All resort non-smoking

[ammo]

I think there should be restrictions on both... but DIFFERENT restrictions.
In other words, I don't want to see someone lose their license and go to jail for smoking while driving.
On the other hand, alcohol doesn't leave a foul odor in the drapes, so I don't want that banned from the resorts.

Conversely, both drunk driving and smoking in the rooms should be punishable.

Just my opinion..

MG

Spot on!

 

[F4disneyfan]

Like this is a big problem? You already can't smoke in your room on the cruise ship.

That is perfect so now lets push to make the entire ship smoke free.

 

[dannyh23]

Like this is a big problem? You already can't smoke in your room on the cruise ship.

Its not the rooms, it's the balconies. If you have a medical issue, and your neighbor always decides to smoke on his balcony -- yeah, it's a problem.

 

[Sammie]

Sounds good on paper, now I will wait and see if Disney, who refuses to ever upset anyone, enforces it.

I have my doubts.

 

[smjj]

Like this is a big problem? You already can't smoke in your room on the cruise ship.

As one who has taken 3 Disney cruise it can be. On two of our cruises the people in the rooms next to us went on the balcony to smoke and with the breeze and ships movement it quickly filtered onto our balcony and then into our room. Also there were more than a few folks who would smoke in non-smoking area of the ship. I guess since they were outside, they thought they were allowed..smjj

 

[ammo]

Sounds good on paper, now I will wait and see if Disney, who refuses to ever upset anyone, enforces it.

I have my doubts.

In my experience, guests at WDW have probably been more observant of the smoking rules than of most others. Unfortunately, smokers may be accustomed to being verbally abused if they ever transgress (civility is not a universal trait these days). So Disney may stay true to its nonenforcement ways, but I suspect that the vast majority of smokers will abide by the ban.

 

[doconeill]

I am a non-smoker, and I think it is a shame that smokers are being pushed out of more and more places...but with what we now know (or at least strongly suspect) about what smoking does to both those who smoke and those who are exposed indirectly, I don't see the great harm here.

People CAN suffer ill effects from being in a room that someone smoked in previously. Some are far more sensitive than others, admittedly, but we cannot dismiss them.

I have yet to hear of a smoker suffering ill effects for staying in a room in which they cannot smoke. Yes, they are inconvenienced by having to walk a little farther.

My father smoked for a number of years, but successfully quit and was "clean" for over 20 years (before passing away from cancer anyways, but that could not be attributed to smoking). My mother smoked throughout her life, having tried to quit several times but couldn't. She passed away last year for other reasons (but it didn't help). My sister smokes, but has been weening off of it slowly. I think she'll be able to quit soon, but the last few years have been tough for us, so I haven't been bugging her about it. But she accepts the inconveniences that are placed on her.

 

[tjkraz]

I bought DVC. I have an investment there. I expect them to keep their end of the bargain, which included a few smoking rooms.

This may be arguing semantics but I don't believe there ever was a formal "bargain" which included a guarantee of smoking rooms.

As we all know the ability to secure a smoking or non-smoking room has always been a request rather than a guarantee. The only difference after 6/1 is that any *requests* for smoking rooms will be declined 100% of the time.

I'm not aware of any legal obligations to provide smoking rooms to DVC members (owners) or any other guests. For the most part this is no different than the dissatisfaction felt by those who can no longer take advantage of the DVC discount on the length-of-stay park passes (which was later revoked) or those who bought with the expectation of pool hopping at Stormalong Bay (which is no longer permitted.)

Hindsight is 20/20 but it seems like we should have all seen this coming when Disney took its stand on nutrition late last year. I'm sure there will be people upset with this move but it's impossible to ignore the medical data about how smoking impacts both smokers and non-smokers. I'm fairly impressed with Disney for taking what could be called a moral stand here--one that will certainly be unpopular with some. If it causes Disney resort occupancy to fall by 3%, its impact will certainly not go unnoticed.

 

[jodifla]

This may be arguing semantics but I don't believe there ever was a formal "bargain" which included a guarantee of smoking rooms.

As we all know the ability to secure a smoking or non-smoking room has always been a request rather than a guarantee. The only difference after 6/1 is that any *requests* for smoking rooms will be declined 100% of the time.

I'm not aware of any legal obligations to provide smoking rooms to DVC members (owners) or any other guests. For the most part this is no different than the dissatisfaction felt by those who can no longer take advantage of the DVC discount on the length-of-stay park passes (which was later revoked) or those who bought with the expectation of pool hopping at Stormalong Bay (which is no longer permitted.)

Hindsight is 20/20 but it seems like we should have all seen this coming when Disney took its stand on nutrition late last year. I'm sure there will be people upset with this move but it's impossible to ignore the medical data about how smoking impacts both smokers and non-smokers. I'm fairly impressed with Disney for taking what could be called a moral stand here--one that will certainly be unpopular with some. If it causes Disney resort occupancy to fall by 3%, its impact will certainly not go unnoticed.

