POR..all was great except for smoking

[m&m's mom]

We just got back a few hours ago from 8 days at WDW and my nose is still raw from all of the cigarette smoke I was around.
I have asthama as well and am very sensitive to smoke and I swear I smelled it everywhere we went.
We stayed at the ASMu and people we were walking around smoking all over the place.
My and my 2 DD's found a nice outside table for breakfast and as soon as we got everything unloaded, here comes a lady telling her small child that she needed to come outside so she could smoke. I had had it by this time w/ the inconsideratiness and politiely asked her if she would mind sitting away from us. She did and the girls said they were very glad I "stuck up for them".
At the parks the smell of smoke was almost constant. Granted I am sensitive to cigarettes but it was frustrating.
On the other hand we went over to WL and noticed they had an outside smoking deck for smokers and we did not see anyone smoking around there.
It was a refreshing change.

On the OP of the room smell, the same thing happened to us in Dec. I walked in my "non-Smoking" room and it was very strong. Even my DH commented on how bad it was. We called the front desk and asked for a new room, but they said they would try to get "refresh it". We went to Downtown Disney and came back a few hours later and it the smell was not even noticeable. I was shocked at what a difference they could make.

 

[owtrbnks]

"same as the parks...actual enforced smoking areas (of course in the parks, as soon as dark hits, the smoking areas are everywhere and anywhere by many people..and what's up with the cigars?)."

In over twenty visits, I have yet to see a CM approach anyone that was smoking in an area not designated for smoking. It seems that many smokers smoke wherever then darn well please (with the exception of JakesMom) and Disney would rather PO the majority, knowing full well they will return, than make 1 smoker mad and perhaps not come back. Just MHO.

 

[jtdl]

Just for information I am not a smoker, but I do believe that smokers/cigar smokers should be able to enjoy all smoking/outdoor areas of the resort just like everyone else including pool areas, benches, waterfront areas etc. Of course they should be responsible and ask for an ashtray as appropriate.

Totally agree. I am an ex-smoker. Smoking is not illegal. It just seems that because nonsmokers rights are finally being realized in indoor places, that now some are thinking smoking shouldn't be allowed outside either! Yes, maybe it would be good if Disney made designated smoking areas at the pool certain gardens, benches, etc. but to be fair, it is just as easy for a nonsmoker to move to a different table than it is for a smoker - especially if the smoker was there first.

 

[disgram]

I am a smoker. Have tried to quit many times. Just cannot seem to make it. However, when I am asked,(politely) to put my cigarette out, I do so. I try never to smoke around children, or anyone that has a problem with it. At WDW I smoke less and I smile more. Guess it is because of the Magic that goes on there!!! wish that I could bring it home!!! I might help with the stress that is here. ANYWAY, as to the CMs not inforcing the smoking areas, we were going to the MK and without thinking, I lit a cigarette just as we came off the little boat from FW. A CM came up to me and asked that I not smoke there as it was not designated smoking. I had had a senior moment and totally had forgotten. She was very nice and gave me a map with the sites circled!! Very nice lady!! So they do have people out doing just that! It saddens me that there has to be people doing just that. Apparently there are others that have "senior moments" too!!

 

[tmanaster]

Sorry for the smoke in your room. We stayed in bldg 15 in June and had none of the problems you described! What a bummer.

 

[3princesses4us]

Ugh..reading this has me stressed out. I leave for POR in 8 days. My 2 children..17 months and 3 yrs old have asthma so smoke smell, residue or direct exposure is not an option for us. I am really concerned now.

We stayed at AKL last time and it was wonderful...no problems. I can't change the resort b/c its a business conference for DH and his work has already approved us staying there and we can't chg it now.

What is reasonable to expect from Disney if the smoke is an issue for us given my kids have medical issues???? ..and I'll be hauling a suitcase of meds and nebulizers with me to prove it....

I have requested a nonsmoking room for medical issues
thanks

Don't stress! I had the exact opposite experience as some posted and at POR no less. We were put in AB section, building 18 and when I heard this I freaked because in many of the books I had read, they list bldg. 18 as "smoking optional". DH has a serious allergy to smoke. The CM rolled his eyes when I told him this and asked if I had read that in "Birnbaum's" because they were often mistaken about things. Anyway, I told him I would give it a chance but would come right back if I smelled anything. Would you believe on our way to the room there was a guy standing outside the area smoking. I was nervous but alas the room smelled great! No smoke smell anywhere. Five days later as we checked out, I commented to DH that after that first guy, we never even SAW a smoker at POR after that, let alone smelled it anywhere in our "smoking optional" building. Hopefully you will have a similar experience as well. Good luck and have fun!

