Smokers vs. Non-Smokers ???

[donna in Oz]

Nearly every conceivable topic has been discussed on these boards, but I don't know that I've ever seen anything on this particular question:

If you are a group of non-smokers who are traveling with someone who smokes, does this hinder your park touring plans?? We are considering inviting someone to come with us who smokes, and although I have nothing against this, I am wondering if we might encounter occasions when perhaps we miss a FastPass time or a scheduled show time because of a short break to smoke, etc.

Has anyone ever run into problems with this??? Would love to hear feedback from both sides.

 

[pegasusEH]

Do your friend a favour and drag them around the park without letting them to stop for smoking breaks.

A year ago today I sat and watched my father die from cancer - help prevent someone have to go through the same.

 

[MadMadamMim]

Speaking as an ex smoker.. I wouldn't worry about the smoker, if they are the courteous type, like many are (but ironically never get credit for) they will figure out their own plan of attack for when they want to smoke... they may choose to skip a ride, or duck outside after dinner - if it were me, and I still smoked, that's what I would do.

 

[peachgirl]

Originally posted by pegasusEH
Do your friend a favour and drag them around the park without letting them to stop for smoking breaks.

A year ago today I sat and watched my father die from cancer - help prevent someone have to go through the same.

Why not just try answering the op's question instead of turning this into yet another debate on smoking? There are at least 2 debates running on the DB at the moment regarding smoking if you want to voice your opinion on it.

To answer your question...

We had a smoker in our group and we never found it to be hindering at all. There are many smoking areas at every park.
If your friend isn't a chain smoker they will have plenty of opportunities to get a smoke break in. There were times our smoker didn't want to go on a particular ride and we'd just meet him at the nearest smoking area after the ride. Sometimes he'd catch a break while the rest of us went to bathroom, or when we all just decided to sit and rest for a minute, after meals, etc. My point is unless your friend has to have a cigarette every 5 minutes, it shouldn't be a bother to you at all.

 

[TreeOfLife]

Why not just try answering the op's question instead of turning this into yet another debate on smoking? There are at least 2 debates running on the DB at the moment regarding smoking if you want to voice your opinion on it.

I did not think this person was turning the question into a debate, but speaking from the heart and relating to something that was obviously painful to recall. Your reply was certainly more off topic.


If there was a smoker in my group, I'd remind the person that he/she has to use designated areas and perhaps encourage him or her to look them up in a map and plan ahead. A cigarrette here and there won't be as troublesome and limiting to the group as regular puffs.

 

[ahutton]

We have traveled in very large groups with many non-smokers and a couple who did. The FastPass window is usually an hour, so it is easy to work around when you actually want to ride and accommodate everyone's wishes. There are many times that in walking around there was a shop, snack or ride that parts of the group did or did not want to do, we just rolled with it, and eventually everyone always catches up.

Funny, but even when we decided to go our own ways we often ran into eachother just the same!

 

[gepetto]

My SIL and BIL smoke but there was a smoking area really close to R&R and ToT so it wasn't much of a pain.

 

[goofyernmost]

In my opinion the only problem that might come up would be if the smokers are the militant type. If they are mindful of others and smoke only in the designated areas then the only ones that will miss anything will be the smoker themselves.

I smoked for nearly 40 years before I quit. I can't tell you the things I missed out on so I could have a cigarette. No one else missed them, just me. Go, have fun.

 

[peachgirl]

Originally posted by TreeOfLife ...
"Your reply was certainly more off topic."

Not sure where you get that as I actually answered the op's question and the other post didn't. Of course, your response is just as much off topic as mine now isn't it?

 

[CPanther95]

This whole thread is rediculous....Do not invite a friend who smokes because it may hamper your touring plans ????? How???
Anyone who smokes knows how to sneak in a quick one without an inconvenience to the group even if it means taking only a couple of drags more frequently than smoking a WHOLE cigarette every time (a whopping 4-5 minutes).

Would you leave your daughter at home if she sprained her ankle the week before you left because she is limping still and might slow down the group?

I guess there are no overweight people in your group either ?

Do you ask the group to be patient while you go get a drink of water? If not....How RUDE !

Click your heels 3 times and go back to Kansas.
Puh L E A S E !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[luvindisneyworld]

LOL

 

[Bichon Barb]

I was going to keep my mouth shut on this one, but as an ex-smoker I just can't help myself. I will agree with Panther. What if someone posted:

I'm thinking about asking a friend to come with us to WDW, but she is obese. Do you think she will make us late for our FP because her fat causes her to move slower?"

They say that obesity is the last accepted prejudice. But I think smoking is right up there. Don't get me wrong. Personally, I wish they'd make tobacco illegal, so that my children and ALL children will never have to go through what I had to in order to overcome such a horrible addiction.

BTW, this was not easy for me to post, because I was a die hard "closet" smoker. Not to my close friends and family, of course, but to those I thought would judge me badly
. I hope I don't get busted .

 

[TLinden16]

I travelled to Disney World with a smoker last month for the first time, and at times it was a bit trying. Sometimes, the smoking sections weren't that easy to find, and she would get really cranky if we couldn't find a smoking area. She would get mad if we couldn't find a smoking area, especially since I refused to help her find one (I don't help people with their bad habits). She seemed to have the habit of absolutely needing a smoke when we were due to be somewhere (at a restaurant or a show that started at a certain time). By the end of the week, she was so fed up with having to look for a smoking area that she just smoked whenever she felt like it (which I told her she shouldn't be doing).

I wouldn't rule out going with someone just because they were a smoker, but I definitely wouldn't go back with this person again because I felt like her smoking dictated a lot of the way we did things on this trip, and she wasn't a very considerate smoker.

