Ban smoking at the MK?

[Tramp68]

Is there really a big problem with people smoking out of the designated areas? I didn't realize so many people were doing it. I cant believe I didn't notice. I know I might get some fire for this but if you are comfortable to break the rules like that you need to be asked to leave the park. Or if they do not want to get people to upset give a warning then escort them out if they do it again. Overall people should just stay in the area made for smoking.

I wouldn't call rule breakers a BIG problem, but it does happen. Unfortunately I think a vast majority of the rule breakers are very beligerent when asked not to smoke there...

I really think the BIG problem is that some of the smoking areas are in inappropriate and unavoidable places.

The other issue is that many of the places are not well marked. This leads to the very unpleasant experience of inadvertantly walking through the area and being accosted by "the cloud" Roping off the area with the exception of a smaller entry would help, so would better signs. (Of course paying attention to where you are going helps, but many have found their noses in a map **another discussion**)

Then there are those that think it is an inappropriate place for any smoking, like at kids athletic field events.

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Is there really a big problem with people smoking out of the designated areas?

I've seen seen it (and smelled it). It's not a "big problem," but it happens. For example, it's annoying to be walking around World Showcase Lagoon and find yourself behind someone smoking. I usually just speed up and get away from the smoke, but it really should not ever be necessary.

In some cases, it might be due to smokers who choose to ignore the rules. More often, I bet it's due to guests who aren't aware of the rules. Although the Guidemaps explain the smoking policy, how may guests thoroughly read the Guidemaps before exploring exploring the parks?

I've seen cast members politely direct guests who are smoking where they shouldn't be to designated smoking areas.

Perhaps the parks should have obvious notices at the entrances.

 

[Figmentforever24]

I wouldn't call rule breakers a BIG problem, but it does happen. Unfortunately I think a vast majority of the rule breakers are very beligerent when asked not to smoke there...

I really think the BIG problem is that some of the smoking areas are in inappropriate and unavoidable places.

The other issue is that many of the places are not well marked. This leads to the very unpleasant experience of inadvertantly walking through the area and being accosted by "the cloud" Roping off the area with the exception of a smaller entry would help, so would better signs. (Of course paying attention to where you are going helps, but many have found their noses in a map **another discussion**)

Then there are those that think it is an inappropriate place for any smoking, like at kids athletic field events.

You know I have always HATED the smoking area between the Imagination pavilion and The Land. Like it is right there in the pathway between the two. So I can see where they need to better advertise the smoking areas and place them in areas more out of the way. It might be more of a hassle for them, but they should be willing to sacrifice if they want to smoke. I wouldn't go as far as say to ban it since Disney would probably never hear the end of it. You know some sort of lawsuit would follow saying it is there "right" to smoke even though Disney ultimately makes the decision.

 

[Figmentforever24]

I've seen seen it (and smelled it). It's not a "big problem," but it happens. For example, it's annoying to be walking around World Showcase Lagoon and find yourself behind someone smoking. I usually just speed up and get away from the smoke, but it really should not ever be necessary.

In some cases, it might be due to smokers who choose to ignore the rules. More often, I bet it's due to guests who aren't aware of the rules. Although the Guidemaps explain the smoking policy, how may guests thoroughly read the Guidemaps before exploring exploring the parks?

I've seen cast members politely direct guests who are smoking where they shouldn't be to designated smoking areas.

Perhaps the parks should have obvious notices at the entrances.

I think more signs are a good idea, but then you will always have those guest who will smoke out of the designated areas, and then claim they didn't see the signs even though they clearly did. I imagine nothing will ultimately be done unless it gets really bad then Disney will just ban it all together. I am not a smoker so the ban wouldn't hurt me, but like I said a ban would be a lawsuit just waiting to happen.

 

[jcota]

I am a former smoker. When I did smoke, I simply did not take my cigarettes into the park. If you have a beef with those who are simply abiding by the rules of the park and those who are using the designated smoking locations so that they don't pollute the rest of the Disney air don't go around the area.

