Pet Peeve at the World...Anyone else?

[summerrluvv]

i don't think banning smoking would really work.

If it can work in bars, nightclubs and restaurants, it can work at WDW!!!

I really think they need to move that smoking area in Toontown so the smoke isn't bellowing over to the people waiting to get on the train.

 

[risy]

For those who do not realize it,
Florida prohibits smoking in any indoor environment where persons are employed.(Designated-smoking hotel rooms and bars that do not serve food are excluded.

And I agree, until you are an ex-smoker you cannot know how offensive it is. Hopefully all will live to learn.

 

[delilah]

Coughing when I am exposed to cigaret smoke is unintentional and not intended as an insult to smokers. I have mild reactive airways disease, and certain things, like cigaret smoke and strong fumes, just set me off. Sometimes, it can get quite long and loud, since, I will produce a lot of mucus and need to clear it to avoid laryngospasm.

Probably, the reason I have RAD is because my parents did smoke. I have suffered cigaret burns of various places--arms, face, you name, do to accidents caused by adults who were careless with their hand holding a cigaret. On the other hand, I don't think I was ever intentionally burnt.

 

[jtdl]

Smokers simply cannot "do it politely". It's not possible. The smoke wafts across from the designated areas and it clings to them long after they've smoke -- even outdoors. I understand that smokers themselves don't notice it because they're so accustomed to the smoke, but it's enough to harm the lungs of bystanders or to set off an asthma attack.

OK, I was gonna stay out of this one but I have to respond to this one. I am a nonsmoker, but I believe in equality to all. If you don't like cigarette smoke don't go in a building where it is allowed. I am in the medical field and as for people smoking outside in an open area - it's not going to harm anyone else unless the smoke is blown right into their airway. And as for the smell on someones clothes causing harm to the lungs of nonsmokers - that is absolutely, totally impossible. Yes, there is a slight chance that it could set off an allergic reaction, but the solution to that is move away! What if someone you were standing beside had terrible BO after a long, hot day in the parks would you stand there and continue to smell it or move away?

Why is drinking alcohol not banned in all public places? If you do research into the statistics regarding deaths caused by second hand smoke (which are all probable, cannot be proved) and deaths caused by drunk people (car accidents, murders, gunshot wounds, etc) the deaths caused by drunks are much higher.

 

[krystyana]

Ok...I'm not trying to upset or pick on anyone...I too am in the medical field....there are many studies about second hand smoke documenting the damage it does.....children exposed are more prone to respiratory illnesses, stunts their growth, and can even effect their overall IQ. Some asthmatics and sufferers of respiratory ailment can be sent into an attack from a very slight exposure. I do not dispute an individual's right to smoke if they so choose. I do take issue with being able to do so in a public place where you are exposing people who choose not to. When it comes down to it why should the rights of an individual to harm themselves and to satify an addiction be more important the the overall well being of the people around them who choose not to smoke. I am all for well ventilated separated smoking areas, but have not seen this to be enforced. The reality is this is a place bombarded with children who shouldn't be exposed to this....it isn't a nightclub where you know the risks going in and make your own educated choice.

 

[princessmurdough]

Well, glad to know I'm not alone on this one - and I do think that it's good to get these discussions out there, if only to make everyone more aware of the dangers around them, and how to better avoid them.
Hey, thank-you to those who do smoke, and try to be considerate - but also please know, that you can be the most careful, "polite" smoker around, but if yours is the cloud I happen to be stuck next to, I'm still gonna lump ya with the other smokers of the world. So I, for one, am sorry about that, but it's the nature of the beast - your smoke travels where you don't mean it to.
Anyway, my hope originally was to find an outlet at Disney for my concerns, and I am still in search of a link to guest services that would take this one. I don't know where the online "comment cards" are - does anyone else??
Thanks much!

 

[Tiggernut_jadie]

As someone aged 39 who still has the scar above her right eye where she was burned by daddy's cigarette at the age of 6, I think I am perfectly qualified to comment on the daanger aspect of smoking! I saw people smoking in non-designated areas several times on my last visit. My DD (4) was so nearly burned by one ignorant idiot that I was hard pushed not to thump the moron!

