Smoking at Universal and IOA

[Brianhog]

I just got back from 3 days at Univ and IOA and I have to say unlike WDW, Univ/IOA smoking only in certain areas is a joke. Ever where we went people were smoking all over the park. I asked at least four employees if they enforced their smoking policy and of course I was always told of course we do. That was just a flat out lie as on to many times to count I would see employees standing right by a group of smokers smoking where they were not suppose to be and the employees would just ignore it. One employee even told me that they were probably going to do away with the the policy of only smoking in certain areas and let the park go back to smoking where ever you wanted to. So if cig smoke (and rude smokers that blow smoke in your face) bothers you like it does my family be prepared to have to deal with it because Univ/IOA certainly is not doing anything about it.

 

[h20jag]

I was heading for the smoking area recently & within 50 ft. of it I pulled an unlit smoke out (in joyous anticipation).
An alert employee told me of the area I was heading for. I thanked her & assured her I was waiting before I got there to lite up.

Several of us caught a non-smoker in our area and promptly stripped him of his possessions! hee-hee!

Someone blew smoke in your face & you didn't do anything?? Ouch!!
Jim

 

[damo]

We found people smoking in non-smoking areas in Universal as well. There definitely weren't as many smokers as usual though. We also found many smokers in non-smoking areas at Animal Kingdom . I wish they would all enforce this rule more strictly.

A good start would probably be to advertise the policy more widely and clearly. If I hadn't known from these boards that there was a smoking policy, I wouldn't have learned it at the park. More signs and indicators would be a good start. I think many people are simply ignorant of the fact that the rule and smoking areas exist.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

It's not always the easiest thing to enforce. Given time, it may become easier, but it was only implemented in Feb or so.

 

[markey]

I returned from Disney in May. I saw tons of people walking around the park smoking, not just standing in an area but walking around the park. It was the most I had ever seen since the smoking policy went into effect. I also saw no park employees tell anyone to stop.

 

[Tigger Woods]

I wish there were a policy to deal with the many park patrons who choose to break wind while standing in line. Smoke dissipates rapidly, but spent methane tends to linger. Yuck ..

 

[ksdave]

People smoke in both parks outside of the designated areas. I've found just as many cases of this at WDW as at UO. I even saw someone light up on the monorail. The only reason they put it out was due to the uproar from the other visitors in the car, not any WDW employee.
I've also seen people smoking while pumping gas, in doctor's offices, in airport bathrooms, etc., etc. Until the laws get harsher, they will smoke anywhere they want.

 

[BarryHom]

This thread got me thinking of something I've heard...

Q: Do you mind if I smoke?

A: Do you mind if I fart?

 

[MiniMissMinnie]

.......Sorry......I'm not an American citizen...but I am a non-smoker!

What I don't understand is....Why can't people smoke as they like....when they're outside?!? Inside I totally understand.( and stading in lines )..I hate it. But I don't think you get cancer just by talking a walk outside with a couple of smokers.....

That's my opinion...

Marie

 

[Tigger Woods]

Very funny, Barry. Perhaps what is needed is a Designated Farting Area. Seriously, smoke, stinky diapers, flatulence and overweight people sweating profusely are all part of the tapestry of smells at a major theme park. The thing I find amusing is that the same people who complain about getting a whiff of a burning cigarette have no problem spending half an hour watching one of the fireworks displays, where the smoke can literally gag you.

 

[kellymonaghan]

Originally posted by Tigger Woods
The thing I find amusing is that the same people who complain about getting a whiff of a burning cigarette have no problem spending a half an hour watching one of the fireworks displays.

Hmm. Maybe if we can get the smokers to blow up then the complaints will stop.

 

[Tigger Woods]

Originally posted by kellymonaghan
Hmm. Maybe if we can get the smokers to blow up then the complaints will stop.

Sounds like a swell title for your next book.

 

[nhrenee]

LOL!

 

[cinamin27]

my issue with smokers in public places (besides the NASTY smell) are the careless ones walking around with lit cigarettes inches from your body or a childs head or hair, I'm always automatically think any closer & this can cause a burn. also the rude ones that dont care about other peoples children that will hold a cigarette in their hand with their arm hanging at their side not realizing that the smoke coming from the cigarette is aiming directly at a kids face because usually an adults arm at their side is the same height of a 3 year old or a kid in a stroller. I had to cuss someone out at a parade (not at a theme park) one year that refused to change the hand of her cigarette that was mostly being just held in her hand because she was running her mouth too much to even bother to remember the cigarette was lit, she walked up to where we were already situated & stood there with the cigarette less then 6 inches from my 1 & 1/2 yr old niece's face who had to breath it all in!

 

[mulchpuppy]

Damo, they have a pretty big box at the top of the park maps stating the smoking policy... I don't think it's a case of people not knowing about it, but if it's not enforced, it's not followed. As far as policies that aren't enforced in the parks, I could care less about the smokers (I'm one of them, and I only smoke in the designated areas (and even then pretty rarely)) - I want someone to walk around making people PUT THEIR SHIRTS BACK ON.

 

[the Dark Marauder]

Originally posted by mulchpuppy
I want someone to walk around making people PUT THEIR SHIRTS BACK ON.

Security does that. Plus all the rides/shows require them.

 

[Tigger Woods]

I had to cuss someone out at a parade (not at a theme park) one year that refused to change the hand of her cigarette .. she stood there with the cigarette less then 6 inches from my 1 & 1/2 yr old niece's face who had to breath it all in

Cussing in the presence of small children isn't such a good idea, either ..

 

[cinamin27]

Cussing in the presence of small children isn't such a good idea, either ..

my child & my niece were the only children in the vacinity, & yes, we cuss in front of them as they know right from wrong & know they are not allowed to use adult language until they are adults. it escalated to cussing after the woman would not speak civilly about the situation. I am a grown adult & realize cussing in front of other people's children is not something to be done and also realize it to be unnecessary to be scolded by someone that was not there to experience what we did.

 

[ksdave]

Personally, I don't mind if some people don't have their shirts on (i.e., the princess from the Sinbad show ).
However, I would never go around any park without a shirt on. Too many of the kids would think that Shamu had been transferred to UO .

 

[Meagansmom]

We did see as many people smoking outside designated areas at both Universal parks and Disney. One thing I did notice at Disney is that they moved some of the areas out front, closer to people walking by. Last year they were out of the way, back behind things. I wondered who came up with this plan. I only really noticed more this year is because I am an ex smoker. Last year I was one of those smokers. But I considered the people around me though.