 

[DMRick]

We've stayed at POR several times (I'm the OP), and this is the first time it was this bad. And we had a total of three rooms, so it was harder for us to move to avoid the problem. Plus I have asthma, so that made it worse.

 

[eeyore45]

We were there first week of Oct, and had the same problem... we also had connecting rooms, my parents room was fine, mine, smokey, i had mousekeeping come twice to 'disinfect' the room... and like you made do...

We were in the mansion section, I also couldnt believe how many smokers were using the area at the top of the stair section, and leaving their butts for someone else to take care of - and by our 4th day, no one did take care of them, they just piled up... disgusting!!

and I do appreciate, and thank all those that are considerate of the smoking policies, and I do not mean to offend you.

 

[NCombs]

Don't stress! I had the exact opposite experience as some posted and at POR no less. We were put in AB section, building 18 and when I heard this I freaked because in many of the books I had read, they list bldg. 18 as "smoking optional". DH has a serious allergy to smoke. The CM rolled his eyes when I told him this and asked if I had read that in "Birnbaum's" because they were often mistaken about things. Anyway, I told him I would give it a chance but would come right back if I smelled anything. Would you believe on our way to the room there was a guy standing outside the area smoking. I was nervous but alas the room smelled great! No smoke smell anywhere. Five days later as we checked out, I commented to DH that after that first guy, we never even SAW a smoker at POR after that, let alone smelled it anywhere in our "smoking optional" building. Hopefully you will have a similar experience as well. Good luck and have fun!

Just an fyi-the person who was worried actually posted this back in May when this thread originally started. Someone resurrected it. Hopefully their trip did turn out well.

I thought there were a lot of people walking around the paths with cigarettes when we were there in June 2004 but it was a great place.

 

[Dukesmom]

We've stayed at POR several times (I'm the OP), and this is the first time it was this bad. And we had a total of three rooms, so it was harder for us to move to avoid the problem. Plus I have asthma, so that made it worse.

Yikes, enough already, you have been heard! Someone really needs to lock this thread. How about discussing the medical, social and economical impacts of overeating or overuse of alcohol? Not likely to happen, because both are very socially acceptable vices. Smokers are too easy of a target...no one would start a thread about the fat person pigging out on the buffet at Chef Mickey's, or the drunk sitting at the poolside bar ordering yet another drink, because these comments would be considered insensitive. Bashing smokers, on the other hand, is perfectly acceptable, and everyone with an opinion jumps on the bandwagon. Doesn't make sense to me, but that's just MY opinion...

 

[DMRick]

Hey, I didn't bring this old thread up to the top, and I didn't say anything bad..just telling why it was harder for our problem to be fixed and that we have stayed lots of times without this being a problem. Why would the thread have to be locked because of that
I don't see where I bashed any smokers. I will tell you though, that if you drink in your room, or overeat at a buffet (and I've been known to do that), it will have no impact on me. But if you smoke in a non smoking room, it can cause problems for those expecting a non smoking room.
For those of you that are responsible smokers..nothing in this thread pertains to you..just know it's appreciated.

Yikes, enough already, you have been heard! Someone really needs to lock this thread. How about discussing the medical, social and economical impacts of overeating or overuse of alcohol? Not likely to happen, because both are very socially acceptable vices. Smokers are too easy of a target...no one would start a thread about the fat person pigging out on the buffet at Chef Mickey's, or the drunk sitting at the poolside bar ordering yet another drink, because these comments would be considered insensitive. Bashing smokers, on the other hand, is perfectly acceptable, and everyone with an opinion jumps on the bandwagon. Doesn't make sense to me, but that's just MY opinion...

 

[NeverEnufWDW]

In my experience, smokers don't give a darn about anyone. They throw their butts wherever they stand, toss lit cigs out the windows of moving cars, light up in smoking-restricted areas, smoke in non-smoking rooms, etc., etc., etc..

With such a disregard for their own health and that of their families - do you think they give a care about anyone else ? Heck no.

 

[WDW LifeLong Fan]

Thanks for your honest report.

 

[jtdl]

In my experience, smokers don't give a darn about anyone. They throw their butts wherever they stand, toss lit cigs out the windows of moving cars, light up in smoking-restricted areas, smoke in non-smoking rooms, etc., etc., etc..

With such a disregard for their own health and that of their families - do you think they give a care about anyone else ? Heck no.

