Make sure also that you have moved your characters to their respective positions by moving their hips. If you moved them into position by moving them with Body selected, the pose will not save their position. Example, if you posed the figure say, 5 on the x-tran and 6 on the z-tran, with Body selected, the saved pose would not save the x and z tran value. If you apply those positions to the Hip part of the character, with the Body x and z tran back to 0, the pose should then apply and place the figure to the position you want it.