Why is it "illegal" to take pool towels back to your room?

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Back a couple of years ago while staying at the BWV, I asked the CM when I checked in if I could purchase extra towels. He told me not to bother, but to just "grab some extra ones from the pool". I didn't, but found it interesting that it was suggested. I explained to him why that really wasn't a good thing to be telling people. He thought I was nuts!

HBC

 

[Granny]

Back a couple of years ago while staying at the BWV, I asked the CM when I checked in if I could purchase extra towels. He told me not to bother, but to just "grab some extra ones from the pool". I didn't, but found it interesting that it was suggested. I explained to him why that really wasn't a good thing to be telling people. He thought I was nuts!

HBC

Probably had the same training as the CMs who tell people all sorts of things that we know are not correct. Won't get into those other things here!! And don't worry....we know you're not really nuts.

And it seems like far too long since we've had a good pool towel thread!!

 

[kimberh]

When my kids have taken a pool towel to the room we have returned the towel to the towel bin. I really try to treat the resort as it is my home. If I abuse it, and I don't, then I know my dues go up and I will pay at the end. I don't over dry my clothes etc.

 

[jarestel]

I suppose room towels and pool towels are paid from different accounts. Otherwise I don't see why it would make a difference to anyone. (the old "a towel is a towel" principle)

It won't take long for an observant person lounging at a DVC pool to notice folks taking armloads of towels and leaving the pool area for parts unknown. It's not exactly a rare occurance. Personally, it's nothing that tightens my jaws, but for the "my dues are going up because people are using too many pool towels" crowd, I can understand why they might object.

 

[Melrosgirl]

Slightly off topic, but when I see people who just leave towels on the chairs and then those chairs aren't used for an hour or so, I just take their chairs. Never (yet) have had one person beat me up. Why? B/c no one ever shows up to "claim" their saved chairs.

 

[dumbo71]

Is this really a thread about towels?

Lets get to something really good like room occupancy.

We wrap our son up in towels to take him back to the rom so he doesn't freeze. We then return them to the proper place the following day or later that same day.

We "own DVC" do as you wish.................. just kidding, many take this attitude, however.

 

[dumbo71]

Let's say that there are 400 rooms at the resort. The accountants get together and decide that there are - at most - 4 people in a room and that, on average, they use one pool towel at day. It takes a day to launder them, so you need a two day inventory of pool towels. So you need 1,600x2 or 3,200 pool towels. And you have 4,000 on hand - because they get lost or stolen. Each of these towels represents cost to the hotel - its a tiny cost, but its a cost. Plus, the total cost of the towel is much higher - there are laundry costs involved which are actually the bulk of towel costs.

Lets say that there are 400 rooms at the hotel, and now you have 400 guests taking four extra towels each day so they don't need to pay for trash and towel. Now you need 8,000 towels at the hotel - plus the incremental costs of maintaining the extra 4,000 towels.

Since this all comes out of everyones dues, and since there is a provision for you to get towels and pay the incremental cost out of pocket instead of passing it on to other members, this is an ethical problem - basically, because you don't want to pay for your extra towels, you are making me pay for your extra towels.

Well said and a very good point.

 

[PatMcDuck]

We also grab some of the towels with us on the way to the water parks. I guess thats REALLY bad, but resort guests do it all the time.

I think the towel thing is ridiculous.

And yes, I wash towels while we are staying at DVC, no problem. But, I have to buy a big package of detergent to do this........ and I do.

I never took a towel home, they stay at WDW.

 

[Tigger7570]

I have no problem with people using the towels to wrap cold children in to get back to their rooms. However, I think it is a big deal to take armfuls back to your room. Having been a longtime member, I have seen the effects of the something being no big deal. That's why we now pay for extra towels, because people couldn't be bothered to wash them and continually asked for more. They did a survey and the majority of members said, rather than increase dues, let people pay for the extras. Also, my understanding is that the reason we lost the towel napkins they used to provide is because for some strange reason, people felt the need to take them so they stopped providing them. That was fine with me, I would rather bring my own than have an increase in dues. The same with the hand mixers, and on and on. There are other items that have disappeared through the years because of misuse. My point being which crisi explained very well is that it isn't just about a few and it is a big deal when it starts to multiply.

 

[Mickmse2002]

Guilty here. I have been known to wrap a pool towel around my large wet body while walking back to the room. Figured I would be saving on housekeeping by not leaving a wet trail up and down the hallway. I'm willing to cough up a few extra pennies in dues to be able to use a pool towel beyond the limits of the pool deck.

