BALCONY SMOKERS....and a few other things...just back from SSR..

[WDWfantasy]

DH and I just returned from SSR on Sunday, March 9th. We checked into our studio in Congress Park on Saturday, March 1st. We did have glasses and mugs, although I had to call to ask for dish soap and a sponge. A CM came to our door on the 2nd to replace the amenities list (in the kitchenette cabinet) with the updated list. Our glasses and mugs were never removed during our stay though. I guess I didn't realize that paper plates/bowls and plastic utensils weren't replenished on full cleaning and T&T days. I must have forgotten as we usually stay in a 1BR.

I was very surprised to find that our neighbors on BOTH sides of us smoked on their balconies. We called the front desk to report both of them and were told that "supervisors would be notified immediately and it would be handled". I don't know exactly what that was suppose to mean as I saw both neighbors smoking on the balconies during the rest of our stay. Whether they get slapped with the $250-$500 fine or not, I guess I will never know. It was very irritating though. Fortunately the breeze seemed to be in my favor most of the time so I could sit on my balcony without choking on their disgusting smoke. Don't know what one can do other than to report it as I didn't feel up to a confrontation with these people. Both parties were there the entire time that we were.

On a happier note, the studio overall was in good shape, we had a nice view of DTD, we had a DVD player in our studio, the weather was great despite all of the news about tornado warnings and all, we had great food and great service at all of the places that we ate....Whispering Canyon, Typhoon Tillys, The Fountain (at the Dolphin), Rainforest Cafe (Animal Kingdom), Trails End, ESPN Club, La Cantina (Mexico Pavilion), Artist Palette, Sci-Fi, Captains Grille (formerly Yachy Club Galley). Parks weren't too crowded and we had no dining reservations for the entire trip but never had to wait more than a couple of minutes.

We are looking forward to our next trip in November with both DDs and our soon to be (in August) DSIL. Thanks for reading.........

 

[wlwilliams9]

UGH...I HATE cigarette smoke! Thank goodness it wasn't blowing in your direction. I probably wouldn't have confronted them directly either, but when you are trying to enjoy your vacation, disgusting cig smoke is the last thing you want to deal with especially in a place that is supposed to be non-smoking! Glad you had a great vacation despite the smokers.

 

[spiceycat]

am allergic to tobacco - so would have to moved immediately.

no matter how nice the room is - it isn't worth getting sick over.

go the member site and send them a email explaining that SSR did nothing to stop the smoking. You did your part - they didn't

 

[alldiz]

Glad you had a great trip....
As for the smokers.....we knew this would happen....at least it wasn't in the room.
Kerri

 

[DisneyWorldOct08]

I'm also allergic to smoke and have run into balcony smokers before. Really annoying. They have designated smoking areas for a reason.

 

[sorul82?]

Some of you may not agree, but I really wish Disney had not "done away" with the smoking rooms. We stayed at POR last Aug (bldg 14 AB) and had smokers on each side of us. We walked out one morning turned right, there was a smoker, turned around to go the other way and yet another smoker. We had no choice but to pass through smoke (or jump). We moved over to AKV, walk out on the balcony for the first time, and get a good whiff of smoke. A man was out on the balcony smoking one floor down, one room over. I could see his Gator-Aid bottle ash tray. I called the front desk and within minutes a hotel manager and another person were at our door.

Many smokers are polite and follow the rules. It's those few who just don't care that make me .

 

[alldiz]

Some of you may not agree, but I really wish Disney had not "done away" with the smoking rooms. We stayed at POR last Aug (bldg 14 AB) and had smokers on each side of us. We walked out one morning turned right, there was a smoker, turned around to go the other way and yet another smoker. We had no choice but to pass through smoke (or jump). We moved over to AKV, walk out on the balcony for the first time, and get a good whiff of smoke. A man was out on the balcony smoking one floor down, one room over. I could see his Gator-Aid bottle ash tray. I called the front desk and within minutes a hotel manager and another person were at our door.

Many smokers are polite and follow the rules. It's those few who just don't care that make me .

I agree....they should have left some.....the real problem was not smoking rooms.....but smokers that did not book smoking rooms....and then smoke.
Kerri

 

[spiceycat]

believe me I also wish that Disney still had smokers rooms.

then you knew where they were and could avoid them. in the public areas - since the bus drivers never allowed smoking on the bus - it was okay.

now they can turn up anywhere and everywhere.

until Disney falls it on rules - smokers are gonna smoke sometimes in people's faces who like me are allergic.

 

[SplashMountainMama]

When we were in WDW in Feb. people were smoking all over and no one was saying anything about it. DH is a smoker and actually used the smoking areas. One night he couldn't sleep and went out for a cigarette in the middle of the night. The next day he said he didn't know why he bothered going to the smoking area when even CM's working the grounds during the night were smoking on the job wherever they wanted. Clearly, people are not using the designated smoking areas very often or they would be packed. At most, DH saw 2 other people in the smoking areas at any given time.

 

[sorul82?]

Spicey or anyone else who may know:

Is there any info on the previous smoking rooms? Like do they still smell? Was the carpet replaced? I'm not sure what all needs to be done to completely "de-tox" a room, but I do know that a good cleaning isn't enough.......this is good info whether a hotel or a house. Does anyone have any experience? Do you need to strip wallpaper? If you repaint, do you need to prime, or just a coat of paint will do? Thanks

 

[Lori2816]

 

[sorul82?]

