(CLOSED) The Smoking DSA's @ Resorts Info Thread

[MegRN]

I would like to thank all the smokers out there who are kind enough to smoke in the designated areas. I found this to be frustrating when I was out in the park and people would be smoking and hiding their cigarette out on the street. I am a typical ex-smoker so I hope people can understand how aggitating it can be. We stayed at the AKL and I know that the only smoking area is the bench between the lobby entrance and the bus stop. I always avoided the area by cutting through the gift shop.

 

[gail789]

So you still see balcony smoking at the resort? May I ask which resort?

That's not the case from what I've seen. 3 resorts - it's not being enforced.
So long as in room smoking isn't occuring, or other guests aren't complaining -my observation is that nothing has changed following the policy announcement.
In fact, I witnessed contractors rehabing/painting a building at OKW and smoking while doing so (inside and out on the unit's balconies).
Also, smoking while freely roaming the parks seems more common than ever before.

 

[Suzibrat]

I am really thankful for this thread. My husband and I had debated NOT going to WDW because of all the non-smoking mis-information we were getting from friends. After finding this thread and realizing that we can still smoke, even if it has to be in a DSA, we booked a trip. Thank you to everyone who has posted here with questions and info. It made a big difference for us!

 

[Tink415]

I would like to thank all the smokers out there who are kind enough to smoke in the designated areas. I found this to be frustrating when I was out in the park and people would be smoking and hiding their cigarette out on the street. I am a typical ex-smoker so I hope people can understand how aggitating it can be. We stayed at the AKL and I know that the only smoking area is the bench between the lobby entrance and the bus stop. I always avoided the area by cutting through the gift shop.

There are 3 DSA's at AKL, the one mentioned above, plus one outside on the walkway to Mara by the entrance to Jiko and Boma, and one near the pool bar (see the map posted in the sticky WDW Resorts Smoke Free / w Maps on the Resorts Forum).

 

[DVCconvert]

There are 3 DSA's at AKL

considering the number of room involved...I'd say that's unacceptably low.

 

[englishrose47]

I found the biggest problem at the parks was the poor signage for the DSAs. If Disney signed them better I think there would be much less smoking in non DSAs Several smokers confirmed this theory that they couldn't find one so we sneaked off to a secluded area. This time I found that the cms were less vigilant about smokin in non DSA areas,but as I said if I could find one I used it, The resorts were easier as you were there everyday so knew where the areas were. One thing that did annoy me was all the buts I saw at the resorts in particular. I took pride that I left not one of my buts on the ground. Shame on you smokers who littered!!

 

[shellybaxter]

considering the number of room involved...I'd say that's unacceptably low.

AKL is a special situation. They've always had smoking areas as smoking is not allowed around the animals. They actually added the area by the Mara walkway. Guests wishing to stay at the hotel with the animals have to give up a few things (balloons, straws, and appartently more convenient smoking areas)

 

[lisalonglash]

Can anyone tell me how close the nearest DSA is to the Toy Story building at ASMovies? I've looked at the map, but I'd love someone who's actually been there to let me know how far away it is. There are 3 smokers in our group of 12, so I'd like to be able to let everyone know where the DSA is.

Thanks so much!

 

[momsoftwins]

hi i was wondering if someone could post any page numbers with any info about DSA for pop century. i tried to do a thread search and am havin no luck with that. and personally i didnt want to read all 37 pages. so again if anyone knows of any pages for the pop that would be great
thanks

 

[gail789]

I was able to look at a resort map and that helped a little. I am going there Friday, but what I was wondering is does anyone know, who has been there, exactly how strict they are being on balcony smoking, and how does one get around this if they are traveling alone with a child, and there is no way to go down to a DSA. Probably the only answer is to stay off sight, but I wish they can just designate a small area on the top floor that balcony smoking is allowed, but I guess that would be a wish upon a star.

