NonSmoking Guarantee Campaign - anyone with me?

[Northwoods]

I think DVC needs to change it's policy - You should be able to make a reservation for a non-smoking room - GUARANTEED!!!

We need to petition to DVC to change this policy!

Anyone know what is the best way to convince DVC to change this? Who do we contact?

SEND an email to Member Services.

 

[sanddune]

I'm for smoking guarantee ! I also think smokers need their space too. We can share!

 

[floridafam]

I think they should be able to guarantee both.

That way, everyone will be happy. If I call MS and a non-smoking room isn't available for my dates, I would be glad to book somewhere else.

 

[ErinC]

I'm all for a smoke free resort, but just keep in mind that the folks that run this website have asked that we not use the DIS to group together and petition for things with DVC. I hope that someday that Disney will get there act together and at least offer non-smoking as a guarantee, until then your best bet is to do your complaining to DVC directly. I don't mean this to sound harsh, just letting you know the board policy.

 

[off to neverland]

I am in! Have you read our discussion on this on the VWL room assignment thread? I just got done posting that I felt we should all write, call, email MS and demand that this smoking problem be addressed IMMEDIATELY.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Riddle me this: Suppose, somehow, through the miracles of the machine age, DVC offered such guarantees - how would they certify that no one had ever smoked in a non-smoking room? We talk about the "DVC Room Police" when the dreaded Occupancy issue rears its ugly head; are we going to have CMs with "Acme Electric Noses" sniffing around our rooms? What if someone DOES smoke in a NS room? Will they have to send in a squad of Mousekeepers in HazMat suites?

Please don't misunderstand: I truly understand the annoyance - and serious health issues - some folks experience when being in a room that's been smoked in; I voted "Non-Smoking" in the "Power to enforce one rule" Poll. But until someone does have that power, I'm not sure what such a "guarantee" would get you.

IMHO - YMMV

 

[kweaver]

Dr T

I understand where you are coming from. If DVC were to add a non-smoking guarantee, it would seem like a great time to start charging cleaning fees to those who decide to smoke in a non-smoking unit.

FWIW, I am also in favor of fees for those who do damage in a unit.

 

[todsue99]

I am for the non-smoking (as a few of you already know), but what I don't understand from other discussions are: Disney can't even guarantee a smoking room to a person who smokes. How can you expect them to do the reverse? If they could just guarantee smoking rooms for those that smoke life might be a little easier for us non smokers. The smokers wouldn't have to smoke in the non-smoking rooms. It would be a start anyway. Just a thought.

 

[Northwoods]

Like Sanddune said - why can't we have both a smoking and non-smoking guarntee.

If when you book - you ask for a smoking room and they don't have one then you have the option to book elsewhere or not smoke in the room. But you know that when you book. Same goes for non-smoking.

I would not book a room if I couldn't get a non-smoking room. There are those that probably would - but leave that decision up to them. Being a smoking room does not bother some as much as others, so they may go ahead with booking the room. But they make the decision. Not DVC!!!

And if you do smoke in a non-smoking room there should definitely be a fee!

 

[Chuck S]

1) Many Europeans, where smoking is much more acceptable than in the US, bought into DVC with the understanding that smoking rooms would be available, unless the entire resort goes "smoke free" or it is accomplished through FL lodging laws. I'm not sure an entire timeshare could voluntarily go all "smoke free" without approval from members, since that would substantially change what the smoker purchased.

2) Even if FL passes a "no smoking" law for hotel rooms, it may or may not apply to DVC, since it is legally a timeshare.

3) Smoking is NOT an illegal activity, at least until such times as the sale of tobacco products (which at the moment is a cash cow for states) is banned. Do you see that happening?

4) IF they should start a "guarantee" for a non-smoking room, and a reserved room happens go to out of service for a problem (plumbing, abuse, fire, flood, ect) how will that be handled? Given the high occupancy rates of DVC units, there isn't a lot of wiggle room with reservations. Should someone who reserved a non-smoking GV be transferred to a large suite at the GF at the expense of all DVC members through our dues, if a non-smoking GV is not available for some reason.

5) Being a timeshare, DVC units were designed for maximum occupancy on a fairly constant basis. Much different from an average off-site hotel in the Kissimee/WDW area, which is has an over abundance of rooms.

6) Who would "police" each and every room between occupants to see if anyone did smoke in the room? How would you enforce it? If someone outright denies smoking in the room, and is slapped with a cleaning fee, do we want to spend our dues defending a court challenge?

I have only been placed in a smoking room once, and yes, I found it somewhat smelly, but I just don't think a "guarantee" is the way to go unless the entire resort goes smoke-free...and I really don't think that will happen unless it is done through state legislation.

Here's a better plan if you want to start a petition drive....how about you lobby congress to make the sale and consumption of tobacco products illegal without a prescription?

