Smoking Ban

[Patches Lee]

Not sure if this Orlando Sentinel article has been posted. Excerpt below. Not sure what to make of it. I suppose it depends on your definition of punishment (e.g. is forcing to extinguish considered “punishment”?). Also sounds like maybe they’re exploring expedited re-entry.

“Disney is still working through the details of how they will be readmitted, Ettori said.”

So new meaning to walk of shame? lol. I'd almost place bets that there will be complaints somewhere about a faster reentry for smokers vs going into another area outside the park.

 

[halfpintpeggy]

Like drinking alcohol or overeating?

This is stupid, but predictable. Enforce what you have. Probably not taking my mother on a trip now because we aren't going through security half a dozen times a day for a cigarette.

It's gonna go over well with the Asian and European tourists who aren't treated like lepers back home.

So true about the bad habits, haha! We have often felt that the “over eating” at WDW is nothing short of glutinous, gross. And they sure have been pushing the alcohol drinking recently.

 

[NickC]

I don't see this lasting. Again, non-smoker here. But, it seems like it would make things worse. Here is my reasoning: Let's just say that there are 100 people smoking at the parks at all times. They are spread out among the DSAs. Now, they all have to leave the park and find the nearest smoking area. They are not going to go further than need be, so they will stop at the closest one. Now, instead of 10 people smoking 1 cigarette, there will be 100 people smoking several. Because, they are not just going to have one cigarette after walking all the way to the exit. They will stay a while and have a few to make it worth while. So, there will be one huge congested area with 10x the amount of smoke for twice as long. Unless they are totally isolated somehow, people are still going to have to walk through the area. They've essentially moved the 'issue' not eliminated it, and then there will be thousands of extra heads entering security every day.

I think it's better to spread out the smoking, and try to tuck it away within the park as best as possible.

 

[Col.W.Deering]

First off, I'm a smoker. Will this effect my continuing to chose Disney World as a vacation spot? Yes.
I've followed the rules to the letter for years, been relegated to the meager smoking areas, and have been the subject contemptuous glaring by other park guests.

Do I think it's hypocritical of Disney to ban smoking? Yes.
Drunk people from events like the Food and Wine Festival, get into their highly carbon emitting, cancer causing SUV's and go on to injure and kill people on their way home from a night of drinking at the parks.
Will Disney ever ban alcohol? Never, because it makes them money and that is always Disney's bottom line.

 

[halfpintpeggy]

Does overeating or drinking affect others around you?

Ever seen the disgusting drunk behavior that frequently goes on in Epcot? Yeah...vulgar drunks puking on my kids shoes does indeed affect me.

 

[Moliphino]

Ever seen the disgusting drunk behavior that frequently goes on in Epcot? Yeah...vulgar drunks puking on my kids shoes does indeed affect me.

I haven't and I spend a lot of time in Epcot. The only person I've seen vomiting there was a young boy puking in the bushes near the bus stops in the morning, pretty sure he wasn't drunk.

 

[rteetz]

First off, I'm a smoker. Will this effect my continuing to chose Disney World as a vacation spot? Yes.
I've followed the rules to the letter for years, been relegated to the meager smoking areas, and have been the subject contemptuous glaring by other park guests.

Do I think it's hypocritical of Disney to ban smoking? Yes.
Drunk people from events like the Food and Wine Festival, get into their highly carbon emitting, cancer causing SUV's and go on to injure and kill people on their way home from a night of drinking at the parks.
Will Disney ever ban alcohol? Never, because it makes them money and that is always Disney's bottom line.

Then it’s not just Disney being hypocritical. Thousands of businesses, parks, stadiums, etc. ban smoking but don’t ban drinking.

Disney isn’t saying you can’t smoke you just can’t do it inside the physical park. No I don’t smoke and I never would because of the health issues and it’s just flat out gross IMO but I think it’s fair they are still allowing you to smoke just outside the gates.

 

[rteetz]

I haven't and I spend a lot of time in Epcot. The only person I've seen vomiting there was a young boy puking in the bushes near the bus stops in the morning, pretty sure he wasn't drunk.

I will say I’ve only been to Food and Wine once but have been to flower and garden and obviously non-festival Epcot numerous times and have seen a drunk person once in a while but nothing crazy obnoxious. Sure the more frequently you go the more likely it is you see one but I don’t think it’s as big of an issue as some may think.

 

[Moliphino]

I will say I’ve only been to Food and Wine once but have been to flower and garden and obviously non-festival Epcot numerous times and have seen a drunk person once in a while but nothing crazy obnoxious. Sure the more frequently you go the more likely it is you see one but I don’t think it’s as big of an issue as some may think.

I've seen drunk people (and been one on occasion, we have drunk around the world a couple times), but never vomiting or causing a disturbance.

 

[rteetz]

I've seen drunk people (and been one on occasion, we have drunk around the world a couple times), but never vomiting or causing a disturbance.

Oh yeah for sure. Those usually who do get punished by Disney too and end up in the news. Look at the group of soccer players a year or two ago and the guy who attempted to climb the pyramid in Mexico.