 

[Tink415]

AKL is a special situation. They've always had smoking areas as smoking is not allowed around the animals. They actually added the area by the Mara walkway. Guests wishing to stay at the hotel with the animals have to give up a few things (balloons, straws, and appartently more convenient smoking areas)

This info is not entirely correct. I stayed at AKL many times before the resort became smoke free. There were smoking and smoking optional rooms available. And there were more than two ash trays outdoors on the property.

3 DSA's is a small number, but having stayed at AKL this past Dec. with the DSA's it was tolerable for this smoker. IMHO the DSA's are poorly located and could be a bit more out of the main walkways.

Oh, and AKL now has cardboard-like straws, I missed the wooden paddles for frozen bar drinks

 

[zorro77]

Arriving at OKW arpil 4th -14th. Am a cigar smoker and its been a long winter in Minnesota. Cannot wait to get back home. Have smoked cigars at Disney for years and even with the new laws and etc. never had an issue. Lots of people do not like cigar smoke and will always be accomodating to the needs. If at the pool area i go to where i need to be to enjoy sun and have a good time. My wife does not like me to smoke but understands my needs. Love to go to the new Sosa bar for a late night. Even if i am always the oldest one their it does not matter. So if anyone is looking for a night of good smokes in Disney DT, let me know i would be able to join you. Since i travel with 7 females i sometimes feel out of place and at DTD i can fit in ok.

 

[DoOverDreams]

I just had to share this. DH and I went on a quick trip for Presidents day weekend. We really lucked out and were able to get a one bedroom villa at the last minute. It was wonderful!

DH and I are both smokers. So we were very happy with our room. 7141 in the Carousel area. Just walk out the door and around the corner and boom, nice smokers area with a bench. Anyhow, we took advantage of it Saturday and Sunday. It was great getting up in the morning, getting coffee and walking out to the bench and having that first morning cigarette.

Now, to the funny story. Monday morning DH went out first and came back in laughing and shaking his head. Seems there was a guy sitting right beside the ashtray on the bench working on his laptop. Hmm, had to go check it out. So, both of us with our nice cups of coffee in hand (and smokes) went back out to the bench. Sure enough, this man feverishly typing away on his laptop. Didn't look up to say hello, just kept typing away. And not smoking. Even though he was sitting right beside the ashtray. So, I sat down. Still no acknowledgment from the guy. DH and I chatted, smoked, drank coffee. Strange man still typing away. We went back to our rooms, showered, dressed, packed, etc. Went back out. The guy was STILL there. All in all, I would say he was there a good 2 hours. Never looked up, never stopped typing.

Oh well, I thought it was pretty strange, but hey. I'm sure he was working on something important.

Now, to all non-smokers out there. There are lots and lots of places for you to go on site. Heck, you can even sit on your patio/balcony if you want. There just aren't that many places for us smokers to go and actually smoke legally and in some comfort. Can you maybe hang out in the non-smoking area next time?

Thanks

 

[DrmWvr1299]

Hmmm...that is kind of weird . I am hoping I can get a good spot at the YC where it is close to the DSA.

 

[sp103]

I found this thread while researching a Disney vacation and possible locations to stay as the last two times I've stayed off-property (worldquest resort). If I come off angry, I apologize as I mean no disrespect to the board or members.

I respect Disney's decision, but I truly hate it. I personally feel as a smoker my choices at most Disney resorts have been limited to the closest to the ground, closest to the DSA without my option or choice. I was looking to maybe get a nice, expensive tower MK view room at the CR but now, I'm not even going to considerate it. Even though at Disney you barely spend time in your room anyhow, I'd feel more comfortable at the Carribean seeing I can (thanks to the maps!) walk outside, maybe down one flight of stairs and 10-20 feet to a DSA.

