Where is it written not to use a pool towel if you run out of towels?

[Chuck S]

It was also published in some earlier issues of Vacation Magic. That was the name of the Member Publication then, it has been replaced by Disney Files.

 

[Donna M]

It was also published in some earlier issues of Vacation Magic. That was the name of the Member Publication then, it has been replaced by Disney Files.

Thanks, that's what I'm looking for.

 

[WDWMom]

I believe that's correct, at least at OKW. I think every towel station has a sign that says the towels are to be returned to the bin, and not taken to the rooms.

Weird in 13 years of using just about every pool in WDW I have seen many signs asking patrons to return the towels to the bins, but I have never seen one that said not to take them to your room. Not saying it doesn't, just that I have never seen that wording. Can anyone get a photo of this sign? and are they consistent signage from resort to resort?I would be curious.

We have walked every here using pool towels, even resort to resort and no one has ever so much as questioned us. Always eventually return them to a bin somewhere. Don't see this as a big issue.

 

[Lynne M]

Sometimes, it's hard to stop thinking as a hotel guest, and start thinking as the ones who pay the laundry bills.

We know that the pool towels go to a separate facility, and we know that someone has to sort the towels out when they get mixed together, and we know that it costs more to launder the pool towels. Disney doesn't pay those additional costs....we do, in our maintenance fees. We pay the laundry bills. That's why they don't give you a boatload of towels in your room, and charge you for extra towels....because washing and drying and delivering those extra towels costs money, and it's fairer to charge those who want the extra towels than to spread the cost out over the whole membership.

Does one person taking an extra pool towel make a difference? Of course not. But multiply that by the thousands of DVC villas on property and it can make a dent.

So no, there's no official DVC rule that you can't take pool towels back to your room to avoid paying $6 for a towel pack. No one's gonna slap your hand if you do it, or come to your room and count the towels. It's just one of those things that people talk about here as a way to help keep our own costs down.

So no, there's no official DVC rule that says you can't take pool t

 

[Maistre Gracey]

So no, there's no official DVC rule that says you can't take pool t

Be careful... It's very difficult to prove a negative.

MG

 

[Sammie]

Pool Towels

Bath Towels

I think it is pretty self explanatory.

 

[Garthilk]

Pool Towels

Bath Towels

I think it is pretty self explanatory.

Aah yes, much clearer now.

 

[Arthur27]

How about if you borrow some pool towels to take back to your room just bring them back to the pool area drop off? Shouldn’t that alleviate the expense of DVC having to sort etc.?

 

[Dean]

How about if you borrow some pool towels to take back to your room just bring them back to the pool area drop off? Shouldn’t that alleviate the expense of DVC having to sort etc.?

No for 2 reasons. First, most towels that end up in the units stay there and have to be sorted later. You and I would return them but most wouldn't. They'd be more likely to walk as well since there is no accounting. The biggest reason though is the increased towel inventory required and the costs behind it. It really is a simple as common sense and following the rules. However, as I stated at the time this change came down (1999 I think when the charges for pay to play were announced), it would have been better to have some flexibility in the rule for those in a studio due to the significantly decreased laundry options. If one didn't have options, I could see the fuss, but to sacrifice one's dignity to save $6-12, I can't see it.

 

[CarolAnnC]

I like how they do it at Vero. Previously, guests there would grab handfuls of pool towels early and "reserve" pool chairs with them. I saw less of that on my last trip.

As far as seeing a "written" statement "not to use a pool towel if you run out of towels" - well there is not a sign for every variable of resort amenity usage. There is no sign stating you cannot take other items if you run out in your room such as ketchup packets, straws, pool chairs (lol) etc. But since we all have to pay for extra towels in our room, why would we think it ok to take pool towels instead?

As far as the occasional "borrowing" of a towel to walk back to the room, well it will happen. The problem is when those people do not bring it right back to the pool towel bin so it can be washed and replaced. This times hundreds = too many missing pool towels. And nobody likes to get to the pool only to find no clean towels...

 

[adminjedi]

 

[dianeschlicht]

They solved the problem at Vero by doing it in reverse.. Housekeeping now puts your pool towels in your room.

