What would you like to see on the new ships?

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

The policy would be that chairs are only for those actually sitting in them, and unattended personal items would be taken immediately to a lost and found area near the lockers on the pool deck.

While saving chairs is an issue, I would not agree with the above policy. It would mean as soon as I stand up to go get in the pool for a few minutes, I would lose my chair where maybe I left the book I was reading while seated. Then I'd have to hunt down my book and wait for some other unlucky person to go to the restroom or get in the pool so I could sit back down.

 

[Dug720]

I respectfully disagree. I love not having to share the space in the morning or getting ready in the evening. It is a nice perk that goes a tiny part of the way to justify the higher cost imho.

Plus there is a side to use for getting ready while the shower room can de-steam!

 

[FigmentSpark]

How about hair appliance (dryer/straightener/curler) and shaver plugs in the bathrooms? Also maybe more plugs and even some USB outlets for phones/tablets?

 

[dclpluto]

I respectfully disagree. I love not having to share the space in the morning or getting ready in the evening. It is a nice perk that goes a tiny part of the way to justify the higher cost imho.

The thread is what will you like to see. There is no right or wrong answer.

 

[twiceblessedindeed]

An outdoor playground area, larger variety of daily activities (cooking, paint and sip, crafts), changing area near the pools, themed staterooms

 

[PrincessShmoo]

How about hair appliance (dryer/straightener/curler) and shaver plugs in the bathrooms? Also maybe more plugs and even some USB outlets for phones/tablets?

There are shaver outlets in the bathrooms.

 

[Shanti]

While saving chairs is an issue, I would not agree with the above policy. It would mean as soon as I stand up to go get in the pool for a few minutes, I would lose my chair where maybe I left the book I was reading while seated. Then I'd have to hunt down my book and wait for some other unlucky person to go to the restroom or get in the pool so I could sit back down.

"Losing" the chair wouldn't be a problem under that system, as without seat saving of any kind going on, there would always be another available chair. You would put your book in your locker while in the bathroom. Easy. Much easier than the current system of staking out chairs, not getting chairs, & having people arguing about chairs.

 

[DynamicDisneyDuo]

"Losing" the chair wouldn't be a problem under that system, as without seat saving of any kind going on, there would always be another available chair.

No, there wouldn't necessarily. If it's busy then the guest then has to wait for someone else to get up, then swoop in to grab it before someone else. This will lead to arguments and probably a fight or two.

You would put your book in your locker while in the bathroom. Easy. Much easier than the current system of staking out chairs, not getting chairs, & having people arguing about chairs.

No, it's not much easier for someone to have to walk over to a locker and put something in it; rather than leaving it on the chair they have every intention of coming back to after using the restroom or getting a drink of taking a quick dip in the pool. Then have to retrieve the item and wait for a new seat to become available.

There is no easy fix for the problem of saving seats but this would likely create more problems and inconvenience people far more than leaving it as it is.

 

[IRLdisneyprincess]

Some type of character tea for adults!!!

 

[wombat_5606]

"Losing" the chair wouldn't be a problem under that system, as without seat saving of any kind going on, there would always be another available chair. You would put your book in your locker while in the bathroom. Easy. Much easier than the current system of staking out chairs, not getting chairs, & having people arguing about chairs.

I'm not going to be agreeing with this either. I go to the pool and stay there virtually all day. It's one of the major reasons I cruise. There is no reason I'm going to pack my book, my towels, my cover-up, my drink and shoes because I'm going in the pool for 15 minutes, so someone who may just want to sit there for an hour, can have a chair.

 

[Shanti]

Then have to retrieve the item and wait for a new seat to become available.

I go to the pool and stay there virtually all day. It's one of the major reasons I cruise. There is no reason I'm going to pack my book, my towels, my cover-up, my drink and shoes because I'm going in the pool for 15 minutes, so someone who may just want to sit there for an hour, can have a chair.

