Smoking in the Parks

[Cinderella37]

I am not a smoker, but my fiance is. Even before WDW made designated smoking areas, he would stop in a secluded place and smoke a cigarette, putting the cigarette out and throwing it in the trash can (after making sure it was completely out). We did see quite a few guests smoking as they walked through the parks this past trip (December) and got a little irritated. My fiance and I memorized the smoking places after being there so many times, but also pick up maps. He makes the effort and others should too when it comes to safety.

 

[lindamg]

Thank you Gail! So many times I read on threads like this that smokers cup their cigarettes in their hand to "hide" that they are smoking. For many smokers this is so far from the truth. My husband is like you, he is accutely aware of the height of his cigarette and if he is around other people, even me, he cups his cigarette, He would rather burn his own hand, before he would burn anyone else.

Thanks!
Linda

 

[wendy_uk]

i would just like to mention that here in the uk, with the exception of food areas) the are no smoking restictions at all in any of our theme parks, and tho i'm not exactly anti-smoking it ain't nice to have to stand in line for rides with the kids, so i really do appreciate the consideration shown over there

 

[SnowWitch]

Originally posted by TreeOfLife
Oh my gawd, I was not alone!

It was so annoying I ended up giving dirty looks and making comments about the stench around me on purpose. It was disgusting to walk around and have so many peoplke puffing on us.

Maybe they're starting to give up on them because I noticed the same problem at Universal! Most smokers were just not respecting the restrictions.

I wasn't aware universal had any restricitons. Even in the resorts on the club level they have ash trays outside the elevators.

As far as Disney is concerned there are always those that are unaware of smoking areas. Someone mentioned they announce it on the monorail, in Spanish and English, NOT in Japanese, which is a country that has few restrictions on smoking and a large population that smokes.

That said there are those who have entitlement issues. I smoke but not in my own home so obviously I obey smoking rstrictions. I don't want it around my kids so I'm not going to do it around yours.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by SnowWitch
I wasn't aware universal had any restricitons. Even in the resorts on the club level they have ash trays outside the elevators.

As far as Disney is concerned there are always those that are unaware of smoking areas. Someone mentioned they announce it on the monorail, in Spanish and English, NOT in Japanese, which is a country that has few restrictions on smoking and a large population that smokes.

That said there are those who have entitlement issues. I smoke but not in my own home so obviously I obey smoking rstrictions. I don't want it around my kids so I'm not going to do it around yours.

Yes, Universal has restrictions. We are talking about the parks, not the hotels.

 

[Terry S]

One day while walking through Epcot there was a gentleman walking next to us smoking. Both my childern have asthma problems so they of course said something about the smoke. Since I was next to him as we were walking, I just nicely said "are you aware there are designated smoking areas in WDW?". He sounded pretty genuine when he said "no, it was his first day here and he was beginning to suspect something when he couldn't find the ashtrays on the garbage cans and he didn't see anyone else smoking.". He then thanked me and put out his cigarette.

 

[eeyore0062]

They specifically state on all of the forms of transportation in WDW, be it bus, boat, monorail or tram that the parks are, in essence, non smoking for the comfort of all of the guests, but there are smoking areas provided. There are also very visable signs when entering the parks, and on the free maps that can be obtained not only at the entrances of the parks, and in the resorts, but at almost any merchadise area within in each park.

Having been over at American Adventure, I noticed one CM (worked in the Candlelight kiosk) who made it her business to redirect smokers to the smoking areas. She was very polite, prefacing her statements with "I am not sure if you are aware, but....." Never once was she met with any problems, and was thanked profusely by those who were not smoking, ( I know I thanked her profusely) as well as the other castmember's in the kiosk who were not as proactive. I think that it really depends on how comfortable a castmember is with redirection and the possibility of confrontation.

 

[MzEeyore]

