powerful, and someone could claim injury and sue you.

But, the squirt gun idea is genius!!!!!

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by Disney1fan2002
Dean, be careful with the SUPER SOAKER, they are pretty powerful, and someone could claim injury and sue you.

But, the squirt gun idea is genius!!!!!

Well Pilgrim, I guess I better practice my aim pretty good then.

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Originally posted by JohnNJ
I'm not arguing the point about people saving chairs with towels and not actually being by the pool but...

I know that I have put my towels and shoes by the chairs and have been in the water for two hours with my kids. That slide is way too much fun. If someone came along and asked loudly if anyone was using my chairs, I might not hear them if I'm up on the slide. Would I be upset if someone moved my stuff? Yes, but I usually leave some personal things like shoes, books, glasses, shirts, etc., not just towels. I only save two chairs for me and my wife because I know the kids are not going to lounge.

Basically, what I'm saying is if there's more on the chairs than just towels, like personal items, leave it alone. It could be my stuff and I don't want anyone ruining my Disney mood.

John,
I think the issue is more the people that come down to the pool early in the morning and put a generic resort towel on the chair, thus claiming it for LATER when they plan on arriving. Personal items on a chair, especially glasses, means the person is more than likely in the pool area. I myself would never touch anyone else's personal items, but moving just a regular resort towel from a chair that has not had any activity, by all means, that towel is going to get dumped.

 

[dizfanz]

Guys and gals, please don't save chairs ever. This is ridiculous. I don't care if you have 18 kids and will be back in 30 minutes. Get your chairs when you go to the pool. Not 1 hour before, not 2 hours before, and certainly not 5-6 hours before. If you are older and need shade, well, get down there early and stay or wear
SPF 300 suntan lotion. However, to be fair for all you spot savers. If the night before, you want to go to the Magic Kingdom entrance and put some chairs from Storm Along Bay there so you are first in line the next day, I guess that's OK

 

[Johnnie Fedora]

Guess we better add pool chairs to our "DVC box" Or maybe just buying one at Walmart for our stay. I'm sure Disney would ban bringing you our chair, but it may make the point that chair saving is a big problem you had to bring your own, at least during busy times. The gurads know whats going on, they spend their entire day surveying the area. After a certain amount of time, items should just be turned into lost and found.

Also, if people would stop saving a chair for their kids (who never leave to water anyhow) there would be much more availability.

As far as the OPs rude chair savers, maybe Disney could open a hotel exclusively for the AARP crowd, especially the ones who seem to feel the entire world owes them a discount, a life time pool chair pass or some other special consideration. They could use this resort as a training battle ground for the new CMs. If CMs could last 6 months there, they're suited to make it at any of the resorts.

 

[marty]

We go to the Royal Caribbean in Cancun for several weeks every March. You need to show your room key and give your room # to get 2 towels. If these towels are not returned by the end of your stay, they are charged to your account. Security constantly walks around the pool area. If they make 2 circuits (about 30 minutes) and folded towels or "semi personal" items like books or visors have been in the same place and undisturbed during that time, they take them to lost and found. The resort towels go into the used towel basket. So, you can claim you lost items at lost and found, but you will be billed for your towels.
Do ya' think that would work at DVC?

 

[kathleena]

Originally posted by Johnnie Fedora

As far as the OPs rude chair savers, maybe Disney could open a hotel exclusively for the AARP crowd, especially the ones who seem to feel the entire world owes them a discount, a life time pool chair pass or some other special consideration. They could use this resort as a training battle ground for the new CMs. If CMs could last 6 months there, they're suited to make it at any of the resorts.

Being 50 and DH 55 and members of AARP, I find this a rather rude remark. One would hope this OT about those two elderly people wouldn't turn into bashing an age group. After all, I'm sure no one younger than the AARP range has ever saved a chair or two at a pool, had it taken away and caused a scene......nope, sure it's never happened.

I know you were trying to make a joke, but in my opinion, it is in very poor taste.

If they make 2 circuits (about 30 minutes) and folded towels or "semi personal" items like books or visors have been in the same place and undisturbed during that time, they take them to lost and found.

So - I have a question on this - if I leave my towel, shoes, shirt, shorts and glasses/visor on a chair (which would be typical in my case) and swim for an hour - they would be gone when I get back?

 

[marty]

No, Nancy. Not all that on one chair. But - chair#1-towel; chair#2-visor; chair#3- book; etc. And you will get everything back but the towel.

 

[InstImpres]

Originally posted by Johnnie Fedora

As far as the OPs rude chair savers, maybe Disney could open a hotel exclusively for the AARP crowd, especially the ones who seem to feel the entire world owes them a discount, a life time pool chair pass or some other special consideration. They could use this resort as a training battle ground for the new CMs. If CMs could last 6 months there, they're suited to make it at any of the resorts.

We better be careful here. I think since we all have 39 years to go (and 51 if we buy in at SSR) we will all fall under this policy eventually

If the night before, you want to go to the Magic Kingdom entrance and put some chairs from Storm Along Bay there so you are first in line the next day, I guess that's OK

Do you think I can get extra towels at SAB to reserve my parade spot than too?

Sandy

BTW, I do agree with the OP, it is not right to save the chairs/tables, just having a little fun with the above comments.

 

[Caskbill]

Originally posted by DVCPAT
I think Disney could solve this problem with a small, inexpensive clip-on timer. It could be available at the towel containers. The timer would have a rotating lever ( Mickey ears ) set for one hour.

Clip the timer on the pool chair, set it and its reserved. Once the hour expires simply reset the timer. If you see a chair with an expired timer, it's yours. It would be very inexpensive and solve a big problem.

Another thought I had was they could have different color towels. Every hour the color would change. This would be easy as the towel bins have doors they could just close for the white towels and open up the door for the blue towels.

For return towels they could have marked containers: White, Blue, Green. I think most people returning towels would put the right color towel in the right container.

Now someone comes down at 8:00 am and puts a white towel on a chair. At 9:00 am the color changes. CM's remove any white towels not obviously still belonging to someone in the pool.

People would soon realize that putting a towel on a chair at most would only hold it for an hour or less. Someone knowing they're coming to the pool at 2:00 pm will no longer 'waste their time' to put a towel on a chair at 8:00 am knowing full well it won't last.

Just a thought.

 

[Dancind]

I really thought there was a designated smoking area at SAB. On one trip, I noticed signs in the area behind the pool the slide dumps into. I liked sitting there because it was usually shady, but I stopped because of the smoking area signs. Are the signs gone now, or do they just choose not to enforce it? Diana