For Recent Visitors/Smoking Policy

[danny1649]

I'm a smoker and I do it only in areas that are marked as smoking areas in the parks and resorts.So this question is not a jab at smokers.My question for recent visitors is smoking policy being enforced by CM'S or not?It's my opinion if enforced smokers and non smokers would be happy.I hate being in smoker area and see 10 folks smoking walk right past smoking area.I'm sure non smokers don't appreciate it either.Not wanting to start a fight on board just to see if you think policy is working and being enforced better than in the past.

 

[gshoemate]

It depends on the CM. I have seen some CM's walk right by smokers in non designated areas and not say a word and I have see CM's that were odviously on their way out of the park and have stopped to tell people that they needed to go to the designated area. I believe some people do not know that they can only smoke in designated areas. I mean if they drive to the park and don't pick up a map, they have no way of knowing. And there are some people that just don't care. I always love the people that stand 25 feet from the smoking area. It's odvious that it's the smoking area but they stand outside the limits so "the man" (the way my FIL puts it) doesn't have control over them.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by danny1649
I'm a smoker and I do it only in areas that are marked as smoking areas in the parks and resorts.So this question is not a jab at smokers.My question for recent visitors is smoking policy being enforced by CM'S or not?It's my opinion if enforced smokers and non smokers would be happy.I hate being in smoker area and see 10 folks smoking walk right past smoking area.I'm sure non smokers don't appreciate it either.Not wanting to start a fight on board just to see if you think policy is working and being enforced better than in the past.

No, I don't think it is being enforced at all well. BUT.....that does not mean that I smoke anywhere except where it is allowed.
ITA with your thoughts on this, and at first I thought the policy would strike a nice balance for both sides. I am sorry to see that it is not being enforced and more sorry that smokers are ignoring it.

 

[3MGIRLS]

No, I don't think it is being enforced at all. We go a few times a year, and it seems to be getting worse. Test Track is always bad. One time when we left Epcot, we commented to a cast member, who didn't really seem to care. I've never seen a cast member tell someone to stop smoking in a non-smoking area. This REALLY bothers me!!! People walking through the parks holding cigarettes at a childs face level, is just annoying and potentially dangerous.

I'd love to hear if anyone has ever seen this policy enforced.

 

[crazymomof4]

I haven't been to WDW since '94 so this "designated smoking area" stuff is new to me. What are they, like roped off areas or something? I'm a non-smoker who is really affected by many kinds of odors (wood smoke, car exhaust, most perfumes, etc.) and just one or two whiffs of cigarette smoke can give me a headache that lasts the rest of the day. (I really wish I was NOT this sensitive!) So even if this policy just cuts down on the amount of smokers walking in front of me it will mean less breath-holding for me.

 

[cynjam]

When I was there last April, outside of the restroom in MK, I "enforced" the policy myself. I was sitting on a bench waiting for my DD when the women beside me lit up. I very politely asked her if we were in a smoking area. When she replied with "I don't know", I proceeded to get out my map and explain them to her, helped her find the closest one, and point her in the right direction. She didn't seem to mind, she just wasn't aware.
As for the danger of being near childrens faces, I couldn't agree more. I was witness to a child being burned on the arm while waiting in line for a ride at the county fair last Sept. The parent didn't even know what had happened, only that the child started crying of pain. So sad.

 

[Duckster]

We just returned from our trip to Disney. My one and nly complaint about Disney was the fact that noone was enforcing this policy. My daughter has congenital heart defects, so we always try to shield her from smoke when possible. It amazes me how many people were obviously trying to hide the cigarette by cupping it in their hand while they walked, when it was obvious that they were smoking. There were many smokers who did indeed stay in the smoking areas, which I respect. However, there was a large number of smokers who simply lit up wherever they wanted to.

 

[nataliesdaddy]

This last June I did not see anyone violating the policy - there may very well have been but I did not see it - well I correct myself - I think I saw it twice - As for me I use the smoking areas -Diseyworld is the closest thing there is to a religious experience for myself...so smoking at any park is kind of sacriligious - I mean for crying out loud there are plenty of other things to do then smoke and this is a kids place for crying out loud!!!! -if I have a bad nick fit I find a smoking spot. There are a good deal of them...there reallly is no excuse for not using one

 

[Virgo10]

Originally posted by nataliesdaddy
-Diseyworld is the closest thing there is to a religious experience for myself...so smoking at any park is kind of sacriligious

Hmm

- I mean for crying out loud there are plenty of other things to do then smoke and this is a kids place for crying out loud!!!!

I'm no kid. I never went to WDW as a kid. EPCOT in particular seems more geared to adults with it's alcohol atmosphere and high learning curve. As for better things to do, yes, but as a smoker, when I want oine, I want one and I find a smoking area to do it.

-if I have a bad nick fit I find a smoking spot. There are a good deal of them...there reallly is no excuse for not using one

Well I agree with you on that anyway.

