Smok'em if ya Got'em

[Furnacefighter]

We spent six days in the four Disney parks last month and we were wondering what gives with the Disney "smoke only in the designated area" policy. Disney guests just seem to light up wherever they please and hardly anyone in authority goes after these persons. Smoking outside of the designated areas is not just breaking a Disney guideline, it breaking Florida Law that protects the rights of non-smokers. I wish that Disney Cast Members would start getting nasty with the law breakers. It's tough to police the policy I'm sure, because many times the smokers are on the move, walking to and from attractions while smoking. I witnessed a cast member catch two women smoking in a smoke free area around Peter Pan's Flight. He told them that the area was non-smoking but don't put the cigarette out, go ahead and finish but move to a smoking area in the future.

Disney must become more assertive in protecting non-smokers. The cast members we encountered were just too nice or sympathetic to violating smokers. My DW & I are both reformed smokers, no try once and get sick here, one to two packs a day habits. I've been away from them for years, DW quit decades ago! We know it's tough to be roped into a smoker's area, and my God, the smell of the area alone turns my stomach, but it's not fair in this day and age to subject children and non-smokers to the hazzards of second hand smoke.

Smoking area violators should have their smokes taken away or be asked to leave the park. Tough---yes, fair---yes, a law benefits no one if it is not enforced.

 

[grinningghost]

ITA with you, but I think this is one of those threads that could get dicey. Stay tuned.

 

[Shinji]

Hmmm.. I am second guessing my lack of good judgment for even responding to this thread before it is locked.

I will say that on the last trip, I did witness a CM "catch" some people smoking outside of Kali River Rapids on the bridge. (??? don't ask, I was suprised they were smoking there too)

Florida is a nice place to visit, but I could not live there with all the wacky laws and politics. California neither, for the same reason.

 

[grinningghost]

Florida is a nice place to visit, but I could not live there with all the wacky laws and politics. California neither, for the same reason.

Don't come to New York either, this is the Gestapo State.

 

[AllyBri]

Don't come to New York either, this is the Gestapo State.

So true. Most people think of N.Y as a very liberal State, when in fact, its quite conservative.

 

[Exevale]

While I could not agree more with the OP I did want to note that I myself am a smoker that would never think of smoking outside of the designated areas. Also from my prespective I would say that it is not the normal behavior of most people to flaunt this rule. Just like you would notice the one person going to the bathroom in public without a thought to all of the people who properly use the facilities you notice the one of many who fail to use the smoking area.
This being said one of the crazyiest things I have ever seen was a man on an ECV crusing through MK with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth just inches below the oxygyn tube in his nose. I dare say that second hand smoke in this instance would have been welcome compared to the possible fire hazzad that man posed.

 

[the kabuki]

 

[Kitster]

This being said one of the crazyiest things I have ever seen was a man on an ECV crusing through MK with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth just inches below the oxygyn tube in his nose. I dare say that second hand smoke in this instance would have been welcome compared to the possible fire hazzad that man posed.

The sad part about this situation is, if he did blow himself and everyone around him to smithereens, his family would blame Disney for their (father's / husband's / uncle's) stupidity and sue.

 

[athenna]

I am a smoker, but I agree!
I follow the rules, I never smoke where I'm not supposed to, etc. I only smoke in designated sections. In fact, during my last trip to the World in April, I was mad because I saw the family in the next room mashing out their butts in the shrubs. Like, get an ashtray! I have respect, I don't know why they didn't. I saw them not only mashing butts, but stealing towels from the pool, and stepping on all of the shrubs on the way to the pool. Maybe I am a WDW goodie two shoes, but I do like to follow the rules and be respectful of others!