Sorry but it annoys me when people say that the smoking areas are hard to find - well tough, then don't smoke until you find the right place! There are plenty of CM around in all the parks - but it seems people are just too ignorant to be bothered. There ought to be some sort of system whereby people are told that they should use the designated areas or they will be evicted from the park! this should be written in BIG letters on the park maps as well as large multi-lingual signs at the entrance. People WILL learn if their day is ruined by getting thrown out!!!!!!! Ignorance of the rules would then NOT be an excuse - you smoke anywhere other than the designated areas, you're OUT!!!!

 

[Planogirl]

A well located smoking area would expose no one except the smokers themselves to smoke. I don't see how anyone smoking in a designated area endangers any children unless the children are brought into the area. I think that comparing banning smoking from restaurants to banning it at WDW is rather odd. A restaurant patron can simply step outside to smoke. I don't see how anyone can step outside of WDW or even one of the parks to smoke.

And no, I don't smoke.

 

[DianeV]

Maybe large signs at the entrances stating that smoking is only allowed in designated areas and give places where you can get a list? Or maybe on the trams along with their other announcements they could say something like just a reminder that smoking is only allowed in designated areas. Please ask a CM if you need assistance in locating one...

Maybe some dont even know about it but I do know there are those who dont want to be bothered stopping and smoking in a certain area

 

[experiment626mom]

My dh smoked on our last trip to WDW and yes we did see alot of people out of the smoking areas. If you mention it to a CM they will gently tell the offender that there are certain areas for smokers.

I don't think they will ever ban smoking there. They just really need to make the smoking areas better known. Maybe a small sign or something.

 

[kelscross]

I am a smoker and I smoke in the designated areas at WDW. For those complaining about the location of the smoking areas you guys are good cause I can't find them without consulting a map and half the time I still can't find them...so I wait.

Maybe it does need to be addressed when the CM's see someone smoking outside of the smoking areas.

There are many different nationalities of people that think it is acceptable to smoke in public so I don't think Disney will ever ban it d/t they aren't going to lose money from those folks.

I do however think it should be banned in areas like toontown and fantasy land.

Bring it back to banning drinking...my children got injured getting on the bus at DTD when a group of people drunker than skunks rushed the bus to CBR and trampled my kids. It was so bad that another gentleman was trying to push the crowd back so that my children could be picked up off the ground so they wouldn't be trampled to death. My whole issue was where was the crowd control at the bus stop?? Disney transportation made it up to us though, they sent a private car the last few days of our stay to take us and pick us up.

 

[TDC Nala]

Unless the law ends up mandating it, there probably won't be an outright ban.

But they ought to do a better job enforcing the smoking areas, if they're going to have them.

although alcohol is only available in one park (epcot)

Alcoholic beverages are available in all areas of WDW except the Magic Kingdom.

 

[misslauri]

Personally, speaking as an ex smoker, I would be a little frightened of WDW if they went totally non smoking. I agree that the designated areas need to be better enforced, but unlike a bar or nightclub, you can not just step outside to have a cigarette. I know that I became pretty testy after a few hours (and for me it wasn't so much nicotine as the oral/manual thing, so nicorette wouldn't help) and the last thing I want is to be waiting 90 minutes for Fantasmic next to a group of smokers who haven't had a smoke for 8 hours. When I did smoke at WDW, all those years ago (ok, 4) I stuck to the designated areas and really only went to smoke after I considered strangling a woman with her own backpack after it hit me for the 5th time. I don't think smoking will ever be illegal, but I think we'll hit a time when most people just "wise up" and don't start in the first place.

And, also speaking of as an exsmoker, most smokers out there know they're addicted, and they want to quit, but the feeling of defeatism is so strong, mixed with a feeling of guilt, it's a tough, tough road to walk. I actually used a drug counsellor to quit. He said quitting cigarettes was harder for him than quitting hard drugs. If you want to encourage people to quit, don't use a scare tactic (we know em all anyway) but positive support. I promise you, there's not a single smoker out there (ok, maybe a few crazy ones) who is going to say "I'm giving your kid asthma? Great!" but attacking smokers just gives them reason to feel a need to band together, and even a reason to keep smoking.