Non-Debate, Specific Smoking Rules at Resorts Question

[ptrbryant]

Many of the reports about the smoking rules being enforced at WDW resorts sounds like the rules are enforced at the Deluxes, but not at the MODS or Values.

Has anyone stayed at a MOD or Value since the new smoking rules began and noticed the rules being enforced?

This is not a debate topic. I really would like to know in order to help with trip planning and I'm really hoping some people have noticed the changes, particularly POR or ASMo.

Thanks very much!

Karla B.

 

[safetymom]

This has been discussed. If anyone cares to comment please do. If this turns into a debate the posts will be removed and points will be given. Thank you everyone.

 

[ptrbryant]

Actually, I was trying to find an answer to this question on the other threads, but only ran into smoking vs. non-smoking debates. I was hoping if I made a very specific title, I may have better luck!

Karla B.

 

[Sammie]

As with all things some people follow rules and some don't. Disney management, not housekeepings, etc. will be glad to enforce the policy if it is reported to them that there is a problem.

So you can basically stay where ever you wish and you will probably see someone not abiding by the rules, and all you have to do is report it to the Front Desk manager for it to be taken care of.

I would not confront any guest and I would not expect nonmanagement personnel to confront them either.

While at SSR, I spoke with management staff about the new policy and they reported they had very little problems with guest complying or with complaints by other guests about noncompliance. Disney management is commited to the enforcement of this policy.

So if there are problems they are not getting reported.

 

[Chantilly]

Though I've not been since the resorts officially went smoke free, those I've spoken to who have report the same hit-or-miss situation.

Since you're asking for planning purposes, I would say plan on all resort buildings being smoke-free and smoking only being permitted in designated areas. That way there can be no surprises.

 

[cheerforchelsea]

I stayed at the POP in July/August and it did not seem like the rules were enforced at all......cigarette butts were noticable all along the walkways and as luck would have it the person 2 doors down from me smoked out on the 3rd floor walkway outside of their room several times a day/night. My daughter was in the room next to the smokers and when she took a shower in the mornings it was evident that her neighbors had to be smoking in their bathroom..

 

[Jestocost]

FWIW, I think it's probably easier to notice and enforce when the rooms open off of interior hallways, like the deluxes, vs. when the rooms have exterior doors, like the mods and values. Just a theory.

 

[ptrbryant]

FWIW, I think it's probably easier to notice and enforce when the rooms open off of interior hallways, like the deluxes, vs. when the rooms have exterior doors, like the mods and values. Just a theory.

That may in fact be the issue. We stayed for 2 nts. at Pop Century last May--prior to the smoking rules--and had to change rooms after the first night because of smoke filling our room from neighbors...and this was in a "smoke-free" building. We switched to another "smoke-free" building and still found many people smoking on the balconies just outside our room as well as circling the pool. Both DS11 and I have asthma and we honestly can't risk staying an entire week in the situation we experienced.

We stayed at Saratoga Springs once and had an issue with a neighbor smoking a cigar outside so frequently that we never used the balcony. So, you may have a point about the outside corridors being more problematic than resorts with interior corridors---rather than Deluxe vs. MOD or Value.

Still thinking about this one, mainly because of our budget for our next trip. I'll keep watching to boards and see if things become more consistent.

Thanks for the input!

Karla B.

 

[BamaFan121s]

From what I saw a few weeks ago at Pop, they are not enforcing the new rules very strictly.

 

[I Love Pluto]

We were at Pop in July. I saw 90% of guests complying with the rules of the designated smoking areas. Very few smoked near a building. So - it's going to be more of a follow-the-others type situation. When others see that it's not accepted in certain areas, they will stop. As with any new policy - it will take some time.

Remember when "turn right on red" was introduced to drivers? It did take some time to get used to, but now it runs smoothly.

Now - if they would only move that ONE smoking area at Pop AWAY from the entrance to the main building.......It smells bad!

 

[EMom]

I called POP to ask about this because I have severe asthma. I'm worried because I keep reading about lax enforcement. I was told that 16 rooms share the same ventilation system for their bathrooms. So if someone smokes in a bathroom, they're smoking in SIXTEEN bathrooms. I am living in fear of having to be moved several times during our upcoming 10 day stay. The CM did tell me to call and have them handle the issue, rather than confront the smoker. I will call in a heartbeat. Maybe people need to just report this more and insist on fines. After a few $250 fines, a DSA would probably seem a lot more appealing.

In all fairness, the DSAs ought not be in miserable locations. But why they put one right at the entrance to the main building is beyond me. What were they thinking???

Honestly, I question whether things were better for asthmatics when some rooms were allotted to smokers. Most smokers will follow the rules, but you will always have a FEW who will ignore them, despite the harm to others. Denying them smoking rooms won't stop the die-hards from smoking in their rooms. It's just not realistic, IMHO.

Anyway, the gist of what the CM said seemed to be that guests need to call and ask for them to intervene and deal with the smoker. I got the feeling it was going to take guests calling to get action. So be prepared to call.

