No more smoking or vaping in the parks

[LongLiveRafiki]

That I can get.

I do think this is just one thing in a list of sooooooooooo many decisions Disney has done over the years with little to no notice. Now granted to someone who may truly be addicted to smoking in a sense that they can't go at all any sort of low time period without smoking this could present a larger wrench in their plans because they need to stop much more frequently.

But on a very grand scale things like the growing length of MNSSHP and MVMCP, EMM and DAH, refurbs that rarely give any sort of notice, parking fees, dogs being allowed at some hotels, adjustments to places including switching a place from not needing a reservation to now taking one and switching the type of meal also often with little notice, etc etc all of those impact likely a lot more people not to mention the weather which at both coasts can impact people a lot in terms of what they can do. I'm usually vocal about Disney doing changes with little notice but I completely recognize this change, albeit 3 big changes announced at once is rarer, is par for the course based on previous changes in the last couple of years.

Oh I agree that this is just another example of how Disney makes changes last minute that affect people. I almost wonder if part of the reason they make announcements like these last minute is to reduce the number of people who might otherwise cancel. By 30 days prior, most people have a lot of time and planning invested in their trips and aren't going to want to, or realistically be able to, cancel.

 

[LSUmiss]

Most people have booked their airfare before the 30 day mark, as well as park tickets and special event tickets etc... Not everyone gets a package that is refundable.

The airfare can still be used to visit Orlando & maybe go to a more smoker friendly location. For most everything else should be refundable.

 

[DoryGirl1963]

Imo if someone feels their vacation is that stressful that they need a substance to survive then perhaps they should reconsider their vacation destination choice.

A substance such as, say, alcohol? Many folks enjoy alcoholic beverages on vacation to deal with the stress. Smokers use cigarettes. Now they will be unable to do so as readily as those who choose alcohol instead. Just an alternate perspective.

 

[arminnie]

People may have started planning out their days, taking into account where the current DSAs are. Now, they will have to throw out those plans and come up with entirely new ones. This could affect the FPs they have planned as they may not be able to fit in going out to smoke with the plans they already have, and it may be too late to switch FPs around while still keeping the rides they want. Due to all of the extra walking in and out of the park, they will undoubtedly have less time in the park for rides, shows, etc. So in that sense, they would be getting less of an experience than what they thought they were getting when they paid for their trip

Having to change plans happens to people all the time for many reasons. A sudden illness for one of the party, needing emergency surgery (I had my appendix out at WDW), hurricanes (Irma and Katrina for me), a death in the family, or countless other things.

 

[luvsJack]

Imo if someone feels their vacation is that stressful that they need a substance to survive then perhaps they should reconsider their vacation destination choice.

It’s not that the vacation is stressful and you need to smoke. I don’t know if all smokers feel the same when they want one but for me there is some anxiety that comes from the need of a cigarette not the other way around. That’s why Chantix worked for me before and why my dr thinks it will work again, it helps the anxiety. Gum and patches do not which I can’t use anyway.

 

[luvsJack]

Having to change plans happens to people all the time for many reasons. A sudden illness for one of the party, needing emergency surgery (I had my appendix out at WDW), hurricanes (Irma and Katrina for me), a death in the family, or countless other things.

None of which are caused by the place you are giving your money to. A bit different.

 

[luvsJack]

The ability to smoking inside the parks is an experience people paid for?

No of course not. But they did pay to go to a place where they thought they would be able to.

 

[DISNEY1975]

Imo if someone feels their vacation is that stressful that they need a substance to survive then perhaps they should reconsider their vacation destination choice.

Exactly! But since Disney gave such little notice, they are stuck on the Disney vacation instead of some relaxing All Inclusive in the Caribbean!

 

[LSUmiss]

A substance such as, say, alcohol? Many folks enjoy alcoholic beverages on vacation to deal with the stress. Smokers use cigarettes. Now they will be unable to do so as readily as those who choose alcohol instead. Just an alternate perspective.

Any substance imo. I’d be fine with no alcohol at wdw. Doesn’t bother me one way or the other. But, if you have to have any of it to get through vacation, then I think maybe you need a new destination.

 

[LSUmiss]

It’s not that the vacation is stressful and you need to smoke. I don’t know if all smokers feel the same when they want one but for me there is some anxiety that comes from the need of a cigarette not the other way around. That’s why Chantix worked for me before and why my dr thinks it will work again, it helps the anxiety. Gum and patches do not which I can’t use anyway.

