Ban smoking at the MK?

[DetroitDisney]

To me it comes down to the fact that it is legal. I don't like smoking, I think it is a horrible habit. But it is legal, so yes, people are free to make the choice to smoke. I may not like it, but at it is legal I will defend their right to make that choice. Even though I think it is a stupid choice. I shudder to think the world will end up like it is in the movie Demolition Man? Anyone remember that? A world where everything that is deemed bad (smoking, swearing, even sex) is banned. And the only restaurant that exists is Taco Bell.

Owning knives and guns are also legal, yet those aren't allowed into the park for safety reasons. In fact, they aren't allowed in public in most parts of the country without a special permit. And smoking kills over 10x as many people as guns.

The freedom article is ridiculous. Your freedom is limited to the extent to which it inhibits others from being safe and healthy. I'm not talking about banning other things like eating fatty foods. That stuff can kill you too, but there aren't 2nd hand diabetes floating around. Smoking is a habit that affects people around you negatively.

 

[eadavis]

Owning knives and guns are also legal, yet those aren't allowed into the park for safety reasons. In fact, they aren't allowed in public in most parts of the country without a special permit. And smoking kills over 10x as many people as guns. The freedom article is ridiculous. Your freedom is limited to the extent to which it inhibits others from being safe and healthy. I'm not talking about banning other things like eating fatty foods. That stuff can kill you too, but there aren't 2nd hand diabetes floating around. Smoking is a habit that affects people around you negatively.

Hmm, second hand diabetes...thankfully Bloomberg is no longer Mayor in NYC...lord knows what would have been banned...

 

[Pumpkin meme]

smoking bad
exercise good

have a magical day.

 

[Planogirl]

your point is completely destroyed by the second-hand smoke argument. somebody gaining weight from their disney diet isn't hurting everybody within breathing distance.

Don't go within breathing distance of someone who is smoking then?

 

[Magic Fanatic]

I fully understand the risks associated with being exposed to second hand smoke while being in confined, closed in spaces for extended lengths of time. However, that is not the case here. All of these smoking areas are outdoors and no one is being exposed in a closed in environment for extended lengths of time. The idea that one will develop lung disease by simply walking past a smoking area seems a bit off base. I think the inconvenience and discomfort of smelling cigarette smoke for a few seconds as one walks by a smoking area Is being twisted into a health risk to win an argument. Maybe there are people out there that simply the smell of smoke can trigger an asthma attack, I don't know, but it seems extreme. I do know that my kid has asthma and we carry the proper meds for the unexpected attack. I would guess that if someone were so violently allergic than they would be prepared for this emergency at all times. I am sure that if they are that violently allergic, they encounter smoke and other irritants every day of their lives that can trigger attacks. Again, I don't care for smoking and wish everyone could quit, but getting a whiff of smoke when walking by a smoking area where people are following the rules does not bother me. I refuse to let something this insignificant affect me.

 

[EMode]

I fully understand the risks associated with being exposed to second hand smoke while being in confined, closed in spaces for extended lengths of time. However, that is not the case here. All of these smoking areas are outdoors and no one is being exposed in a closed in environment for extended lengths of time. The idea that one will develop lung disease by simply walking past a smoking area seems a bit off base. I think the inconvenience and discomfort of smelling cigarette smoke for a few seconds as one walks by a smoking area Is being twisted into a health risk to win an argument. Maybe there are people out there that simply the smell of smoke can trigger an asthma attack, I don't know, but it seems extreme. I do know that my kid has asthma and we carry the proper meds for the unexpected attack. I would guess that if someone were so violently allergic than they would be prepared for this emergency at all times. I am sure that if they are that violently allergic, they encounter smoke and other irritants every day of their lives that can trigger attacks. Again, I don't care for smoking and wish everyone could quit, but getting a whiff of smoke when walking by a smoking area where people are following the rules does not bother me. I refuse to let something this insignificant affect me.

We weren't walking by, we were standing there eating ice cream waiting for the rest of our party who got in line after us. It was a hot humid summer day and smoke was choking people out. It was disgusting. I think whoever decided to put a designated smoking area right by a place where people get food is a moron. I don't have a problem with designated smoking areas but I don't have a problem with any business banning smoking either whether its for the health of people who do care enough not to smoke or if its to keep their parks clean and the air enjoyable to breathe.

 

[maxiesmom]

We weren't walking by, we were standing there eating ice cream waiting for the rest of our party who got in line after us. It was a hot humid summer day and smoke was choking people out. It was disgusting. I think whoever decided to put a designated smoking area right by a place where people get food is a moron. I don't have a problem with designated smoking areas but I don't have a problem with any business banning smoking either whether its for the health of people who do care enough not to smoke or if its to keep their parks clean and the air enjoyable to breathe.

I guess don't see what is so hard about moving away from the DSA. I don't like the smell of smoke either, and if I am around it too long my asthma flares up. Why not get your ice cream and just move down the path a little ways? Maybe that is not the best place for a DSA but none of us have to stand there to enjoy our ice cream.

 

[EMode]

I guess don't see what is so hard about moving away from the DSA. I don't like the smell of smoke either, and if I am around it too long my asthma flares up. Why not get your ice cream and just move down the path a little ways? Maybe that is not the best place for a DSA but none of us have to stand there to enjoy our ice cream.

