Just returned from the BCV and BWV.

[SnowWitch]

We (my kids & I) checked in to the BCV for 2 nights (Fri & Sat) in a studio. We arrived at 2:15 pm, the room was not ready so we skipped down to Beaches and Cream for our celebratory we are at Disney Fudge Mud Slide. At 3:00 pm our room was ready so off we went to see what we had received. I had requested a smoking room W/ a view of Epcot. We received a non-smoking room with a view of the pool on the 4th floor. It turned out to actually be a great room, the elevator was right around the corner. This made going to the hot tub and quiet pool very convient.

All in all we really enjoyed the BCV's. We had stayed here for the sole purpose of using Storm-a-long Bay over the weekend. It's a shame it never got over 50 degrees and the wind was blowing 15 miles an hour. But fret not my kids still got in the pool and I with the help of the fabulous pool bartender, was quit warm covered up with pool towels.

I recieved 5 welcome homes at this resort. This is a personal record for us!!


On Sunday we checked in to the BWV's. We called from MGM around 2:15 and our 2 beroom was ready. YE-HA!! My kids were driving me nuts in a studio!!! We had friend staying with us this trip. I have to say I really ejoyed the looks on their faces when we opened the door. Needless to say they did the tour during our trip and are on their way to DVC ownership!

We had requested smoking. Thats it, smoking!!! Did we get it, NO!!! I did notice that most of the smoking rooms on the 2nd floor are under rehab. Both of my friends who were staying with me are smokers, when we called the front desk to express our desire for a smoking unit we were told there were no smoking units available and they could smoke on the balcony or in the room. They had no desire to stink up a wonderful smelling room so they chose to smoke on the balcony. Now this would be the part that upset me, they were on their balcony one evening and someone above them and to the side took it upon themselves to make a rather loud comment "We can't get away from cigareete smoke even on our balcony.", now I've been on these boards long enough to know what a touchy subject this is but I ask this. We requested a smoking unit, upon discovery of having a non-smoking unit we tried to get one and were told smoke in the room or balcony, they felt smoking on the balcony was a far better choice than smoking in the room. I personally would have asked the people in the nearby balcony would they have rather them smoked in the room?

Other than this the BWV's were fabulous as aways!!!

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by SnowWitch
[B
. Now this would be the part that upset me, they were on their balcony one evening and someone above them and to the side took it upon themselves to make a rather loud comment "We can't get away from cigareete smoke even on our balcony.", now I've been on these boards long enough to know what a touchy subject this is but I ask this. We requested a smoking unit, upon discovery of having a non-smoking unit we tried to get one and were told smoke in the room or balcony, they felt smoking on the balcony was a far better choice than smoking in the room. I personally would have asked the people in the nearby balcony would they have rather them smoked in the room? [/B]

When DVC resorts go non-smoking down the road, you won't have these problems.

 

[PKS44]

The problem is inherent with smoking...when people don't smoke it does not expose smokers to anything...but no matter what you do when you smoke you may be forcing others to be exposed to smoke, whether they want to or not...some feel that this is an accomodation that smokers are entitled to---

Of course smoking on the balcony was better for the next occupants of the room, but smoking in the room would have been better for the current nonsmokers standing on the balcony...and of course not smoking at all would be better for everyone except for the smoker (or maybe including the smoker depending on how you look at it)...There is no way to make EVERYONE happy about it in a world mixed with smokers and nonsmokers. But the days of smokers smoking wherever and whenever they want without any concern for how it affects others are gone.

Paul

 

[chris1gill]

I just hate to beat a dead horse here, but we were at the BWV's over Thanksgiving & while trying to enjoy Illuminations from our balcony, our neighbor decided to light up... I was forced to leave MY balcony & watch Illuminations from my room with the door shut Now how fair is that??? Actually, I would have been better off lung wise if the air hadn't been cold & the wind blowing, but it was... the smoking was the LAST thing my lungs could take....

So, although it's not exactly fair to your friends, they don't HAVE to smoke... I on the other hand have to breath....