I kinda have to laugh at the comments. some people truly have no idea about addiction. It is funny to read their comments like they are the holier than thou and they have never done anything wrong.

With the comments about all of the cancer causing elements...why not ban the sun because it causes skin cancer?? LOL I am sure someone will respond to this but hey, this is my entertainment purposes so flame away!!

 

[Figmentforever24]

I am a former smoker. When I did smoke, I simply did not take my cigarettes into the park. If you have a beef with those who are simply abiding by the rules of the park and those who are using the designated smoking locations so that they don't pollute the rest of the Disney air don't go around the area.

I kinda have to laugh at the comments. some people truly have no idea about addiction. It is funny to read their comments like they are the holier than thou and they have never done anything wrong.

With the comments about all of the cancer causing elements...why not ban the sun because it causes skin cancer?? LOL I am sure someone will respond to this but hey, this is my entertainment purposes so flame away!!

No one has a beef with any of the smokers who follow the rules...or at least I don't. We are just saying that people clearly break the rules about smoking and they don't care about it. I don't think I am better then smokers but I do know that when I pay and take kids I shouldn't have to let them be around cigarette smoke. People who smoke need to smoke in the areas made for them. Those who do smoke in the right areas I don't have a problem with. But to assume people are trying to act better then you is a little far fetched. I understand addiction about as good as anybody. Maybe it wasn't to cigarettes but I have had my share of addictions. Don't get mad at people for voicing their opinions.

 

[Tramp68]

I think more signs are a good idea, but then you will always have those guest who will smoke out of the designated areas, and then claim they didn't see the signs even though they clearly did. I imagine nothing will ultimately be done unless it gets really bad then Disney will just ban it all together. I am not a smoker so the ban wouldn't hurt me, but like I said a ban would be a lawsuit just waiting to happen.

Definitely not "a lawsuit waiting to happen" There are many places that ban "on property" smoking such as educational campuses and public beaches.



See quote from a Law College Public Health Law Section

Smoke-free laws in outdoor areas, such as parks, recreational facilities, beaches, and patios, have proliferated throughout the U.S. over the last ten years. Many nonsmokers – especially children – who are exposed to outdoor tobacco smoke suffer immediate symptoms including breathing difficulties, eye irritation, headaches, nausea, and asthma attacks. Several recent studies have assessed the toxic health risks from exposure to secondhand outdoor tobacco smoke.

Outdoor smoke-free laws are typically enacted by city councils, county boards of commissioners, and local boards of health, which exercise their common authority to regulate smoking on public property. Often these laws are extensions of, or amendments to, indoor smoke-free policies. Some of these policies are based on nuisance law, and advocates in states such as California and South Carolina are collaborating with environmental groups to help pass them. Also, a growing number of hospital and school administrators, and other employers are adopting smoke-free campus policies, which extend to all outside grounds, such as parking lots, and property, whether owned, leased or rented. Many of these campus-wide smoke-free policies include business vehicles.

Disney is private property which gives them even more control rights. When you purchase a ticket you agree to their rules.

The argument that if Disney banned smoking it would hurt their attendance really does not hold water. The same argument was made about bars and restaurants, concerts and other events. They are all still going strong.

There is a plethora of evidence that the government does not back a smoker's right to smoke wherever they want.

 

[Figmentforever24]

Definitely not "a lawsuit waiting to happen" There are many places that ban "on property" smoking such as educational campuses and public beaches.


Oh I don't think a lawsuit would win, because like you said when people buy tickets they have to abide by the rules set by Disney. I was just saying that in todays society people will sue over everything any anything even if it is completely stupid. I was just saying that somebody would try to file a lawsuit, but not that it would win or cause a problem for Disney.

 

[kP72]

While we are making wish lists, can I add that every guest of appropriate age must use deodorant to eliminate personal body odor to the list? I had to leave a line several trips back - from Spaceship Earth (in the evening no less!) - because I was literally gagging due to BO. GROSS! I'd actually take cigarette smoke over that one!

