For those following the smoking on balconies drama - UPDATE with phone call!

[Minnie&Nana]

GEM~

Thank you ever so much for writing to Guest Services and posting the reply. I am also going to print it out and take along next week, just in case. You've eased my mind and I can now go without worrying about the lastest policy - we know what it is as of today

Although far from childhood I have asthma and need to be careful about second hand smoke. I respect every smoker's right and will move away, never give a dirty look etc, but cannot so easily move my room when I am in a non-smoking room.

Thanks again!

 

[GEM]

Hi pumpkinboy!

My little guy was also a 27 weeker, although a bit smaller than yours. As of now, he has no continuing lung issues. Although we do, of course, try to keep him away from second hand smoke, he really isn't any more at risk from it now than any other baby would be.

I originally posted on the other thread from a few days ago. We spent a great vacation at the WL a few years ago. The only not-so-great thing was that the people on the next balcony spent every evening smoking on their balcony. It really kept us from enjoying our couryard view. We had shelled out the extra bucks with plans of relaxing on our balcony in the evening while enjoying a drink. We were never able to do that because of the thick smoke from one balcony over. (Our room was non-smoking, as was their's.)

Anyway, several people on the other thread said somebody should try to get the official word from Disney. So, I did.

I also have a little extra reason to try to keep my family away from second hand smoke. My dad passed away from lung cancer at age 53. He didn't get to see any of us kids married and none of his grandchildren will ever know him. He tried my whole life to kick the smoking habbit, but he never did. (He never smoked around us, I will say.) I vowed when Dad died that my kids would know what happened to their grandfather and why - and that I would keep them as safe from smoke as possible.

 

[pumpkinboy]

Great explanation! So you do have extra reasons for being sensitive on this issue, just not the same as mine.

Congrats on your miracle baby's health! Our DD was a surprise preemie (listeriosis), so we didn't get a chance to toughen up her lungs in utero, like I imagine you were able to do. Considering all that can go wrong, every healthy baby really is a miracle. Enjoy your upcoming trip!.

 

[GEM]

Actually, our little guy was a surprise, too! I went in for a routine ultrasound and it showed his growth was way behind where it should have been. They sent me straight to the hosptial and once we got there, they did a little more checking and found that the placenta was failing, he was almost out of amniotic fluid, and that he was starting to show signs of distress. So, he was delivered by c-section less than 12 hours after we first found out there "might" be a problem. Up till that day, we thought everything was perfect! we were extra careful with him for the first year, while his lungs healed and got stronger, but he's doing great now! Glad your little one is too!

 

[pumpkinboy]

But everything's perfect now, I'll bet!

 

[tiggersgal19]

Can someone please tell me where the smoking rooms are in the Beach Club?

 

[TLinden16]

Thanks for sharing this information, Gem!

Karen

 

[rcraw45425]

I developed pre-eclampsia at 31 weeks, had had no abnormalities till then, not much weight gain, etc. Went in for checkup and had gained 10 pounds in 1 month . Feet were starting to swell too. DH is a doc, I had lunch with him after my checkup & mentioned the elevated BP, he checked it & it was sky high! Went back to OBs office, went on the fetal monitor and proceded to go on strictly enforced bed rest (no fun at all). Kelly was delivered at 35 weeks, weighed in at a might 4lb14oz. We did the respirator for 5 nerve wracking days, oxygen sats were allover. Finally got an "old school"pediatrician who stated "it ain't nothing but a number, take her off the oxygen and see how she does. She went home the next day Talk about a surprise for me. Her lungs strengthen up pretty well, no lingering asthma. I'm cautious though about having both my kids around smoke. My mom was addicted to cigarrettes, she died at 61 on Christmas Eve following an odyssey of Emphasyma?COPD that first reared it's head during that same eventful pregnancy. It's a horrible sight, but I think that all smokers should think about being in that situation, they might try harder to curb their addiction.

 

[Bojangles]

Originally posted by GEM
he's doing great now!

 

[Sammie]

I will be really surprised to see any enforcement of this policy by Disney. They don't enforce it in the parks now.

As they limit more and more smoking rooms and now no smoking on balconies, I see more and more smokers put in non smoking rooms and smoking there behind closed doors rather than on the balcony.

Personally as someone that needs a NS room for medical reasons I would rather deal with the smoke on the balcony instead of a NS room that has been smoked in.

 

[Minnie&Nana]

I also require a non-smoking room for medical reasons, but want to be able to enjoy the balcony - it is part of my vacation and that's why I choose a resort with balconies. If it's non-smoking then it should be enforced. IMHO anyone who thinks a non-smoking room in not inclusive of the balcony is just trying to push the envelope, so to speak.

At any rate - thanks much GEM for checking AND

what a CUTE munchkin!!!