Smoking in parks, pools, hallways, in line - yikes!

[Tiger926]

After countless trips to WDW, I must say, that smoking in undesignated areas seemed to improve a bit this trip (we go for 2 weeks minimum each year). That being said, one time is too many in my book! I know this is going to bother some people and has been debated before, but as someone who is very allergic to smoke, with allergies and asthma, as well as a DD3 who is, this is a sensitive subject for us. Here is what we experienced:

1) Spent considerable time scoping out a table at Studio Catering Co./Flatbread Grill @ MGM. Very hot and hungry, so glad we could get a table, but within minutes, the couple next to us lit up! I gave them a dirty look, and commented when my daughter said that she couldn't breathe well, that people weren't following the rules and we would have to move. Imagine us having to move and risk losing a seat (my hubby was in line ordering our food) because people were being selfish. Thankfully we found a table within a few minutes.

2) Got to pool very early and daughter was having a great time playing in Donald's splash pad @ SSR when a couple started vigorously chain smoking at the splash pad where a bunch of kids were playing! Again, we had to leave and our daughter was very upset to say the least! This same couple did this repeatedly over the 2 weeks we were there, so we stopped going to pool during the middle of our trip - totally unfair to our daughter!

3) A rude gentleman blew smoke in my face as I was walking up the stairs at SSR to get to room, with my DD3 sleeping in my arms!

4) People immediately lit up as we were walking to our car - 104 degrees with smoke blowing in our faces on both sides of parking lot, so we didn't have much room to go anywhere else. This happened repeatedly as well.

5) We saw people smoking in undesignated areas in all 4 parks. We saw CMs walk past and totally ignore them by not saying a word - saw people each and everyday during 14 days do this - not a day went by where a smoker or many smokers were lighting up wherever they felt like it!

If I could get one smoker to read my post and realize that he/she is not in this world alone and therefore, his/her smoke may make others sick, then this post was well worth it! Basically, my just turned, very intelligent 3 year old daughter is learning that many adults don't follow the rules and partake in bad habits that make it hard for her to breathe or cause her to stop having fun (like leaving an attraction or pool early) because they are selfish and rude. I do understand that smoking is an addiction, but so is heroin or cocaine, and I don't think too many people would find it acceptable to see someone shooting up in front of Splash Moutain or smoking Crack Cocaine while waiting to board Test Track!

I do also understand that it's not against the rules to smoke in the parking lots or at pools, but honestly, it should be as most people we encountered proved that they couldn't do so in any responsible manners at all.

So, I beg of all smokers to please only smoke in designated park areas, or in your smoking room - not at pool, in parking lots blowing in people's faces, in lines waiting to input ticket, etc.

Tiger

 

[Ready to go in Ok]

 

[Laurajean1014]

There's a no smoking policy at WDW.

 

[Tiger926]

Any policy is only as good as the people who enforce it, so WDW has a ways to go to make sure that this policy is enforced each and everyday as we saw countless CMs, executives and security people either miss smokers, or blatantly ignore them. Not sure what to make of it since we've seen the same thing happening for years now - it's almost as some CMs have given up trying to deal with this issue.

Tiger

 

[eclectics]

Would have been nice if you acknowleged the many, many, WDW guests who do obey the rules. Not all smokers are rude and disobey the rules. I'm an ex smoker who never smoked where I shouldn't have.

 

[Froggyswife]

I am a smoker (unfortunately). When froggy and I go somewhere we always smoke in the assigned areas. We try to be as considerate as we can with our addiction. I'm sorry you were exposed to inconsiderate people on your trip just know we aren't all that way.

The only time I lost my cool there about my smoking was when non-smokers came to a designated smoking area and complained loudly about our smoking. I was as nice as I could be by directing their attention to the sign signifying that it was a smoking area. They told me I needed to leave! I kinda lost it then.

Again I am sorry you had to meet ones who were inconsiderate.