Thank you!

 

[skylizard]

The argument that if Disney banned smoking it would hurt their attendance really does not hold water. The same argument was made about bars and restaurants, concerts and other events. They are all still going strong.

I agree. Disney could easily ban smoking tomorrow and attendance wouldn't be affected. I never see that many smokers nowadays anyway. I'm all for banning it. If you really need a smoke that bad, step outside the park. Do what you would normally do in other places that ban smoking too.

 

[eadavis]

I agree. Disney could easily ban smoking tomorrow and attendance wouldn't be affected. I never see that many smokers nowadays anyway. I'm all for banning it. If you really need a smoke that bad, step outside the park. Do what you would normally do in other places that ban smoking too.

Easier said than done though...smokers wanting to light up at a restaurant only need to walk maybe 20 feet to the door. If someone is at The back of MK, they have at least a half mile walk ahead of them...their lung capacity isn't that good to begin with...

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

I agree. Disney could easily ban smoking tomorrow and attendance wouldn't be affected. I never see that many smokers nowadays anyway. I'm all for banning it. If you really need a smoke that bad, step outside the park. Do what you would normally do in other places that ban smoking too.

The analogy between restaurants and Disney parks is not valid. People go to a restaurant for an hour or two. The restaurant's front door is never far away. People go to Disney parks for all day.

Many smokers want to smoke several times a day. Or, more accurately, they need to smoke several times a day because smoking is a physical addiction.

According to the CDC:

An estimated 42.1 million people, or 18.1% of all adults (aged 18 years or older), in the United States smoke cigarettes.1 Cigarette smoking is more common among men (20.5%) than women (15.8%).
​

How much busier do you want the park gates and security checkpoints to be?

Would you really like a cloud of cigarette smoke near the park entrances?

How many smokers would decide it's not worth the bother and would never return to Walt Disney World?

Disney is not going to ban smoking inside parks because it would alienate paying customers, would be costly to increase staffing at the entrances, and would only move the "problem" from one place to another.

Smoking already is banned in Disney restaurants, bars, theaters, and so on -- just as elsewhere (in most of the United States). Disney provides only a few places where smokers can smoke inside each park.

We can discuss if it makes sense for Disney to do a better job with smoking spots, but banning smoking entirely in the parks is not going to happen.

 

[rustyanchor]

People that smoke pay just as much to get into the parks and should have a right to smoke. Most of the smoking sections (they are disappearing all of the time) are out of the way. Disney will lose a lot of business if they stop it all together. You can eat your Dole Whip anywhere in the park. Smokers used to smoke anywhere in the park. They put all of the smokers in a few sections in the park and low and behold that is now not good enough? Now you want to stop them all together? What if someone wants a cigarette after their Dole Whip? Can't do it because they have to make non-smokers happy? What about making smokers happy? I thought smoking sections were put into place to try to make EVERYONE happy.

Someone further down in the thread suggested using e-cigarettes but, did you know that they are not allowed in the park except in the smoking areas? Have not figured out why yet though. They won't burn anyone or give out second hand smoke so what is the problem with them?

Wrong. Smoking is not a "right." Especially when you're on someone else's property, even if you're a paying customer. Disney could ban smoking in the parks and they wouldn't be violating anyone's rights.

For those who say smokers couldn't or wouldn't still visit the parks, that's not necessarily true. I work at a hospital that has banned smoking completely (as have many across the nation). A lot of us work 12-hour shifts and I have coworkers who are smokers. Some wear nicotine patches or chew nicotine gum, others go out to their cars and smoke on their lunch breaks.

I don't think Disney would get bad publicity from banning smoking altogether, I think they would get GOOD publicity, and I do think it will happen eventually. I say in the next 5-10 years. I don't think it will affect their attendance significantly, either. This is becoming the norm everywhere.

