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

[HookdonWDW]

The problem with most of these vent posts is that they seem to take on a life of their own. Do I think that it is ridiculous to sit your things out at the pool area and leave it sitting their while you are not at the pool area? Yes. Do I think the older couple was out of line? Yes. But... do I also think that some of the responses in this thread are over the top? Yes.

I understand that people get frustrated when they go to the pool, and can't get the chair/table or lounger they want. It's a vacation, you spent good money, and you feel that everyone else should conform to your concept of consideration. But therein lies the problem... everyone has a different idea of what consideration is.

When we go to the pools, I always look for a table with an umbrella. We don't like to tan. I have no desire to oil up and fry in the sun. So, we search for a table in the shade, and then we proceed to claim a table, AND seats for every member of my party . I get chairs for my kids. We don't use the loungers, and I can't imagine sharing a chair with my child as we eat or relax. For those of you who prefer that your party of 20 share one chair, good for you. That's just not my idea of a good time. Those of you that like to sit all of your stuff on the ground in a huge pile - good for you, but again, not my style.

We go into the water... sometimes for up to an hour at a time without a break, grab drinks and snacks to eat at the table, etc... I suppose that depending on which 15-20 minutes some self-appointed chair stalker decided to check our table, it could look like it isn't being used. But beware... if you try to steal my table, you might not be happy with the results when I return.

We actually go to the pool area to use the pool. Until I read this thread, I wasn't aware of what a rare occurence this actually is. I guess I was absent when the note came out that stated that the chairs and loungers are for sunbathers only. I know that some have stated that they have no problem with people who are in the pool area, but other posters have made it clear that they believe if your butt's not in the chair, it's up for grabs. I would be highly offended if I had to have some darn "Mickey Timer" that I had to reset in order keep some goon from removing my belongings from my chair.

Maybe one of the ways to address this problem would be to add loungers to the beach area so that the sun gods could lay out and enjoy the sun, and not be offended by the people in the pool who are taking up chairs. Better yet, maybe we should all step back, and realize that this topic is just not that important in the grand scheme of life and DVC .

BTW - to the OP - I understand that the elderly couple upset you and acted like jerks. They may have "deserved" the present you left them on the table, but how about the poor CM who had to dispose of your present, or the person who let their child eat lunch at that table, not knowing what had taken place earlier???

 

[Mickeydad]

I posted a report on the Trip Report forum about people saving chairs at BWV in April. I just "bumped" it up for all to see again.

I complained to Disney and received a call from their Customer Relations Department and they said they would look into the problem.

What EVERYONE needs to do is CALL Disney and COMPLAIN.

There is strength in numbers. I can't do it myself, WE ALL NEED TO GET TOGETHER AND SCREAM ABOUT THIS TO DISNEY.

Saving pool chairs is rude and inconsiderate.

Until Disney solves this problem, I will continue to remove towels, etc. if no one shows up at the pool for several hours!!!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) We vacation in several areas.
2) It is becoming practice that chairs are for sitting.
3) If no one is sitting in a chair, it is vacant.
4) NO resort can buy as many chairs as people would reserve.

5) I am sorry, but to me, a chair was made for use.
6) It's sole existence is be be sat in.
7) So, even in a Zen sort-of-way, the chair should be in use.

 

[Pinnie]

I am heading to BCVs, Vero and OKW in a couple of days and my group of all adults (including some AARP members) are planning pool time at each resort. IF we see unattended towels, we will consider them abandoned and return them to the CMs and claim the chair that they were "accidently left on"

While I can totally understand leaving a table or chair to grab a dip in the pool or a bite to eat, the said table and/or chair should NOT be out of commission for the better part of a day!

So, fair warning to the chair and table savers out there this weekend. I will be moving unused "abandoned" towels!!!!


pin

 

[Doc and Family]

GOOD FOR YOU!!!!!
You were obviously dealing with mental midgets--people with the class and grace of a two-twoed sloth. Common courtesy has seemed to have vanished. My five year old son knows to get out of his seat and offer it to a lady when we ride the busses at WDW. Some of the other "men", in their 30's and 40's still haven't learned this. Saving chairs for a quick trip to the bathroom or grille--understandable.
HOWEVER, I do disagree with your letting them sit there and smoke with your children around without doing something equally offensive. I like the diaper changing idea, except I would have dropped the diaper on the idiots. ALSO, isn't most of WDW non-smoking, I don't know about the pools, however.
Anyway, KUDOS to you for taking the action you did, and this makes it apparent why manners are dying--older idiots like this are setting horrendous examples for the younger generation.