 

[ducklite]

I do wish that they would better enforce their own policies in the parks, as well as having all balconies, exterior corridors and entryways in non-smoking buildings be also non-smoking. It really kind of defeats the purpose otherwise.

I don't think most smokers realize how dangerous smoke can be to those with respiratory problems, not to mention how disgusting the smoke and butts are to non-smokers. And I think a measurable percentage just don't care.

Anne

 

[tiggersmom2]

I guess I lucked up. I just returned from WDW today and I must say it was the most crowded I have seen it in YEARS.....but......I never noticed any smokers lighting up in non-designated areas.

All I noticed was that WDW was DISGUSTINGLY crowded! I think I will plan my next trip during school.

 

[Tiger926]

eclectics - I did acknowledge these people as I said it seemed as it improved slightly over past trips in regards to the amount of people smoking in undesignated areas (not as high as in past, but still a considerable problem).

Tiger

 

[Froggyswife]

I guess I lucked up. I just returned from WDW today and I must say it was the most crowded I have seen it in YEARS.....but......I never noticed any smokers lighting up in non-designated areas.

All I noticed was that WDW was DISGUSTINGLY crowded! I think I will plan my next trip during school.

We went on the week of the 4th of July yeah it is very crowded during this time of year. The year we went 2003, before froggy's accident, there were 7 million people in the majic kingdom alone. I got the info from park employees. I was like Wow!

Sorry off topic I know.

 

[C.Darwin]

So, I beg of all smokers to please only smoke in designated park areas, or in your smoking room - not at pool, in parking lots blowing in people's faces, in lines waiting to input ticket, etc.

i don't think those area are non-smoking, though. and if you missed out on a whole week at the pool because of people smoking, then that's your own fault. did you explain to them that your daughter had breathing problems? most people would gladly put their cigarettes out if you ask nicely.

 

[lyzziesmom]

And I think a measurable percentage just don't care.

You've hit it right on the nose there. We were at WDW with my ex and his folks, X and his mom are smokers. Many many times he would light up, and on fewer occasions she would too, in obviously nonsmoking areas. I had my DD7 and DD2 with us. At one point he even lit up while carrying my DD2! I repeatedly asked them both not to do this, for the sake of my own kids and other people, and mentioned that it's gross, and they basically rolled their eyes at me & told ME to get over it. He says the designated areas are segregation and impinging on his rights. So whenever they do that, I just walk away without looking back. I am an ex-smoker myself, and I NEVER would be so disrepectful to others. Not to mention the safety factor. I have been burned countless times by careless smokers walking with a lit cigarette at their side, which also happens to be right at kid-level. In fact, X's mom burned my DD7 on the neck at her 2nd birthday party, in my nonsmoking house. So yes, it is because they simply DON'T CARE. Nothing that anyone, especially a stranger, can say or do is going to make them care.

Ok rant over. I also want to clarify that not ALL smokers have this attitude. I am referring to the ones who light up anyoldwhere they choose with no regard to others around them, even after being asked nicely to move elsewhere.

 

[Tiger926]

No, I didn't explain that at all as it's not my place to do so since these areas are not non-smoking. I guess my thing is that as adults, you should know that chain smoking in the child area isn't really a good thing to do. We don't like confrontations at all, so we would never go up to people, as it's easier to just move away. So sure we made the choice to forgo the pool, but we were forced to do so because people were puffing away in very crowded pool areas full of children! There was even someone with an oxygen tank, but I saw her take a look, and immediately leave the area - again, she nor I should have had to do that if people used a bit more sense when partaking in their disgusting habits in the presence of others.

Just to clarify as well - I absolutely don't assume that all smokers are this way, as I'm only talking about the ones that we saw over the past 2 weeks who lit up in undesignated areas.

