Disney Difference S/NS Policies at other resorts

[kathleena]

I own a week at Powhatan Plantation and exchange via RCI. I was calling to book a week next October near WDW. I had a match on Vistana, but decided to call the resort first to see what the smoking policy is. Good thing! They allow smoking in all rooms. So I told them due to medical reasons, I would need a NS room. Nope, can't accomodate that.

So, before I searched for another match, I called 15 resorts in the WDW area. Vistana, along with all 15 of the resorts I called are either Gold Crown Resorts or Resorts of International Distinction - the RCI grading system for member reports. Gold Crown is the so-called "elite" and would be/should be a Disney equivalent, in my eyes.

Anyway - only 6 resorts had designated non-smoking rooms. Less than half! All the others allow smoking in all rooms. Of the six, all said they would definately place me in a NS room due to medical reasons, I should just make the room request. I asked if they would move me free of charge if the room proved to be smoked in just prior to my stay (i.e. lingering, obvious smell). All said yes, but only one was what I would call adamant that they would accomodate me in any way they can. That's the one I booked. Can't remember the name of it off-hand.

Just thought all of you may like to know this - and to hear about another Disney Difference.

And after staying on-site for 4 years, will see how I tolerate off-site. This may be the last week I use for this timeshare, as I plan to list it for sale soon.

 

[rocketriter]

Thanks for the reality check.

 

[Pa@okw95]

All the hotels and resorts I stay in have non-smoking rooms. I don't really understand your statement. Where on earth have you been booking your rooms?

 

[Dean]

All the hotels and resorts I stay in have non-smoking rooms. I don't really understand your statement. Where on earth have you been booking your rooms?

The issue is timeshare, not hotels. I think kathleena is just giving us the benefit of the info she's found about RCI timeshares so that we may extrapolate to II and to give us a perspective for the Bubble that many DVC members are in. There is a move toward non smoking though. Marriott is moving toward all non smoking at some of their newer resorts and some others that are undergoing complete redo's. Worldmark has gone to all NS all the time at all of their resorts but I don't know how well they enforce it. But the reality is that many timeshares don't make a distinction, unfortunately.

 

[JudyS]

I think Cypress Pointe is all non-smoking.

I didn't realize that so many timeshares still don't have designated non-smoking rooms. This is something I'll have to keep an eye on for future timeshare exchanges!

 

[eva]

We've stayed in both Vistana Resort Timeshares in Orlando. Neither have any non-smoking designated rooms. We just lucked out, the 2-bedroom we had at the LBV location just had a hint of smoke left in it. And the 2-bedroom that we had at the International Drive location smelled just fine. I really have a hard time understanding why a large majority of timeshares still have all smoking optional rooms. Hotels don't seem to have any trouble with the S or N/S concept. Well, I won't complain too much since DVC understands the concept.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Just thought all of you may like to know this - and to hear about another Disney Difference.

And after staying on-site for 4 years, will see how I tolerate off-site. This may be the last week I use for this timeshare, as I plan to list it for sale soon.

Thanks for the info. I honestly thought most places distinguished between smoking and Non smoking.

We stayed at Vistana in February of 2003 after having been DVC members. It was a difficult experience for us all after having been spoiled by Disney. Even though the trip cost us nothing, we would have gladly switched places with someone and used our points.

Good luck.

HBC

 

[spiceycat]

I am allergic to smoke - so when I posted my request to Sheraton Vistana I mentioned that - even on Thanksgiving week - I had no problems. and I didn't notice that many people smoking. Now the staff definitely - but the guests - very few were smoking even in the lines.

 

[pumpkinboy]

...Just thought all of you may like to know this - and to hear about another Disney Difference.
And after staying on-site for 4 years, will see how I tolerate off-site. This may be the last week I use for this timeshare, as I plan to list it for sale soon.

Staying off-site! Say it ain't so, Kathleen!

To paraphrase the old public safety campaign: "Friends don't let friends saty off-site"

Good luck!

 

[kathleena]

Hahahah Yes, I am feeling pretty apprehensive about staying offsite.......I have been renting out my Powhatan weeks and was going to give this week to my nephew for a wedding/honeymoon present. But they just decided not to use it (??????). A friend said she wants to go down - we haven't been down together since Jan 2001 - so I figured why not, I can use three trips next year!

I was pretty surprised by my survey results, but so glad that I called and asked. I can't even be in a room with a burning candle long before coming up with coughing and a headache. Ciggy smoke is even worse.

