Magic kingdom down to two designated smoking areas

[AliceIn]

I foresee this being a problem. Too few and many will just do what they want wherever. We already see people smoking all over the park.

Maybe a ban on bringing cigarettes into parks?

 

[AliceIn]

So far the research I'm finding is focused on workplace and college campus issues. The research I've read, in this short amount of time, for the most part shows that outright smoking bans are more effective in reducing overall tobacco consumption than designated smoking areas are. Simply put, if you provide designated areas, people will smoke more than if there is an overall ban. All of the research I've seen so far is only taking about individual attitudes and consumption; none of the research I've seen so far focuses on the social dynamics we are discussing in this thread.

My workplace is a large campus. We went completely tobacco free a few years ago. If you want to smoke, you must get in your car and leave the property entirely. Nobody quit their jobs over it. Everybody I knew who smokes adjusted to not smoking during the day. In my opinion, smoking at theme parks and other public places is a public health issue, and bans there should be a a requirement. Perhaps Disney could build enclosed smoking areas near the parking lots, and then ban tobacco from entering the park, period.

 

[ChloesDaddy]

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Because it is abused. Just returned from a trip and seen several people smoking outside of the designated smoking areas. I'm all for a designated smoking area outside the park; maybe a smoking room where the smoke is contained inside.

If I read it right they put a smoking area outside the parks. I would be ok with putting smoking outside the parks and keep inside the parks smoke free. It wouldn't be the most ideal as there would still be clean up and some exposure still (I would just prefer no smoking at all personally). At least then, while it is an inconvenience to go outside the park to smoke, we wouldn't have issues with those smoking in areas they weren't supposed to. Though as others have said enforcement of no smoking inside the parks would really need to be enforced. It also would lessen the number of times I'm right by someone (who I can't avoid) who just smoked.

My workplace is a large campus. We went completely tobacco free a few years ago. If you want to smoke, you must get in your car and leave the property entirely. Nobody quit their jobs over it. Everybody I knew who smokes adjusted to not smoking during the day. In my opinion, smoking at theme parks and other public places is a public health issue, and bans there should be a a requirement. Perhaps Disney could build enclosed smoking areas near the parking lots, and then ban tobacco from entering the park, period.

My husband currently works (until August thank goodness it's not longer) on a power plant in Maryland. He's not a contruction engineer (he's a mechanical engineer responsible for parts needed to build the power plant) so he's not on the actual site much.

But on the actual construction site there is no tobacco/vaping allowed period..it's an immediate firing if caught. Anyone wanting to smoke actually has to catch a shuttle (provided to the site) that takes them 2 or so miles away from the site to the mass parking area (there isn't room to park vehicles on the actual site). It takes about 10-15 minutes to get to the parking lot due to the road and any traffic. They haven't had any issues with it and the project has been going on for over a year and still has 2 more years to go. I know it is a bit different though because people at WDW are typically on vacation not working for money (meaning working for money puts more on the line if you were to disobey the rules).

 

[MickeyMinnieMom]

Now that the smoking issued has been covered, Disney really should do something about the cancer causing sun rays that are so ever-present in the parks!

Good grief. At least one in every thread...

Let me guess: you're equally worried about gators and mosquitos? Or feeding gators and feeding ducks?

 

[babesboo99]

And, the smoking areas can be avoided if so desired which is also doing something.

Bottom line is that some people smoke, some people don't and both are being addressed by Disney. Smokers should adhere to the policies and only smoke in the designated areas (and shame on those who do not) and nonsmokers should avoid the designated areas if they do not wish to be exposed to smoking. As for banning smoking in the parks all together, it is biased to suggest that as a solution if you are a nonsmoker (which I am by the way) and Disney is trying to address all of their guests.

I agree People should adhere to the signs and the designated areas . Unfortunately we don't live in that world I always listen to the signs and I go where the designated areas are.

 

[HollywoodTowerHotel]

Good grief. At least one in every thread...

Let me guess: you're equally worried about gators and mosquitos? Or feeding gators and feeding ducks?

Good grief, I think the point has been missed.

