Smoking at the resort pools

[PghDisney]

just my 2 cents:

Instead of focusing on who was or was not rude, or the whole smoking thing that raises such ire on both sides, why not focus on the issue of accomodation. Disney should and could easily set aside areas where smoking is allowed at the pool and areas where smoking is not allowed at the pool, avoiding the problem. To be honest, I am a non-smoker, I have nothing against smokers but it is a sure way to ruin my enjoyment if I have smoking near. That does not make me a bad person, it just is a fact. And if I arrived earlier, and had a spot that I preferred, at a pool, seated waiting for a bus, etc, etc and was chased because of smoke I would not be thrilled, my being there first trumped by that habit. An area of the pool where smoking is allowed and another where it is not avoids that, and none have to have friction ruin their vacation. Or am I missing something?

 

[Tea Please]

Originally posted by married2grumpy
My Mom was a smoker for years and I still found it in my heart to love her!

I only hope my two children will still love me.

I am a smoker and I would not hesitate to move, if asked in a courteous manor.

 

[ls1222]

I think the whole "smoking policy" (with the exception of the parks) is a bit confusing!! My DH smokes (never indoors, including our own home) and Disney does not seem to have a set of rules posted. We always stay at POR and even at the non-smoking bldgs there are ashtrays every several feet, but when my DH smokes at these ashtrays, he still get looks and comments about it. I would assume if there is an ashtray, then it must be ok to smoke there. I really don't feel that the lady smoking at the pool was the inconsiderate one. I don't think it is fair to "attack" a smoker if they are in a "smoking area".

 

[milmore104]

Tigger woods, I'm not sure if your last post was directed toward me but seeing you quoted me I'm thinking it was! First let me say I never said anything about having a problem w/ smokers except one person. I have to deal w/ my in-laws that chain smoke! I was upset that this women threw her LIT cig. in the pool area when there were kids walking around bare foot. Having stepped on one before I know it doesn't feel good. All I did was kindly ask her to pick it up and put it in the trash. If I had seen someone throwing trash on the ground I would have done the same thing! I understand people have a right to smoke but you don't need to be rude about it.

 

[DMRick]

We always stay at POR and even at the non-smoking bldgs there are ashtrays every several feet,

I can attest to that. How much easier, if Disney has non smoking buildings, that the whole building area be non smoking..so that the smoke doesn't get drawn into my room, and I don't have to walk through a cloud outside my door to get off the 2nd or 3rd floor at POR. If Dis didn't allow smoking except at smoking buildings, then the smokers wouldn't get funny looks, by those of us wondering why the heck they are smoking right outside our door (where the ashtray is). When we asked why there was an ashtray in front of my non smoking room, in a non smoking building, I was told to have a place other than the ground, and bushes, for the butts. CM's walk right past people smoking at non smoking buildings and say nothing..why? Because only the room (or all the rooms) are non smoking (of course they walk by them at parades and lines too..want to stay non confrontational I guess). And some people smoke inside the non smoking rooms too. POR now has a large outdoor smoking area in front of the main building with seating looking onto the boats...wish everyone would go there to smoke, if they are in a non smoking building...or just stay in a smoking building.

 

[rugratsmom66]

I think the majority of the people that are smoking outside the non-smoking buildings are spouses of non-smokers. They obtain a non-smoking room so as not to infringe their smoking on their other family members and then go outside to smoke. I do think that all buildings should have a designated smoking area away from main entrances that these folks could smoke. Non-smokers could then stay clear of those areas.

 

[Robbie Fowler]

Whether I agee or disagree with MarriedtoGrumpy dosent matter, this is an information board about Disney and I have got some information about smoking by the pools.

Thanks very much.

 

[kathylovesdisneyworl]

milmore104 I agree wholeheartedly with you. You never said anything about the smokers, just the slob who couldn't take the time to throw the butt in an ashtray. When I read Tigger Woods reply I thought the same thing you did. It was in reference to you but you never said that. And I would say something to someone also if they discarded a lit butt at the pool.

 

[jeffemy]

Sorry, but I don't think if my family planned on spending the day at the pool and went out early to obtain a favorable area, set-up our belongings and had been there long enough that finding another location to move to would have not only been inconvenient, but nearly impossible, I'd have a difficult time in justifing why I should move. Whether smokers like it or not, they do pose a disturbance to some people who do not smoke. Shouldn't it be the smokers responsibilty to ask those around them if they are bothered by the smoke? Couldn't the smoker, if the answer was yes, then walk to an area where they wouldn't bother anyone? IMO, that would be the considerate option. Why do some consider public areas as their personal domain? Even so, if on your deck or patio, wouldn't you( the smoker) inquire of your guests if they minded if you lit up? Why shouldn't the same courtesy apply in this situation?

