How to avoid smoking areas at WDW?

[BoardwalkSuzy]

I am very allergic to cigarette smoke, and don't want my kids exposed to it either.

We are hoping someone knows of a map that details where the smoking areas are so we can avoid them. I read a list of descriptions of smoking areas, but that doesn't help much unless you are already really familiar with the parks. When we visited DL a few months ago, we still ended up walking through pathways that had dozens of people leaning against a rail puffing away while park guests and children walked by. After we were in the middle of the stinky smoke, we finally see a tiny sign that reads "smoking area".

Last visit to DL, I had asthma for 4 days after being exposed to all the cigarette smoke during our last trip. I never suffer from asthma except from cigarette smoke and insecticides. I went and asked a CM about the smoking areas, and he told me they are constantly moving the smoking areas around and he didn't even know where they are now.

Please share any information you have on how to avoid the smoke at WDW. Should we go to guest services office and have them mark the map for us so we know what areas of parks to avoid? The smoking areas don't seem to be out of the way - instead they are right along pathways and my husband and I were very surprised by that. Why do they allow smoking but not alcohol at MK?

 

[GoofyGirl75]

The smoking areas are marked with a little symbol on the regular park map.

 

[iheartdisney]

Why do they allow smoking but not drinking? Probably because Walt was a smoker. And in 1955, smoking was healthy. And a bunch of drunks milling around is not the family friendly environment Walt envisioned.
They can do away with the smoking areas, but then you'll have people smoking wherever they want.

They are clearly marked on the park maps with a picture of a cigarette. Ask any smoker, and they will probably disagree that they are not out of the way.

 

[HETRICKL]

I must be honest, in my last 5 trips, I only recall seeing a smoker spot once and it was on a path not in the regular path. I didn't notice it to be a problem at all. I don't have allergies to smoke, but I do try to avoid it for myself and my kids.

 

[polineedyan]

I am very allergic to cigarette smoke, and don't want my kids exposed to it either.

We are hoping someone knows of a map that details where the smoking areas are so we can avoid them. I read a list of descriptions of smoking areas, but that doesn't help much unless you are already really familiar with the parks. When we visited DL a few months ago, we still ended up walking through pathways that had dozens of people leaning against a rail puffing away while park guests and children walked by. After we were in the middle of the stinky smoke, we finally see a tiny sign that reads "smoking area".

Last visit to DL, I had asthma for 4 days after being exposed to all the cigarette smoke during our last trip. I never suffer from asthma except from cigarette smoke and insecticides. I went and asked a CM about the smoking areas, and he told me they are constantly moving the smoking areas around and he didn't even know where they are now.

Please share any information you have on how to avoid the smoke at WDW. Should we go to guest services office and have them mark the map for us so we know what areas of parks to avoid? The smoking areas don't seem to be out of the way - instead they are right along pathways and my husband and I were very surprised by that. Why do they allow smoking but not alcohol at MK?

Without flaming you with a big ole "ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!" I'll instead respond with this: If you are allergic to pesticides, I would guess youre going to have a very difficult time at Disney. I would imagine that there are more pesticides in the fertilizers and food there than anywhere I can think of.

 

[littlbugmom]

I don't remember ever seeing or smelling a smoking area.
I had no idea.

 

[Cinderellabride]

They are marked on the park maps. If you want to be sure you could always ask at guest services like you said.

I was very surprised on our last trip to find someone smoking right next to my stroller which was in the stroller parking for the character breakfast at AK. I looked and there was sign pointing down the path for the smoking area. To say I was less than impressed is an understatement.

You may want to try posting this question on the disABILITIES board. They may have more info over there, and won't be judgemental of your legitimate allergy. They were very helpful when I had questions about traveling with my FIL on an ECV last year.

 

[SnowWhite12]

Believe me, at WDW they are extremely well-hidden. Took us forever to find them, and we were looking hard. They are definitely off the beaten path. (even at DL, there was only one for the whole park at that time--very frustrating for those needing one).

 

[sjs314]

Believe me, at WDW they are extremely well-hidden. Took us forever to find them, and we were looking hard. They are definitely off the beaten path. (even at DL, there was only one for the whole park at that time--very frustrating for those needing one).