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

What about the drinkers at Magic Kingdom? They have a right to drink, but they can't access alcohol until dinner time and only if they get a coveted reservation to BOG. No one cares about the drinkers and their right to their vices.

 

[magicjojo]

First, regarding treating smokers like lepers...yes, smoking is increasingly seen as a socially unacceptable choice, and that's a GOOD thing! Smoking and the harm it causes to smokers and others via second hand smoke are a public health crisis. Second, no smokers do not have 'rights.' You do not have a 'right' to be allowed to smoke on private property (unless it's your own) and 'smoker' is not a protected class of people. The harder it is to smoke in public (because there are fewer places people are allowed to smoke) the less smokers will smoke, the less second hand smoke we are all exposed to, and hopefully fewer people take it up as a habit.

And honestly demanding or expecting a place to smoke in front of your kids and other people's kids is just selfish and gross. Wake up and stop letting these powerful tobacco companies steal years of your life from you and fleece your pocketbook while you contribute to poisoning the rest of us.

 

[piccolopat]

Ridiculous. Put me in a plexiglass box if you have to, but come on!

This wouldn't work. Smoking areas in restaurants contaminated non-smoking areas whenever the door was opened. When I commuted on the Staten Island Ferry to Manhattan, at one time the lower level was for smoking. It was so bad that the smokers would open the doors to the stairs up and the smoke wafted up like a chimney. Put smokers in a plexiglass box and unless there was an incredible ventilation system, they would be opening that door in no time.

 

[jhaig]

What tan dinabout the drinkers at Magic Kingdom? They have a right to drink, but they can't access alcohol until dinner time and only if they get a coveted reservation to BOG. No one cares about the drinkers and their right to their vices.

Perhaps, but if you have a drink standing next to me you will not destroy my liver as well as yours.

 

[MinnieSweetheart]

Perhaps, but if you have a drink next to me you will not destroy my liver as well as yours.

It was the continuation of a point being made on this thread that people needed to be allowed to smoke. I don't, however, see that courtesy provided to other vices.

I agree with you though, because I am extremely sensitive to smoking.

 

[jhaig]

It was the continuation of a point being made on this thread that people needed to be allowed to smoke. I don't, however, see that courtesy provided to other vices.

I agree with you though, because I am extremely sensitive to smoking.

Right, because if other vices were included, show me the way to the designated bacon area.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

That looked like the smoking areas at the Hartsfield Atlanta airport. I would walk by and was astonished to see people with their children in there. It was disgusting. I was so glad the removed those glass rooms.

 

[Planogirl]

Smoking is legal and an adult's choice. If Disney provides out of the way smoking areas for smokers it's no one else's business.

We must be really lucky because we haven't seen these smokers wandering all over the parks. The way some people go on I picture galloping hordes of smoking mobs running amuck. Controlling any of that is up to Disney. It's not fair to penalize those who follow the rules IMO.

 

[Nayan]

I smoke, but not in my home, my car or anywhere else I'm not supposed to. Disney has designated areas for me to go and if I need my fix I wander over there. Even as a smoker it irks me that people will light up wherever they want. When I've stayed on property going down the the smoking area was a good excuse to grab a cup of coffee, have a smoke and people-watch. I have seen people sit outside their rooms and smoke, like it's not a big deal. If Disney were to make the entire resort smoke-free, I would put the blame on those who don't follow the rules for ruining it for the rest of us who do.

 

[burnurcomputer]

I'm a e-cig smoker, so I will put it out there first.

Smoking isn't illegal. There is a huge push to make smokers pariahs. It is now a social no-no, but smoking isn't illegal.

I've always followed the smoking rules at Disney, and get annoyed when people don't. I get very grumpy if I don't have a cigarette for a certain amount of time, and my family is happy to see me go and happier when I get back. I don't mind walking to an off the beaten path smoking area to have my cigarette. I didn't like several of the smoking areas so I didn't use them, for example, the castle walkway. I would love to be away from walk ways, and from other guests.

I'm not saying every smoker is a respectful smoker, nor is every guest a respectful guest.

