Chair Piggies- Tale as Old as Time...
Thank you danceteachermom for your post about your experiences at SAB this weekend.
I would like to urge you, and anyone else who has experienced this happening to write to Disney's Guest Communications (with a copy to the Yacht & Beach Club resort manager) about your frustration with the lounger situation when you return from the trip. Specific examples like the ones danceteachermom noticed (families coming in at opening in street clothes or leaving right after dropping towels) would be especially helpful.
After you have returned home from your stay:
email
wdw.guest.communications@disneyworld.com
or send a letter to:
Walt Disney World Guest Communications
Executive Offices
Post Office Box 10040
Lake Buena Vista, Florida 32830-0040
When you write or email, please include your name, address, phone number and email address.
If it is a comment specific to the Yacht & Beach Club, you can write to the General Manager of the resort (perhaps copy Guest Communications as well):
Mim Flynn, General Manager
Disney's Yacht and Beach Club Resorts
1800 EPCOT Resort Boulevard
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
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I am sure that there are enough loungers for those who want to use them while at the pool, but the problem is people want to be assured of getting a chair so they stake it out and "claim" it at times when they don't need it. This just feeds into more people doing this because it is the only way they think they will get a lounger.
Does anyone know what is out there for signs regarding reserving loungers? I thought someone provided me with a picture, but I can't find it at the moment.
I really wish there was a sign posted "Unattended belongings will be removed from loungers after an hour and will be stored in the recreation office for pickup" A recreation CM (not lifeguard) could be assigned to checking the lounger situation. He or she could go around to chairs with a little sticky pad, have the time they came by unoccupied chairs (say 11 am). Then they make another pass an hour later. If the note and items have not been touched, the CM removes both and brings them to the recreation office for pickup. I suppose there would be some liability or complaints with CMs touching personal belongings, but there would be "proof" of how long the people were gone when (if) they come to pick up their stuff.
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Do guests play "The Towel Game" at Stormalong Bay? How do I deal with "Chair Piggies?"
Here is Ninjamom's creative way of handling chair piggies...
Chair Piggies
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Happy Eater!
Typing form the YC lobby this AM. We arrived Friday.
My first experience at SAB was not too nice. I know it is a very busy weekend with the resort full but at 12 there was not even a regular chair let alone a lounge chair at the pool open. So many people just had towels and personal items on chairs. More than half of the chairs had no people in them. My family jumped in the water but all I wanted to do was lay in the sun first so I walked around for over a half an hour. I found one chair but as I went to put down my stuff a man said it was his daughters. I said there is nothing on it and no one is here....but then just walked away because I figured I did not want to sit there by him now. Then after about ten more minutes, I saw a chair and then another chair a few down so I called my husband over and said we have two chairs but not together. Put my bag on one and went to put my hubby's stuff on the other and the lady next to the chair said it was her son's and put a bag on it. We gave up and took turns with the four of us and one chair plus just sitting on the concrete. I was bummed. Then for the next TWO HOURS all that was on the chair was that bag. No one ever sat in it.
Things have gotten better since then.
So sorry to hear about the rudeness you faced!
Well as I said...it did get better after the first day. Yesterday we did MK in the AM and got back to the resort around 12. My family went to eat some leftovers in the room and I got off the bus determined to get a lounge chair so came straight to SAB. At first it was just like day one with no chairs but then a really nice family from Seatle saw me looking and offered one of theirs. They were so kind. So I just sat down and relaxed a bit with the plan of giving the chair to my hubby when he came down and returning after getting my suit on. But shortly after a regular chair opened near by and I moved it next to me. So our family of four took turns with the two chairs and had a blast. Later in the day a third opened up and our teenage daughter got her own chair. We never tried to get a chair for the 7 year old because he does not sit for long. It was a great day by the pool.
Today is a no park day so my hubby and I got our suits on and came down at 8:45 and stood in very short lines for the opening of SAB. I saw several families this morning come in and drop off personal belongings on chairs then leave. There has been absolutely no policing of this by the CM's. You would think it was a red flag when people come in normal clothes....or one person comes in with a bunch of stuff only to leave moments later. I am really disappointed in Disney that they do not have a CM on this issue during busy weeks. For the amount of money we are paying for a pretty simple room, you would think they could deal with this.
However I am typing this from SAB and having a blast. It is noon and I can see a few open chairs today so maybe the worst has passed. I know I am making a big deal out of chairs but relaxing poolside is a priority on our vacations. After the brutal MI winter we really look forward to the Florida sun.
I really like the serene atmosphere of the YC. Even at capacity the lobby has been peaceful and there are any places to grab a quiet spot. SAB is great and the location and proximity to EPCOT has been fun. We still have five full days of vacation left so I do not want to issue a full review yet. I always tend to miss our last resort the first few days and I am definitely missing VWL right now. But I have a feeling YC will grow on me.
I just helped a person using NINJAMOMS method and we took back a few unused chairs for her family. Yay us!
Glad you are making the best of it. Please write to Disney guest communications and to the resort manager when you are home from your trip. You have some really great examples of blatant chair saving that is impacting your enjoyment of the Yacht Club feature pool.
I'm sorry to hear that the "chair piggies" were out in full force.
We've also seen that people have started to put personal items rather than just a towel on chairs, making it even harder to determine if that person is even at the pool.
Ninja Mom has the best advice. It basically involves taking stuff off a chair that appears to be abandoned and then picking up and moving that chair. Then they don't know who stole it when they return. It has the added benefit of them not being able to find you.
I've noticed that there are often chairs in the shady area by the YC side of SAB near the kiddie pool.
I'm really sorry you had this experience. I've never been to Disney at Easter because we try to avoid the busier holiday weekends, but I hope the crowds slow down a bit for you after some of the weekenders go home. Honestly, I have always been frustrated at numerous resorts when people leave their towels in the chairs when they leave. I understand saving chairs, but I hate it when I see nothing but a towel in a chair for hours!
You made me laugh with the chair stealing technique, but I must admit that I'm going to be scared to go down the slide now out of fear that I might lose my chair!
I will definitely be putting so much stuff in our chairs now that people will definitely want to choose another chair. But we do actually use our chairs.
This kind of thing makes me mad. The lack of pool chairs for people who are actually at the pool is a real problem at times. And when people aren't stopped from reserving chairs in the morning, it only makes it worse for the people who are trying to find an open chair later in the day.
I guarantee that if I see this happening when I am there next week then a letter will be sent to the manager. I might even take pictures, too.
Yay, you!
Thank you!!!
:
That is beyond rude! If I saw the people leave, I'd toss their stuff in a pile on the ground after about 30 minutes. The CM's should police it. We plan on spending lots of time at SAB in August and I won't be happy if all the chairs are taken!
So happy!