MG

I have seen that at other timeshares too, and I've often wished DVC would do that. Some timeshares we have stayed at use a basket with towels of a different color for the pool towels in the unit.

I think that practice would greatly reduce some costs to DVC. The extra laundering for the pool towels mean they have to do some major towel tracking when people don't return them to the bins in the pool area. I'm quite sure there would be a significant savings to us owners if there were the same number of pool towels in the villa as occupancy. It would eliminate a lot of the need for towel packs too.

 

[margitmouse]

Aah yes, much clearer now.

Sorry for my ignorance... what is a "towel pack"

 

[DebbieB]

Sorry for my ignorance... what is a "towel pack"

Pay As You Play
With Pay As You Play service, you'll be provided with the following amenities free of charge at the start of your stay. After that, you may purchase more for the following fees:

Toiletries Package, $5.00 - 1 facial soap, 1 bath soap, 1 shampoo, 1 conditioner, 1 shower gel
Coffee Package, $3.00 - 1 package of coffee, 8 sugars, 8 creamers, 8 artificial sweeteners
Towel Package, $6.00 - 4 bath towels, 2 hand towels, 4 washcloths, 1 bath mat
Laundry Detergent (only in One-, Two-, and Three-bedroom Vacation Homes), $1.00 - 1 box

Note: Rates are subject to change

 

[WDWMom]

I have seen that at other timeshares too, and I've often wished DVC would do that. Some timeshares we have stayed at use a basket with towels of a different color for the pool towels in the unit.

I think that practice would greatly reduce some costs to DVC. The extra laundering for the pool towels mean they have to do some major towel tracking when people don't return them to the bins in the pool area. I'm quite sure there would be a significant savings to us owners if there were the same number of pool towels in the villa as occupancy. It would eliminate a lot of the need for towel packs too.

I like your idea Diane. That way we could take those same towels to the water parks too. We don't have room in our luggage to bring beach towels. Would solve that problem, atleast for us.

 

[PatMcDuck]

We often grabbed towels from the pool, and even took them to the waterparks. The lines there for towels are crazy. We have never taken towels home or anything like that.

I just do not see the big deal about the towels, and I have never been happy about not being able to get more if needed. I always thought there should be an exchange station for towels located in various DVC resort areas. I do think calling housekeeping to bring more towels to a room would be cost prohibitive. Having members carry towels themselves somewhere to trade, not so much. Put it in rooms like the recycling and trash. I think the energy cost of each DVC villa washing and drying towels is more than them being washed and dried at a central commercial laundry.

 

[d-r]

we must be a horror show. We always wrap up the kids in towels and take them back to the room, usually carrying the littlest one wrapped up. Usually take them back down the next time, but I'm sure we've left some, and I'm sure I've thrown them in the washing machine with the room towels and washed a load. That's probably a terrible no no. I'll probably forget to worry about it by the next time my kids get out of the pool and have to walk through the ac though. Oh well. Imagine, paying a few grand for dvc and not worrying about the freaking towels.

 

[RescueRanger]

I think the energy cost of each DVC villa washing and drying towels is more than them being washed and dried at a central commercial laundry.

Its not the energy, its the manpower. YOU wash the towels in your room. YOU fold them. If you use the pool towels, WE the owners have to PAY the people who wash and fold. Guests doing their own laundry and housekeeping is how timeshares keep their costs down.

 

[Arthur27]

we must be a horror show. We always wrap up the kids in towels and take them back to the room, usually carrying the littlest one wrapped up. Usually take them back down the next time, but I'm sure we've left some, and I'm sure I've thrown them in the washing machine with the room towels and washed a load. That's probably a terrible no no. I'll probably forget to worry about it by the next time my kids get out of the pool and have to walk through the ac though. Oh well. Imagine, paying a few grand for dvc and not worrying about the freaking towels.

 

[WDWMom]

Think of this...

I go to the pool and use a towel. I take that towel back to my room for whatever reason - kids cold, I use it for my hair. I bring it back the next time I am at the pool. No extra cost for anyone as we usually go to the pool everyday or walk by it.

Now if you keep the same towel during your stay and everyone did that, we would need more towels and that would cost more money. But I am using that towel at the pool anyway so who cares if I take it back to my room and bring it back in a timely manner.