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by TIdoublegaER
My point is previously you stated that you have to actually be possessing the chair with your body. If your body is not in the chair, you don't have any rights to it. (This was my understanding of what you previously stated) Now you are saying as long as I sat in the chair at some point and leave my stuff that is fine. And that if I want to leave my stuff on a chair that is ok. I don't see the difference between a lounge and a chair. I guess I don't understand what your point was?

LOL Trishy!

What I said was quote: My policy is possession of the space must be reserved with a human body.

I did not say that at any time you can not get out of your chair for any reason, cool off, restroom, etc. that would be ridiculous. I personally just think if anyone is going to spend more time in the pool than in the chaise lounge chairs then wait until you actually need one.

What I have seen is people come to the pool, put things on multiple chairs, get in the pool, stay in the pool for hours never once coming to use the chair, get out of the pool and gather their things and leave. During that time people actually wanted to get a tan and read a book and could not find a lounge.

As to the difference in chairs, someone wanting to tan and read a book or nap does not want a regular small chair and there are always plenty of them emtpy even a peak times.

Again this is just what we do.

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by JohnNJ
Marie:

I'm a pretty easy going guy at Disney World but I'd have to say that many of my neighbors in the New York/New Jersey area are not. If you were unlucky enough to choose their personal items to move, you might find yourself stuffed in to a little corner somewhere. Why would you want to go a ruin a perfectly good Disney day over something as silly as a chair?

First of all I am not a girl, , childhood nickname for Samuel.

Why would anyone want to ruin a perfectly good Disney day over something as silly as a chair, to me that would include those doing the stuffing?

 

[Maistre Gracey]

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

Kicked a**, and taken names later...

 

[msdis]

I would have been livid! You should have called security. Some people think their rights begin where they end someone else's.

 

[crisi]

It would be nice if Disney had "stuff" cubbies. The local pool does and its great. Then Disney CM could remove "abandoned" personal stuff into a cubby and hotel towels into the bin.

I'd use the same system used for 30 minute parking areas. In a parking area, they mark your car tire with chalk. They come back after 30 minutes have passed, if the chalk is still there, you get a ticket. I'd have the cast members set little plastic disks on stuff every hour. Disk still there after an hour, CM removes stuff to cubby. People in the pool can make it out of the pool once an hour to remove the disk and return it to the towel station letting them know they are still there (or just move it from their stuff). It wouldn't be the lifeguards job however - it would be a job for the guys staffing the towel shack.

 

[disneyokw]

In May my mother and I went To Typhoon Lagoon before the park opened and were one of the first people to arrive by the wave pool. We picked an umbrella table with two chairs. My mother always stays under an umbrella. There is always someone at the table while the other one goes and have fun for an hour and then comes back for the other persons turn.

After 45 minutes a family (4 people) came when I was at the table and my mother was in the wave pool. They dragged one louge chair up against the table and proceeded to bring chairs to the table, took my mother's stuff (towel, shoes, DVC bag, cover up) off the table and onto the sand. Now this chair is right next to me. They never asked. I just got up and said "What the h..... are you doing?" They had the nerve to say that the table was theirs because they had more people. To bring a long story short I told them where they could go and was able to get there *** moved. But the woman (I will not use the word lady) would come back and stand under the umbrella to smoke. We ignored her when she did that. When we decided to go my mother and I picked a large family (9 people) to approach and asked them if they wanted the table and waited till they moved their stuff to the table till we packed up our stuff. The other family was only 3 feet away.



Another time I had a lounge chair with all my stuff (clothes, disposable camera, beach bag, towel, flip flops). While I was handing my mother some food I bought some teenagers came along and arrange themselves around the lounge chair with my stuff. No problem there, but one of them had the nerve to lay his wet body on top of all of my things. I walked up slowly behind the lounge chair, bent over him and looked him straight in the eye only two inches away and in a voice that says don't mess with me said "GET OFF". This teenager was actually shaking. Not bad for just two words. He really got my got.

 

[kel3420]

I am always the first one out to any resort pool. I am an early riser and love nothing better than having my morning coffee and reading a book before the pool area gets crowded. With that said I obviously am there when people start showing up with their towels to save chairs and witness alot of what is being discussed. But really for the most part, I would say that the majority of people who claim chairs are right out by the pool right after breakfast. I see the big problem in the afternoon where people leave to have lunch and don't come back while leaving the towels still on the chairs.

I do save chairs, but not nearly as many as are in our group. For example, last Thanksgiving, we were a group of 5 adults and 6 children, but we only would take up 4 lounge chairs. We don't need more than that so we don't take them, but we do use them. There is always someone on each chair.

