[katsudden]

UPDATE: I want to thank everyone for their posts. I have to admit that if people are going to be abusing the amount of time that they are leaving the saved seats empty while others could be sitting there, it would be very frustrating to others. I imagine that the villages will continue to have this problem as long as it is allowed and inconsistently controlled. People on both sides of the fence are not happy with how it is being handled. New owners and renters are joining this community every day. I believe that people are willing to follow any rules put to them. We must all be patient with each other. No one is meaning to be rude, just to find a way to enjoy.



I have mobility issues and therefore prefer to save seats at the square so I am assured of being able to sit. My husband and I saved two seats about 3:30pm at Mardi Gras at Lake Sumpter. We went to get a bite to eat and returned to find our "seat savers" under the bushes and two other people in our seats. We were told that a Village Personnel man took our "seat-savers" off of the chairs. We spoke to the supervisor about it. He admitted to doing it. Basically it came down to "what right do we have to save "village-owned seats."

So...what do you all think about this? Our thoughts are......

We couldn't "save" seats, but....

1. Others seem to have the right to be able to bring their own chairs and save an optimal space on the "village-owned property" that others could put "village owned" chairs upon. They have that right according to the supervisor.
2. Others have the right to come early and just sit and wait in "village-owned" chairs. Why does my physical rear-end have to be in the chair vs. my "seat saver" other than to protect our chairs from the supervisor?
3. What if we want to save our seats and get up to shop the vendors around the square? One would have to be sitting there to save the other seat according to the supervisor as he was still going around checking seats as entertainment was going on.
4. What if we want to save our seats and get up to dance? One would have to be sitting there to save the other seat to be safe from the supervisor.

What right do we have to "save our seats?" We have the same right that anyone else has to come down early and save seats. First come first serve. That is our "right." We are not taking away anyone else's right to do this.

What "right" does anyone have to disrespect our "right" to be there first?

(Sarcastically) Why don't they just gate everything off with policemen and make everyone go in at the same time? Oops! People would be upset because somehow someone got closer to the gate then they did. Or....let's just make the rule that no one can leave their house until 30 minutes before an event. Oops! Some people live closer and that's just not fair! Perhaps the villages should just eliminate all "reservations" at restaurants or buying tickets in advance.

Do you think that this is micro-managing just a bit too much? After all…we are adults. There are always going to be "childish" adults who cause problems. Let the villages focus on them and leave the rest of us alone.

What do YOU think?

[graciegirl]

I agree with the person who removed your seat saver.

See below threads about this problem.

Hats off to the Event Staff
Save me a Seat

[quirky3]

[Posh 08]

Why doesn't the whole group come at the same time, early? No need to "save seats" like the high school basketball game.

[Cisco Kid]

[perrjojo]

Saving seats has become a HUGE problem! Sorry, no sympathy here. People have been begging for this problem to be solved for years. I really doubt you will get any sympathy on this forum!

[DAWN MARIE]

I also agree with the one who took the seat savers except I wouldn't be happy if I got up to dance or got a drink to come back and find my seat gone. So to do it an hour or so before events happen is one thing but once the events are underway they should stop.

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by katsudden

What "right" does anyone have to disrespect our "right" to be there first?

No-one is disrepecting your right to get there first. If you sit in your chair, you will secure it, no problem. If you choose to go shopping, your chair is up for grabs.

[Mr. Grampi II]

I mean no disrespect to the OP but I think if you absolutely must have a seat you should consider bringing your own chair.

I have a Mom who also as mobility problems, when we take her to square on a night when there is an event or it real busy we take her wheel chair or a folding chair of our own. This ensure she has a seat and we look for one for ourselves when available.

[coffeebean]

Saving seats at the squares hours before an event sounds like chair hogs on a cruise ship to me. Cruisers have gone as far as saying cruise ship chair hogs should be made to walk the plank. (It's an ongoing problem)

Hubby and I have always said, "The Villages is like a cruise ship on land".

[cquick]

we never leave our chairs completely empty. One of us stays with the chairs. That's fine for us, but what about people who like to dance? Then both are up at the same time, I think their chairs should still be there when they come back.....

[Bogie Shooter]

Originally Posted by Barefoot

No-one is disrepecting your right to get there first. If you sit in your chair, you will secure it, no problem. If you choose to go shopping, your chair is up for grabs.

Have to agree.
Glad to see some one is looking at "seat saving"....clean them up Dano.

[Posh 08]

Originally Posted by coffeebean

Saving seats at the squares hours before an event sounds like chair hogs on a cruise ship to me. Cruisers have gone as far as saying cruise ship chair hogs should be made to walk the plank. (It's an ongoing problem)

Hubby and I have always said, "The Villages is like a cruise ship on land".

Bingo

[9eileen9]

Originally Posted by katsudden

...My husband and I saved two seats about 3:30pm at Mardi Gras at Lake Sumpter. We went to get a bite to eat and returned to find our "seat savers" under the bushes and two other people in our seats. We were told that a Village Personnel man took our "seat-savers" off of the chairs. We spoke to the supervisor about it. He admitted to doing it.

What "right" does anyone have to disrespect our "right" to be there first?

What do YOU think?

Well done by the Supervisor!!! You have a right to reserve seats? Give me a break! We watched a lady "rope" off with ribbons 9 seats at Spanish Springs about 3 hours before the music began. We went back there at 5:45pm and saw that MOST of the seats were still "roped" off but no one sitting in them. That group finally arrived at 6pm and were annoyed that ALL 9 of the seats were not there waiting for them.
NO SAVING OF SEATS is a great idea. Again, well done by the Supervisor.

[JoeC1947]

It's about time The Villages took a stand by un-saving seats.