 

[eeyore45]

While I could not agree more with the OP I did want to note that I myself am a smoker that would never think of smoking outside of the designated areas. Also from my prespective I would say that it is not the normal behavior of most people to flaunt this rule. Just like you would notice the one person going to the bathroom in public without a thought to all of the people who properly use the facilities you notice the one of many who fail to use the smoking area.
This being said one of the crazyiest things I have ever seen was a man on an ECV crusing through MK with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth just inches below the oxygyn tube in his nose. I dare say that second hand smoke in this instance would have been welcome compared to the possible fire hazzad that man posed.

I dont smoke, and ds has allergeries, to the point where I think I have "sympathy allergic reactions to smoke"

I agree with this poster, now can we get rid of the guys that spit whenever and wherever they please??? I think mostly they dont realize I have to walk in that yuck!

 

[JoiseyMom]

My DH, who is a smoker (but is planning on quitting again tomorrow- should make for an interesting trip), usually finds the nearest CM and they deal with the person. When he smoked and we were down there, he always went to the designated areas.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

I'm not sure where you became misinformed, but there is no law in Florida that restricts smoking out of doors. The only Florida law regards indoor establishments that serve food.

That's not to say Disney should not enforce their own rules, but it is not breaking any laws unless you light up in a restaurant.

N.E.D.

 

[WDW1st-timers]

Here we go with another debate. Hmmmmm....I have a bet on it reaching around 35 posts before the thread gets locked.

 

[klofan]

My mom broke this law, haha. One of the cm's yelled at her for smoking and my mom threw it away. But right near her were TWO other people smoking when the CM just walked right by. If they tell the guests not the smoke, they should do it with all of them.

 

[RyMickey]

To be totally honest, I thought on our recent trip 2 weeks ago, we saw fewer smokers outside the designated areas. Like someone said, I think that since you know the "rules," we are more susceptible to noticing the rule-breakers.

Still, my brother wasn't afraid to say very loudly, "NON-SMOKING AREA" when people walked by puffing away. Sure, they'd give him a look, but it provided him with some fun.

 

[Jabber_Jaws]

<------- gets his popcorn..

 

[kaytieeldr]

Disney must become more assertive in protecting non-smokers. The cast members we encountered were just too nice or sympathetic to violating smokers. .

My understanding is that while Disney restricts smoking to designated areas for Guest safety (imagine being a five-year-old walking down Main Street whose eyes are at the same level as a lit cigarette dangling from a smoker's fingers), there are actually no laws restricting smoking outdoors.

While smokers certainly SHOULD be in the smoking area while partaking, they are still Disney Guests and are as entitled as any Guest to be treated politely by Cast Members.

 

[wilma-bride]

Even as a smoker, it drives me mad when people smoke where they shouldn't. Non-smokers (in my experience) see smokers as anti-social at the best of times so smokers who don't adhere to the policy on where they should smoke, just give us smokers a worse image.

I, for one, would not dream of smoking anywhere I shouldn't and definitely not in front of children (I don't smoke in my own home or in the car or anywhere my children are likely to be). In fact, it makes me just as mad when smokers insist on sitting in the smoking area with their children right next to them, blowing smoke into their faces.

This argument is never going to be resolved, however, because there will always be people (wherever you go) who think the rules don't apply to them - be it smoking, videotaping on rides, posting Mousesavers offers on the DisBoards (whole other can of worms opened there, I suspect ) or whatever.

 

[philaround]

I witnessed a cast member catch two women smoking in a smoke free area around Peter Pan's Flight. He told them that the area was non-smoking but don't put the cigarette out, go ahead and finish but move to a smoking area in the future.

This actually makes some sense. Outside of the smoking areas there are no ash trays to dispose the butt safely therefor discarding a lit cigarette outside the designated smoking areas could be a safety and fire hazard. However I think I would have told them that they did have to move to a smoking area right then and discard their butts safely.

 

[jiggerj]

I am a smoker but I would never think to do what the guy in front of us was doing when we WERE RIDING on Buzz. Puffin' away during the ride then "flicks"it into the attraction right before we unloaded. He disappeared quickly...