 

[WDW1970]

Change is hard especially for certain groups that do not yet see the good in this. While I have never been addicted to nicotine I certainly can understand how it can and will be hard for people to not smoke at Disney. All the arguments being made above were also made when cities/companies started to pass ordinances banning smoking from restaurants, hospitals, stadiums, work ect., heck I still can’t imagine ever being able to smoke on an airplane! . I have seen very little uproar or “making the problem worse” in any of these situations - if anything this has improved the quality of life of many people. Do I see some people not following these laws/rules as they do not think these rules/laws apply to them for some reason - certainly yes, but the vast majority of people have gotten used to the new rules/laws (hopefully understanding how good these rules/laws are) and comply with them. I am hoping the same for the new rules at Disney.

 

[rstevens333]

It's too bad they can't keep one DSA per park, but put it on one of the little islands. Let Tom Sawyer Island be the one smoking area and it would be both more popular AND more accurately themed to the 1800s!

 

[Col.W.Deering]

Then it’s not just Disney being hypocritical. Thousands of businesses, parks, stadiums, etc. ban smoking but don’t ban drinking.

Disney isn’t saying you can’t smoke you just can’t do it inside the physical park. No I don’t smoke and I never would because of the health issues and it’s just flat out gross IMO but I think it’s fair they are still allowing you to smoke just outside the gates.

Yes, it's not just Disney being hypocritical. Stadiums, etc. are also guilty of a double standard, and I make educated choices where to spend my money.

Of course Disney has every right as a private entity to exile any smokers to the parking lot area if they so choose. And I can chose during a 10 hour day at the parks not to walk to the entrance and out into some distant designated smoking area, which will probably have no seating.

Like you, I find some things "flat out gross", but I don't make disparaging comments, or disrespect other adults choices in legal recreational substances.

 

[OSUZorba]

I found it ironic that you walking to Splash was an issue when smokers went to the area they were given. Did I say anything about special accommodation? Nope. Smokers who follow the rules still get complained about.

Having smoking sections in the parks is an accommodation. But I'm sorry you get offended that people complain about your voluntary habit near toddlers, when that habit can cause life long health effects to those toddlers.

To be clear, I'm complaining about several of the DSAs being in areas that have high concentrations of young kids, I'm not complaining about people using the areas they are given. I think banning smoking in the entire park is the proper course of action as there aren't really any truly out of the way areas inside the parks and it is a voluntary habit that has health effects to many other people.

 

[gwynne]

Yes, it's not just Disney being hypocritical. Stadiums, etc. are also guilty of a double standard, and I make my educated choices where to spend my money.

Of course Disney has every right as a private entity to exile any smokers to the parking lot area if they so choose. And I can chose during a 10 hour day at the parks not to walk to the entrance and out into some distant designated smoking area, which will probably have no seating.

Like you, I find some things "flat out gross", but I don't make disparaging comments, or disrespect other adults choices in legal recreational substances.

Yes, Disney makes the rules. Period.
You could email or call guest services and let them know your concern about seating in the new designated smoking areas.

 

[maxiesmom]

Ever seen the disgusting drunk behavior that frequently goes on in Epcot? Yeah...vulgar drunks puking on my kids shoes does indeed affect me.

No. And I hit the food and wine festival pretty much every year.

 

[TheMaxRebo]

Ever seen the disgusting drunk behavior that frequently goes on in Epcot? Yeah...vulgar drunks puking on my kids shoes does indeed affect me.

honestly never seen that - never seen anyone vomit

but if they are causing a disturbance they should be removed from the park

Sometimes Disney is too nice - if they were more firm with removing people that were causing issues due to drinking too much and were more firm with ensuring people who smoked stayed in the smoking areas, I think it would be better for everyone

 

[Tigger's ally]

Like you, I find some things "flat out gross", but I don't make disparaging comments, or disrespect other adults choices in legal recreational substances.

Um, You just did in your last post.

Drunk people from events like the Food and Wine Festival, get into their highly carbon emitting, cancer causing SUV's and go on to injure and kill people on their way home from a night of drinking at the parks.

Assuming just because people like me drink a lot and then do bad things is indeed disparaging. And I won't even go into the "cancer causing SUV" thing.

 

[Tigger's ally]

And I can chose during a 10 hour day at the parks not to walk to the entrance and out into some distant designated smoking area, which will probably have no seating.

If I read this right, then you intend to break the rule?

 

[kaytieeldr]

What do this have to do with this conversation you may ask? Just this...Don't be a bit surprised when butts start littering areas between the parking lots, the trams, the monorail, and the boats.

I would expect each official smoking area would have ashtrays.

No they aren't. But Smoking is against Disney Theme park law

No. Smoking inside the parks will be against Disney policies, effective May 1.I

I have seen it be enforced, I have even seen security remove people from the parks without refund for smoking in nonsmoking areas. I have also seen them revoke admission media, hopefully they will do this more, as you do it enough and people will get the hint that they can't get away with it.

A complete ban is actually easier to enforce than having smoking areas anyway.

For smoking outside a DSA? How would one even know this (is the reason) unless it serves member of one's own party?