This topic is almost as bad as the refillable mug threads. This statement is totally rude and uncalled for. NOT all smokers are as inconsiderate as you claim. (I am an exsmoker and never did any of those things and I don't litter either!) What about nonsmokers who throw their Tim Hortons or McDonalds coffee cups out the car windows, drink coffee where they are not supposed to - such as on the WDW busses, spill drinks on the carpet of the room and leave big stains, spit their gum out on the sidewalk or under restaurant tables and throw the gum wrappers on the ground! Come off it - grow up! Everyone has vices and bad habits, not just smokers. As for your health, if you sit beside a table full of smokers - move. As a previous poster stated - do you complain about the person drinking too much or eating too much? Probably.

I do agree that something should be done about people who smoke in nonsmoking rooms, but again that is up to Disney. They have the name and address of the people whom occupied the room.

 

[C.Ann]

In my experience, smokers don't give a darn about anyone. They throw their butts wherever they stand, toss lit cigs out the windows of moving cars, light up in smoking-restricted areas, smoke in non-smoking rooms, etc., etc., etc..

With such a disregard for their own health and that of their families - do you think they give a care about anyone else ? Heck no.

-------------------------

Wow! That's a rather sweeping generalization, don't you think? Kind of like saying anyone who has a glass of wine with dinner is a falling down drunk who is going to hop in their car and speed down the road, wiping out an entirely unsuspecting family..

I prefer to look at people as individuals - not clump everyone together by living in a strictly black and white world..

 

[Laurafoster]

In my experience, smokers don't give a darn about anyone. They throw their butts wherever they stand, toss lit cigs out the windows of moving cars, light up in smoking-restricted areas, smoke in non-smoking rooms, etc., etc., etc..

With such a disregard for their own health and that of their families - do you think they give a care about anyone else ? Heck no.

WOW i think thats is a bit rude and uncalled for. I know everyone is entitled to their opinoon but not all smokers are like that. Everyone is an individual and everyone acts differently!

 

[Bashful2]

DH and I are smokers. We always ask for a smoking room and have been moved more than once because, when getting to our room, we found it was non-smoking. When we stayed at POR, we saw that our room was designated non-smoking. So, we went back to check-in and asked to be moved. We were told that our room was smoking even though it had the non-smoking sign.

We never smoke in pool areas when there are a lot of people around. If it's fairly empty, we find an out of the way place so we can smoke. Otherwise, we smoke at the bar where there are ashtrays.

We only smoke in designated areas in the parks. We also dispose of our butts properly. We actually much prefer the designated areas so we don't have to worry about bothering anyone.

 

[drakethib]

Ok as a smoker, I feel the need to reply to this thread. I am a responsible smoker, I always request a smoking room, if none are available, then I dont smoke in the room or outside in the shared walkways. However, I have been at a resort pool and been very careful to pick a seat that was not near anyone, usually I scout out the furthest corner away from crowds, and inevitably someone will sit down next to us and ask me not to smoke. I know that is not the politcally correct vice to have these days, but it is still legal, and no I am not a criminal, just made to feel like one. By the way I do not smoke in the parks except for the designated areas, and always put my butts in the ashtrays. For all of the smoke haters, I would just like to state that I am also offended by guests who drink a little to much,or those who throw thier trash on the ground, change thier babys on seats outside, let thier little boys pee outside (no kidding we have witnessed this more then once), and I cant count the countless adults I have heard cursing and swearing with no thought of the children around them.
Just needed to let you know not all smokers are "pigs"

Thank you for being respectful of others and I hope others return to favor to you.

I get alittle upset with people swearing in public in front of children as well.

 

[Sammie]

WOW i think thats is a bit rude and uncalled for. I know everyone is entitled to their opinoon but not all smokers are like that. Everyone is an individual and everyone acts differently!

I don't believe the OP stated "all" smokers. They stated smokers in their experience, you have no idea what their personal experience is with smokers. Maybe all smokers they know act this way.

Personally I think sometimes the reactions to certain comments are as bad as the comment they are reacting to.

 

[PrincessKitty]

DH and I spent a long weekend at WDW and POP a week ago, and I couldn't believe how much smoke I inhaled. I put the responsibility squarely on WDW for not prominently posting the smoking rules in the parks, for not enforcing the smoking rules in the parks, and for not having designated smoking areas at the resorts (once again, prominently posted and enforced!)

Our first morning at POP, the patio outside the foodcourt was a haze of smoke. It was disgusting--we could not possibly have eaten outside. I realize the resorts don't regulate smoking outdoors, but they need to--there are way too many people concentrated in certain area (like the food court patio) to think that people are not affected by second hand smoke.

I am an ex-smoker, and I think most smokers don't realize how truly awful cigarettes smell to us non-smokers (speaking from my own experience as a smoker!). The clothes I wore at POP and the parks actually stunk of smoke--I could smell the smoke when I was loading the washing machine at home.

I do think MOST smokers would follow the rules if they were clear, prominently posted, and enforced!