Yes, but you are in the minority in this. Most DCL cruisers spend no more than a few hours actually sitting on pool chairs each day, maximum. Most deck chairs are not occupied by actual people all day long, so you don't have as much competition for the actual use of chairs as you seem to think.

The vast majority of chairs on any part of the pool deck, are in use not by actual people sitting on them, but are instead being "saved" by holding people's personal items and towels, while those people do other activities. So if you stop the saving of chairs, you'll free up so many (the majority of chairs on any deck at any given time) that waiting for another empty chair will be a non-issue. Empty chairs will continually be available.

We're all so used to the current reality of 75% of deck chairs being endlessly occupied by towels & people's stuff. You have to open your mind a bit to visualize the alternative, in which that was not occurring. Eliminating saving would vastly increase availability.

 

[wombat_5606]

Yes, but you are in the minority in this. Most DCL cruisers spend a few hours actually sitting on pool chairs each day, max. Most deck chairs are not occupied by actual people all day long.

The vast majority of chairs on any part of the pool deck, are in use not by actual people sitting on them, but are instead being "saved" by holding people's personal items and towels. So if you stop the saving of chairs, you'll free up so many (the majority of chairs on any deck or beach) that waiting for another empty chair will be a non-issue. Empty chairs will continually be available.

We're all so used to the current reality of 75% of deck chairs being endlessly occupied by towels & people's stuff. You have to open your mind a bit to visualize the alternative, in which that was not occurring. Eliminating saving would vastly increase availability.

Oh, I agree something needs to stop people from using the chairs just to hold their stuff and prevent other people from using them. I just don't think a blanket rule is to give up your chair if you get up. I think the CM's should enforce the rule. The guys working the bar service know whose been in that chair and who hasn't.

I will agree that a locker system in the pool area would be beneficial for those people that just want a place to put their stuff while they take a dip in the water.

 

[bbel]

Before people start yelling, I am in no way saying this is right or wrong, or should or shouldn't be done. I'm just putting it from another perspective.

But.

The whole reserving sun beds. I see a lot of comments saying that CM should enforce this more (like I said not condoning anything either way! It's really nothing to do with me). However, unless someone starts kicking up a fuss about not having a sun bed, then a CM is probably probably not going to do anything about it automatically. Why? Disney is about making people happy, it's the king of the customer is always right, and at times they break their backs bending it. So if no ones complaining then everyone's happy. You take away a saved sun bed, someone's probably gonna be really unhappy and it's gonna be aimed at that CM. That can potentially lead to a negative comment (but the person that got the sun bed probably isn't going to give a positive one to balance it out, because they're right...). A negative comment can potentially do a lot more damage than two or three positive ones does good. It can lead to bad reviews, potentially discipline, which in extreme cases can lead to unwanted transfers or even the non-renewal of contracts. If it really is a bother then make sure you as a nearby CM or even better, officer if there's one around, put it on the comment cards, email shore side...

 

[wombat_5606]

Before people start yelling, I am in no way saying this is right or wrong, or should or shouldn't be done. I'm just putting it from another perspective.

But.

The whole reserving sun beds. I see a lot of comments saying that CM should enforce this more (like I said not condoning anything either way! It's really nothing to do with me). However, unless someone starts kicking up a fuss about not having a sun bed, then a CM is probably probably not going to do anything about it automatically. Why? Disney is about making people happy, it's the king of the customer is always right, and at times they break their backs bending it. So if no ones complaining then everyone's happy. You take away a saved sun bed, someone's probably gonna be really unhappy and it's gonna be aimed at that CM. That can potentially lead to a negative comment (but the person that got the sun bed probably isn't going to give a positive one to balance it out, because they're right...). A negative comment can potentially do a lot more damage than two or three positive ones does good. It can lead to bad reviews, potentially discipline, which in extreme cases can lead to unwanted transfers or even the non-renewal of contracts. If it really is a bother then make sure you as a nearby CM or even better, officer if there's one around, put it on the comment cards, email shore side...

