Non-Smoking For Medical Reasons

[sugahjunior]

Hi all,

I have rented points for a studio at OKW from 1/1/06 through 1/5/06. We received the confirmation today. It had all of our requests listed correctly, but next to the request for non-smoking for medical reasons (my brother-in-law has severe asthma) there was an asterisk. Does anyone have any idea what that might mean?

Thanks,

Amanda

 

[DBBN]

There is no legend where you'll find the exact meaning for the asterisk. However, I believe they simply bring attention to your request being for "medical reasons". I currently have several reservations pending and one or more asterisks appear whenever I've made a "medical reason" request.

Have a great vacation.

 

[Princess Tink]

I currently have 2 reservations, and one reservation has ** and one does not, both are noted NON-SMOKING FOR MEDICAL REASONS. I'm not sure there any reasoning to these things MS does, must just depend on the CM you get.

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you did not put the "non-smoking for medical reasons" first on your list, MS is using the asteriks to highlight it for the room assigners when you arrive. BTW, we have always gotten a NS room because we need it for medical reasons too. It is the only thing I request anymore. I feel there are few bad views or locations at OKW anyway, so I just take my chance at where we will be, and I have yet to be disappointed.

 

[lllovell]

My family is like Diane. We request non-smoking only figuring that we will have a wonderful time no matter what room we are in as long as my son's allergies are not agrivated by smoke residue.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I'll bet that keeps us off the "naughty list" too!

 

[sheryl0521]

I wonder if "non-smoking for medical reasons" will ever take priority over general "non-smoking"?

I always request "non-smoking" because DH can't stand the smell of a smoking room. We have always gotten a non-smoking room, but if we ever do end up in a smoking room because we didn't state it was for "medical reasons" I will be quite upset.

I can see another vicious thread starting....

 

[OneMoreTry]

Where is the line determining "medical"?

Dislike?

Extreme dislike?

It makes one nauseous?

It burns the nose a little?

It makes one cough a little?

It makes one a little more nauseous than that, or cough a little more than that or maybe triggers a sinus infection?

It makes one wheeze? (Obvious medical reason.)

It triggers a migraine? (Obvious to me but maybe not to others.)


I think just about anyone could put medical reasons and feel justified. If the smell is slight it just disgusts me to the point of aggravation. If more than slight it can easily trigger a migraine. But I've never put medical and fortunately have not had a smoking room.

 

[lllovell]

I certainly don't say ours is for medical reasons because technically my son has not been diagnosed with asthma, but we suspect he will be in the next few months. If so, then I will probably say "son has asthma, so non-smoking please". Medical reasons implies that there is a medical problem that will arise if you are subjected to a room that has been smoked in. I am sure that smoke triggered migranes would be considered a medical reasons too. Annoyances, not so much.

This is one of those where I feel like I will do the right thing and hope that others do as well. I know some people probably request medical reasons for their requests when they dont have a true need, but I won't do that unless there is truly a need in my family and I just have to hope that there are enough good people out there that will do the same.

 

[Princess Tink]

My son has extreme allergies (been tested, diagnosed,and takes meds on a regular basis to help control them). And although he's never been formally diagnosed with asthma, he has to take Albuterol (sp?) to control the wheezing after he is exposed to cigerette smoke/odor for any period of time. The meds has definately, but his dr still says the best thing to do is refrain from having him around it for any extended periods of time.

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I think we should be allowed to fax confirmation from our family physician prior to arrival to guaratee a non-smoking room for medical reasons. The way the system works now you need to try and check in as early as possible in the day to avoid a smoking room, regardless of what was requested. I hate this as we are on the west coast and always arrive late at night. I would love to see how often resorts re-evaluate the number of smoking rooms that stay filled on a regular basis. From all the posts regarding this subject it certainly looks like DVC needs to consider making more non-smoking rooms available.

 

[lllovell]

I would love that too Calypso! But....well - you know....requests are requests (in case you haven't heard the company line lately ) . I do think there are better ways to handle it than are currently in place. That said, I also think there are still a lot of smokers that visit WDW, probably more from other countries where smoking is not considered as taboo as it is in the US. I think we can all agree that what really sets the rules and Disney's choice of enforcing them is the almighty dollar. They wouldn't want smoking guests to stay in other hotels. WE might, but they dont.

 

[Stimpy]

We request non-smoking for medical reasons because I have a real medical reason. I am asthmatic and can not breathe if exposed to too much smoke. If exposed to lingering smoke, I wheeze, cough up thick mucus(sorry to get so gross!) and my chest tightens. I have started to notice my 5 yr old DS is showing signs of allergies and asthma but he hasn't been diagnosed yet. I don't want to spend my vacation in an emergency room. I think non-smoking for medical reasons should get priority over a non-smoking preference. I would have no problem supplying a doctors note or some other proof, if it comes to it.

Also, I don't understand why DVC can't guarantee a non-smoking room for medical reasons. CRO/WDTC can. I have 2 ressies coming up. On our ressie for the CBR, I have in capital letters NON SMOKING GUARANTEED - MEDICAL. My DVC ressie does have it stated, but it is still a request.

