If there is NO SMOKING in the parks they why...

[Kaycee]

For those of you who said you've never noticed anyone at WDW smoking where they shouldn't, I guess you didn't notice because you didn't have a reason to. I probably wouldn't notice either, except my husband has cigarette smoke-induced asthma. After seeing one toomany asthma attacks triggered by someone smoking where they shouldn't, believe me, now I notice.

For the poster who said, "It's no big deal" - if you saw the look of panic in my husband's eyes as he's fighting for breath, because someone chose to smoke in an area they shouldn't, then you'd know that yes, it is a big deal. This happened to us on Tom Sawyer Island a couple of years ago. There were a few different people smoking there, and because of the layout of this place, we couldn't seem to get away from them. And because we were on the island, we had to wait for the next boat to leave. It was really scary, and we won't be going back to Tom Sawyer Island because of that incident. Thank God we had Chuck's inhaler with us or it could've been even worse than it was.

I agree completely with the poster who said it's not smokers who are the problem, it's jerks who are the problem. The thing is, most things that jerks do aren't really harmful to others around them, but this one is.

Kaycee

 

[Pam Brown]

Hi everyone

I would like to add a comment to this thread that is slightly different. I am a smoker and always observe the smoking rules, would never dream of smoking out of the designated areas However I have a tale to tell about the policy.

Whilst in MK last Tuesday night for the parade and the fireworks. We watched the parade and then decided to walk to the smoking area by the Plaza restaurant (I think its called) for the fireworks. It was roped off and guarded by a CM. I asked to go down and she said it was only for people with a voucher to sit and watch the fireworks. Now I am not sure what vouchers these are but I would imagine they will have involved paying some extra money at some point whether it is with a meal or hotel deal. So I said to the CM in a kind of throwaway fashion. OK I am assuming its OK to smoke where I like then is it. And to my surprise she said Oh yes smoke wherever you went.

The point to this story is if there are a few dollars to be made somewhere then even Disneys smoking policy goes right out of the window.

Pam

 

[gonga]

AirForceRocks - In defense of myself, I must say that I have always been considered a lady and treat older people with respect. I am not a loud mouth, I am a well educated, well mannered 40 year old professional married woman. I would never, ever speak in a rude manner to anyone or in a confrontational way, espically the elderly. I do not think the phrase, excuse me, there is no smoking in the parks is confrontatiional or rude. I do however think mind your own f----g business from a man old enough to be my grandfather is. I personally do not care about his health, but I most definately did not appreciate breathing in his and his wife's smoke at 8:45 am.

 

[gonga]

Pam Brown- That area is for smoking! The vouchers are with the Plan (silver, gold, plat) that area is used for p/s for plan vouchers. So if you saw people smoking there, it also happens to be a designated smoking area.

 

[Pam Brown]

Hi

No what i meant was we were not allowed in the smoking area, it was roped off. So the CM said that it was OK to smoke elswhere, in non smoking areas. So in actual fact all alround that area leading right up to Main Street people were smoking, and of course as it was so busy it actually made things worse. Disney roped off the smoking area totally to allow people with vouchers to sit there. So like it said when it suits them the policy goes out the window.

Pam

 

[AirForceRocks]

I do not think the phrase, excuse me, there is no smoking in the parks is confrontatiional or rude.

I'll take your word for it that you were not rude, but you still gave out incorrect information. To tell people that there is no smoking in the parks is just plain wrong. Yes, they were wrong to be walking around smoking, but there is a possibility that they didn't know there were designated smoking areas. Instead of pointing that out to them, you told them something is just flat-out wrong.

 

[N.O.Parrothead]

Thank you Pat_Elliot. I applaud your well thought out and well expressed post and appreciate that you took the time to write it.
(As an aside-- I have had to exit a line on more that one occasion because of an allergic reaction to perfume.)

 

[Pat_Elliott]

Dear Group,

Based on the responses to this thread, I'm happy that I apparently made my point. I feared I was rambling.

However, based on two PM's I've received, I wish to make the following statements:

I have no bias against the state's of NY or MI. I am, in fact, married to a girl from Upstate NY. I SWEAR, the lady in the UK pavilion had a NY accent! This geographical notation is significant. So heavy was the stench of said perfume in the Florida sun that my eyes were watering and I was forced to keep track of said lady via only voice recognition.

I have no bias against perfume manufacturer's, per se, only those that sell their product, by the half gallon drum, in finer department stores nationwide, and even then, only when worn in large quantities to hide expensive body odor in the searing heat in climates such as, say, Orlando. For the record, adding said perfume on top of said body odor does not make you smell like perfume, it makes you smell like body odor and perfume, a rough mix. It's the same principle as spraying Lysol on gym socks and expecting them to be wearable the next day.

I have no bias whatsoever against senior women who wear perfume. I promise should I this June encounter any woman of the younger generation smelling of bulk-aromatic, I will not only run from them as fast as I would a senior counterpart, but I will note it here, upon my return, in the name of balance.

I hope this clears up any misunderstandings. And to further my original point, I just made a jerk of myself without lighting a single cigarette.

Pat

 

[Safari Steve]

Once I was doing crowd control for Spectro, far away from the nearest smoking area, when I smelled a cigarette. I could not see who was smoking it, so I made a general announcement just to let everyone in my area know that smoking has never been allowed in parade viewing areas and that presently we only allow it in designated smoking areas, announced how to get to the nearest area, etc. No one moved, so I figured it was just someone passing whom I hadn't seen. A short while later I smelled smoke again and this man who had been very close to me when I made the announcement suddenly jumped and yelped loudly. He was the smoker and rather than put his cig. out or move to the designated area, he had decided to hide his cig. from me, as if all that mattered was that I couldn't see it. Anyhow, the way he was holding it cupped in his hand resulted in his giving himself a nasty little burn on the inside of his pinky finger. I went to him and made a big deal of it, innocently offerring to walk him to First Aid (which I sincerely intended to do -burns are no fun even when you bring them upon yourself), but he scurried away rather quickly, very embarrassed.
I think the song "Instant Karma" fits that situation quite nicely.

