For you smokers out there......

[dianeschlicht]

CRobin, I wish all smokers were like you. Part of the issue for those of us who are asthmatic is the residue smoke leaves in things like furniture, drapes and woodwork.

As a non-smoker I do believe we NEED smoking optional buildings just to keep smokers from smoking in non-smoking buildings.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by CRobin
Good info, Jim.

Question - how do they handle the issue, which comes up here alot, about someone smoking in a unit as they are now all N/S?

I believe I read about a $250 fine per incident for Grande Ocean but my quarterly newsletter mentioned that all newly redone units will be NS doesn't mention specifics penalties. It's easy to set up controls and penalties, the hard think is enforcing them. Unfortunately DVC and Disney in general has never been good at enforcing the rules in place.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I definitely agree with those statements, Dean! If they can't prevent smokers from smoking in lines, how are they going to police it in the privacy of a N/S room?

 

[FLYNZ4]

Originally posted by CRobin
Good info, Jim.

Question - how do they handle the issue, which comes up here alot, about someone smoking in a unit as they are now all N/S?

I am a smoker, and have never smoked (nor never would) in a N/S unit, subjecting my DW and asthmatic ILs (frequent guests of ours at WDW) to that.

I do smoke on the balconies, because it is permitted, but if I notice that it is bothering someone I hike downstairs and go outside.

CRobin,

The new policy has only gone into effect in April'04, so I have not heard about infractions yet. They have an existing policy of being able to charge an occupant for any damage caused during their stay... and I would think (but I do not know for sure), that they could impose a nice hefty defumigation fee... and possibly charge for unbookable nights if it is abused.

I think that most people will follow a no-smoking rule, especially if they know that they could be held liable for extra charges. There might be some resistance at first... but I think the problems would be short lived.

Like I said earlier... I think it is inevitable that our units will all be no-smoking... it is the timeline that is harder to predict. I'd estimate they will be non-smoking within 2 years.

/Jim

 

[baileybrad]

Not trying to get ahead of something that has not and may not happen. We have stayed at 2 particular privately owned hotels that (one in Daytona Beach and one in N.Myrtle Beach) have you sign an "authorization notice" when staying in a N/S unit that outlines their policy....cleaning fees, etc. for smoking in one of the units. Obviously, you are on an honor system and not sure how it would unfold but they both had the mechanisms in place and made quite the big deal out of it.

 

[adriannabannana]

The only problem I've experienced with this issue is twice during two different stays I booked non-smoking rooms and ended up with someone smoking on the balcony next to me. In both cases, I asked the person nicely not to smoke on the balcony if we were out there, and they obliged. The only crappy part was that if they smoked when we had our door open (we tend to go in October so we can enjoy the nighttime breeze and fireworks) we end up with a room that's stinky of smoke.

I think all of the previous suggestions are excellent ones to pose to Disney Co., and that keeping an area of rooms as smoking would solve a lot of complaints by non-smoking guests. I really feel that making the entire resort non-smoking will only encourage more smoking in areas that will directly affect everyone, like walk ways and balconies through out the resort.

By the way, I myself am a reformed smoker (seven years and counting), and I empathize with both sides equally.

JMHO.

 

[DebbieB]

I was looking at the Sheraton Vistana website because allearsnet was offering a discount for October and I was curious to see how they were set up. According to their website, they do not offer non-smoking rooms!

http://www.starwood.com/sheraton/search/hotel_detail.html?propertyID=5608

 

[DukeStreetKing]

I think this thread was 3 replies old before it turned into the smoker/non-smoker debate that the OP didn't want. LOL.

 

[NMW]

I learned some interesting info reading this thread. We are new to DVC and have not stayed at a DVC resort yet. We have stayed at several non-DVC resorts at Disney and have always requested non-smoking and got it. Both myself and DS 5, have pretty bad asthma. I now know from reading this thread to make that very clear when I make the reservation at our DVC resort. I would be happy to provide letters from our doctors at check-in to insure the n/s room for medical reasons. Thanks to all who mentioned this.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by NMW
I learned some interesting info reading this thread. We are new to DVC and have not stayed at a DVC resort yet. We have stayed at several non-DVC resorts at Disney and have always requested non-smoking and got it. Both myself and DS 5, have pretty bad asthma. I now know from reading this thread to make that very clear when I make the reservation at our DVC resort. I would be happy to provide letters from our doctors at check-in to insure the n/s room for medical reasons. Thanks to all who mentioned this.

I've asked about documenation as we're in the same boat. I was told it wouldn't make any difference. I wish they would reserve them separately, hopfully some day.

The only problem I've experienced with this issue is twice during two different stays I booked non-smoking rooms and ended up with someone smoking on the balcony next to me. In both cases, I asked the person nicely not to smoke on the balcony if we were out there, and they obliged. The only crappy part was that if they smoked when we had our door open (we tend to go in October so we can enjoy the nighttime breeze and fireworks) we end up with a room that's stinky of smoke.

That's what my super soaker is for, LOL.

 

[lovesdisney]

My DH smokes, which is his choice, and although we request a smoking room every time we book, (its our only request), we have only had a smoking room about half the time.

My DH is one of those who will smoke on the balcony with the blessing of CM's at check in as it is hard to give up for a couple of weeks when you are are a smoker who enjoys the 'pleasure'.

If there are fewer and fewer smoking rooms, then requesting a smoking room ought to be a room choice rather than a request.

I also think DVC should be more upfront about how many smoking rooms there are and buy back ownership from those people who can't/don't want to spend their vacation in a non smoking room.