 

[monalsw]

this is one of those threads that just can't be ignored, and will not likely die out on it's own...apologies to those i might offend.

it's very simple, we all have rights; we can chose what we eat, what we wear, where we go, and whether or not we smoke. and we all offend someone, in some way.

why is my smoking so much more offensive than your kid's snotty, runny, sneezy nose, which poses a threat to me??? if i don't like it, do i have the right to ask you if your kid should be here, or to please wipe their nose, and btw, don't let them touch anything that i might touch, or oh yeah, get them to a doctor???

since when are we each other's guardians? i've done fine for years without others telling me how to behave, haven't you? do you think i suddenly need someone to 'police' me???

i smoke. and i pay the same amount you do to go to disney. i don't smoke where it's going to be blowing in anyone's face and i use designated smoking areas in the parks, which btw, seem to be home to those non-smokers who want to scowl at people who do smoke.

however, when i'm in an area that is not 'designated' one way or the other, i smoke wherever i please---because, I PAID TO COME HERE TOO! if anyone were to ever ask me to please not smoke, i would show a side of myself reserved for very few; the ones who feel that they were put on earth to monitor others'' behavior.

again, since when are we each others' babysitters? the original poster had the attitude of 'i'm tellllllling'; 0 points for maturity, courtesy and most of all-respect.

btw, why don't we implement 'designated NON-SMOKING areas'? i'm tired of being the bad guy! why is always our responsibility to ask permission, apologize and move? after all, we're paying more taxes than everyone else!

 

[Mrs. Snowgod]

why don't we implement 'designated NON-SMOKING areas'?

Yes, please, I think that would be just fine. That's exactly the issue here. Calculate the respective sizes of the smoker/non-smoker areas to accurately duplicate the smoker/non-smoker ratio of guests.

after all, we're paying more taxes than everyone else!

That's probably not a real good place to go in this thread. Someone might bring up the rise in health insurance rates.

 

[mr.mike]

I just came back from the All-Stars and the Poly. There was so much smoking going on everywhere, pools, resorts, parks... Parks were the worst.. so many walking through the crowds smoking...and we never saw any CM say anything.
We had people who sat at a table behind us to watch Illuminations! There were only 2 tables at this part of the lagoon. and they ( mom and dad) kept smoking through the whole show. At first we couldnt find out where it was from because everytime we looked we didnt see it.. Then we saw they would put the cig under the table after they took a drag and they kept looking around to see who was watching them. They obviously knew but didn't care...especially didnt care about the health of their 2 young sons with them. We gave plenty of dirty and rude looks but it didnt work and we didnt want to start a fight with out 2 children watching so we sat them as far from the smokers as possible


i wish i had seen the OP post before heading to the pools. I would have been more prepared for the pollution and the polluters. I thank her for warning others.

Since most if not all resorts have more than one pool, Disney should make one smoking optional (the quiet pool) and one smoke free (the non quiet pool... Volcano in Poly, Pool with slide in Contemporary and so on)

problem solved.

 

[monalsw]

Since most if not all resorts have more than one pool, Disney should make one smoking optional (the quiet pool) and one smoke free (the non quiet pool... Volcano in Poly, Pool with slide in Contemporary and so on)

why put the smokers at the quiet pool; the smaller one, with less attraction, out of the way?

the attitudes are the problem, not the miniscule amount of second-hand smoke that a non-smoker might breathe outside while on a 1-2 week vacation at disney.

it's the same kind of attitude that fuels other 'great debates'; breastfeeding/bottle, stay at home/go to work, etc. too many people passing judgement on other people's CHOICES!

 

[Dogslider]

why don't we implement 'designated NON-SMOKING areas'?

I also would like this idea! I can hear the rumble now, why should I have to sit in section of the pool area that I don't want to sit at?

Sorry, but I don't think if my family planned on spending the day at the pool and went out early to obtain a favorable area, set-up our belongings and had been there long enough that finding another location to move to would have not only been inconvenient, but nearly impossible, I'd have a difficult time in justifing why I should move. Whether smokers like it or not, they do pose a disturbance to some people who do not smoke.

I agree with most of this. I also feel that if my family planned on a day at the pool and were in a nice area, that because I should choose to smoke (which is allowed) that it would be very inconvenient to move, because someone wanted me to move. I have gotten up and moved while at the pool and families say down next to me that disturbed me with their children constantly getting into my bag and stuff.

