Ready to get flamed ... but here is my question

[MrsJ Henry]

We are staying at the AKL in April with a pool view. Do you know where the smoking optional rooms are located or what floor? I just called CRO to ask about this and their computers are down again and she was unable to answer my question.

Also can anyone tell me how much the backstage safari costs?

 

["thegirls"]

The only flaming here is from the end of MY cigarette!!! I've stayed there 5 times and 4 out of 5 they have given me a non-smoking room and said to smoke BY the sliding door. Meaning NOT outside and NOT in side. I kinda just open the slider and blow the smoke outside. I beleive the true smoking rooms are 1/2 way down the trails on the little sections that jut out(and that IS my technical description..pathetic huh?!?)
I beleive that they do not have enough rooms dedicated for smoking so this situation has happened more often at the AKL than at other resorts.
I realize the pool view rooms are not in these sections(the jut out ones) so I really cannot tell you the official answer.
I have stayed in a standard view 1x, a pool view3x's, and conciere 1x. 2 times in 2003 and 2 times in 2004.
Hope someone else can help you more because my experience is pathetic!!!

Happy Day ~ Debbie

 

[cavecricket]

i am a smoker ( at least for now) and I for one think that the smokers amenities in general are "lacking" big time. remember guys we are people too!

( i smoked outside the doors to the pool as there was a large butt can and smokers congregated there)

 

[Momof5cubs]

The only flaming here is from the end of MY cigarette!!! I've stayed there 5 times and 4 out of 5 they have given me a non-smoking room and said to smoke BY the sliding door. Meaning NOT outside and NOT in side. Happy Day ~ Debbie

Now that is funny! I am not a smoker but smoking doesn't bother me. Your post made me chuckle. Gotta love some of the "rules" Disney adapts.

 

[Teris]

When I took my husband there, for his first Disney visit, we stayed there. At check in they told us that it was a 'non smoking' resort,, but I had thought when I spoke to the reservations people, they said they would book us in a smoking room. You can smoke by the bar at the pool,, but because of the prospect of an animal getting a hold of an old cig, no smoking on the Savannah view rooms. However, the mousekeeper we had, was a smoker as well, and had sympathy for my husband, and provided him with something he could use as an ashtray. This was in Feb of 2003, and I havn't been there since. The AKL was not even at half capacity, so if they had any smoking rooms, they must have filled them quickly. Am curious what other people have expirenced when they stayed there regarding this issue. I felt bad for hubby too,, but as a non smoker who is prone to bronchitis, I would have booked a resort where he could have smoked out on the balcony, with the door closed if I had been told by the reservation people that they had severe limitations on smoking there. he did enjoy it anyway tho

 

[MrsJ Henry]

When we were there in Nov we had a smoking room (Savannah view). The castmember said that they were on the end ( they group them together) We were told that you could not smoke on the balcony of a Savannah view room.
When I called the CRO today she said that yes there are smoking rooms with pool view (which is what we have) She didn't know what floor they were on though since the computers were down.

I was just wondering if anyone knew what floor (pool View) smoking was on.

We were also told last Nov that if you request a smoking room they will make sure you get one (if they can) unlike other requests. Also not as many people request these anymore so it is easier to fullfill this request.
I don't know if that is true but we did get this request with both resorts we stayed at.

 

[keddy]

I

 

[minkydog]

because of the prospect of an animal getting a hold of an old cig, no smoking on the Savannah view rooms.

Just picturing what that would look like--a zebra with a ciggie hanging outta his mouth. Next thing ya know, Mickey 'll be smoking behind the castle and then who knows what kind of dope they'll be doin'...

 

[WillCAD]

I'm not a smoker, and I absolutely HATE being around people smoking.

But why would you get flamed for asking where the smoking rooms are in a resort? Only a moron would flame you for that.

Now, if you said you planned on smoking outside the designated areas, or smoking in a non-smoking room, then I might flame you. But as long as you're following the rules, I wouldn't dream of it.

I do understand their extra caution at AK and AKL. Human trash of all kinds can be dangerous to animals, which is why you will not find drink lids or straws anywhere at Animal Kingdom park. I guess cigarette butts can be harmful to the animals, too.