It's not that I don't have sympathy for smokers or that I think smokers are gross and bad. But I don't think the burden is on society in general to accept smoking and make it easy for smokers. Smoking kills people, and it's not a pretty death either. I have many family members who are smokers and former smokers. I watched both of my grandmothers die uncomfortable deaths from COPD. If they had not been smokers, there is a very good chance they would still be here today. That is a fact. As a health care worker, I witness the effects that smoking has on people's health and lives every day. I see the panicked look in patient's eyes as they come in gasping for air and then end up on BiPAPs or ventilators. I'm not trying to lecture, I'm just saying that I don't think anything that makes it more difficult or uncomfortable for people to remain smokers is necessarily a bad thing. And who knows, maybe WDW banning smoking could even be the push that some people need to decide that they will stop smoking for good so that they can enjoy vacations with their loved ones.

 

[Figmentforever24]

Wrong. Smoking is not a "right." Especially when you're on someone else's property, even if you're a paying customer. Disney could ban smoking in the parks and they wouldn't be violating anyone's rights.

For those who say smokers couldn't or wouldn't still visit the parks, that's not necessarily true. I work at a hospital that has banned smoking completely (as have many across the nation). A lot of us work 12-hour shifts and I have coworkers who are smokers. Some wear nicotine patches or chew nicotine gum, others go out to their cars and smoke on their lunch breaks.

I don't think Disney would get bad publicity from banning smoking altogether, I think they would get GOOD publicity, and I do think it will happen eventually. I say in the next 5-10 years. I don't think it will affect their attendance significantly, either. This is becoming the norm everywhere.

Best post of the day!

It's not that I don't have sympathy for smokers or that I think smokers are gross and bad. But I don't think the burden is on society in general to accept smoking and make it easy for smokers. Smoking kills people, and it's not a pretty death either. I have many family members who are smokers and former smokers. I watched both of my grandmothers die uncomfortable deaths from COPD. If they had not been smokers, there is a very good chance they would still be here today. That is a fact. As a health care worker, I witness the effects that smoking has on people's health and lives every day. I see the panicked look in patient's eyes as they come in gasping for air and then end up on BiPAPs or ventilators. I'm not trying to lecture, I'm just saying that I don't think anything that makes it more difficult or uncomfortable for people to remain smokers is necessarily a bad thing. And who knows, maybe WDW banning smoking could even be the push that some people need to decide that they will stop smoking for good so that they can enjoy vacations with their loved ones.

This is hands down the best post today.

 

[JoWiJo]

I am a former smoker. When I did smoke, I simply did not take my cigarettes into the park. If you have a beef with those who are simply abiding by the rules of the park and those who are using the designated smoking locations so that they don't pollute the rest of the Disney air don't go around the area.

First off, I'm glad you quit smoking. Since I'm not familiar with the smoking sections at WDW, I can't speak to that topic specifically --only to smoking sections in general. But I remember in the 90's when places around here were starting to be required by law to have non-smoking sections, such as in restaurants. They would always have the designated smoking sections along the path to the restrooms. Some places were even so obnoxious as to have the designated smoking section at the front door. Non-smokers had to go to the back. So it's not always as simple as avoiding the offending area. Sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. And even when one can avoid the area, the smoke can travel well outside the area, and no one knows where the smoke cloud begins.

I kinda have to laugh at the comments. some people truly have no idea about addiction. It is funny to read their comments like they are the holier than thou and they have never done anything wrong.

I suppose there will always be some who have no idea about addiction. I saw it with my dad though. My father was pretty much a chain smoker. Rarely would he go more than 20 minutes between cigarettes. He tried to stop smoking a few times, or at least cut back, and failed every time. Ultimately cigarettes contributed to the decline of his health. As many years as he smoked (for well over 50), I'm amazed that he didn't have more issues sooner than he did.