and so is at least half of my traveling party but we always find a designated smoking place. We have them all pretty much memorized by now. We try to be considerate when we are smoking as I know that others don't like it. My husband doesn't smoke so I am always aware of where I do and don't smoke. The very first trip that we took to Disney World was in Dec. 2001 when my little girl was 5 years old and before we even got there, I made sure I knew where the smoking areas were because I don't smoke around my own child--I'm not going to smoke around anyone else's child. Once we were there, they weren't hard to find at all. But when we got to the Animal Kingdom, we noticed that a lot of people were smoking where ever they wanted. In fact we had a really nasty accident happen right out side of the Dinosaur ride (where there happens to be a smoking area right across from the ride). My daughter was in her stroller in the stroller parking area waiting for me to get something out of it before going on the ride and this man starts to park his stroller-no kids in it--right next to ours, when my daughter starts screaming. Of course when I get her out of the stroller, I can't see anything on her but she is holding her left eye. When I took her hand away I could tell that she had been burned--right on the corner of her eye on the eye lid. The man looked at me and said very softly "sorry" and took off. Needless to say, the majority of the day was ruined because she was in pain and upset. While we were there, we had it looked at and was given an ointment to put on it to take the burn out but it didn't save her from a scar. She still to this day has a small scar above her eye.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by MzEeyore
and so is at least half of my traveling party but we always find a designated smoking place. We have them all pretty much memorized by now. We try to be considerate when we are smoking as I know that others don't like it. My husband doesn't smoke so I am always aware of where I do and don't smoke. The very first trip that we took to Disney World was in Dec. 2001 when my little girl was 5 years old and before we even got there, I made sure I knew where the smoking areas were because I don't smoke around my own child--I'm not going to smoke around anyone else's child. Once we were there, they weren't hard to find at all. But when we got to the Animal Kingdom, we noticed that a lot of people were smoking where ever they wanted. In fact we had a really nasty accident happen right out side of the Dinosaur ride (where there happens to be a smoking area right across from the ride). My daughter was in her stroller in the stroller parking area waiting for me to get something out of it before going on the ride and this man starts to park his stroller-no kids in it--right next to ours, when my daughter starts screaming. Of course when I get her out of the stroller, I can't see anything on her but she is holding her left eye. When I took her hand away I could tell that she had been burned--right on the corner of her eye on the eye lid. The man looked at me and said very softly "sorry" and took off. Needless to say, the majority of the day was ruined because she was in pain and upset. While we were there, we had it looked at and was given an ointment to put on it to take the burn out but it didn't save her from a scar. She still to this day has a small scar above her eye.

Oh, Wow, that is awful, the poor kid!!!! I am so sorry that happened to her.

 

[4mickeyfans]

I know this thread was started to discuss something serious, but I couldn't help but chuckle remembering one of the funniest moments from our last trip in June...

While I try to maintain a "to each his own" philosophy, I am a non-smoker and don't want the stuff anywhere near me or my kids! Of course I know tons of people who follow all the rules of etiquette when it comes to lighting up, and for that I say, Thank you!

However, on this particular day, when my Disney glory was at its peak, I wanted nothing to spoil my utopian experience, so I was out to police anyone looking to tarnish this image of perfection

DH and DD were enjoying a ride on Thunder Mountain and not being the roller coaster type, I took DS in his stroller to enjoy $10 worth of McD's fries and a Coke.

The weather was beautiful, the kind where birds sing, and we decided to sit on the nearest bench.

Soon, a smoker arrived, and then another, and then a third! I was flaming, no pun intended! Why were they flocking to me and ruining this perfect moment?!?!

So I began the sarcasm...you know, when you "talk" to your child so that others will get the point because certainly the child doesn't understand! "Isn't it unbelievable how some people want to ruin this fresh air and take us down with them...oh dear, you're coughing again, I wish you didn't have to bear all this smoke!"'...oh, the comments continued, and the more they ignored me, the worse I got!

I moved from bench to bench because winning the argument wasn't worth my son breathing in all that smoke...and still, they followed me! I didn't want to leave the area because that's where DD and DH were meeting us...and besides, it was much more fun being in the "right"...and that's when DD and DH showed up.

Then I got REALLY loud (figured I had backup now!) and told DH the whole story of how some people are so inconsiderate when finally, he spoke up and said..." You DO realize that you're in a SMOKING section?!?!?"...and sure enough, there was the sign, over my head on each and every bench upon which I'd plopped in my arrogance!

So...if any of you smokers were in your designated position on that beautiful late June day, to you I humbly apologize!

While I'd love nothing better than to have a WDW that is entirely smoke-free, I must say that as long as it is allowed, we're all going to have to be on the lookout...for falling ashes, lit butts, and more. We should also remember courtesy when asking smokers to stick to the designated areas...or in my case, learn to read!!!

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by 4mickeyfans
I know this thread was started to discuss something serious, but I couldn't help but chuckle remembering one of the funniest moments from our last trip in June...

While I try to maintain a "to each his own" philosophy, I am a non-smoker and don't want the stuff anywhere near me or my kids! Of course I know tons of people who follow all the rules of etiquette when it comes to lighting up, and for that I say, Thank you!

However, on this particular day, when my Disney glory was at its peak, I wanted nothing to spoil my utopian experience, so I was out to police anyone looking to tarnish this image of perfection

DH and DD were enjoying a ride on Thunder Mountain and not being the roller coaster type, I took DS in his stroller to enjoy $10 worth of McD's fries and a Coke.

The weather was beautiful, the kind where birds sing, and we decided to sit on the nearest bench.