 

[yasmina]

I called POP to ask about this because I have severe asthma. I'm worried because I keep reading about lax enforcement. I was told that 16 rooms share the same ventilation system for their bathrooms. So if someone smokes in a bathroom, they're smoking in SIXTEEN bathrooms. I am living in fear of having to be moved several times during our upcoming 10 day stay. The CM did tell me to call and have them handle the issue, rather than confront the smoker. I will call in a heartbeat. Maybe people need to just report this more and insist on fines. After a few $250 fines, a DSA would probably seem a lot more appealing.

In all fairness, the DSAs ought not be in miserable locations. But why they put one right at the entrance to the main building is beyond me. What were they thinking???

Honestly, I question whether things were better for asthmatics when some rooms were allotted to smokers. Most smokers will follow the rules, but you will always have a FEW who will ignore them, despite the harm to others. Denying them smoking rooms won't stop the die-hards from smoking in their rooms. It's just not realistic, IMHO.

Anyway, the gist of what the CM said seemed to be that guests need to call and ask for them to intervene and deal with the smoker. I got the feeling it was going to take guests calling to get action. So be prepared to call.

As a smoker, I completely agree with you! We were at POFQ last month & requested a room near a DSA. Our room was right across the sidewalk from one, which was also the entrance to the boat launch. I commented to my dh about the wisdom of having a DSA where alot of people went. Alot of the people on their way to the boats would cut through the landscaping to aviod dh & I smoking. I felt bad, but we were in a DSA.

We ALWAYS went outside to smoke, never "snuck" one in the bathroom - not even at 4:00 AM one night when I got awake. I goofed one time - had a cigarette in my hand and was on my way out the door. The kids said something to distract me, and without thinking, I lit the smoke and took half a drag -oops! I said S%#! and ran outside. The last day of our trip, everyone else on our floor, it was the ground floor, were apparently smokers. We saw them sitting/standing just outside their rooms smoking. We always went to the DSA. One thing that would be nice is if they would put benches at the DSAs. Some had them (mostly in the common areas), but some didn't.

I really think Disney messed this one up. Most, if not all, of their resorts are made up of numerous buildings. They could have made one building at each resort smoking optional, with major fines if smoking was detected in the others. That way, smoking in your room would not affect those who can't stand the smoke (whether it's for personal preference or health reasons).

I too agree that's it's best to call a cm, rather than confront a smoker yourself. We saw 2 ladies on the train in ToonTown light up as soon as they got off! A cm ran after them, as was right. Truly, it's cigarette butt-heads like them who make a bad name for the rest of us sinners.

 

[NeverlandPixie]

As a smoker, I completely agree with you! We were at POFQ last month & requested a room near a DSA. Our room was right across the sidewalk from one, which was also the entrance to the boat launch. I commented to my dh about the wisdom of having a DSA where alot of people went.

I noticed this too. I think the DSA is there for a reason, though, mainly to curb anyone from lighting up while in line for the ferry. Smokers can sit sit on a bench, wait for ferry, and put it out when they need to get in line. I was there last right before the new smoking policy was put into effect, and it was a problem.

BTW - Last trip, I was a smoker myself. Never smoked inside my room or on the walkway. I have a son, and he should not have to suffer my own bad habit. I have my own rules: never smoke inside a house or car, and always ask the people around me if they mind. I quit August 21, and hopefully, with determination, I will be totally smoke free next trip!

 

[Sandi]

We just returned from a 7 night stay at Pop Century -- we also stayed there in February. I noticed a difference and, while I can't provide an accurate percentage guess, it seemed that most smokers were complying with the new rules. The DSAs are very noticeable and we would walk out of our way to avoid them as best we could and found some easy routes that did not pass DSAs (no offense to the smokers, we just really hate the smoke). There was only a few times that I noticed people smoking where they shouldn't have been.

 

[Traveliz]

I was at Movies for a week and then back for a couple of days a week later and I noticed little smoking at all. I think I saw one person smoking out front waiting for a bus along a bench but that was it for smoking period.

Liz

 

[EMom]

When I mentioned not putting DSAs in "miserable locations," I didn't just mean miserable for nonsmokers, such as the entrance to the main building at POP. I also meant they should not be miserable for smokers, or else it's less likely the diehards will comply with not smoking in /around their rooms. If you make a DSA in an area with no seating and no shade and it's 95 degrees, that's miserable. For the small percentage of smokers who could not care less about rules or the health of others, the DSAs need to be convenient and comfortable, so they will be more likely to use them. Smokers who plan to follow the rules no matter what will do just that....but convenience and comfort wouldn't go amiss.

 

[AlDubya]

Could someone please link me to (or write out) the actual rules for smoking in Disney World Parks and Resorts?

I'm not a smoker, but occasionally (literally once every couple of months) my friends and I like to have a cigar. Normally, we'll do this when we're having a drinking night (like drinking around the world at the different pavilions). If this is not allowed, I'd like to know that so I don't do anything wrong.

Any information would be greatly appreciated.