One observation I would like to pass on from my experience in the smoking area, a nice portion of the guests using the smoking area appear to be international guests. I base this off the languages spoken, and the English spoken to me with authentic accents. Attitudes tword smoking vary from culture to culture. Perhaps the amicable solution would be is smoking areas that are more isolated.

 

[babesboo99]

I'm a e-cig smoker, so I will put it out there first.

Smoking isn't illegal. There is a huge push to make smokers pariahs. It is now a social no-no, but smoking isn't illegal.

I've always followed the smoking rules at Disney, and get annoyed when people don't. I get very grumpy if I don't have a cigarette for a certain amount of time, and my family is happy to see me go and happier when I get back. I don't mind walking to an off the beaten path smoking area to have my cigarette. I didn't like several of the smoking areas so I didn't use them, for example, the castle walkway. I would love to be away from walk ways, and from other guests.

I'm not saying every smoker is a respectful smoker, nor is every guest a respectful guest.

One observation I would like to pass on from my experience in the smoking area, a nice portion of the guests using the smoking area appear to be international guests. I base this off the languages spoken, and the English spoken to me with authentic accents. Attitudes tword smoking vary from culture to culture. Perhaps the amicable solution would be is smoking areas that are more isolated.

I agree 100 %. We stay at the BCV and when I would go down there for my nightly smoke I would meet people from all over the world from England , Australia and so on. And I have to say we were polite to each other and had some wonderful conversations every night we met . I too don't mind walking off the path .

 

[Carolrita]

First, regarding treating smokers like lepers...yes, smoking is increasingly seen as a socially unacceptable choice, and that's a GOOD thing! Smoking and the harm it causes to smokers and others via second hand smoke are a public health crisis. Second, no smokers do not have 'rights.' You do not have a 'right' to be allowed to smoke on private property (unless it's your own) and 'smoker' is not a protected class of people. The harder it is to smoke in public (because there are fewer places people are allowed to smoke) the less smokers will smoke, the less second hand smoke we are all exposed to, and hopefully fewer people take it up as a habit.

And honestly demanding or expecting a place to smoke in front of your kids and other people's kids is just selfish and gross. Wake up and stop letting these powerful tobacco companies steal years of your life from you and fleece your pocketbook while you contribute to poisoning the rest of us.

I didn't say we were a protected group. I also never used the word "right". I agree that the less people smoke, the less second hand smoke others are exposed to. That brings me back to the point I was making. If people would get off their lazy a**es and walk, I wouldn't be exposed to nearly as much car exhaust. This tax payer is tired of paying for fat, lazy people's medical bills. I usually keep my opinions to myself regarding these matters, but seeing smokers are so often verbally abused, I chose to give my 2 cents.

Have a magical day

 

[maxiesmom]

First, regarding treating smokers like lepers...yes, smoking is increasingly seen as a socially unacceptable choice, and that's a GOOD thing! Smoking and the harm it causes to smokers and others via second hand smoke are a public health crisis. Second, no smokers do not have 'rights.' You do not have a 'right' to be allowed to smoke on private property (unless it's your own) and 'smoker' is not a protected class of people. The harder it is to smoke in public (because there are fewer places people are allowed to smoke) the less smokers will smoke, the less second hand smoke we are all exposed to, and hopefully fewer people take it up as a habit.

And honestly demanding or expecting a place to smoke in front of your kids and other people's kids is just selfish and gross. Wake up and stop letting these powerful tobacco companies steal years of your life from you and fleece your pocketbook while you contribute to poisoning the rest of us.

As long as smoking is legal, yes, smokers have rights. I don't smoke, but I know people that do. And many of them have tried, and tried, and tried to quit. It is not as easy (for most) as saying I'm done smoking! Yay me!

I think it is a nasty habit, but geeze, have some compassion. Most of us have some sort of vice. They probably don't affect others the way smoking does, but it doesn't make us superior somehow. Which is how many posters are coming off. As thinking they are above and superior to smokers. I'd take a kind smoker over a self-righteous non-smoker any day.