 

[Northwoods]

I don't get this point:

4) IF they should start a "guarantee" for a non-smoking room, and a reserved room happens go to out of service for a problem (plumbing, abuse, fire, flood, ect) how will that be handled? Given the high occupancy rates of DVC units, there isn't a lot of wiggle room with reservations. Should someone who reserved a non-smoking GV be transferred to a large suite at the GF at the expense of all DVC members through our dues, if a non-smoking GV is not available for some reason.


This point is true even with out the guarantee. If the villas are booked to capacity and a room goes out of service they need to accomodate these people also. With more non-smoking rooms than smoking I don't see this being a big problem.

 

[SoCalKDG]

Riddle me this: Suppose, somehow, through the miracles of the machine age, DVC offered such guarantees - how would they certify that no one had ever smoked in a non-smoking room? We talk about the "DVC Room Police" when the dreaded Occupancy issue rears its ugly head; are we going to have CMs with "Acme Electric Noses" sniffing around our rooms? What if someone DOES smoke in a NS room? Will they have to send in a squad of Mousekeepers in HazMat suites?

Certain smoke alarms can detect smoke from cigarettes, thus this could easily be done.

The problem with some rooms being smoking and some not is that smoke goes through walls, floors, ceilings, etc.. Why not use OKW and SS and make specific smoking buildings while making the other resorts non smoking, but allow smoking on the balconies of all resorts.

 

[Chuck S]

The point is, if a Non-smoking GV goes out of service, and a smoking GV is available, the party could be housed in the smoking unit (assuming steps like air ionizers are used), at a much lower cost to DVC than transferring them to a concierge suite at a deluxe Disney hotel, for which DVC would have to compensate Disney Resorts.

 

[Chuck S]

Originally posted by SoCalKDG
.... but allow smoking on the balconies of all resorts.

Because smoking on balconies, while acceptable to most "Non-Smokers", would not be acceptable to the hords of "Anti-Smokers"

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

After seeing all these smoke problem posts I'm thinking of bringing my compact ionic breeze with me next time I go.

Edit: Maybe that's the solution? Aside from the big ones they must use to "de-smoke" a room perhaps have a few of the sharperimage ones to supply guests upon request?

 

[Northwoods]

If that happens I think the party should be given the option - they shouldn't be forced into a smoking unit. If they visit the room and find it acceptable then great. But if they have a problem (health or discomfort) they should see what other options are available. I'm not sure what these other options should be.

 

[DrTomorrow]

Originally posted by SoCalKDG
Certain smoke alarms can detect smoke from cigarettes, thus this could easily be done. [...]

Actually had some experience with these; sadly, if they are sensitive enough to detect someone smoking, they are also more likely to sound off that penetrating screech when someone burns a frozen pizza in the oven. Then you start to get people smoking in the bathrooms and blowing the smoke at the exhaust vents....

 

[lenshanem]

Sent my email to MS several weeks ago. I have been waiting on a response. (I got a nice reply back that they added these requests onto my reservations and that my concerns would be passed on to guest satisfaction.) I was concerned about nonsmoking since my oldest has asthma and handicap studios where there is no tub for the kids.

I just think priority should be given to those who book first, especially those booking at their home resort eleven month out! If when you book it isn't available then you know that going into your trip.

I don't think it is fair that you can book at your home eleven months out and someone else books a couple months out but gets the better room cause they checked in an hour before you. Personally I think that stinks. No pun intended.

 

[zulaya]

I am completely FOR a guarantee for smoking OR non-smoking. To me, the issues of rooms going down for renovation are not the problem.

If hotel chains like Holiday Inn can guarantee non-smoking and smoking, so can DVC. All hospitality buildings have rooms going down for rehab at one time or another, so long as you plan ahead, you should be able to manage, or worst case you accomodate someone elsewhere.

I would much rather MS be able to tell me at the time of reserving a room if a non-smoking room is available. If it's not, I would consider staying at another resort or changing my dates. Having that information UP FRONT would go so much toward guest satisfaction IMHO. Yeah, you might get a little miffed if your dates don't have a non-smoking room, but it's a heck of a lot better to know months in advance than to checkin and find the person in front of you took the last non-smoking room and you are stuck with a room that's been smoked in.

I am also ALL for assigning rooms based on the time you reserved for all the reasons lenshanem posted.

 

[MarriedAtDisney]

count me FOR this. I realize that there are zealots on both sides. I have severe asthma and will not stay in the room - period. You wouldn't tell someone allergic to penicillin that we're out of other anti-biotics so live with it.

Having said that. Smokers should have a right to a room where smoking is available. But remember, a smoker has the OPTION of going outside to smoke. A non-smoker has no option if assigned to a smoking room.