Former Smoking Rooms???

[Kristineamb]

We are thrilled that all Disney resorts are now smoke free but am concerned if I get an old smoking room...have they refurbished these rooms (ie paint, carpets, bedding?) I will be really disappointed if our room stinks!

 

[lissiesmum]

I'm still waiting for an answer on this one myself. I've gotten mixed answers. Some people state they didn't smell a thing and others said they asked to have their rooms switched right away. Maybe all the refurbishments haven't been made yet? Does anyone know if there is a schedule to this, or if they are all done?

 

[carol-lamb]

We stayed at CBR in June and I can tell you that we were assigned a former smoking room. You could notice it when you first walked in, but it wasn't that bad after a few minutes and we never changed rooms. I asked my son and his fiance and my teenage daughter if it bothered them and they said not at all. I am sure the room was NOT refurbished. They wouldn't have had time to do it. We checked in on June 16th and I believe the resorts went smoke free on June 1st. I think I would have smelled the fresh paint smell if it had been repainted. There were also two burn holes in one of the bedspreads. We really spend little time in our room, so it was not that big of a deal to us.

 

[Kristineamb]

Any other experiences???

 

[quiltymom]

We're taking our trip next month and have specifically asked for a room in a formerly non-smoking building. I have asthma and can tell the moment I walk into a room if it's ever been smoked in, no matter now clean it is. I'm taking a list of all the former smoking facilities with me, just in case.

Unfortunatley for Disney, the only way to completely rid the rooms of smoke and all smoke-related toxins is to strip the rooms bare and dispose of everything, seal every surface from sub-floor to ceiling, repaint, and then install new carpets, furniture & accessories.

So, I'm hoping (praying!) that they grant my room request so I don't have to argue with them about it. That's the last thing I want to do while I'm at Disney!

 

[kaytieeldr]

Couple of things. First, prior to the ban, only 3.5% of Disney’s resort rooms were smoking-optional (as opposed to smoking-required). That’s fewer than a thousand, spread among seventeen properties (Swan/Dolphin/SoG have their own rules). That’s an average of less than 55 rooms per resort. Why are SO many people SO sure they’re going to get one of those rooms, and not one of the 25,000 or so that were always non-smoking?

 

[aplejax76]

We stayed at the Poly. We were in the Niue longhouse. I did not know that it use to be a smoking room until a couple days after we got there. I was talking to a woman at the pool. She said she always stayed in Niue because it was a smoking room. I told her I was suprised, there was not a hint of smoke in the room. I never would have known if she had not said anything.

 

[Mike©]

Couple of things. First, prior to the ban, only 3.5% of Disney’s resort rooms were smoking-optional (as opposed to smoking-required). That’s fewer than a thousand, spread among seventeen properties (Swan/Dolphin/SoG have their own rules). That’s an average of less than 55 rooms per resort. Why are SO many people SO sure they’re going to get one of those rooms, and not one of the 25,000 or so that were always non-smoking?

Very, Very! Good point!
Plus there is always the chance of getting a room after me! I get VERY gassy with Disney food and I'm waiting till after my next trip to see if I read a post about that LOL.
OH and baby poop smell!

 

[Onceler]

Why are SO many people SO sure they’re going to get one of those rooms, and not one of the 25,000 or so that were always non-smoking?

Probably for the same reason that many people who visit WDW in August and September are so sure that a hurricane is going to strike Orlando when they are there and wipe out their entire vacations. There is a tendency for people in general to overestimate potential problems.

Of course, even though the chance of getting a bad room is small, it would be disappointing to get a room that still had a smoke smell--especially if it wasn't possible to switch rooms.

 

[kaytieeldr]

You're right, Onceler. And we haven't even mentioned the people who are devastated because it's going to rain every day during their vacation Now, granted, I've had a few (of many, not just one trip) days when the rain has lasted several hours. I even had one day when it followed me. It was raining in the park. It let up, so I went back to my resort. It started raining at my resort. I headed out to dinner. Yep, you guessed it - there were the rain clouds, and the rain, just minutes behind me. Go figure.

 

[fumipappa]

Couple of things. First, prior to the ban, only 3.5% of Disney’s resort rooms were smoking-optional (as opposed to smoking-required). That’s fewer than a thousand, spread among seventeen properties (Swan/Dolphin/SoG have their own rules). That’s an average of less than 55 rooms per resort. Why are SO many people SO sure they’re going to get one of those rooms, and not one of the 25,000 or so that were always non-smoking?

Because this is health issue involved, percentage does not mean anything.

 

[argue]

What were former smoking rooms at POR just curious?

 

[disneyfan55]

Does anyone know the former smoking section at the All Star Sports? I know they are redoing the resort so hopefully that was the section that had smoking!! Thanks for any help.

 

[shellybaxter]

Couple of things. First, prior to the ban, only 3.5% of Disney’s resort rooms were smoking-optional (as opposed to smoking-required). That’s fewer than a thousand, spread among seventeen properties (Swan/Dolphin/SoG have their own rules). That’s an average of less than 55 rooms per resort. Why are SO many people SO sure they’re going to get one of those rooms, and not one of the 25,000 or so that were always non-smoking?

I would imagine that the concerns are two-fold. First, when there were only 3.5% smoking optional rooms many non-smokers reported being given a smoking optional room so if it happened then, it could happen now. And second, being in a former smoking room could effect the quality of a person's vacation if they have breathing issues.

I have breathing issues and there is a big forest fire where I live right now. It is effecting my ability to breath which in turn makes me really tired. The smoke is also giving me a terrible headache. I wouldn't want to feel this way on vacation.

 

[tink's girls]

My nine year old has asthma and so getting a room that was formerly a smoking room would be an issue for us as well. I made our reservatin at POP before the change in policy and stated medical reasons for requesting a non smoking room. I know requests are only requests, but do you think this request will be honored as far as us getting a room that has never been smoking optional? Thanks!

 

[DVCconvert]

if I get an old smoking room... will {I} be really disappointed if our room stinks!

Sounds like it, yes.

 

[quiltymom]

Never mind.

 

[KatMark]

I am a former smoker and quit a year ago. I can smell smoke from quite a distance. Our room this past week was a former smoking room and I did not smell a thing in it.

 

[Kristineamb]

How did you know it was a former smoking room???

 

[pumpkinboy]

Probably for the same reason that many people who visit WDW in August and September are so sure that a hurricane is going to strike Orlando when they are there and wipe out their entire vacations. There is a tendency for people in general to overestimate potential problems.

Of course, even though the chance of getting a bad room is small, it would be disappointing to get a room that still had a smoke smell--especially if it wasn't possible to switch rooms.

Good point, Onceler, but the consequences of getting a smoking room (or a hurricane hitting for that matter) can be quite severe. An unlikely, but possibly devastating event is real reason for concern.

Interestingly, we got a non-smoking room that had been smoked in at BWV last Thanksgiving (so no possibility of a room change). They did everything they could from air-freshening machines, Febreze spraying every day, housekeeping in the room every day. Nevertheless, within the next week (after returning to Boston), both of my kids were admitted to hospital with respiratory problems (one for a week). I wish we had checked in earlier so we could have smelled the problem and changed rooms while there were still other rooms available.

The concerns of getting a former smoking room that has not yet been fully rehabbed are real, and consequences can be dire. We now make it very clear upon check-in (as we had previously) that we need a room without any hint of smoke residue for medical reasons. For others it is an annoyance, but for some, it is serious business.