I was responding to a pp who had said a wdw vacation was stressful & that makes smokers need to smoke even more.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Any substance imo. I’d be fine with no alcohol at wdw. Doesn’t bother me one way or the other. But, if you have to have any of it to get through vacation, then I think maybe you need a new destination.

You understand how addiction works, right? It doesn’t matter where the person is, they physically need the substance at regular intervals to stave off withdrawal symptoms. Home, work, Disney, good day, bad day, it doesn’t matter — the addiction is always there. I don’t smoke anymore, but when I did I had cravings about every hour and a half. After two hours I was lightheaded and shaky.

 

[LSUmiss]

You understand how addiction works, right? It doesn’t matter where the person is, they physically need the substance at regular intervals to stave off withdrawal symptoms. Home, work, Disney, good day, bad day, it doesn’t matter — the addiction is always there. I don’t smoke anymore, but when I did I had cravings about every hour and a half. After two hours I was lightheaded and shaky.

A pp stated that smokers need to smoke even more b/c wdw is stressful.

 

[luvsJack]

I was responding to a pp who had said a wdw vacation was stressful & that makes smokers need to smoke even more.

Oh! Sorry. I read your post but not the one you quoted. Maybe smokers with little kids get that stressed, I don’t. So can’t really speak on that.

 

[ronandannette]

People may have started planning out their days, taking into account where the current DSAs are. Now, they will have to throw out those plans and come up with entirely new ones. This could affect the FPs they have planned as they may not be able to fit in going out to smoke with the plans they already have, and it may be too late to switch FPs around while still keeping the rides they want. Due to all of the extra walking in and out of the park, they will undoubtedly have less time in the park for rides, shows, etc. So in that sense, they would be getting less of an experience than what they thought they were getting when they paid for their trip.

The parks are already stressful, and for many smokers, not being able to smoke/having to walk significantly farther to do so and then deal with security all over again, will add additional stress. A lot of people smoke to deal with stress, and will find this ban simply adds more stress to them, which can dampen their overall experience.

For me, not being able to smoke would definitely reduce my enjoyment because unlike many, stress is not a main trigger for me. A nicotine fix is pleasurable and for me it belongs as a part of pleasurable activities. I've had two long-term quits that were successful - and both were derailed by vacations. My inner dialogue was "this is so much fun - the only thing that could possibly make it better would be enjoying a smoke right now".

That's not to say I never go places where smoking is not permitted; I do. But I'd be lying if I said the ability to smoke conveniently factors in especially if we're talking about a vacation destination. I can't say for sure we'll never go back to a Disney park - we really like them. But if we don't, Disney won't miss us and they clearly don't care if they lose a portion of their customers over this. There have been plenty of other changes that don't enhance customer experience in any way; detracts from it actually. Disney doesn't care as long as people keep coming, and they are - in droves.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

A pp stated that smokers need to smoke even more b/c wdw is stressful.

You said:

Any substance imo. I’d be fine with no alcohol at wdw. Doesn’t bother me one way or the other. But, if you have to have any of it to get through vacation, then I think maybe you need a new destination.

My point is that people who are addicted have a physical dependence that’s ever present and choosing a different vacation destination isn’t going to change that. They don’t just need it to get through vacation, they need it to get through the day, every day, no matter where they are.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

--Apologies in advance for the extremely really terribly long post; my feelings won't be hurt if you don't read it all lol --

Sure, tell me what happened with little notice.

For WDW and Universal 2017 trip

• I started planning before Star Wars was announced and Toy Story were announced. Unfortunately some things I had yet to experience were closed to make way for those lands. I think Backlot Tour was one of the main ones.
• Tickets for both WDW and Universal bought in February 2016 for the September 2017 trip
• Had 2 different weeks we could go was wanting to avoid MNSSHP and HHN (at Universal) but get fall decor but in 2016 MNSSHP dates were extended to include both weeks so that plan went out the window as I assumed 2017 would follow that pattern and it did--did have ample notice of that though
• Airfare booked over 6 1/2 months in advance
• Hotel booked over 6 1/2 months in advance
• Rental car booked 5 1/2 months in advance
• Mission Space was supposed to be closed as they extended the refurb but they opened it up earlier than the supposed extension. Reopening date announced 18 days before it reopened which was 27 days before the start of my trip--ended up needing to switch my FPs around to get a FP for it
• D23 2017 event July 14th-16th 2017 where it was announced:
  • Ellen's Energy Adventure would close permanently (which they gave 30 days notice from when it would be closing)
  • Great Movie Ride would close permanently (which they gave 30 days notice from when it would be closing)
• Splash Mountain refurb though I don't know if it was actually officially announced by Disney-found out from here
• Hall of Presidents was originally supposed to be done by our trip but got wayyyy extended so that was closed