It seemed to me that it was my choice to either ask them to control their children and risk confrontation, move or simply put up with it. I chose to move.

 

[sue1013]

Also don't want to offend anyone but this is my 2 cents. Let's remember the pools are outside. I agree with the designated smoking areas in the parks because of the crowds, if people smoked in the lines or just walking around it would be very easy for someone to get burned. Especially while waiting in lines it is very close. I just don't understand the problem at the pools, if smoke is blowing towards you just turn your chair so its not blowing towards you. As the last poster said everyone does things to offend someone at one time or another. I know lots of you will not understand this but those turkey legs so many rave about just the smell makes me sick to my stomach. I've been sitting at a table eating and have had to move because someone sat at the next table eating one. Should I write to Disney asking for a designated place for turkey legs?? What about the woman on the bus that has poured the enire bottle of perfume on herself, that is also sickening, does Disney get a letter about that?? Maybe I just enjoy my trips to WDW more than others but when I am there, away from my everyday hectic life these petty things don't seem important.

 

[monalsw]

well said sue!

 

[PatriciaH]

After reading this thread and other smoking ones, it amazes me people still want to smoke! Of course some people are trying very hard to quit (I would think for their health and their children's sake) but people who smoke because they want to-wow it is a whole different world since I was smoking! Remember when you could smoke in every restaurant, planes, movie theaters? I do-my mother smoked the whole time I was growing up. Even though I hated it, I still took up smoking for 8 years while I was in high school and college. We though it was cool. I guess what I am saying is, now that smokers are treated like the black plague, why still do it? It is SO expensive too! It sure was easier to be a smoker 10 years ago. I guess that is a good thing though. At least I think so. I am so glad I was able to quit.

 

[D3sdoll]

I know I am fairly new (I have been reading way before I have started writing) but I would like to point out a few things.

1. I read the OP before it was edited and maybe she shouldn't have handled it that way but who are we to judge? Are you without mistakes?

2. I am a non-smoker (all my life) and I HATE cigerette smoke. However, my mom has smoked all of her life and so I COMPLETELY understand how hard of a habit it can be to break. She has tried everything and so I have come to the conclusion that my mom's a smoker and if she ever quits it's a bonus. But, just like smoking is a choice, so is being courteous (for everyone).

3. I feel I have handled a smoking situation wrong before as well. We were at Cedar Point and someone was smoking in line (also not allowed there) and I didn't say anything. My husband wanted to because wrong is wrong but I convinced him not to say anything because he may have been confronted in a negative manner and I, too, did not want to ruin one of the very few days per year we are childless. Should we have said something? Maybe. Would I have if our children were with us? Most definately. I just choose to pick my fights.

Can't we all just get along?

D3sdoll

 

[bz8bls]

My DH and I will be at WDW during the labor day weekend and I appeciate knowing that the pools are desigated for smokers. My girlfriend labels me as a closet smoker (I do not leave my work office every hour to smoke outside of my office building, in fact I don't smoke during those hours); I only smoke when having a coffee or an alcoholic beverage. Come to think of it, I haven't had a cigarette in two weeks.....hmmmm haven't had a coffee or a drink.

I don't smoke in my car or my home; my DH enjoys an occassional cigar (he doesn't smoke in the house either). However, when we go to WDW in labor day weekend, I plan on indulging a cigarette with a drink @ the pool.

I do agree with those of you that said that Disney should provide a designated area for smokers, then there would be no controversy.

Last year, my sister and her children were with me at WDW. She is a smoker; I don't think I will every go to the parks with her again because every 10 minutes, she was looking for the smoking areas; her kids and I couldn't enjoy the parks with her (and I am a closet smoker). I guess I'm fortunate that I don't let the 'urge' to smoke control me.

As for the OB, I would have moved because of the children and not you!!!!!!!

 

[Purrrrfecta]

Do I have a right to be annoyed, sure. Did I think she should be smoking, no. By asking her if she should be, I was hoping she knew she shouldn't and would stop.

Why should she have known she shouldn't be smoking? Because it was bothering you?

In America, it has become politically correct to complain and express a dislike for second-hand smoke.

We have recently read studies that have informed us of the impact of second-hand smoke, and this scares many people.

I just wonder why we do not have law makers cracking down on the sale of alcohol in public. It infringes on our rights when drunk drivers kill innocent people (like my friend who died.) I guess the law makers do not have a reason to control and manipulate the minds of citizens with regards to alcohol right now.

As soon as reports come out that the vapors from alcohol cause skin cancer, we will have self-righteous people in bars too!
This is so they would react like this poor woman did when she was at the pool.