I have to agree with you about the DSA being hard to find , when I went to WDW last year I think I spent more time looking for the spots than time it took to smoke a cigarette

Thankfully I have quit smokeing now and won't be a slave to my nasty habit my next trip to Disney

 

[Luvchefmic]

Okay I smoke...all the advice about the maps are correct, but as a smoker I will tell you that one of the smoking areas in AK is right near Camp Minnie/Mickey and if you want to go see the characters you are going to be near this area. The other place I can think of off the top of my head that can be a problem for you & your family is in DHS that is near TOT.

My pet peeve-getting remarks in the parking lots not in the parks from non-smokers...hope you don't do that

 

[squirrel]

I'm also very allergic to smoke. I haven't had much trouble at WDW. The smoking areas seem to be off the regular paths. There is one up by the castle that a CM once told me to use when they had closed the walkway at the castle- to the right if you are facing the castle.

Worry more when exiting the park and heading to the buses. That's when the smokers light up and usually it's crowded and hard to tell which direction it's coming at you from.

 

[BoardwalkSuzy]

Sounds like Disneyland is more of a problem - that's where I had the problem, not WDW. I'm planning first trip since 2002 soon to WDW. I had been to WDW before getting married, but don't recall having any reaction then, so hope it's the same. Glad to hear the smoking areas are out of the way and well marked at WDW, making it easier to have a fun trip without struggling to breathe! At DL, the smoking areas I ran into were on pathway going to Haunted Mansion, and on path to Small Small World right next to kid's face painting station. My little girl wanted to get her face painted, but couldn't because the smoke was too strong.

This is good news about WDW. I had smoked long ago, but became allergic while being a smoker. One day, I felt like I had knives in my lungs, went to doctor, and that experience made me stop smoking - very painful. I'm glad it was that easy for me to stop. Thanks for all the replies.

 

[scottish mum]

My ds is asthmatic and we like to keep him away from cigarette smoke too. In all honestly we have never had a problem with it in WDW and we certainly never tried to keep away from it. I am guessing the smoking areas must be hard to find as we covered most of all the parks and never came across them

 

[dogodisney]

I have to agree with you about the DSA being hard to find , when I went to WDW last year I think I spent more time looking for the spots than time it took to smoke a cigarette

Thankfully I have quit smokeing now and won't be a slave to my nasty habit my next trip to Disney

Good for you! The 31st will be my 7th anniversary! It really is nice to not have your life evolve around smoking. It also is alot easier to breathe.

 

[maxiesmom]

My mom smokes, and we have never had any problems finding the DSAs. They are right on the park maps, so avoiding them should be pretty easy.

 

[scojos]

hi, dont post over here v often, but had to say i too stopped smoking about 8 weeks ago to help fund our trip to wdw
2 smoking areas, one is behind Space mountain the other behind LTT, both have a "through" element - people use them as short cuts.
HTH
tracy

 

[iheartdisney]

Worry more when exiting the park and heading to the buses. That's when the smokers light up and usually it's crowded and hard to tell which direction it's coming at you from.

Yeah, because everyone is trying to enjoy the fresh exhaust in the air, right?!?

I'm not a smoker, but DH is.
OP- when did you go to DL? The smoking area by Haunted Mansion is only temporary while they have the Rivers drained, usually is is down by the water. I j ust checked the park map, there are 3, that is THREE smoking areas in the entire park.

 

[irisbud]

OP: I do not have asthma, but cigarette smoke makes me very ill and is a migrane trigger, so I do my best to avoid it. I too had more trouble on our DL trips, maybe just because I was less familiar with the park and stumbled onto them, IDK, or maybe because of all of the construction going on at CA (that is where I had the most problems). I have only ever once found myself in a smoking area at WDW: over near BTMRR, on the banks of ROA there are some rocking chairs etc set up on a dock. My husband wanted to sit there and relax so I followed him and quickly discovered that this is a smoking area.

Get a map and try to familiarize yurself with them as best as possible; they are pretty easy to avoid As others have said, busstops etc. are where I have found the most problems, but if smoking is allowed, that is my issue

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

I have asthma and honestly the only place I remember seeing a smoking area is off to the side of the castle. I know there are more, but they are off the beaten path. I have, however, seen CMs using pesticides around the resorts.