Sorry to vent about this, but it really upset me that I had to miss Illuminations....

 

[ncligs]

Originally posted by chris1gill

So, although it's not exactly fair to your friends, they don't HAVE to smoke... I on the other hand have to breath....

Excellent point Chris.

A lot of smokers are not as considerate as Gail is.

 

[Melrosgirl]

lol how did I know this thread would turn this way, lol. ??

I, for one, can't stand cigarette smoke. If I request a room for non smoking and get a smoking room, it will bother me the entire trip. Nothing smells worse than stale smoke in linens, etc. Can't stand it.

With that said, lol, I feel a bit bad for your friends since you did request a smoking room. I'm glad they chose not to smoke in the non smoking room (why would a CM even suggest that?), but I can totally understand why your neighbors on the balcony had a problem with it, too.

Can't win either way I guess.

 

[tonyboy]

Since we're on the smoking subject...Doesn't noise also count? I hate it hearing people coming "home" at 1am and go out on their balcony to "talk". Sounds more like a heard of elephants. Would rather smell smoke and go inside than to listen to constant banter outside my room. Yes you can call security and such but it's a big pain to wake up to it in the first place.

 

[Candlelady]

Normally, I wouldn't touch this subject with a ten foot pole, but....

They were told it was ok to smoke in the room or on the balcony by the CM. They were considerate enough to smoke on the balcony so the next DVC'er would not be exposed to a unit that reeked of smoke. I applaud them for that consideration.

I think the person on the neighboring balcony was just plain rude. If it bothered them they could have politely asked if they would refrain from smoking as it was blowing onto their balcony and bothering them. Most smokers would honor that request as long as it was asked politely and not with sarcasm.

Let the flaming begin

 

[brittsmum1998]

I believe most of the 2nd floor of the Boardwalk is smoking. Do people request NOT to be on the 3rd floor either? I smoke on the balconey of my 2nd floor unit always. I don't smoke in the Villa.

 

[spruce]

I think the person on the neighboring balcony was just plain rude. If it bothered them they could have politely asked if they would refrain from smoking as it was blowing onto their balcony and bothering them. Most smokers would honor that request as long as it was asked politely and not with sarcasm.

Well said.

I don't smoke.

People should really think before being rude to strangers, because, you never know what someone will do. Things can escalate very quickly.....spruce

 

[manning]

Did I read this right? The front desk said it was ok to smoke in the room???

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Did I read this right? The front desk said it was ok to smoke in the room???

I don't doubt for a minute that they did. We ended up in a non smoking unit once and was told it was ok to smoke in the unit. They even offered to provide ashtrays.

 

[SnowWitch]

I believed I mentioned quite a few of the smoking rooms were closed due to renovations.

Thank you Gale for backing me on what I was certainly told by the front desk staff.

Manning the same thing happened at Vero Beach. No smoking units left, so guess what they told us....

Brittsmom1998 I smoke but I never smoke in my room but I ALWAYS request a smoking room as not to inconvience people around me with my smoke. I prefer to smoke on the balcony. I don't smoke in my own home.

The people who made the comment to my friends could have very politely asked them to not smoke while they were out. They would have been happy to accomodate but instead.....they threw their rear-ends up on their shoulders and made a smart comment. Sarcasm isn't productive!

I personally would be shocked if all Disney resorts went non-smoking. They don't have enough smoking rooms as it is and then they tell the guests to smoke in the non-smoking rooms. They appear to want to please the smoking guest by allowing them to smoke where they really shouldn't.

 

[eva]

I'm glad that your friends smoked on the balcony rather than the room. I hate entering a room that has been smoked in. You really can't get that smell out for quite some time. I would much rather put up with a few minutes of smoke outside than being closed up in my room with the smell for days. It's funny that people complain about people smoking on a balcony of a nonsmoking room when a bunch of nonsmoking rooms are right above smoking rooms at BWV. Staying in a nonsmoking room does not guarantee you that the room right below yours is nonsmoking too.

