No more smoking allowed at the Magic Kingdom?

[lillygator]

I would be thrilled if they banned smoking period...twice I have been burned at WDW by someone's cigarette...the one left an ugly scar near my elbow...and once a woman was slingin' her cigarette around so much that she almost stuck it in my dd's face in the stroller. It got knocked out of her hand.....

 

[magicmaster]

I don't smoke, but smokers have rights too. I always see smokers in the designated areas. What I do not like is the smokers that do not abide by the rules and walk around with a lit cigarette. There are children around and people with sensitivities. I think the ban is somewhat of a joke since Disney cannot control the smokers that smoke in non smoking rooms and walk around the parks with a lit butt. A rule must be enforced to be a rule, otherwise it is a farce.

I have yet to see someone be told to put it out by a CM.

 

[PixIeTwInKle]

Smoking is a choice made by an individual and an individual only. Saying that it should be banned becasue it is polluting the air is absolutely rediculous. What about cars and factories and everything else that is contributing to air pollution. I am no scientist but I find it hard to belive smoking is doing the majority of the damage to our air.
I find it very difficult for people to slam smokers because they don't like it. I don't care for how some people dress but dressing a certain way isn't going to be banned! It is very true that smokers should only be able to smoke in certain places because ther are people with allergies and those that simply do not like smoke, but it shouldn't be banned or people discriminiated because of it. If someone wants to kill themselves by smoking then go at it, who are we to run everyone elses life.

Ok I'm done I've said my two cents and I won't say anymore!

 

[krbq]

SeaSpray: We stayed at GC in May 2005. The entire hotel, including balconies, is smoke-free with a $300 cleaning charge for violators. On the other hand, there are two smoking areas provided outdoors. One is very convenient, located just outside the lobby near the pool with benches and ashtrays. The other is a very cozy nook on the least-traveled side of the hotel with a fireplace and rocking chairs -- so nice, in fact, it was often filled with non-smokers. There are also some ashtrays outdoors near the main entrance of the hotel, but far enough removed so that non-smokers aren't bothered. You might want to call the GC to determine if those areas will still be available during your trip. Good luck!

 

[Mari annie]

We are not a smoking family, and we hate smoke, so I am personally glad, people shouldn't have to breathe the toxins created by other people, it should be outlawed everywhere!

My opinion.

We avoid anything or if someone is smoking we move away asap.
Makes me and my kids gag and get headaches-!

My dad smoked for years, now he has all kinds of issues, so I have reason to feel like this.

We should all be accountable for our actions, and smoking is a BAD one!


5 days to see MICKEY!!!!!!!

 

[C.Ann]

I would be very surprised if WDW ever bans smoking everywhere - as in the hotels, the parks, and all areas of their property.. They would lose too much revenue from the guests who would no longer visit their resorts and would simply choose to vacation elsewhere.. The one thing we can all agree on is that Disney is NOT interested in "losing" money - LOL.. The more money they can make, the better they like it..

Until it becomes illegal to smoke absolutely everywhere in the country, I wouldn't worry about it happening..

 

[hiwaygal]

Good question! I know I specifically heard them say "Magic Kingdom" and then I quickly looked at the TV and I'm pretty sure I saw Cinderella Castle. I'm keeping that channel on and hopefully they'll go to that story. I'll report back. I hope it's soon, I have to go food shopping.

I could be wrong, but I believe the Magic Kingdom in DL is kinda the whole park area (since it's all so "confined")...

 

[Raevyn_Wolfe]

I have yet to see someone be told to put it out by a CM.

This latest trip to WDW my husband told me he saw a CM tell a smoker to go to a designated smoking area! I was SHOCKED! I think this CM should have been applauded!!!!

As an ex-smoker, I understand what smoking is like.
But now as a non-smoker and a mother I do not feel that it is fair that other people's bad decisions should mean that myself and family should be subjected to the second hand smoke it causes.
I applaud all the people that use the designated areas and don't throw their butts on the ground. THANK YOU!!!!!
But it seems for every one person that follows the rules there are 5 that don't and just walk around blowing their smoke all over the rest of us.

What about smoker's rights?
Why do they deserve rights?????
Smoking is a decision that you make.
A person does not choose their race, skin color, disability, so to classify smokers as a trampled minority whose rights are imposed upon is just wrong.

Ok, so you have the freedom to choose smoking.
Well, I have the freedom to choose not to smoke.
And seeing as one of these choices can inflict physical damage upon not only the chooser but also those around the person, so what's wrong with someone making a "bad" decision having to deal with a few inconveniences.

No one is saying a smoker can't smoke, Disney has made it very possible for you to continue your habit, providing areas and ashtrays, something I would have appreciated as a smoker cause I would have felt akward just blatantly smoking walking around so many kids. There are just rules in place for those who don't want to inhale carcinigens and pollutants, and for those who want to prevent their children from the possibility of second hand caused cancers. YAY!
To say those rules impose on your freedom and rights is like saying the rule to remain seated in the ride vehicles is imposing on your rights. Um, standing in the vehicle not only affects your safety but also those also in the vehicle, just like smoking affects those around you. However, I would think standing in the ride vehicle has the ability to kill you immediately. . . .where as smoking could take awhile to do the same thing. lol.

And good point was made. . . . . . Disney is a private institution and can make basicly any rules they want to. They have to look out for the safety and comfort of ALL their guests.

Thanks OP for bringing this tidbit of new information, on DL that is. Sorry your thread has been high jacked.