From the varying responses in this thread I would guess that the smoking policies at AKL must have changed once or twice since it opened.

 

[mitros]

I don't think this is flaming, but it would be nice if people did not smoke in the non-smoking rooms or in designated non-smoking areas. . Having said that,there do seem to be less smoking rooms available at the newer resorts.

 

[jjohnson]

When we were there in Nov we had a smoking room (Savannah view). The castmember said that they were on the end ( they group them together) We were told that you could not smoke on the balcony of a Savannah view room.
When I called the CRO today she said that yes there are smoking rooms with pool view (which is what we have) She didn't know what floor they were on though since the computers were down.

I was just wondering if anyone knew what floor (pool View) smoking was on.

We were also told last Nov that if you request a smoking room they will make sure you get one (if they can) unlike other requests. Also not as many people request these anymore so it is easier to fullfill this request.
I don't know if that is true but we did get this request with both resorts we stayed at.

F.Y.I.-
My confirmation states "guaranteed smoking".

 

[mitros]

Guaranteed smoking, hmmmmm.... After staying many, many,times on Disney property since 1988, we were never "guaranteed" a non-smoking room, always it is a "request". So I guess smokers do have an up on non-smokers.

 

[Rootskate]

In regards to "thegirls" post.....just wanted to thank you for the laugh...I cracked up over that first line!!

 

[Pooh1219]

We've stayed in a smoking room at AKL twice within the last year. Both times we were in virtually the same location - Giraffe trail, poolview room, on the second floor. Our rooms were within about 4 rooms of each other on each trip. We took the ramp alongside Zawade Market to a bank of elevators, down one floor, and then down the hall. It was a terrific location, directly over the spa and overlooking the pool. I think this floor's poolview rooms are all smoking. We really liked the location because we could walk down one floor and exit the door on the side of the pool where the slide is, and from there it was a quick walk to Mara or to the bus stop.

 

[Min and Bill]

Guaranteed smoking, hmmmmm.... After staying many, many,times on Disney property since 1988, we were never "guaranteed" a non-smoking room, always it is a "request". So I guess smokers do have an up on non-smokers.

If you have allergies, they will guarantee a non-smoking room... we always get a non-smoking room guaranteed due to Min's allergies... we have even been asked on several occasions while booking a room if we needed special cleaning of the room before our arrival...

.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

Thank You Pooh1219 that's very helpful.

 

[Taryn]

Sometimes I book smoking sometimes I don't if the rooms aren't great. I don't smoke enough that it matters if I don't get to smoke for a few days.

Anyway I can only tell you about a great smoking room that is Savannah view just in case you get upgraded! You never know... ask for 4573. It's on the Arusha Savannah Zebra Trail and had a fantastic view. The ankole cattle would all curl up around a tree just outside every night. The is a little pond in front too which brought just about every animal around at some point. I've stayed in that room twice now.

 

[budwmn]

I'm a non-smoker and I hate being aroung those who smoke. I have severe asthma and smoke triggers it every time. That being said, I had no idea how hard it was to get a smoking room. Disney should add more if it is so difficult.

I appreciate the original poster asking about smoking rooms. How courteous! It's Disney's responsibility to provide enough rooms so that all of us can enjoy their fantastic resorts, regardless of our smoking status.

 

[jjohnson]

Guaranteed smoking, hmmmmm.... After staying many, many,times on Disney property since 1988, we were never "guaranteed" a non-smoking room, always it is a "request". So I guess smokers do have an up on non-smokers.

I don't know if I would call it an "up". If you research the garden view rooms available to smokers at the deluxe resorts, you would find they are often the worst views or very far away from main buildings and bus stops. We can't even book a standard room at WL because they are all non-smoking.My DH is very considerate of non-smokers & does not want to offend anyone even if CRO tells you its ok to smoke on any balcony he won't do it. I've spent countless hours trying to find a resort that meets out needs and only at POLYGVC has it all. Having a guaranteed smoking room will hopefully cut down on problems from both sides.

 

[MrsJ Henry]

Actually, I had no idea it was that hard to get a smoking room either, since both resorts we went to in Nov said it was no problem at all.
We got great rooms both times. ( AKL- room 4583 and YC-4231)