I think the best advice I can give you is know the smoking habits smoker you are planning to invite. Are they a chain smoker who will need one after every attraction and will get cranky if they don't get a cigarette, you could run into problems. If your friend can make it through the day with just a few quick cigarettes (when the group stops for bathroom breaks, sneaking outside while you are waiting for a meal, etc.) it won't be a very big inconvience.

Karen

 

[CPanther95]

ANOTHER GREAT FRIEND with some brilliant insight !

"She would get mad if we couldn't find a smoking area, especially since I refused to help her find one (I don't help people with their bad habits)"

"she was so fed up with having to look for a smoking area that she just smoked whenever she felt like it (which I told her she shouldn't be doing)."

So she was cranky and making you miserable and just needed a smoking section, but you wouldn't help her out. When she tries to rectify the situation by slipping one anyway - THEN you speak up by being critical. Sounds more like your ATTITUDE about your friends' smoking dictated your groups activities more than your friends smoking did.

I hope next time you are at the park and need to find a quick hotdog or burger for you and your family - some well intentioned vegetarian refuses to help you out. But rest assured it is for your own good, so that makes it just fine !

And beware of those who believe that using public restrooms is a "BAD HABIT"

 

[The Sybah Shelstah]

LOL

And

and she wasn't a very considerate smoker.

She sure wasn't! Not if she was smoking in areas not marked for smokers! That's uncool.

And btw- before anyone blasts me for going off on smokers- I'm a smoker. Tada!!! One that is not afraid to post that she is still a smoker. Don't even waste your time telling me how bad it is and I should quit. Duh, I know that. But you can't make me stop, it's something I have to do for myself.

With that said, I'm not a chain smoker and I was having WAY too much fun when I was there to ever let having a cig get in the way of that! I guess I'm the "I'm bored" type of smoker.I tend to smoke more when driving in the car or when I'm bored. When I'm busy, and believe me... I was busy at the parks!- I don't even think of a cig usually. So while there the only time a cig even came into my mind was when I was suddenly not doing something. Like if it was a ride DH wanted to ride again with the kids- but I didn't. Or when we'd parked ourselves a spot on the curb for a parade. Those were times I'd head off to the nearest smoking section and take a few puffs- but only a few. If I lived at WDW I would probably be able to quit more easily. LOL It just wasn't a factor to even think about it that often while there!

I would say that you probably won't have a problem with said smoker in your group UNLESS they are a chain smoker who "has" to have a smoke break constantly. There are PLENTY of smoking sections clearly listed on the maps for them to take a smoke break pretty regularly.... the only time I could see that being a problem is if they are the type that smoke constantly (or want to) or can't wait a bit for a FP to be used first/etc.

And btw- an inconsiderate person is an inconsiderate person. Being a smoker doesn't make them that way. People can be inconsiderate in many other ways other than just the fact that the smoke or want smoking breaks.

 

[The Sybah Shelstah]

OH and btw- I'm a considerate person so that relates to the fact that I smoke also. I wouldn't be a pain about doing other things, so I wouldn't be a pain about smoking either.
I would not, EVER, smoke around those that didn't want me to- and certainly not in areas not marked for smokers! It's my choice to continue smoking (for the time being atleast) and I wouldn't force my second hand smoke on others against their will! I sit in nonsmoking sections because my kids would be with me - so that's never an issue in restaurants that don't allow smoking either. But even if they weren't with me- I would sit nonsmoking if the people I was with weren't smokers! It's just common courtesy... my bad habit is MY bad habit and shouldn't be forced on others.

I just feel it was very wrong of her to walk around smoking in nonsmoking areas -especially where SO many others, including lots of children too! -are at and probably don't appreciate the smoke!

 

[pegasusEH]

Peachgirl:-
Why not just try answering the op's question instead of turning this into yet another debate on smoking? There are at least 2 debates running on the DB at the moment regarding smoking if you want to voice your opinion on it.

If you read what I wrote I did actually answer the question, perhaps not clear enough. I wrote
"drag them around the park without letting them stop for smoking breaks."

That's just my way of saying don't plan your day around them!

 

[jazyjewel]

I just feel it was very wrong of her to walk around smoking in nonsmoking areas -especially where SO many others, including lots of children too! -are at and probably don't appreciate the smoke! [/B]

That was very wrong and inconsiderate. We just got back a few weeks ago, and I was amazed at how many people were smoking in the parks(not in designated areas). Smoke suffocates me, and just literally makes me feel miserable. So, I would get a little cranky because of inconsiderate people.

Now to answer the question so I don't get fussed at..... I would just tour the park the way you normally would and let him/her worry about the smoke breaks. They can always go smoke when you are in a shop or something.
Julie

 

[sconstantz]

I smoke and the rest in my party do not. I consider myself a considerate smoker. I found that I would go and look for a place to smoke and tell the group I'll be "here" after your done shopping (I hate shopping). Usually they would come out to me and I would go to put out my cig and they would say, no go ahead, we need to sit and take a break and figure out what is next on the plan.

I say you know your friend, if they are generally a considerate smoker, you won't have a problem, if they aren't, you may. All the restaurants on property are non-smoking, so you won't have a problem in the restaurants either.

Shelly

 

[followme2disney]

who drug a bunch of non-smokers around on my last trip, I can say that I do not think it will be a problem for you to have a smoker in your group. Be considerate of your friend the smoker and give her advance notice as to future plans, showtimes, ressies, etc and believe me she will find a way to keep up with you guys and have her smoke breaks, without being a burden. You guys may not even realize she is missing some of the time. You will have a wonderful time.