 

[jarestel]

Where is the line determining "medical"?

Dislike?

Extreme dislike?

It makes one nauseous?

It burns the nose a little?

It makes one cough a little?

It makes one a little more nauseous than that, or cough a little more than that or maybe triggers a sinus infection?

It makes one wheeze? (Obvious medical reason.)

It triggers a migraine? (Obvious to me but maybe not to others.)


I think just about anyone could put medical reasons and feel justified. If the smell is slight it just disgusts me to the point of aggravation. If more than slight it can easily trigger a migraine. But I've never put medical and fortunately have not had a smoking room.

How about not wanting to subject your family to known carcinogens and other nasty stuff left over from tobacco smoke? Sounds like a valid medical reason to me. If DVC had "asbestos" contaminated rooms, nobody would even think of staying in one, but somehow we rationalize tobacco contamination, whose ingredients are potentially as dangerous, as "ok".

 

[bicker]

Well, that would apply to anyone, really.

I think there is no harm in putting in the legend "for medical reasons" to stand in for one that, perhaps more operationally, indicates that the member feels that this aspect of their request is particularly important.

What's critical for everyone to keep in mind is that requests are requests, nothing more. Without the legal standing of a statuatory requirement (a la handicapped rooms) or a written guarantee, members are well-advised to be prepared to accept either having the request granted or not.

 

[jarestel]

Well, that would apply to anyone, really. .

Yes it could. That's the point.

What's critical for everyone to keep in mind is that requests are requests, nothing more.

Thanks! I believe I've heard that too.

 

[dianeschlicht]

My medical reason is asthma too. Even a non-smoking villa that has been smoked in previously will trigger my asthma, as will someone smoking elsewhere in the non-smoking building. Unfortunately, there is no way to positively police that smokers are not smoking in a non-smoking villa unless someone complains. Last December, I did call up to complain because someone was smoking in our non-smoking building, and it was drifting into our unit via the bathroom vents. The front desk said they would have housekeeping check on it and make sure the offending occupants were notified. It didn't help that day, but after that, it was not a problem. There were a few people smoking out on the stairs after that though.

If it were up to me, I would have the sensitive smoke detectors like they have in airplanes that would go off if someone smoked in the non-smoking villas. Then they would be notified that there would be a cleaning fine billed to their room every time it went off. Sounds silly and extreme, but that is how serious this issue is for those of us with asthma. As far as I'm concerned, if it saves me from ending up at the ER, it's worth it. What most smokers don't realize is that the residue from smoke stays in the walls, woodwork, and furniture. That residue is responsible for the allergic reaction that causes the problems.

Now, of course I don't ever expect Disney or any other establishment would install such a system, but I really do wish they could charge a cleaning fee for non-smoking rooms that have been smoked in.

 

[OneMoreTry]

How about not wanting to subject your family to known carcinogens and other nasty stuff left over from tobacco smoke? Sounds like a valid medical reason to me. If DVC had "asbestos" contaminated rooms, nobody would even think of staying in one, but somehow we rationalize tobacco contamination, whose ingredients are potentially as dangerous, as "ok".

Well-taken.

I have NO PROBLEM with someone requesting "non-smoking for medical reasons" for symptoms that interfere with the quality of their vacation. Period. Even if it seems as minor as burning in the nose or slight but annoying cough. If your nose burns for a week it WILL ruin your vacation.

I don't even think someone should need a doctor's note. Anyone can get a doctor to write a note (if the doc isn't a total jerk and refuses -- IMHO as a doctor). All that does is drive up the cost of health care. There IS NOT a test for allergy to smoke. It's a TOXIN. Not an allergen. It's bad for everyone!

The reason I don't list "medical" is I don't want to dilute the definition. If I ever had a room that made me even slightly ill I would start listing medical.

 

[bicker]

smoke. It's a TOXIN. Not an allergen.

Wow. I never thought about it that way, but that's a great point!

 

[RayJay]

Where is the line determining "medical"?

Dislike?

Extreme dislike?

It makes one nauseous?

It burns the nose a little?

It makes one cough a little?

It makes one a little more nauseous than that, or cough a little more than that or maybe triggers a sinus infection?

It makes one wheeze? (Obvious medical reason.)

It triggers a migraine? (Obvious to me but maybe not to others.)


I think just about anyone could put medical reasons and feel justified. If the smell is slight it just disgusts me to the point of aggravation. If more than slight it can easily trigger a migraine. But I've never put medical and fortunately have not had a smoking room.

How about 3 heart surgeries before age 4, single ventricle heart w/multiple cardiac defects. You would never know it looking at my 7 year old DD, but make no mistake I definately need "NON-Smoking for Medical Reasons".

I believe anything associated with the Lungs or Heart should easily qualify, allergies or anything associated with nose, eyes or skin irratant should also qualify.

We've never had a problem.
RayJay