And I think Cypress Pointe is one of the ones that replied it does have NS rooms.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Hahahah Yes, I am feeling pretty apprehensive about staying offsite.......and was going to give this week to my nephew for a wedding/honeymoon present. But they just decided not to use it (??????)

They probably don't want to stay off-site either.

HBC

 

[FLYNZ4]

I agree with the comments about not wanting to stay off-site... there really is no comparison.

It seems to me that most condos are non-smoking now. On a recent trip to WDW, we did stay at a Marriott resort and we definately had a non-smoking condo. We also own a lot of points at another condo association (WorldMark)... and all 55 resorts are 100% non-smoking inside the units. I think that it inevitible that DVC will be 100% non-smoking in the future. It might take a while... but I expect it to happen.

At a minimum... smoking should be a room classification so that you could book a resort with a 100% guarantee that your smoking preference is honored.

/Jim

 

[jcanary]

I hate to burst your bubble but DVC non-smoking, even for medical reasons is a request only option. Believe me, I know from experience this past summer. If you are just looking to see who offers both types of room then I would agree that all of Disney does. but I also have to add that they can not and will not quarante a non-smoking, even for medical reasons. And the room they tried to put us in would have blown your head off when you opened the door from the smoke smell. Oh well, hopefully no one else will ever go thru it. happy holidays everyone!!

 

[MiaSRN62]

Being a Vistana owner I can relate to what you're saying about no non-smoking rooms. We have been very lucky though in the 10 years we've owned there and never had a problem with smoke smells. IN fact, every villa we've ever checked into actually smelled extremely fresh. We do own in the Fountains area of this resort and have also been upgraded to the Lakes. I will admit some of the older sections of this resort (there are 8 sections---9 if you count the two phases of the Fountains) have more of a musty smell so it can depend on where you stay. Also, if you check into a room that you find substandard at Vistana, they will do what they can to accomodate you with a room change. This happened twice to us over the years at Vistana. And as for DVC/WDW resorts......it is not guarenteed one will get non-smoking. We have noone with allergies or asthma or any other condition so I am always crossing my fingers. Cigarette smoke will trigger a migraine in me though. We did have a slightly smoky smelling room at Riverside one time and another at AS Movies. I do wish Vistana would offer non-smoking rooms though. Just keeping my fingers crossed that our luck continues to hold out there.
As far as staying offsite and being no comparison---can't agree there (if one is referring to accomodations and not simply the fact of being on WDW property). Our Vistana accomodations have always been top-notch. We can drive to the parks in 7-10 minutes (yep....timed it). We're lucky to own in one of the newer sections though. The experience can really vary if you get one of the older units. I also have a friend who is a Fairfield owner (VA home base) and she has stayed in some wonderful accomodations in the WDW area. They are on par with DVC except for the fact that they're not on property. But villa cleanliness, resort activites, and room amenities are very comparable. DVC is one notch up based on use of Disney transportation to the parks, Early Mornings, E-Nights (in the past), package delivery.......

 

[FLYNZ4]

I hate to burst your bubble but DVC non-smoking, even for medical reasons is a request only option. Believe me, I know from experience this past summer. If you are just looking to see who offers both types of room then I would agree that all of Disney does. but I also have to add that they can not and will not quarante a non-smoking, even for medical reasons. And the room they tried to put us in would have blown your head off when you opened the door from the smoke smell. Oh well, hopefully no one else will ever go thru it. happy holidays everyone!!

I discussed this with DVC owner services at the 12/14/04 owners meeting in the SSR cinema. The representative I talked to confirmed that they get a lot of complaints about smoking rooms, and that they have been continually reducing the number of smoking rooms available. He also felt that at some point (unspecified)... that non-smoking at DVC will happen. He did add that he felt the decision would have to be driven from higher in the overall company... maybe a WDW wide policy for hotels and condos. I really think that it is totally unacceptable that a non-smoking room is not guaranteed. This is not the 1950's anymore!

Look at what happened to the airlines... first you could smoke anywhere on the plane... then only in the smoking section in the back of the plane. That was followed by no smoking in the plane at all, having to wait until you enter the terminal building. Next, terminals went non-smoking except for designated smoking areas. This was followed by totally non-smoking within the terminal, requiring you to wait till you leave the building. Now... when you leave the terminal building... you cannot light up... but instead you have to walk to a designated outside smoking area.