Roberta

 

[crazymomof4]

Originally posted by crazymomof4
I haven't been to WDW since '94 so this "designated smoking area" stuff is new to me. What are they, like roped off areas or something? How big are they? Is there like one in each "land" or one every couple of feet?

Quoting myself in hopes of finding this out. Just curious as to how convenient they are. If I muster up the courage to "enforce" the policy myself, like a previous poster, I would feel better if I wasn't asking the person to go to Jibbip to have the cigarette....isn't that weird? Just me, I guess, I don't like to put people out, but rules are rules.

I was witness to a child being burned on the arm while waiting in line for a ride at the county fair last Sept. The parent didn't even know what had happened, only that the child started crying of pain. So sad.

WOW! That poor family! People sue for a lot more petty things than their child being burned! I wonder if there has ever been a lawsuit invloving something like this? The chance of that happening alone would keep me in the smoking area if I were a smoker!

 

[Otimon]

As a Cast Member myself, I can tell you that I most certainly do enforce the "no smoking except in designated areas" rule. My experience has been that most are very pleasant and will comply when asked. Once in a while I'll come across a guest who believes the rule does not apply to them and will continue to walk away while smoking.

I've found that many will hold their cigarette in such a way it's well concealed by their hand and hard to detect unless you see them take a puff. I guess they go by the "it doesn't apply to me" rule. I've swept up many a cigarette butt outside my Attraction at Epcot and I once recall a guess commenting to me about the litter they create, "Smoker's butts should be kicked, not swept".

For all you smokers out there, please use the designated areas. When you feel the need for a smoke, ask the nearest Cast Member and they will direct you to that area. Many thanks to all of you. It will help make it more pleasant for everyone.

 

[crazymomof4]

Originally posted by Otimon
As a Cast Member myself, I can tell you that I most certainly do enforce the "no smoking except in designated areas" rule.

We will be there starting on 9/28. Can we hook-up so you can accompany my family around and clear out any non-conforming guests for us?

 

[punkin]

We were just there last week and a woman was smoking in the Dumbo line. Can you imagine? My husband politely asked her to put it out and she said she was just loooking for a garbage can to put it out in (huh? there are garbage cans every 2 feet at Disney) My husband told her, he'd hold her place in line while she went to put out the cigarette. She was seething, but she did go and dump it. I felt sorry for her poor grandchild in whose face she was waiving the stupid thing.

 

[Pat_Elliott]

I had the smoking policy enforced, on me (ducking). Honest mistake when I slipped out of the R&C (last September I think). I honestly looked at the map and thought the area was "smoking permitted." I had a CM on me like flies on honey. She was very, very polite (and I in turn appologized profusely), pointed me to the nearest smoking section (courtyard in UK next to British Invasion stage), and asked me to put the smoke out immediately. I field-stripped the little bugger, threw it in the trash, thanked her for her help, and did not sin again.

There is a distinct difference from this situation and those smoking in lines, etc., with their hands cupped. I actually saw this during Illuminations on the R&C porch (same night, so my guilt was high). When someone is cupping a lit smoke and holding it under the table as a waitress walks by, they obviously A) know what they're doing; and B) don't give a hoot. As a smoker who tries very hard to keep it to the designated areas, I feel it important to "police ourselves." I looked at the person, caught their eye, and said "you're not fooling anyone and you're making sure that I'll take guff even when I'm in an approved area."

When they literally waved their hand at me to back off, I immediately grabbed a waitress and said as loudly as I could "the lady two tables down is refusing to put the smoke away that she's hiding from you everytime you walk by." Sure, I got stared at the rest of the meal (just kept smiling), but I hope fellow smokers would take the same tact. I've said it before, a jerk is a jerk, whether they're smoking in a non-smoking area, cutting in line, or ramming their stroller into me while I watch FITS. But when it comes to smoking, two or three jerks can make us all look like jerks. Jerk, heal thyself.

Pat

 

[cjs1001]

I totally agree with smoking in designated areas and not where you aren't supposed too.

But I do have an honest question to those that can't breathe smoke cuz of medical illnesses. What do you do at other places maybe in your hometown that you may be surrounded by smoke such as County Fairs, walking on a side walk into a store etc.
I am in no way being sarcastic I am just curious.

 

[Pat_Elliott]

Originally posted by crazymomof4
Quoting myself in hopes of finding this out. Just curious as to how convenient they are. If I muster up the courage to "enforce" the policy myself, like a previous poster, I would feel better if I wasn't asking the person to go to Jibbip to have the cigarette....isn't that weird? Just me, I guess, I don't like to put people out, but rules are rules.