Over at Universal:

• Announced with just over 1 1/2 months notice that Dragon Challenge (which is one of my husband's fav rides) would be closing permanently just a few days before our trip started. Universal gave just under 1 1/2 months notice.
• T2 was announced 1 day before our trip started that it would be closing just over 30 days from then permanently. We were able to ride it one last time though.

The airfare, hotel and rental car were impacted by Irma. Had to make the decision days before if we were going to go or not. At that time both SWA and Disney did have their hurricane policy in place which means we did have more wiggle room. With SWA we had booked using points and had a Companion Pass for me so that did help on the expenses and flexibility aspect.

For March DLR trip which was a trip planned with not very much notice TBH:

• Castle refurb I knew about but that was disappointing not being able to see the castle
• Space Mountain refurb: never officially announced by Disney that I know of found out about it on here
• Fantasmic! reburb: missed the reopening by several days. There was about 1 1/2 months notice of the reopen date on that though
• WOC refurb: Announced with just under 2 weeks notice that it would be reopening. At the time of the notice is was just under 3 weeks from our trip. An addition is great but it caused a big kink in the plans since I wasn't originally counting on it so now I had to fit it in with the time they had scheduled. Both my husband and I didn't want to do a dining package so that left us with knowing we needed to get a FP for it or do standby areas instead.
• Rain and cool temps were the main aspect of our trip. Funny how everyone says CA weather is just so great lol. DLR is not suited well for rain and cool temps not only for drainage reasons but also because many of their food places have outdoor seating plus many queues outdoors. Everyone was saying how it was strange just how much rain they were getting lately. With the rain some rides were closed. Silver lining it kept the crowds down on the weekend.

These trips all had their own stresses and curveballs. I do understand that aspect of these changes. I also complained back then too. But at least with this smoking change the smoker can still smoke, albeit outside of the gates. The person who never gets to ride that ride ever again or at all if they never got to do it before or the person who has weather crop up or many other things. In no way disrespectful towards the smoker but I feel so much more personally speaking for the other person since they don't get to experience those rides at all or go at all if the really bad weather happens versus a smoker who presently still can smoke at Disney. They've always been confined to DSAs and DSAs have always (and recently too in the last couple of years) been able to be moved around where they were located at. That's not to say it's not frustrating to deal with the short notice change-my earlier points were just that Disney doesn't often give a ton of notice. It always sucks no matter what it is that there's not usually a lot of notice.
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As far as day trippers, my point was even a smoker could possibly go a day without a cigarette..or even be inconvenienced.

According to this thread there really are people who cannot go a day without smoking during the day. They would just not go or they would break the rules.

A week or more just gets aggravating.

To these two points though smoking is just not allowed inside the parks, one can still smoke everywhere else on property in the DSAs. Your statement would be much more valid IMO if Disney was going smoke free for their entire property especially because their property is quite vast. As is no one and I mean no one has to go a week or more without smoking while at Disney. They have always needed to adhere to DSAs (yes we know not all did) and now the DSAs are being moved, which isn't the first time that's happened. Where they are being moved is outside the park. You still have DSAs and if on-site you have DSAs at the hotels.

You're right that it can be an inconvenience. Ugh with the castle in DLR on refurb that was actually quite an inconvenience, nevermind not being able to see the castle, since you had to go all around it rather than through it to get to things. It was nice to add steps to our count but it got old at the same time and amplified when it was rainy.

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I will surely say for my upcoming trip, a big birthday for me, we contemplated either Disney or a cruise to Alaska. Its on our bucket list. Took months of debating and pros and cons. I decided on Disney. Its to celebrate not only this birthday, but many years of my life that Disney always held a place in my heart. Ive never been in August, but with my boys grown and my daughter in HS, who cant miss school, Aug is the only time to go. Coincidentally my birthday is in Aug and its a special year...I saw this as a sign Disney is where I should be. Im going for 12 days, staying at a resort I chose.