On another note, the story of the horrible lady who yelled at the smokers in the smoker section. . . .TOO FUNNY! Hope she was horribly embarrassed, she was absolutely insane.

 

[Sylvester McBean]

all of the theme parks have smoking policies that are clearly defined by announcements, signage, or clearly on the maps. the problem is a lot of people just ignore the policies, and CM's, TM's and management does nothing to enforce those policies at any park. if people that smoked would follow the rules, there wouldn't be a need for a ban. WDW, Universal, etc. gives smokers more than adequate facilites to do their business. but people just don't give a flip, and do what they want. the last stat I saw was 1 out of 5 people in the US smokes. that's 20% of the population. I'm in the other 80% and that's a solid majority. I'm sick and tired of people in the minority complaining about the lack of 'smoker's rights'. we banned it from our restaurants, so now you stand right outside the doors so I breathe it in when I now enter or exit to eat. if people would just follow the rules, there wouldn't be a problem. or if the CM's would actually confront someone breaking the rule, no problem. there's a reason you can't buy cigarettes in the parks. if you want to smoke, go ahead I don't care. do it where you're supposed to, and don't throw your butts on the ground where I've seen little kids pick them up.

smoker's rights? as far as the theme parks go, I haven't seen the majority of people earn them.

 

[Goofy4Disney]

See, it has always worked that way with me... don't impose your opinions on me, and I won't impose my smoke upon you. However, I have been known to blow my smoke in the face of someone telling me to put out my cigarette.... which, I guess means that the opposite of my first statement holds true as well.

While you may have the right to choose not to smoke, you also have the right to not go in the smoking areas! Don't tell me to move to Europe (that's a socialist statement in itself!) and don't tell me to inconvenience myself (you could just as easily have to walk further to a "non-smoking" site, or eat YOUR meals on a restaurant's patio in the cold weather!) and for pete's sake, don't tell me that you're gonna die from being around second hand smoke for what? Maybe 5-10 minutes? I think even the scientists will tell you that you have to have years and years of being around it before it might hurt you (note I said MIGHT hurt you).

Geeze, how about Disney's burgers and fries... all the sweets and snacks.... terrible for your health, but is anyone here going to jump on that bandwagon? This entire argument is moot... Disney stands to lose too much money by excluding smokers and as we all know, Disney is not up for losing a buck!

 

[Goofy4Disney]

I served my country for 9 years - so don't go there.

The whole "individual rights" things goes out the window as soon as what YOU are doing (blowing toxins into my air, ruining the environment with your butts) negatively affects others.

Oh I laughed so hard at this! I served and my DH served as well... he serving 21 years. But you are right.... individual rights go out the door when one imposes on another's rights. Well, the way I see it, nothing was wrong with having smoking and non-smoking sections in a restaurant. That's fair, right? Smoking sections in Disney when the ENTIRE REST OF THE PARK is non-smoking... fine. But to tell me that because you served in the military, (when our years combined are 3 times that of yours) that your rights are infringed upon when it is the smokers who have to go out of their way? SHYEAH RIGHT! I can even hear Walt laughing at this one!

 

[C.Ann]

I always have to wonder - when reading these threads - why it is that people who are so offended by smoking don't take the time (or make the effort) - to contact the appropriate people at Disney and ask them why they aren't enforcing the rules that they have chosen to put in place?

The same thing applies for when you are in the park and see someone smoking in a non-smoking area.. Find a CM and insist that the rules be enforced.. Bringing your complaints here does nothing if you are unwilling to hold Disney responsible for lack of enforcement.. All it does is provide another forum for painting all smokers with the same wide brush..

Smokers who adhere to the rules should not have to move out of the designated smoking area because it's the "only" place where there is any shade - or it's the "only" place where there is a bench available - or a non-smoker feels smoking should be banned entirely..

The rules are "what they are".. Smoking is allowed in designated areas - period.. Would it not be more productive to address your complaints to the people responsible for enforcing those rules? If you really feel that strongly about it, then do something productive about it..

 

[Sylvester McBean]

I always have to wonder - when reading these threads - why it is that people who are so offended by smoking don't take the time (or make the effort) - to contact the appropriate people at Disney and ask them why they aren't enforcing the rules that they have chosen to put in place?

because people in guest relations look at you like a deer in the headlights. CM's taking exit polls note it on their palm pilots and move on to the next question. I've seen people walk up to ask a CM a question with a lit cigarette and they do nothing. I confronted a guy smoking IN A QUEUE at busch gardens last fall, and my family and his was treated to a series of F-Bombs about minding my own F-Bombing business.

then you see comments above like from Goofy4Disney:

"and don't tell me to inconvenience myself (you could just as easily have to walk further to a "non-smoking" site, or eat YOUR meals on a restaurant's patio in the cold weather!) and for pete's sake, don't tell me that you're gonna die from being around second hand smoke for what? Maybe 5-10 minutes?"

total disregard for other people. as far as painting broad strokes, this sums up my view on smokers. it's all about them. the next time you are at a stoplight, look on the ground. people have ashtrays in their cars, but to clean them would be an "inconvenience". so they litter.

so there are some of us who have tried to voice our opinions to the parks, it just hasn't done anything yet. eventually, it will. once California falls, Disneyland will go non-smoking. who ever thought Florida restaurants and bars would go non-smoking? they did and it's just a first step. I truly believe one day the parks will be smoke-free. and you'll still see someone breaking the rule.

 

[nativetxn]

I am closing this thread at the request of the original poster.

Katholyn