After all, if ever we stay in a hotel, we ask for guaranteed smoking room, if we can't have it, then we don't stay there.

I don't want this to turn into rights/wrongs of smoking, the fact is it's not an illegal pastime and everyone should have the right to smoke/not smoke as they wish. (With the proviso that smokers are considerate with smoking etc. when non-smokers are artound).

 

[disneynutpa]

It is not only the smoking thing that doesn't get honered, we , my DW and I, reserved a two bedroom lockout, (one bedroom with a door to a studio, two entry doors) as opposed to a two bedroom villa ten months before our arrival date. When checking in the desk told us we were getting our smoking two bedroom lockout. When the room was ready it was a two bedroom villa with one entry.

We have older sons, and the idea of the the two entries was to allow us both our convenience. The most annoying thing was the attitude of the front desk, that we were being upgraded, and why were we complaining? After twenty minutes or so of repeating that it is not an "upgrade" to get something you don't want, we were offered to move to the accomodation we had reserved two days later, but were pretty much assured that it would be non smoking. The desk person would not give me a written acknowledgement of the move, and I had to wait for the hotel manager to give me a piece of paper hand written, detailing the move and rooms. They couldn't understand why I wouldn't just take their word for it!

Bottom line - while member services makes the reservation, and marks the requests, it appears that the front desk run by the hotel manager is less that dedicated to the Disney level of service that we have come to expect.

We bought the vacation club thinking that we were securing the vacation we had come to love for forty one years, it appears that the "paying" customers at the hotel get better service.


Tartaglias at VWL

 

[CarolA]

I don't smoke. However, I also don't think that gives me the right to dictate to those who do.

Those of you who want to outlaw smoking need to consider this... what's next. Let's outlaw drinking at DVC, so we won't have anyone drunk? Let's outlaw small children in upper floors so I won't have to listen to them? Until smoking becomes illegal in all places they will smoke!

By the way, Vistana which is a huge Timeshare in Orlando does NOT have any units as dedicated non smoking according to posters on the Orlando resorts board.

All you are doing is driving the smokers outside. They will be in front of your unit and on the balcony now! They are not going to quit just because those of us who don't smoke don't like it. (And Disney is NOT going to refuse thier cash!)

I agree with the poster on the foreign aspect. The "anti-smoking" crusade is MUCH greater here then in Europe. Disney isn't going to chase that money off either! (Most of the hotels I have stayed in while visiting Europe don't even have a non-smoking option!)

 

[adriannabannana]

Originally posted by Dean


That's what my super soaker is for, LOL.

That line made me snarf coffee so bad that I bet it'll be hours until I stop coughing.
lolololololol!!!

CarolA, basically you're saying exactly what I've been saying. I think they should always have units that are smoking (unless laws are passes that prohibit smoking altogether), and it would probably benefit everyone if the shared balconies were smoking as well. It will mean that a little though will have to go into reorganizing the floor plans, but it'll prevent people from having issues and enhance everyone's experience.

In the meantime, we all have to remind ourselves of why we come to Disney, and keep the friendly neighbor attitudes in our hearts when we share spaces together. I've personally found that, with the right approach, everyone vacationing at Disney is more than happy to accomodate the consideration of others. It's only when someone continues to ignore the discomfort of others when they've already been approached that I'd make an issue out of it with the management. I don't care if it's wild children/smoking in non-smoking areas/fall-down drunkeness/farting in close quarters; rudeness and inconsideration is what steams me up.

(sorry for the blog)

 

[pennilessinpa]

What galled me was all of the people, especially at Epcot who felt free to smoke wherever and whenver they pleased. While I never saw anyone smoke in lines, I saw people smoke right outside the rides (within site of CMs) with no ashtrays in sight.

I hate smoke, my mother died from smoking and my 2 uncles are dying from it now). I know that clouds my opinion, buy why should non-smokers have to put up with smoking all over the place? Why doens't WDW enforce the rules that they have in place? Parks, common places, and rooms included!

 

[goofy4dvc]

I do not smoke and don't like being around those who do either, but I think it's difficult to enforce no smoking in an outdoor environment. It's a different story inside buildings.

 

[pennilessinpa]

I agree about enforcement in general when outdoors,
but ...

when it's done right in front of the cast members, maybe the people don't knpow the rules and just need to be told.

In the alternative, when they see it happen, they should say something to the offenders.

I hate when they fling the cigarettes to the ground with no consideration to the strollers and or other people standing nearby.

 

[Patty3]

What bothers me the most, is when folks either flick their ashes and do not look to see where the ashes are going, or when they start gesturing with a cigarette in their hand and do not look to see if anyone is close by. My kids in strollers were almost burned by cigarettes because of the carelessness of some smokers. I am not against smokers, I used to be one of them, it is the carelessness and disregard for others that some smokers display while smoking that really makes my blood boil, be it smoking in non smoking rooms or non designated areas.

 

[CarolA]

Keep in mind that some of the guests may be from other countries. Most of the rest of the world does not have very strict anti-smoking (or ANY anti-smoking) For example in Paris if you get a non smoking resturant table it could be the table next to the smoking section and surrounded by smokers. It doesn't have an ashtry so it's NONsmoking LOL!


I don't blame the CMs. Some of these smokers get flat out rude when asked to stop. I once saw a guest cuss out a CM at Canada during the Off Kilter show when she asked him to move. (Said it was a free country and it was his right and she could go to you know where, but he did wander off)

 

[Simba's Girl]

What appals me is the fact that some people (me) are allergic to that said smoke. So the smoking in the NS rooms would really really get me all hot n bothered...