I don't need Disney regulating my morals, nor my nutrition, for that matter.

 

[tjkraz]

I don't need Disney regulating my morals, nor my nutrition, for that matter.

I don't see that you have a choice.

I guess you know where to take your business.

 

[La2kw]

Let me be the bearer of bad news! For the record I am not now nor never have been a smoker, but i am sympathetic to their diminishing rights, this is America of course!

No one is taking away anyone's right to smoke. Disney is enforcing the nonsmoker's rights to breathe clean air in rooms that have not been smoked in, and to allow nonsmokers the right to use their balconies without having to be subjected to secondhand smoke. Most people do not smoke.

I am happy to see WDW finally joining Disneyland, Marriott, and the many other resorts and hotels that have made their properties nonsmoking.

As a DVC member, I am very glad that Disney will be making the DVC resorts nonsmoking. I am sick of checking into nonsmoking rooms which have been smoked in, or damaged by careless idiots putting burn marks into furniture, countertops, etc. I am also sick of people smoking in the adjacent nonsmoking room.

It's a smart business decision as there will likely be lower cleaning costs and fewer incidents of property damage- possibly keeping my dues from increasing too quickly.

 

[PIERCEDRN]

As a non-smoker married to a wife with asthma who REALLY can't be in a room that someone smoked in, I have very mixed emotions about this. This will inevitably lead to smokers who have spent 20 large on dvc feeling like pinocchio! "The world owes me a living!" All you need is one person feeling like smoking in that room because it is their "right" to stink it up for the next 1000 occupants. One by one every room will smell like smoke because there are no designated rooms. I hope they enforce this as well as they did at the Eagles stadium I attend. I am season ticket holder and they take the ticket numbers of anyone who is smoking in non-designated areas give them an index card warning them of the 500 fine if enforced, and write a letter to the owner of the seat account telling them they will lose their tickets if it is an issue again.

 

[dannyh23]

I don't see that you have a choice.

I guess you know where to take your business.

Can't argue with that! Case closed.

Now can we please go back to discussing why anyone has a problem with me filling up my 1997 refillable mug with self-serve soft yogurt from the machine in the food court?

 

[ammo]

... If it causes Disney resort occupancy to fall by 3%, its impact will certainly not go unnoticed.

Exactly. Disney is ultimately responsible to its shareholders, so this is part of a business strategy. Disney is reading tea leaves, and it sees what it interprets as longer-term trends in the resort industry. And smokers are not a fast growing or particularly unified demographic group, so Disney thinks this makes good business sense.

 

[CarolA]

Connect the dots for me. I don't see how the accommodations of other resort guests are affected by somebody overeating. Similarly for drinking, other than perhaps illegal or disruptive behavior. In such cases, DVC can restrict the derivative behaviors without eliminating food or alcohol. But smoking is different -- you can't eliminate the effects of smoke without restricting smoking. Of course, if you or some other brilliant entrepreneur creates an effective smokeless cigarette ...

You let someone drink and they can drive drunk... Need I connect any MORE dots. (More folks die from drunk driving accidents then the amount of second hand smoke they get at DISNEY!)

And Disney is not just protecting the "non smoker" they are REGULATING the smoker. So why not regulate your FOOD intake. After all if "Disney" is in charge they want you to live longer to spend more money...

And this line of "they will fine you.... " What planet do you live on? Someone call the Marriott and ASK them how often they fine. (Trust me NOT often LOL! I am a Platinum Marriott and stay at them over a 100 nights a year.. Never heard or seen any evidence of fining, but have smelled evidence of smoking! I know folks who smoke in thier room, via the use of "Febreeze" they are NEVER charged)

 

[Dean]

First, I amoung others stated it would happen and some said we were crazy. I am not unsympathetic to smokers who do have an addiction but do not feel others should have to suffer at their hands. Fortunately most smokers are courteous and will follow the rules. We’ll all be better off if the rest don’t go to WDW regardless. But until/unless Disney institutes true punishments like fines or eviction, I’m not sure it means anything. Time will tell.

I can see why people don't want smokers in their rooms, but not on balconies! This is ridiculous. I'm a non smoker, but I get SO SICK of non smokers thinking they own the world.

I can see a lot of families will no longer be traveling to Disney! We won't be able to travel with several family members to DVC, because they smoke.

Yes, I'm sure that's what all those smokers thought when they forked over 20 grand....that they wouldn't even be able to smoke on their own balcony.

There is no right to smoke in this situation and no promise by Disney one can. There is NO mention of smoking in any way in the paperwork. If one bought with assumptions they could smoke in rooms or on the balconies, the assumptions were wrong and the buyer took the risk. Certainly in the last 10 years one should have known this was a risk.

Smoke doesn't seep into everything outside.

You can't step inside for 15 minutes while someone has a cigarette?

Edited to add: Thanks for showing some concern for people in my situation.

Actually if it was just 15 minutes once or twice total it wouldn’t be such a big deal. But that’s not the way it is. It’s usually chain smokers, frequently in groups. 15 minutes becomes 2 hours every day, usually the only time one would be using the balcony.