Are you in a designated smoking area?

 

[WDWfantasy]

am allergic to tobacco - so would have to moved immediately.

no matter how nice the room is - it isn't worth getting sick over.

go the member site and send them a email explaining that SSR did nothing to stop the smoking. You did your part - they didn't

I did just that a few moments ago. Here is what I sent to Member Services. (I left out the exact room numbers in this post)

"We just returned from 8 nights in a studio at Saratoga Springs. We had a wonderful vacation overall but there are a couple of things that I wanted to express to you.

We were in room ****. The guests in room **** were smoking on the balcony and so were the guests in room ****. That means the balconies on both sides of our balcony had people smoking on them. We noticed this the first morning of our trip as I was sitting on the balcony trying to enjoy my book and my coffee in the ONCE PROVIDED CERAMIC COFFEE MUG. We called the front desk and reported both room numbers and were told that they would "take care of it". The people continued to use the balconies as their smoking areas during the rest of our trip even after a second phone call to the front desk.

My other complaint is that during our stay a new "amenities list" was put in the kitchen cabinet. It is dated March 2nd and excludes the drinking glasses and the ceramic coffee mugs. I am very disappointed in this. I absolutely refuse to drink coffee out of a styrofoam cup. Why would you want to do this? Now there will be more waste than ever with both disposable coffee cups and disposable plastic glasses. Please rethink this change.

Thank you for listening-"

I immediately received back the standard e-mail receipt confirmation below

"Thank you for submitting your e-mail request.

A Vacation Advisor will research your request and respond via return
e-mail within 3 business days.

Thank you for contacting us,
Disney Vacation Club"

I'll let you all know what I hear back.......

 

[MickeyNicki]

I didnt know you were not allowed to smoke on your balconies...I do vacation rentals on Marco Island, all of our units are non smoking but we do allow them to smoke on the balcony as long as the doors are shut, lets face it how can you force them to not smoke?? If the unit smells like smoke at all we get an ozone machine put in the unit for 24 hours and charge the tenant $300

PS..I am a non smoker

 

[allisonswonderland]

I had someone above us smoking and they ashed on our balcony, when I reported it, they blamed ME for smoking. The only reason I reported it was b/c I was afraid they would fine me. After day 2 I got really mad when they tried to accuse me again. I just called housekeepping and asked if they would mind cleaning our balcony b/c our upstairs neightbor was smoking.

 

[momtoBrandon&Jacob]

I didnt know you were not allowed to smoke on your balconies...I do vacation rentals on Marco Island, all of our units are non smoking but we do allow them to smoke on the balcony as long as the doors are shut, lets face it how can you force them to not smoke?? If the unit smells like smoke at all we get an ozone machine put in the unit for 24 hours and charge the tenant $300

PS..I am a non smoker

Ditto. When we vacation in Ocean City, MD we always stay in a high rise condo unit. All the rooms have balconies and we always see people smoking on them, yet most of the units are non-smoking. We've never really been bothered by people smoking on their balconies though. Hey, whatever makes their vacation happy I guess.

 

[nana2tots]

 

[livndisney]

I did just that a few moments ago. Here is what I sent to Member Services. (I left out the exact room numbers in this post)

"We just returned from 8 nights in a studio at Saratoga Springs. We had a wonderful vacation overall but there are a couple of things that I wanted to express to you.

We were in room ****. The guests in room **** were smoking on the balcony and so were the guests in room ****. That means the balconies on both sides of our balcony had people smoking on them. We noticed this the first morning of our trip as I was sitting on the balcony trying to enjoy my book and my coffee in the ONCE PROVIDED CERAMIC COFFEE MUG. We called the front desk and reported both room numbers and were told that they would "take care of it". The people continued to use the balconies as their smoking areas during the rest of our trip even after a second phone call to the front desk.

My other complaint is that during our stay a new "amenities list" was put in the kitchen cabinet. It is dated March 2nd and excludes the drinking glasses and the ceramic coffee mugs. I am very disappointed in this. I absolutely refuse to drink coffee out of a styrofoam cup. Why would you want to do this? Now there will be more waste than ever with both disposable coffee cups and disposable plastic glasses. Please rethink this change.

Thank you for listening-"

I immediately received back the standard e-mail receipt confirmation below

"Thank you for submitting your e-mail request.

A Vacation Advisor will research your request and respond via return
e-mail within 3 business days.

Thank you for contacting us,
Disney Vacation Club"

I'll let you all know what I hear back.......

The VERY same thing happened to us at SSR in Septemeber. I called the front desk and was told they would handle it, the smoking continued, I called again and was told to call housekeeping, they would handle it, I called, smoking continued. When we checked out they asked how our stay was, I told them once again about the smokers. They said they would handle it. Doesn't look like they did.

 

[brittsmum1998]

Are you in a designated smoking area?

 

[Brenle]

I had someone above us smoking and they ashed on our balcony, when I reported it, they blamed ME for smoking. The only reason I reported it was b/c I was afraid they would fine me. After day 2 I got really mad when they tried to accuse me again. I just called housekeepping and asked if they would mind cleaning our balcony b/c our upstairs neightbor was smoking.

One good reason why I request the top floor at SSR. No ashes on us!