 

[Candlelady]

SnowWitch,

Besides the smoking problem that you encounted, glad you and your friends had a wonderful trip. We can't wait to 'go home' for the first time.

Happy Holidays!

 

[brittsmum1998]

Snow, I don't doubt you asked for smoking. I was just trying to make a general pt. If the 2nd floor is smoking, what happens to the "non" smoking people on the 3rd floor. Do those 3rd floor people complain about the smoke from the smoking units? Maybe they should make a whole side of the building smoking. (trying to insert a wikie here but it won't let me) I, being a smoker abides by the rules, as I'm sure most members do ie; not smoking in a non smoking room. We were also told to smoke on the balconey at one time at VWL. We did for lack of any choices plus CM's said to do it there. I fortunately DIDN'T run into rude people like you did.

 

[SnowWitch]

Brittsmum1998,
I didn't think your post was implying anything, sorry if my post sounded harsh. We used the stairs at the end of the hall to go to the hot tub, community hall, and MGM. During our journey's to these destinations I made a point to notice smoking and non-smoking units. It was interesting, they are rather mixed in so in many circumstances a smoking unit is right next to a non-smoking unit and as you pointed out the balconies above these are non-smoking. I would think they could figure something out.

Again sorry if I sounded harsh!

 

[PKS44]

Flame away- and these kind of threads always degenerate into Flames anyway- but the problem is that rudeness just begets rudeness and smoking (unless you do it in your own private atmosphere) is rude. If no one ever smoked, you would never have rude comments being made about trying to get away from smoke. The act of lighting up assumes that you won't be bothering anyone-it forces the nonsmoker to have to request what they should expect-that no one will invade their space with noxious and obnoxious substances like cigarette smoke. I am sure there are many smokers out there who would not intentionally hurt or offend nonsmokers if they were aware of it...but there are also many who could not care less-they feel it is their right to pollute the common air- and unfortunately those bad apples have conditioned many nonsmokers to expect rude reactions whenever we have politely asked or reminded people to not smoke- (I am talking about even in areas clearly marked NO SMOKING--I would say more than half the time smokers react rudely and refuse to stop smoking -and in case you want to know I usually couch my comments in the most gentle of ways "I am sorry, but I am sure you didn't see it, but this is a no smoking area...")

The bottom line is that smokers have made a choice- that they care more about the good feeling the drug nicotine provides them than they do about their own health or the feelings of those who might be made ill or offended by their smoke. (We have not even touched on the many smokers who also feel the ground is their personal ashtray just waiting for their discarded butts.) This means that while they may be willing to refrain at times, there is an ASSUMPTION that most people don't care-or won't notice. The effects and costs of smoking go well beyond the individual smoker's airspace-to second hand smoke, to smelly rooms, to added cleaning costs, to more fires, more fire insurance costs(even raising dues a bit), to more sick days and added health care costs in general, to disabled and dead workers leaving behind companies having to replace them and devastated families who sometimes even require financial assistance, to the bad examples for a new generation of smokers to continue the cycle. No man is an island, and our choices, no matter how personal they seem, do affect others in ways we do not always consider.

To avoid being rude one has to start by considering others feelings before your own--the very act of lighting up extinguishes that consideration. This assumption that it is not a bother to anyone else is the initial act of rudeness that begets all the rest of the rudeness. Would the world be more or less pleasant if no one smoked? The answer is obvious-sure, you will hear about how cranky that will make the quitters, and all sorts of other excuses that drug addicts make in defending their addiction...but that is what it is- addiction. Smoking is bad for all of us...unfortunately about 25% of us in the USA don't care to make the world more pleasant for everyone else-it is more important that their desire for the magical effects of nicotine be satisfied.

Paul

 

[ncligs]

Paul,
"Excellent and true" post.

 

[SnowWitch]

I just hate when people take a civil thread and turn it into a debate and I have already sent a post requesting this thread be closed. Thanks to everyone that offered there opinions in a civil manner.