I think I'm going to take up smoking, and start blowing the smoke in people's faces!

Super soaker locked and loaded for this situation.

I'm sorry. Not to be obtuse, but could you explain how this affects revenue?

I can’t speak for MrsNick but revenues have actually gone up in FL in restaurants with the smoking bad. The way it was explained to me is that smokers linger over the table and while they do order more in $$$, it’s not enough to make up for the time and lack of turnover. It also prevents the lost tables and complaints associated with one group not getting the request they want. Usually the smoking tables going empty and unused. It also reduces host/hostess time and thus possibly getting by with less people total. Same can be true for both MS and the front desk after the hubbub dies down.

This article is interesting since it only mentions Walt Disney World Resort, and does not make mention of either HH or VB. Wonder how they will be affected?

It’s interesting that I had just emailed DVC to make sure I had NS listed on my request for the exchange to VB next week. I got an email back that says the following.

Please be advised as of today it has been announced that all Disney
Vacation Club resorts and Walt Disney World Resorts will be nonsmoking
as of June 1st, 2007.

Personally this makes me mad. I am not a smoker, but if a smoker PURCHASED DVC they are being deprived. (Personally this strikes me as a much better class action suit then the idiots wanting to sue for commerical renting rights.)

Carol, this is funny. Something specifically allowed in the POS and which DVC says themselves they can’t legally prevent is OK for DVC to try to prevent “for the good of the members”, but something that is a proven health risk and socially becoming more and more unacceptable is an appropriate class action legal action.

I believe that HH is moving to a NS policy also soon, but due to legislation.

What I saw is that HH restaurants and certain other public areas will be NS. I don’t think this would apply to hotel rooms.

This is a hoot... do you really think MF's are going to go down What have you been smoking

Down, likely not, but not go up as much, absolutely. My info suggests that smoking is proven to increase maint costs of both hotels and timeshares, so says Marriott.

I don't feel like going back to the quote but to the people who feel it is unfair to pay for maintenance for cleaning smoking rooms, do you feel the same way paying the same amt of taxes as families w/ multiple children who go to public school?

Any timeshare or coop must find a balance between getting everyone to pay for certain things to reduce the total cost and spread it out over a larger group, vs pay for play for specialty items. The question is where do you draw the line. Not everyone uses the pool or transportation for example but it is reasonable for all to pay for these items, neither of which we personally use as a rule. IMO, smoking related costs falls well on the other side of that line and is an appropriate item to ask those that want this benefit to pay for it. IMO, to the tune of $250 per occurrence per day.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Don't forget, there will also be a small percentage increase because of the smoking ban. Perhaps not 3%, but there will be some.

Personal example: I cancelled a Honeymoon concierge room at the GF for December 2007. One of the main reasons was all those rooms were smoking optional. Had those rooms been guaranteed non smoking, we may have spent the $700/night.

Of course, we opted to go with our true love VWL. I'm unsure how I could have considered otherwise..

MG

 

[JesseDisney]

Great News!! thanks Disney
Just another reason this place is just the best!!

 

[kaytieeldr]

This article is interesting since it only mentions Walt Disney World Resort, and does not make mention of either HH or VB. Wonder how they will be affected?

It refers to hotels AND timeshare resorts. How is HH or VB not covered by that?

"All Walt Disney World® Resorts, including Disney Vacation Club Resorts," Since Hilton Head and Vero Beach are not Disney World Resorts, they are not included in the upcoming ban. That doesn't mean DVC won't/can't go entirely non-smoking, but at the current time, the change doesn't apply to the other DVC properties.

In reality, you have been getting a bargain. Smoking increases room maintenance costs and property insurance rates for the resorts. To be fair, those additional costs should all be borne by smoking members, but DVC distributes these costs evenly among all members through the maintenance fees (same for smokers and nonsmokers). So smokers basically owe nonsmokers for 15 years of inflated MFs.

If that were possible to enforce, only the smokers who smoked in the units would need to reimburse ALL the other members for additional maintenance costs. BUT, since you brought up the subject - does this mean DVC's maintenance fees are going to drop?

I guess maybe we should charge another fee to have rooms examined after alcohol consumption so that I don't have to sit on chipped furniture too?

Or chairs a mattress, or walk on carpeting, that's been subjected to the infamous "protein spill" that is not uncommon among those who imbibe in excess of certain quantities of alcohol...

While they have not mentioned the cruise ships, I wouldn't think they would make the ship non-smoking. With the resorts, you have the ability to go to a smoking spot. On a ship, there's no place else to go. They can't expect people to wait until they dock somewhere.

Yeah, Carnival tried a non-smoking ship a couple of years ago. The concept failed (although the ship is still active).

 

[smjj]

I don't need Disney regulating my morals, nor my nutrition, for that matter.

I don't feel they are. They are making changes based on popular and business demands. If people don't like the changes, well there are many rooms still available offsite that I am sure will want the business...smjj