I think a great policy is to have to check out towels by signing them out giving a room number and the amount of towels you take. You then have to return them or get charged. Several resorts I have stayed at have this policy and the "pool chair savers" aren't nearly as bad.

 

[MAC3]

We went to BCV with my very confrontational SIL. To avoid this whole PIA of will we get a chair or not. The days we decided to stay poolside we stayed at the quiet pool.

About twice we went over to SAB to use the slide. Personally, I think it isn't very relaxing to hang by the pool @ SAB when the kids want to go on the slide.

We would settle in and then one of them would say can we go to the slide? The paraniod parent that I am I would never be able to sit there and let them go over by themselves.

I don't see the whole fascination with it?

Sorry you got smoked on, that's rude! Especially since your pregnant. Some people are so nice huh?

 

[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!

 

[colleen costello]

I never ceased to be amazed by the stories told here. Why do miserable people even vacation at WDW? If you are the type of cranky person who obviously hates the world and cares little for everyone else's needs/rights, WHY are you at WDW in the summertime anyway?

OP did the right thing. Table-saving is even meaner than chair-saving, because tables are few and far between and are necessary at mealtimes. No one should be able to save chairs OR tables when they are not actively using the pool area!

Further, smokers need to wake up and realize that second-hand smoke is NOT the only problem that nonsmokers have. The smoke STINKS. Just because you are smoking in an outdoor area, does not mean that folks around you are not DISGUSTED by the smells you are causing. Disney so far has been too darn stupid to designate smoking/nonsmoking areas around the pools. Shame on them. Smoke by the pool is as offensive to many as POOP by the pool. Can you imagine someone POOPING around the pool? Gross... yet there aren't really any signs around saying "non-pooping area!" That's why we humans have bathrooms, and why we need nonsmoking areas!

 

[HeatherPage]

Right on Colleen!

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by colleen costello
Smoke by the pool is as offensive to many as POOP by the pool. Can you imagine someone POOPING around the pool? Gross... yet there aren't really any signs around saying "non-pooping area!" That's why we humans have bathrooms, and why we need nonsmoking areas!

..............

................I agree 100% Colleen.

 

[Doc and Family]

RIGHT ON COLLEEN, HEATHER, NICK & CINDY!!!!
Smoking is the most repulsive habit on the planet. I would love to see Disney get some, uh, testicles, and enforce it's so-called "no-smoking" policy. But, I do owe so much to those who choose to kill themselves this way. I earn a good living treating all of the cardiovascular disease that tobacco creates. Maybe I should shut up before people wise up and no longer need cardiologists. Anyway, My DW gets upset with me everytime I remind some idiot that is smoking where it is not allowed. She says I get rude. I figure one good deed deserves another. Sadly, I think we now need "pool police" because of the actions of those who think they own the world.
On the other hand, if you are ever there and need some help in ridding yourself of people like this, and I am there, call me. I am real good at "tripping" and "stumbling" and "accidentally" spilling stuff on people, or even on occassion, might have bumped them into the pool.
Accidents do happen, you know!

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Originally posted by colleen costello
Further, smokers need to wake up and realize that second-hand smoke is NOT the only problem that nonsmokers have. The smoke STINKS. Just because you are smoking in an outdoor area, does not mean that folks around you are not DISGUSTED by the smells you are causing. Disney so far has been too darn stupid to designate smoking/nonsmoking areas around the pools. Shame on them. Smoke by the pool is as offensive to many as POOP by the pool. Can you imagine someone POOPING around the pool? Gross... yet there aren't really any signs around saying "non-pooping area!" That's why we humans have bathrooms, and why we need nonsmoking areas!

Agreed. I would just do what George Carlin would do.... For those who remember.

 

[HeatherPage]

Ha-ha Doc! I'm no better, I yelled at some old man the other week when I was at the Crabtree Valley Mall the other day (where it is no smoking anywhere inside) this man lit up about 50 feet from the entrance (inside the mall!) on his way out, I was like hey! get out of here with that!!! I had my baby with me and I'm bad enough around smokers when it is just me, but don't even get near my baby with that crap! Also reminds me of when we were leaving Rainforest Cafe at Downtown Disney last time we where there, this "family" I guess the mother and her three grown daugters where all standing right in front of the entrance to the where all the strollers were parked smoking like chimneys and when I said loudly to my husband "nice place to smoke right in front of the stroller corral" they didn't look to pleased. Oh well I guess I'm one of those rude non-smokers. Some people's mission in life is to pass along joy, I guess mine is to make rude/oblivious smokers' lives miserable