I planned my 2017 trip for over 2 years, only to have Hurricane Irma come around. I had a few days notice but really we had to decide the night before if we would be waking up in the morning to go on our trip. Your trip is special to you. My trip was special to me and I had invested a lot of time on it not only in planning but 2 years worth of excitement. I'm sure you've done the same. I've been in your boat I get it. There's no reason to look down upon other people and make judgements on their trips. Whether someone stays on site or off site, whether someone drives or flies, whether someone is considered a local or has flown from the U.K. Everyone all wants the trip to be good. That much is universal.

Now if Disney announced starting May 1st they are closing the pools at the resort Im staying at, but we can go to another resorts pool, I would be very upset. I plan on 1/2 days in the park, 1/2 at the pool.

I guarantee you Disney has done this multiple times over to other people. I honestly don't keep track of the pool refurbs but I do know they happen and often with little notice. I feel like even one or more of DLR onsite hotels has done the same.

They need to give notice when people are spenind so much money and expecting a certain thing. I wouldnt want to do all that running around and probably would have picked a cruise instead.

What happened if your cruise got cancelled or the port of call you were supposed to go to you weren't able to for whatever reason (I'm thinking usually weather is the issue but I know sometimes political and safety climates also affect ports of call)?

I'm pretty sure someone mentioned somewhere on the Boards about a Disney cruise being cancelled very close to the cruise date. I don't know if that was a recent thing that happened or sometime in the past but I know it's happened. Isn't late cancellation something that can happen with ABD too like if they don't have enough people signed up for it or am I thinking wrong?

 

[LSUmiss]

You said:


My point is that people who are addicted have a physical dependence that’s ever present and choosing a different vacation destination isn’t going to change that. They don’t just need it to get through vacation, they need it to get through the day, every day, no matter where they are.

Perhaps I worded it poorly. A pp said that smokers need to smoke more in wdw b/c it’s stressful. I’m saying if a vacation destination makes your addiction worse than you need to find a better destination.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

No of course not. But they did pay to go to a place where they thought they would be able to.

Disney confines smoking to Designated Smoking Areas. DSAs have always been able to be moved around or eliminated at Disney's discretion. DSAs have been moved or reduced in the past.

As mentioned in my above comment one can still smoke everywhere else on property so long as they are in the DSAs. They have always needed to adhere to DSAs (yes we know not all did).

So when you say they did pay to go to a place where they thought they would be able to you're still correct. You can still smoke at Disney. You can still smoke at Disney Springs. You can still smoke in DSAs at the hotels if you're staying onsite. You can still smoke at the theme parks however the location has been moved to be outside the gates as far as we know. Does changing and/or reducing DSAs make it frustrating? I'm sure it does. But presently speaking that smoker still can smoke when they visit Disney.

Now I really would feel immensely for people if Disney announced instead of relocating DSAs they were removing them completely from their entire Resort property. I would be happy for the change but completely feel for smokers because that's a 180 degree turn to just remove smoking from being allowed on their entire property. Maybe they'll get to that point IDK but at least now it's not like poof you can't smoke anymore period on Resort property.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Perhaps I worded it poorly. A pp said that smokers need to smoke more in wdw b/c it’s stressful. I’m saying if a vacation destination makes your addiction worse than you need to find a better destination.

Ah. Speaking for myself, simply being on vacation (anywhere) would be enough to trigger me to smoke more because, as @ronandannette said above, “this is so much fun - a smoke would make it even better!” Other triggers: alcohol, coffee, meals, social situations, driving, sitting in traffic, boredom, fatigue... Addiction is all-consuming.

 

[LongLiveRafiki]

I was responding to a pp who had said a wdw vacation was stressful & that makes smokers need to smoke even more.

A pp stated that smokers need to smoke even more b/c wdw is stressful.

Perhaps I worded it poorly. A pp said that smokers need to smoke more in wdw b/c it’s stressful. I’m saying if a vacation destination makes your addiction worse than you need to find a better destination.

No, I did not say that smokers need to smoke more due to WDW being stressful. Some may smoke more at WDW, but others don't. What I did say was WDW is stressful, and this smoking ban can add more stress to their vacations by having to coordinate getting out of the parks to do so, which can impact their overall experience in the parks. Some smokers do smoke to deal with stress, but not all, and for those that do, it doesn't necessarily mean they smoke more at WDW than anywhere else.