I could easily live with no-smoking in the rooms. The past times I have stayed in florida every hotel has had a balcony and I've gone outside there to smoke. I would brave the lightning storms! I dispute the fact that you pay for a room, and a balcony (or patio) which is OUTSIDE, not inside where it could linger and the smell would be offensive. The fact of the matter is "outside", no matter where it is, or whos property it is, still the fact it is "outside". And if smoking in DSA's is allowed outside, why isn't the privacy of my paid-for balcony/patio the same? Obviously, my smoking my upset someone when they walk past the DSA when I'm smoking (I was told to "put it out" at a DSA at AK by another guest walking by a DSA), so I fail to see the logic of not letting me smoke in that private area. Getting back to that Animal Kingdom story for a moment, I had just walked half-way around the place to get to a DSA, so my quip reaction was "This is where we're allowed to smoke". I admit, this DSA was in a TERRIBLE location, the one near the bridge that joins where Everest is and The Finding Nemo show. No matter what, when you walk by, you're getting a wiff of a cigarette.

Finally, it's called planning. If 20 people request a smoking balcony or patio, Disney should do their best and lump them together. Adversly, if someone is allergic to second-hand smoke and states in their reservation, the proper care should be administered to them as well. I would truly feel terrible smoking on my $450 balcony room at the CR then have an asthmatic sitting next-door trying to enjoy the same view we both paid for.

Finally, I see the Four Seasons is to open within a few years. I wonder if the Four Seasons will permit smoking rooms. Anytime I have stayed at an FS, I have been given a smoking room without question, even on a non-smoking floor! I even had stay paid for by the hotel because a guest banged on my door yelling "stop smoking in there" so I called security!

Thanks for reading!

 

[suzzzze]

I agree with you in hating the smoking policy at Disney. We stayed at the BWV in Jan. and we will be giving serious thought to staying off property the next time we go. We requested a first floor room and were put on the top floor. Quite the trek to a DSA and if I was alone with the grandkids would have to take them with me. Couldn't even enjoy watching the football playoffs in my room!!

Anyway, I said this before but I'll say it again. I don't think it will change the policy but I wish all the smokers here would write to Disney and tell them their feelings on the non-smoking policy. After all, they changed to non-smoking because of complaints from non-smokers, maybe they can offer balcony smoking in a few rooms or an entire floor of each resort. I wrote and hope everyone else will too.

Sue

 

[misscues]

Thanks for the info and your input. I feel very lucky to have found, what I hope will be, a wonderful resort off property to accommodate our 15 person party this year; The Sheraton Vistana Resorts. There are two locations within minutes of the parks. One is directly across highway 4 from Downtown Disney. The other is just a little bit north on International Drive from the first...they both look wonderful and do not offer nonsmoking rooms. It is only $1400 for seven nights/eight days in a 2 bedroom unit with living room, kitchen, and 2 baths, and great onsite amenities. I paid that plus for our single hotel room at CB our last trip. What a deal and OH, the room to relax will be wonderful.

I understand exactly what you mean about the patio/balcony issue. Last year, we did pay the "extra" for the tower, MK view at the Contemporary. I requested a smoking room and this was before the no smoking policy. When we arrived, I was told that the rooms there were now no smoking but I could smoke on the balcony...so I did. Quick note on CR, NOT Worth it!!! Love the view but the accommodations are not worth the extra and the atmosphere there is very stale and uninviting (almost rude) we were very disappointed and will never stay there again.

When I made our reservations for CB, the policy was still not in place and we requested the smoking room there. The policy was published shortly after. So I did a bit of research and tried to get close to a DSA. While it was a short walk around the building, I still felt as I spent most of my vacation alone. Families spend time together when they get back to the rooms talking about the day and what tomorrow will bring. Smokers are limited all day in the parks and it is nice to come back, sit and relax, have a smoke, a cup of coffee, talk and just spend time with the family. You can't even smoke at or close to the pool; I feel really sorry for those, with very little ones, that smoke (not the little ones smoking) because you have to ask the kids to get out of the pool to go with you to sit and watch you smoke. This is not good.