Surely, Disney wouldn't penalize a CM that was enforcing one of their own rules(for lack of a better term)?

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Surely, Disney wouldn't penalize a CM that was enforcing one of their own rules(for lack of a better term)?

Well, yes, they might. I agree Disney is a very "customer is always right" company. So there are times that CMs must look the other way in order for the "greater good".

 

[wombat_5606]

Well, yes, they might. I agree Disney is a very "customer is always right" company. So there are times that CMs must look the other way in order for the "greater good".

I have no doubt that Disney tries to exhibit the "customer is always right". But if I'm a customer and I complain that there are chairs being saved and ask the CM to move the items, are you saying they won't move them?

Are you telling me if they do move them and that person complains, naming the CM, that Disney would then penalize that CM? When all they were doing was enforcing a policy that Disney has written?

 

[MunFam]

I'd vote for KTTW card-controlled, free lockers on the pool deck, so that people wouldn't need chairs to store their stuff on or under. The policy would be that chairs are only for those actually sitting in them, and unattended personal items would be taken immediately to a lost and found area near the lockers on the pool deck. All guests would get prior info about this at the beginning of the cruise.

Yes Yes Yes!!!! This would be amazing...and it should be a worldwide pool policy, not just DCL.

 

[Dug720]

I have no doubt that Disney tries to exhibit the "customer is always right". But if I'm a customer and I complain that there are chairs being saved and ask the CM to move the items, are you saying they won't move them?

Are you telling me if they do move them and that person complains, naming the CM, that Disney would then penalize that CM? When all they were doing was enforcing a policy that Disney has written?

Potentially. Because the person complaining that their stuff was moved could open with "stolen" and then go into "privacy" and all sorts of other things - and probably will not tell the story as it happened. It would be the word of the complaining guest against the CM - unless the person who reported them abandoned and asked for them to be moved sticks up for the CM - and even then there may or may not be penalties. At the very least I'd foresee "counseling" as to how to handle it in the future.

I have heard of one cruise line - I'm forgetting which right now - that was using a sticker system where crew members were essentially assigned to patrol the pool and/or sun decks and act kind of like meter maids. If stuff was left unattended in a chair, a sticker would be put on that chair I believe with the time on it. If 30 minutes passed and no one had made an appearance to claim the stuff and use the chair, it would be removed to a Lost and Found area and the chair(s) freed up for others to use. At least a system like that gives a CM a leg to stand on in a situation where the one who had things removed went to complain.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

I have no doubt that Disney tries to exhibit the "customer is always right". But if I'm a customer and I complain that there are chairs being saved and ask the CM to move the items, are you saying they won't move them?

Are you telling me if they do move them and that person complains, naming the CM, that Disney would then penalize that CM? When all they were doing was enforcing a policy that Disney has written?

No, not at all. Yes, the CM might move the items. Especially if it's only a towel. If they are personal items, they might move them, or try to direct the issue to an officer, if the person asking for the items to be moved is persistent.

Can't say what would happen if the CM moved personal items, and the owner then complained (if they can even determine which CM it was). They could just be reminded as to Disney policy regarding "keeping everyone happy", or, possibly, lose a free day for retraining.

 

[wombat_5606]

No, not at all. Yes, the CM might move the items. Especially if it's only a towel. If they are personal items, they might move them, or try to direct the issue to an officer, if the person asking for the items to be moved is persistent.

Can't say what would happen if the CM moved personal items, and the owner then complained (if they can even determine which CM it was). They could just be reminded as to Disney policy regarding "keeping everyone happy", or, possibly, lose a free day for retraining.

Good to know. At least now I will be certain to commend the CM for his/her actions, if I'm in the situation. Perhaps even visit Guest Services to make sure they are aware of the situation, also. I don't want repercussions on CM's for doing something to make my vacation special.