Having scoped out every smoking area in every park, I'm happy to report that you'll never have to send anyone to Jibbip. And as a smoker, if you see me in a bad area (trust me, you won't, but none-the-less), please, please, please feel free to point it out to me. Give me crap about smoking and it's none of your business. Give me crap for smoking in a non-smoking area in a family park that provides ample designated smoking areas and it is your business.

I've not measured these out, mind you, but there's smoking areas about every 100 yards. They're usually on the edge of the park in an out of the way place. I apologize to no one for smoking, but no apologies are needed for making me walk a hundred extra feet. They just aren't that hard to find and they aren't that far apart.

Pat

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Pat_Elliott
Having scoped out every smoking area in every park, I'm happy to report that you'll never have to send anyone to Jibbip. And as a smoker, if you see me in a bad area (trust me, you won't, but none-the-less), please, please, please feel free to point it out to me. Give me crap about smoking and it's none of your business. Give me crap for smoking in a non-smoking area in a family park that provides ample designated smoking areas and it is your business.

I've not measured these out, mind you, but there's smoking areas about every 100 yards. They're usually on the edge of the park in an out of the way place. I apologize to no one for smoking, but no apologies are needed for making me walk a hundred extra feet. They just aren't that hard to find and they aren't that far apart.

Pat

ITA, great post.

 

[catwho]

To all you polite smokers, I thank you for taking the time to locate a designated smoking area. I have asthma that becomes severe around smoke - any kind. I can't have a fire in my house, burn insence, light candles for an extended period of time nor go to smokey piano bars (or any kind of smokey bars) My xh and I have learned where all the designated smoking areas are so that we can avoid those areas. That means if I want to walk among the roses at Epcot I have to go "the long way" but that's ok. I would prefer to go the long way than run into someone smoking all through the parks.

I'm fortunate that my xh is always looking out for me and my kids (2 of my kids also have smoke allergies that set off asthma) and when we go down he is usually fairly polite in asking people to move to a designated area. We were watching Off Kilter in March and a man was sitting on the front row smoking. My xh walked over and asked him to put his cigarette out or move to a designated smoking area (and pointed to the closest one) the man ignored him. So my xh went to a CM who was working at that kiosk that is right there and asked her if she could assist. She was very kind and I suppose the "authority of the badge" made the man put out his cigarette. He stepped on it and left it on the ground. Then the CM put her hands on her hips and said, "Young man, you can pick that right up this instant and go put it where it belongs." (Imagine your mother saying that to you!) The man was not by any means young either. But he did it.

We thanked teh CM for her assistance. Most of the CM's that we have seen have been fairly good in enforcing the smoking policy. Maybe it is the way my xh stares at them and then stares at the offending smoker! LOL!!

Thank you, kind smokers, for keeping Disney's air breathable for me and my family! I'll just keep taking my xh with me for all those
"naughty smokers"

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by catwho
To all you polite smokers, I thank you for taking the time to locate a designated smoking area. I have asthma that becomes severe around smoke - any kind. I can't have a fire in my house, burn insence, light candles for an extended period of time nor go to smokey piano bars (or any kind of smokey bars) My xh and I have learned where all the designated smoking areas are so that we can avoid those areas. That means if I want to walk among the roses at Epcot I have to go "the long way" but that's ok. I would prefer to go the long way than run into someone smoking all through the parks.

I'm fortunate that my xh is always looking out for me and my kids (2 of my kids also have smoke allergies that set off asthma) and when we go down he is usually fairly polite in asking people to move to a designated area. We were watching Off Kilter in March and a man was sitting on the front row smoking. My xh walked over and asked him to put his cigarette out or move to a designated smoking area (and pointed to the closest one) the man ignored him. So my xh went to a CM who was working at that kiosk that is right there and asked her if she could assist. She was very kind and I suppose the "authority of the badge" made the man put out his cigarette. He stepped on it and left it on the ground. Then the CM put her hands on her hips and said, "Young man, you can pick that right up this instant and go put it where it belongs." (Imagine your mother saying that to you!) The man was not by any means young either. But he did it.

We thanked teh CM for her assistance. Most of the CM's that we have seen have been fairly good in enforcing the smoking policy. Maybe it is the way my xh stares at them and then stares at the offending smoker! LOL!!

Thank you, kind smokers, for keeping Disney's air breathable for me and my family! I'll just keep taking my xh with me for all those
"naughty smokers"

You are entirely welcome. BTW, what is xh? Now, if they could find a way to ban perfume that smells like eau de road kill, I could breath better.

 

[catwho]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
You are entirely welcome. BTW, what is xh? Now, if they could find a way to ban perfume that smells like eau de road kill, I could breath better.

xh is "ex husband" although we are not married we still believe strongly that we are a family. We spend most holidays and weekends together as a family and go to Disney every year (or more often) He's a great guy and a wonderful dad. People are always wondering why we separated in the first place!

I agree with the perfume thing too. I attend a church that actually has a "no fragrance policy" It sure makes attending a lot more pleasant!