We did move, but that isn't the point. Its not like the smoke just stays in the designated smoking area because there is some sort of magical boundary. It was hot and humid and the smoke was lingering in the air everwhere. It was gross and I'd definitely support a ban that made any part of the parks less gross.
I'm not going to be writing Disney letters or anything, but if they decided to ban smoking I'd give them a big ole thumbs up.

 

[hedberg1661]

Personally, I don't smoke and don't care for smoking however, they could never ban smoking entirely at the parks.

 

[Magic Fanatic]

Personally, I don't smoke and don't care for smoking however, they could never ban smoking entirely at the parks.

I agree with you. Disney relies do much on international visitors and many countries do not look at smoking in the same way we do here in the US.

 

[SeanWM48]

Second hand disease scenario caused by weight gain:
A parent or spouse gains weight, it impacts their health-cardiac disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, and so on. Worried spouse or child are stressed by having to care for ailing relative. They develop anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, cardiac illness. Because they're stressed, they eat more and develop diabetes as well.

lol please

 

[Kristina4109]

I'm not a smoker and would never want my child to start, but I'm going to stay off the "should they ban it" topic and get down to the "WOULD they ban it." It's a good point to say that Disney relies on international visitors and that smoking is more common in other countries. However, if airlines can ban smoking (and it's not like a smoker can change their mind and decide to leave for a cigarette mid flight) then I think it's entirely feasible that Disney can as well.

 

[Disneychick75]

lol please

Stress won't lead to illness? These are just a couple of links:
http://www.lifescript.com/soul/self/well-being/illnesses_caused_by_stress.aspx
http://www.stress.org/stress-effects/

 

[maxiesmom]

I'm not a smoker and would never want my child to start, but I'm going to stay off the "should they ban it" topic and get down to the "WOULD they ban it." It's a good point to say that Disney relies on international visitors and that smoking is more common in other countries. However, if airlines can ban smoking (and it's not like a smoker can change their mind and decide to leave for a cigarette mid flight) then I think it's entirely feasible that Disney can as well.

An airplane is vastly different, as you are in an enclosed space, with nowhere else to go should someone near you light up. It is much much different to be somewhere outdoors, where all you need to do is to walk away if the smoke bothers you.

Of course any place can ban smoking. But do they really need to ban it at WDW? Nope. The smoke is easy enough to avoid if you want.

 

[Silock]

Yeah, go ahead and ban it. You think it will cost them money? HA.

Bars around here have enacted smoking bans for I don't know how long, and they're busier than they've ever been. Turns out that people avoided the bars because of the smoke, and the smokers still want to go to the bars.

I don't know that anyone is avoiding Disney because of smoke (highly unlikely), but it's also incredibly unlikely that a smoker will avoid Disney because they can't light up inside the parks. They'll get an eCig and that will be that.

 

[Silock]

An airplane is vastly different, as you are in an enclosed space, with nowhere else to go should someone near you light up. It is much much different to be somewhere outdoors, where all you need to do is to walk away if the smoke bothers you.

Of course any place can ban smoking. But do they really need to ban it at WDW? Nope. The smoke is easy enough to avoid if you want.

It's actually not always that easy. Smoke drifts with the wind. Sometimes, standing in line, especially at Aloha Isle, you cannot get away from it.

 

[Tramp68]

...they could never ban smoking entirely at the parks.

Legally, they could at any time. It is private property and they make the rules. you agree to abide by those rules when you enter the park.

Would they? That is another story, though I think the trend is going towards that. It will be many years though...

For those that think they would never do it because it would hurt business...No way. Just like 99% of the people claiming they are going to boycott Disney over FP+ will be back. It will become an annoyance to many, but they will be back. It hasn't hurt the malls, movies, sports, concerts, and restaurants (with MAYBE the exception of bars), it won't hurt theme parks...

 

[Tramp68]

I agree with you. Disney relies do much on international visitors and many countries do not look at smoking in the same way we do here in the US.

Do you really think that would make them stop coming? really?

 

[Tramp68]

I'm not a smoker and would never want my child to start, but I'm going to stay off the "should they ban it" topic and get down to the "WOULD they ban it." It's a good point to say that Disney relies on international visitors and that smoking is more common in other countries. However, if airlines can ban smoking (and it's not like a smoker can change their mind and decide to leave for a cigarette mid flight) then I think it's entirely feasible that Disney can as well.

And many of those flights are longer than the amount of time they spend in a park before leaving for the day.

 

[maxiesmom]

Legally, they could at any time. It is private property and they make the rules. you agree to abide by those rules when you enter the park.

Would they? That is another story, though I think the trend is going towards that. It will be many years though...

For those that think they would never do it because it would hurt business...No way. Just like 99% of the people claiming they are going to boycott Disney over FP+ will be back. It will become an annoyance to many, but they will be back. It hasn't hurt the malls, movies, sports, concerts, and restaurants (with MAYBE the exception of bars), it won't hurt theme parks...

It may have more of an affect on a theme park that relies heavily on foreign tourists.

Also there is a big difference between banning smoking at a restaurant where, if someone wants to smoke, they have to walk 30 feet to be outside and a theme park where the walk to go light up could be over a mile.