I find it so frustrating

[Button]

Just back from another 4 day trip to DLP and whilst I know my pull to get my Disney fix will take me back I have to say I find the parks so frustrating. They are beautiful but the constant stream of people smoking is so annoying. Yes I understand it's more socially acceptable in France but this is a Disney park. Why do cast members not police this??? The majority of cast members seem so disengaged and we had several rude, nope I can't help you encounters. Character interaction is chaotic I felt for Goofy who twice I saw being mobbed.

My only reference point is WDW which we've been lucky to go to loads. Maybe it's just me.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

Smoking is not banned in open spaces in France so there isn't anything they can do about it.

Smoking is banned inside :: restaurants, bars and therefore indoor queues and I agree that they should be doing more but I can kind of understand the CMs reasons for not doing so as some people can be very menacing

I don't think that there is a monopoly on nationalites smoking in the parks either, everybody is just as bad

Re the characters I totally agree that something needs to be done but it doesn't seem to be a priority over there and that is a real worry

 

[Button]

I know its all nationalities happens at Legoland Windsor too but a smaller scale. The park map states that both parks are non smoking with the designated areas should you wish to do so. Yes if i were a cast member i wouldnt want the backlash either but then what's the point in putting such a policy in place. Don't get me wrong I believe it's everyone's right to choose how they live their life but it's the careless flicking of ash on my child's stroller and blatant disregard for others around that gets me.

 

[Carrie_Cat]

I think they just do it for show you know the notices on the maps

If they really cared the smoking areas would be better marked, there would be more no smoking signs and they could do regular announcements in several languages like they do for parades

It's the same as saying picnics aren't allowed in the park but then letting everyone bring food in and sit around eating it.

People have less and less respect for others and it's not right that you have to be watching out that you or your lo don't get burnt by a careless disrepectful person

 

[GeneralTso]

Totally agree with you OP.
The smoking is positively DISGUSTING. Just awful.
And so many young teens doing it too. Really nasty stuff. I understand it's a different culture, but really nasty all the same.

When you are used to Disney World or Disneyland, the Paris park is a rude awakening. We had ride operators talking on the phone, backs turned and people loading themselves into the cars (Snow White). Really strange. Just much different.

While I loved the different look of the park, I'm good not going back again.

 

[queenie82]

It does taint the whole experience...and especially the CM inaction to ANYTHING.

Seeing a father pushing a stroller with cigarette in hand dropping ash on his own child

The Japanese are AVID smokers but they are also AVID in POLICING the smoking in their parks so not only are there smoking specific areas, they are hidden away such that only if you look will you see the plume of smoke. You likely won't smell it.
Disney is PRIVATE property and they could and should ban any smoking outside the designated areas. They are sadly just too lazy

 

[Tink1987]

It upsets me too. It's just not the full Disney experience unfortunately

It's a shame really, as we would go there 4/5 times a year for a Disney fix, taking advantage of our Bank Holidays.

Luckily enough you can have your opinion on here, unlike some Disney boards where if you say one bad thing about DLP you get flamed!

 

[amylouv]

I love DLP because I haven't had the chance to experience any of the other parks but I can completely relate to the smoking and CM issue.

I didn't find the smoking to be a problem in my first day there in April but I then started to notice huge quantities of people smoking (particular in the large queue for the stunt show in the Studios). It wouldn't put me off going, but it would be nice to see an improvement there.

As with the CM problem, the fact that a lot of them are swamped is something I can remember even from when I was a child (I had wanted a photo with Tigger and it was almost impossible). On my last trip I managed to get my boyfriend a pic with Emille from Ratatouille when coming out of Cinemagique but when I had switched to get a picture large groups of people had wandered over. Fortunately the CM member was nice enough to signal them to wait while I had my picture taken.

I don't think it would be a difficult problem to solve, I know people don't enjoy queuing but I think placing queues where characters are would really help the problem.

 

[lilacgems23]

I have never noticed the smoking problem and I am am very anti smoking and hate smoke near me and the children even though DH smokes. In all the times we've been I haven't noticed it and never once had *** ash flicked on us either

 

[cherrymarzipan]

It does taint the whole experience...and especially the CM inaction to ANYTHING.

Seeing a father pushing a stroller with cigarette in hand dropping ash on his own child

The Japanese are AVID smokers but they are also AVID in POLICING the smoking in their parks so not only are there smoking specific areas, they are hidden away such that only if you look will you see the plume of smoke. You likely won't smell it.
Disney is PRIVATE property and they could and should ban any smoking outside the designated areas. They are sadly just too lazy

I'm with you on this, I don't see what any national stance on smoking outdoors has to do with it when the park is, as you say, private and hence can set its own boundaries and enforce them.

It is very interesting to hear what you say about Tokyo. Disney obviously has the will to do something about it there, I wonder why not here?

It doesn't stop us going either but I actually think it is worse now than when our children were small and in strollers. Last week I witnessed a man smoking with his child on his shoulders so that she was breathing in all the smoke, someone smoking in Liberty Arcade (doesn't that count as indoors then?) and two (separate) people more or less chain smoking in the disabled viewing area which was packed to capacity.

 

[Ms Poppins]

The people who smoke with their own children on their shoulders says it all. If they're not bothered about their own kids, then they certainly won't be bothered about anyone else around them

However, I have to say, as a non-smoker, I've noticed smoking, but not to the point that it bothers me or invades my space.

I suppose in such an area that can be filled with thousands, we'll always come across people with no regard for others. But, I agree, if Disney put a policy in place, then they should enforce it. Simples.

 

[gemma85]

I don't think it would bother me to much as we're in outside areas.,disneyland Paris will be the only Disney resort I can afford to go to at the minute so won't be put off by smoking, ESP when I see how excited my son will be. Everyone's got thinks they can't stand. Guess it also depends on how busy it is, to how much you notice things. As long as they don't smoke in restaurants

 

[Tink1987]

I'm with you on this, I don't see what any national stance on smoking outdoors has to do with it when the park is, as you say, private and hence can set its own boundaries and enforce them.

It is very interesting to hear what you say about Tokyo. Disney obviously has the will to do something about it there, I wonder why not here?

It doesn't stop us going either but I actually think it is worse now than when our children were small and in strollers. Last week I witnessed a man smoking with his child on his shoulders so that she was breathing in all the smoke, someone smoking in Liberty Arcade (doesn't that count as indoors then?) and two (separate) people more or less chain smoking in the disabled viewing area which was packed to capacity.

Disneyland Paris is only part owned by the Disney company. The rest of it is owned by an Arab sheikh.

I am not completely sure about Disneyland Tokyo, but I am sure I have read before that they own over 80% and have the majority of the say.

From the countless DLT TR's I have read, I really want to visit there, it looks amazing and much better then DLP!

 

[janiebubble]

Disneyland Paris is only part owned by the Disney company. The rest of it is owned by an Arab sheikh.

I am not completely sure about Disneyland Tokyo, but I am sure I have read before that they own over 80% and have the majority of the say.

From the countless DLT TR's I have read, I really want to visit there, it looks amazing and much better then DLP!

Tokyo Disney isn't owned by the Disney company either. Tokyo Disney Resort is fully owned and operated by The Oriental Land Company and is licensed by the Walt Disney Company. It probably accounts for the massive variations you see between parks. I'm sure I've read that the Tokyo parks have far more money spent on them than the others.