This year, we are taking 15 or more guest on vacation and will be going to Vistana Resort, Universal (both parks), Discovery Cove, and Sea World. All of which seem a bit more smoker friendly (more DSA's, better placed, etc.) Discovery Cove even offers restaurant seating with smoking (all seating is outside, smoking is on one side of the restaurant building, non is on the other side) so you can enjoy a smoke after your meal without having to go search for a DSA.

Last, I know there are a number of smokers that don't try to be considerate of others that don't smoke. However, I do. Even so, I have noticed that people are getting a bit more rude to smokers because of policies such as Disney's as they feel like they have the world on their side so it is okay to be disrespectful and rude. It is hard to... try to work with the system, go where we are asked to go to smoke, but still get the disrespectful looks and remarks and not get upset with it all. So instead of dealing with it, I just take my $8000+ elsewhere. Not that we will never go back to Disney, but I can say with all honesty, it won't be yearly as it was in the past and we will stay off-site.

Thanks again for the heads up on the Four Season's; I will have to keep a look out for this one.

 

[GailT]

I agree with you in hating the smoking policy at Disney. We stayed at the BWV in Jan. and we will be giving serious thought to staying off property the next time we go. We requested a first floor room and were put on the top floor. Quite the trek to a DSA and if I was alone with the grandkids would have to take them with me. Couldn't even enjoy watching the football playoffs in my room!!

Anyway, I said this before but I'll say it again. I don't think it will change the policy but I wish all the smokers here would write to Disney and tell them their feelings on the non-smoking policy. After all, they changed to non-smoking because of complaints from non-smokers, maybe they can offer balcony smoking in a few rooms or an entire floor of each resort. I wrote and hope everyone else will too.

Sue

I'm a non smoker and I don't like it BUT I don't think smokers should have to be sheilded from othere. Smoking people and not all smoke in rooms where they are ot suppose to and that just isn't right for people that have ashtma and things in that nature. Maybe the more people that voice there opinion for approving smoking in a certain building or part of a building Disney will listen but dont hold your breath because I dont think that is gonna happen, just hope and keep the faith

 

[sp103]

First to Miscues, thanks for your input about the CR Magic Kingdom view rooms. When I think about it, it may not be worth it. I know you recommended the Sheraton, I have stayed at the Worldquest Resort the past two times (Non smoking rooms, but all have balconies/patios which you may smoke on). Highly Recommended.

I have seen some hotels go from Completely non-smoking back to smoking. Several Boston Hotels examples include the XV Beacon and Intercontinental. The real discussion is truly about the outside and patio/balcony. Now if i'm reading this correctly, they (Disney) doesn't want you smoking in the parking lot of a Hotel (Or theme park?) but ONLY in DSA locations? Are you serious? I understand waiting in a huge line or around others, but come on. The fact that smoking takes place outdoors, much like other allergic-causing substances such as pollen etc is just a fact of life. The only difference here is someone can communicate, politely, between the two parties. If someone said "Could you please not smoke when we are out here" on a balcony next to my balcony at the CR, of course I would stop and not do such a thing.

Again, Not smoking in the room: No problem. If I didn't have a balcony room, its Florida! At the Caribean or any All Star resorts, its easy to step outside and smoke. But If I pay for luxury, like a room with a patio/balcony, thats an OUTSIDE, private area which I have paid for. I think the notion of restricting people of what they do inside their paid-for rooms is bordering on ridiculous.

Again, The Four Seasons is coming to Disney, and they take smokers openly. In fact its never a problem (I've been to FS in Boston, Las Vegas, Palm Beach so far for me).

 

[englishrose47]

I recently stayed at Pop and had no problems . They had DSA along the path near the lake which was great and I could see my room. Also in the pool area but not right close but fine to watch the kids was a DSA . So I reccommend Pop for the smoking Moms and Dad's as you cah sit and smoke and watch the kids!!I too agree about the smokin on the balconies or outside corridors I even suggested making the top floor balconies smoking . I hope Disney rethinks there policy! I had no negqative comments at Pop ata all.