 

[goofy4tink]

We have special beach towels that we use only at WDW...of course, they are Mickey themed ones. We each have one, makes total of three. Then, we leave the 'special' towel on our chair at the pool, while in the pool. We do grab 3-4 towels at the pool for drying off, but they go directly into the used towel bin when we leave the pool area. Then, we wrap ourselves up in our own towels. Yes, it's more to pack but we love being able to see, quickly, which chaises are ours.
I will admit though...I was at BWV last month, with a non-DVC friend. She didn't like the 'limited' number of towels in her studio, so she grabbed a bunch of pool towels and brought them back to the room with her. I was mortified, but didn't say anything. But....I did return them to the towel bin at the pool later in our stay.

 

[Gymbomom]

I have noticed on our last couple of trips in the spring and just last month in October, that several times while we were at the pool at Turtle Pond at OKW people were coming over to the pool area and taking an armful of towels and going back to their rooms. That to me, is totally wrong. Either pay for the extras or wash the ones you have.

We don't usually stay in that area, but last time we did, and we saw this happen ALL the time.

I totally agree with that ALL members end up paying for this misuse. Also, you could look at it, that it takes away $$ from upkeep or renovations, because the towel "expense" was more than anticipated.


ETA: As I read through all the posts, I wanted to add.
I might understand about wrapping your kiddo up in a towel....but is it just me, I NEVER walk around with just a towel around me (and neither do my children). We always dry off first, put our cover-ups on, flip-flops, and then deposit our towels in the bin on our way to our room. I always thought that was the "proper" thing to do, especially if I have to walk in the hallways??

 

[blizzard]

We also grab some of the towels with us on the way to the water parks. I guess thats REALLY bad, but resort guests do it all the time.

We do the same thing. The pool towels at OKW are identical to the water park rental towels. We always put them in the return bin at the water parks. I have always assumed that a WDW pool towel is a pool towel and that they don't count the returns from each location to make sure they match up with what was distributed.

Maybe others see this as "wrong", but I have no doubt that if I asked about it, the front desk would say "no problem". Is this "wrong"?

 

[Sammie]

Ok, for the record. Spoke to someone at OKW and SSR, pool towels are to be used at the pool and left at the pool. If you remove one from the pool, please return it to the pool bins. And please return it to the pool you removed it from.

They are washed differently and they do inventory them by location. Bath towels are available for purchase if you need additional.

Also they do not want them getting into the room laundry due to the fact that many of the pool towels are not in the best of shape, etc. Then they make it back to the rooms and guests complain about ratty, old towels.

 

[paults]

::cop: HEY! who took the towels off the chairs I was saving

 

[4formickey]

should I return the extra bar soap that I used once? I don't want my dues to go up because of that.If they really wanted to save money they did not have to send those postcards out by fed ex.

 

[Chuck S]

should I return the extra bar soap that I used once? I don't want my dues to go up because of that.If they really wanted to save money they did not have to send those postcards out by fed ex.

I doubt seriously that DVC dues paid for those postcards Sales and Marketing should have.

 

[Mississippian]

It's wrong because DVC resort expenses are paid through member dues. They have it setup that you get towels on day 4 and 8, based on the number of nights you stay. Anyone who wants them more often, pays separate for them. By taking them from the pool for use in the room, you are creating an extra expense for all the members to pay for, instead of yourself by the rules. It doesn't sound like a big deal but if alot of people do it, it adds up. I think some people take the attitude that Disney is paying for them, but it really is the members who pay.

Most of the "expense" in providing clean towels is in sending a maid to the room to pick them up and then deliver them. I've taken a towel from the pool before to use up in the room, and then returned it the next day in the dirty towel bin by the pool. I don't make a habit of it, but sometimes you just need an extra towel.
By the way, to the person taking towels from the resort and leaving them at the water park: Please don't do this! It almost certainly counts as shrinkage at the resort and can result in higher dues.

 

[4formickey]

how long will this thread stay active? Until all of the missing towels return home.

 

[Judique]

how long will this thread stay active? Until all of the missing towels return home.

Okay...maybe this is weird but I can't stand having one skinny wet bathmat! So, on one of my trips driving down, I stopped at an outlet and picked up some generic white mats and facecloths - there are never enough of those! Check into my lovely BWV one bedroom and decorate the floors in both parts of the bath with mats in front of the toilet, shower, sink and jacuzzi tub so my tootsies don't ever have to touch that cold tile. I'd already packed our Mickey pool/beachtowels as well, so we are doing great - just like home! Trash and towel day comes and we return from the parks - you guessed it - all my new linens have been gathered up and replaced with the standard issue! So, now I bring pink extras - no mistaking what belongs to us versus DVC. Since we drive, it is easy to pack a 'comfort' suitcase - the fitted sheets, extra towels, a small, thin comforter for the sofabed, and if we have a third or fourth person we bring an aerobed...those things are surprisingly comfortable!