The last 5 years of his life were smoke-free. He had a stroke and was FORCED to give up smoking while he remained in the hospital for a month. He was given the patch instead. It was a very rough transition, but a successful one. At least today, we have nicotine patches to get over this particular addiction. And at this point, I want to say that if someone really wanted to get free from smoking, that's it's as easy as getting the patch. But I know it's not that simple. I know that with my dad, the only reason the patch worked is that he had no other alternatives. If he had any control over the situation, he would have lit one up during that time for sure.

As for me, I've developed asthma from my day's habit. My asthma is nowhere as bad as it used to be, but anytime I unexpectedly walk into a nicotine cloud, my lungs stop taking in air. And that's not by my personal choice. Whenever I know ahead of time that I have to walk through a nicotine smoke cloud (ie. when it's unavoidable), I have to take a deep breath, hold it, walk through the offending area, then gasp for breath on the other side. I don't always make it through on one breath though, and inhale a large volume of smoke and end up having a very uncomfortable shortness of breath for a few hours with a borderline asthma attack from the residual smoke.

So for me, when it comes to others smoking, it's not simply a matter of a foul odor in a small area, it's a matter of being able to breathe. Smokers can talk about their rights and all, but when they claim that their right to smoke supersedes my right to breathe, I'd say that they are being holier-than-thou.

With the comments about all of the cancer causing elements...why not ban the sun because it causes skin cancer?? LOL I am sure someone will respond to this but hey, this is my entertainment purposes so flame away!!

The sun is necessary for life on earth. What value do cigarettes have? Oh right, they make a select few rich and bring in some "sin tax" revenue.

 

[dvczerfs]

how does that great place with cheap ticket prices, small "fast pass" lines, cheaper food....... universal handle the smoking issue?
just asking. haven't been in a while.do they have areas or is it all no smoking?

 

[dvczerfs]

I would like the Disney Cast members to ask those smoking outside of the designated smoking areas to conform to the smoking guidelines. I have noticed that the cast members just walk past the smokers without acknowledging anything wrong. Just try to stand outside the ropes when the parade is coming. See how long it takes for a cast member to say something.

just need to point them out to security and they will take care of it.

standing outside of ropes when the parade is coming..... that would be the crowd control cms (white shirt, black pants and a black vest)..... they do a great job. you wouldn't want to get hit by a 3000 pound float.

 

[Planogirl]

how does that great place with cheap ticket prices, small "fast pass" lines, cheaper food....... universal handle the smoking issue?
just asking. haven't been in a while.do they have areas or is it all no smoking?

They have designated smoking areas too and sometimes people ignore them just like at WDW. I am apparently oblivious there too because I rarely see anyone smoking at either place.

People say that Americans smoke less and less. It appears that less and less of us are going to Disney parks compared to certain other nationalities too. Does anyone know if smoking is dropping as much in Europe or South America and so on? I imagine that Disney will care about that.

 

[amberpi]

I saw someone mention banning the sun. It would be awesome if Disney installed "auto sun screen" like a mini car wash for everyone entering the parks. I have seen some seriously horrible looking burns at WDW, but wearing sun screen is my personal banner I carry around. That, and I don't let anyone in my room leave for the day until we've all consumed at 1 bottle of water. Sip, chug, IDC, but I constantly remind everyone that "dehydration kills." Its become quite the running joke - my girlfriends have started saying it on our beach trips too. But it is true guys, start your day hydrated!

 

[dvczerfs]

I saw someone mention banning the sun. It would be awesome if Disney installed "auto sun screen" like a mini car wash for everyone entering the parks. I have seen some seriously horrible looking burns at WDW, but wearing sun screen is my personal banner I carry around. That, and I don't let anyone in my room leave for the day until we've all consumed at 1 bottle of water. Sip, chug, IDC, but I constantly remind everyone that "dehydration kills." Its become quite the running joke - my girlfriends have started saying it on our beach trips too. But it is true guys, start your day hydrated!

make me drink all that water you will spend your vacation in front of a mens room.