Anyone who does not think that this trend will not continue in other areas... such as hotel rooms and condos... is living in a dream world. Other condo associations that I belong to have already gone totally non-smoking. I think it is time that DVC catches up to the rest of the industry.

/Jim

 

[pumpkinboy]

...Look at what happened to the airlines... first you could smoke anywhere on the plane... then only in the smoking section in the back of the plane. That was followed by no smoking in the plane at all, having to wait until you enter the terminal building. Next, terminals went non-smoking except for designated smoking areas. This was followed by totally non-smoking within the terminal, requiring you to wait till you leave the building. Now... when you leave the terminal building... you cannot light up... but instead you have to walk to a designated outside smoking area...

/Jim, your discoussion of what has happened with airlines reminds me of the wonderful movie Airplane. Remember the scene where the protagonist buys an airline ticket, adn is asked "Smoking or Non"; he opts for smoking, and is given a ticket folio that is billowing smoke.
I love that movie! Have to go find it at the video store now.

(and back on topic, you are exactly right: it is time that Timesharing caught up with the rest of the industry - hopefully with DVC at the forefront. It sure would lower our upkeep costs.)

 

[NMW]

I think that some day all WDW hotels and villas will be smoke free. I do agree that DVC wouldn't change unless all of WDW (hotels,villas) make the change. Where I live in PA (near Philadelphia) there are very few places where smoking is acceptable (except for bars and outside). In fact, the high-rise building where my father works doesn't allow smoking with-in 50 feet of the entrance doors. Apparently, some people complained that smoke was "blowing in" on windy days! I think it's probably only a matter of time before EVERYWHERE is like that. Smokers thought it would never happen with airports and a lot of people where very wrong.

 

[jmminarik]

I really think that it is totally unacceptable that a non-smoking room is not guaranteed. This is not the 1950's anymore!/Jim

I'll agree with you if the converse is true as well. Smoking optional should be a guarantee as well. Otherwise this is just imposing one's will on another....kinda like the early 40's throughout most of continental Europe.

-Joe, tired of well intended people trying to take away anyone's choices in life.

 

[FLYNZ4]

I'll agree with you if the converse is true as well. Smoking optional should be a guarantee as well. Otherwise this is just imposing one's will on another....kinda like the early 40's throughout most of continental Europe.

I agree that in the short term, DVC could manage the inventory as a seperate room catagory... like they do with studio, 1BR, 2BR etc. That way you each guest can be assured of getting their needs met. I used the words "needs", because I do think this is more than just a preference, and it should not be treated like a preference by DVC.

Where I live in PA (near Philadelphia) there are very few places where smoking is acceptable (except for bars and outside). In fact, the high-rise building where my father works doesn't allow smoking with-in 50 feet of the entrance doors. Apparently, some people complained that smoke was "blowing in" on windy days! I think it's probably only a matter of time before EVERYWHERE is like that.

Actually, in many areas, smoking restrictions are MUCH more strict than you are describing. I doubt that the 50' restriction around the doors had much to do with wind blowing smokine into the building. Instead... it was to prevent non-smokers to have to enter a hostile enviornment as soon as they left the building. If you look at California... smoking is not only banned from all restaurants... but also from all bars as well. I think it is only a matter of time before this is done nationally.

Regarding the "smokers rights" issues. This is a lame excuse. Nobody is suggesting to remove the rights of a smoker to do whatever they want with their bodies. However, is is not a smoker's right to subject others to their behavior. Unfortunately, smoking inside a building, restaurants, bars, near building entraces etc effect the health of those chosing not to smoke. Over time, I think it is foolish to not expect the same type of anti-smoking restrictions that you have seen in the airline industry. Of the various condos that I own... DVC is the ONLY one that allows smoking in any of the units! I fully expect that to change over time.

/Jim

 

[jmminarik]

This is a lame excuse....Of the various condos that I own... DVC is the ONLY one that allows smoking in any of the units! I fully expect that to change over time.

/Jim

So is the report by the EPA on 2nd hand smoke. It's scientifically/statisically invalid but accepted as it is politically correct.

Cigarette smoke annoys me, so I can understand how it annoys other people and how they don't enjoy the smell of a smoked in room, let alone the growing number of people who are developing medical conditions. But by the same token, I don't think my preference should dictate that someone else should not have access to a room where it is permitted, given that the room is reserved that way. Making them all non-smoking when it is easily do-able to confirm smoking or non is just an abridgement of people's choices.

BTW, I agree that eventually they'll probably go all non-smoking. I just don't think it's right.

-Joe