Tiger

 

[dferr]

As a person who has been an ex smoker and unfortunately a smoker again. I think that if you applied some of the understanding you expect people to have with you & yours to a smoker who I must say most of us are not happy about our addictions you would be better off. I know is it an ugly disgusting unhealthy habit. If I was smoking in an area that was not designated no smoking and someone asked me to smoke somewhere else because it was offensive to them, I would not have a problem smoking somewhere else. I would have to say that most smokers I know are not offended by being asked to be considerate as long as it is done considerately. All you have to do is ask politely. That being said I didn't think that any of the pool area's even the child area's were so small that 2 people chain smoking would discourage you from the pool. I am sorry that it did.

 

[escape]

I am a smoker (unfortunately). When froggy and I go somewhere we always smoke in the assigned areas. We try to be as considerate as we can with our addiction. I'm sorry you were exposed to inconsiderate people on your trip just know we aren't all that way.

The only time I lost my cool there about my smoking was when non-smokers came to a designated smoking area and complained loudly about our smoking. I was as nice as I could be by directing their attention to the sign signifying that it was a smoking area. They told me I needed to leave! I kinda lost it then.

Again I am sorry you had to meet ones who were inconsiderate.

FW - I just wanted to let you know that I really appreciate people like you who are courteous and thoughtful of others and I know there are many, many other smokers who are this way as well. It's those few that aren't courteous that tend to give others a bad rep and that's really a shame!

 

[BuckNaked]

The problem as I see it as that you don't want people smoking in non-smoking areas (perfectly reasonable) and you also don't want them smoking in areas that are not designated non-smoking (pool, parking lot, etc).

I smoke, and when in the parks, I only light up in smoking areas. When in the pool areas, I try to move away from other people. However, if smoking is permitted in the pool area, that isn't the problem of the smokers, that is the problem of the hotel, and I don't think it's reasonable to expect them to not smoke when WDW has basically told them they can.

 

[english rose 47]

Where can you smoke at the resorts? I have requested a smoking room and would assume I can smoke outside it too. Are the pool areas at resorts non smoking or are there areas. Do I ever smoke in restricted areas yes but not in front or in the middle of people . I'll find a little tucked away place that usually has butts around to sneak one. I've seen people on oxygen light up and though I know it is not as dangerous as most think it makes me nervous and I would not and don't around oxygen

 

[Aidensmom]

I have asthma also, and cigarrette smoke is something that triggers my attacks.

However, I realize that the pool, parking lots, etc are places where people are allowed to smoke. I just try my best to avoid where smokers are sitting. It is their right to smoke there, and what probably really needs to be done is to have a non-smoking area designated at the pools (as preferably in the area of the kid's areas).

The people that walk around the parks smoking though, outside of the designated areas, are not just rude but breaking the rules, and I don't hesitate to say something about it (if my son doesn't beat me to it). I don't think some people really realize how they are affecting some other people. It is not just that I don't "like" the smoke, it is that I cannot breathe, and one unexpected inhalation of the smoke can ruin my whole day. I do always carry my inhaler with me, because it is inevitible that there will be someone carrying their cigarrette around the park. If there is a nearby CM, I will be a "witch" and complain. If not, I will just tell the smoker myself, though all that usually gets is dirty looks.

 

[ckret01]

Do you ever walk into a mall, restaurant or parking lot in your home town and people are smoking outside on the side walk , getting into their car or whatever.....does that bother you ?

I'm saying that nicely and not in a nasty way

 

[Planogirl]

You're going to run into rude people everywhere and that's just a fact of life. MOST smokers aren't rude though and the few that are just have to be dealt with just like anyone else who is rude in some manner.

Just this evening some dingbat came trotting into a local convenience store carrying her dog and then filled up a drink cup while still holding her dog. Dogs are NOT allowed in such stores but the clerks just like so many CM's just ignore her. She could have also triggered an allergic reaction in someone by blatantly disregarding the rules.

I only bring that up to illustrate that rude people are just going to be rude and we just have to deal with them as best as we can IMO.