 

[Pat_Elliott]

Originally posted by Safari Steve
I think the song "Instant Karma" fits that situation quite nicely.

Or perhaps "No One Told Me There'd Be Days Like These?"

It's my new creedo....there's nuthin' like a jerk.....

 

[Mackey Mouse]

Pat Elliott.. I have to tell you. I loved your disclaimer.....and great post.. So far we have kept this touchy subject within guidelines and everyone is respectful of each other's opinions which is always great for those moderating the board.. Keep up the good work..

This is a PS... I use to work in cosmetics years ago for a very big company, notice I am not mentioning names here, but I do know exactly the type of perfume you are referring to, you can smell that perfume a mile away.... older women love it..

 

[Cantw8]

As a smoker who always follows the rules, ...I'll tell ya what really burns my butt.....why do people insist on using ashtrays/butt cans for their trash. It's not like there aren't 5 billion trashcans in Disney......no, they simply must place their trash in a device that is obviously intended for butts...hint: that's what the stones and or sand is for.

 

[Safari Steve]

People put their garbage in many inappropriate places. Outside of Haunted Mansion, there is a well with a bucket sitting on it. The bucket is purely for decoration, but it is constantly filled with rubbish. The map/schedule bins in the train station tunnel also get stuffed with trash from time to time, as well as other things that in no way resemble our easy-to-find, easy-to-use trash bins.

 

[C.Ann]

I believe it's the job of the CM's to enforce the no smoking in non-smoking area policies - not the guests. You're lucky they didn't turn out to be nut cases - as well as being crude.. With all that goes on today I would NEVER get into a confrontation (no matter how benign you feel it was) with a total stranger..

Next time find a CM - that's what they're getting paid for..

 

[bliss4us]

I just got back a couple of days ago, and did see a fair number of people smoking outside of smoking areas during the week. Of course, the number of "naughty" smokers was miniscule compared to the number of people in the park, but boy, they sure stuck out.

My husband and I - both big-time non-smokers - even discussed how exactly to mention to a smoker that they're in the wrong area. There aren't always CM's around, and I'd like to assume that the couple of dozen people we saw smoking in non-smoking areas didn't know they shouldn't smoke where they were. And I really don't want to breathe their smoke if I can help it.

We couldn't come up with a phrase that wouldn't sound bossy or confrontational, so...

Any smokers out there want to put in your two cents? If you were smoking in a non-smoking area - unaware, of course - how would you want to be approached?

Daisy

 

[gonga]

Thank you bliss4us, I thought I was seeing things! It was not so much the people that stuck to the sidelines and smoked - even in non smoking areas, but the ones that walk around with a lit cigarette in their hand or in parade crowds and on lines. Give me a break, they have to know there is no smoking, its even announced on the monorail!

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by bliss4us
We couldn't come up with a phrase that wouldn't sound bossy or confrontational, so...

Any smokers out there want to put in your two cents? If you were smoking in a non-smoking area - unaware, of course - how would you want to be approached?

Daisy

-------------------

Pretend that YOU'RE a smoker too - and with a big smile, and a bit of a giggle, say something along the lines of, "Are you having problems finding the designated smoking areas TOO?? We just found one over by...."

My Mom always taught me you can catch more flies with honey, than with vinegar..

 

[Safari Steve]

CMs are instructed to politely direct guests to the nearest smoking area first, rather than starting with the requisite *and totally true* statement that "Smoking is not allowed in WDW theme parks."
By all means, tell a CM if the problem is eggregious (sp?), and if a CM is not around, just move on if at all possible.
The policy is indicated in park maps, on signs at the park entrances/inside the parks, and in monorail and parking tram spiels.

 

[kevind65]

My dw(smoker) and myself(non-smoker) have been to disney 10 different trips and have observed the occassional person smoking in an area that wasn't a designated smoking area; but, nothing out of control or anything like you're describing. I was just asking my dw where the areas even were? I've never really noticed people smoking where they're not supposed to. You are right; I don't have to notice. I don't have any problems that would result from cigarette smoke; but, it seems as if you might be overly obsessed with where people are smoking to notice it everywhere. On the other point developing on this thread: I agree with many other posters before me who state that it is not your job to confront other guest(for this matter or any other). tell a cm and let them do their job. This is a problem not only at disney world, but, everywhere in our society. people seem to think they can just say anything to anyone. it drives me crazy! I don't know what kind of reaction people think they're gonna get when they start running their mouth or berading a perfect stranger? either the person is unaware that they are doing something wrong or they are perfectly aware and have chosen to disregard the rule. either case, your words; whether or not intended; come across as confrontational. also, this person that has chosen to break the rules or behave rudely probably doesn't give a rat's a** what you have to say to them and is likely to react rudely or violently back toward you....just tell a cm and let them handle it.

 

[AirForceRocks]

CMs are instructed to politely direct guests to the nearest smoking area first, rather than starting with the requisite *and totally true* statement that "Smoking is not allowed in WDW theme parks."

How can you say with a (I'm assuming) straight face that smoking is not allowed in WDW theme parks when there are designated smoking areas in all of the parks?