Soon, a smoker arrived, and then another, and then a third! I was flaming, no pun intended! Why were they flocking to me and ruining this perfect moment?!?!

So I began the sarcasm...you know, when you "talk" to your child so that others will get the point because certainly the child doesn't understand! "Isn't it unbelievable how some people want to ruin this fresh air and take us down with them...oh dear, you're coughing again, I wish you didn't have to bear all this smoke!"'...oh, the comments continued, and the more they ignored me, the worse I got!

I moved from bench to bench because winning the argument wasn't worth my son breathing in all that smoke...and still, they followed me! I didn't want to leave the area because that's where DD and DH were meeting us...and besides, it was much more fun being in the "right"...and that's when DD and DH showed up.

Then I got REALLY loud (figured I had backup now!) and told DH the whole story of how some people are so inconsiderate when finally, he spoke up and said..." You DO realize that you're in a SMOKING section?!?!?"...and sure enough, there was the sign, over my head on each and every bench upon which I'd plopped in my arrogance!

So...if any of you smokers were in your designated position on that beautiful late June day, to you I humbly apologize!

While I'd love nothing better than to have a WDW that is entirely smoke-free, I must say that as long as it is allowed, we're all going to have to be on the lookout...for falling ashes, lit butts, and more. We should also remember courtesy when asking smokers to stick to the designated areas...or in my case, learn to read!!!

ROTFLMAO, that was good, thanks for the comic relief. I cannot believe that someone did not inform you, or point to a sign, that you were in a smoking area. While I am sure you would love a smoke free WDW, as many others would too, realize that many people would not experience the magic if that were the case.
When you said all, you were correct, we all have to watch out for inconsiderate people. People who spit their gum out on the walkway are a pain, people who litter are a pain, people who shout at their kids are obnoxious, children who scream endlessly are tiresome. No matter who you are, no matter what you want, there will be someone somewhere with a habit people find objectionable.

 

[SnowWitch]

Gail you left out perfumes!!!! Overwhelming, migraine inducing perfumes. Oh and mean stroller mamas who think a stroller is a battering ram.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Ah, yes, perfumes, my personal favorite, eau de roade kill. Yes, instant migraines for me with some perfumes, especially on a plane where there is NO escape. And, strollers, yep, you got it.

 

[4mickeyfans]

Don't smoke, don't wear perfume, - ironically, for the same reasons!! ...and I don't use my stroller to ram people...oh, but I am bad about this...I brake for anything - gift shops, characters, beer!!! I know it drives the people behind me wild and DH has started to insist on our trips that he be the only driver of the stroller...hey, maybe that isn't such a bad thing!

One of my biggest pet peeves, even more so than smoking up MY precious park, is the complainers that seem to think EVERYONE wants to hear and agree how crowded/hot/expensive/materialistic WDW is!

No kidding...we know that...and WE LOVE IT ANYWAY!!!

Please don't rain on my parade...I have saved (not really...charged is more like it!) for this vacation and my children think it's paradise - I think it's even better...DH loves it and is even willing to part with his hard earned $...$10 for fries and not bat an eye!

So please stop complaining that "with all the money they're making, you'd think..." go to Universal

I also am not fond of the "newbie-commandos" - my own personal term derived on the last trip...unless someone here claims it first! I must admit that being the type A+/OCD person that I am, I enter the parks with computerized itineraries you would die for...seriously, I go through 2 cartridges of ink to print it up because next to every attraction or event I list, I have the corresponding clipart/character found online!!! It really is cute and it embarrasses DH when I take it out so it's even better

I have always been the "guide" and "timekeeper" on our numerous trips but over time, now that we've been so much, our approach is much more relaxed. My point is, I have a true appreciation for Commando-style...been there, done that, and done it well

That being said, this new crop of "Newbie Commandos" who've never been, and insist on doing EVERYTHING while literally dragging their poor children by the ear to catch one more attraction...well, it's really fun to watch but I do feel for the children.

Last trip, we were going on Peter Pan for the 3rd time that day (that's my new philosophy..if the kids love one thing, do it over and over!!) and got in line (we walked slowly, I might add) behind a family of 4 - dad in charge - the kids were crying, mom was pouting and Dad said, and I quote, "If we can get through this ride in 4 minutes, we can run to Big Thunder Mountain Railroad and if we get through that in 5 minutes, we can run to the Pooh thing"

Well, of course all of you realize the problem with that itinerary, knowing Magic Kingdom like you do, but the real irony was that "the Pooh thing" was closed for refurbishment at the time!!!

I couldn't stand it any longer so I intervened with my 2 cents about locations, adding that "geting through rides in 4 minutes" was not likely unless you walk right on, but stopping short of pointing out his crying son who was now sitting on the ground next to pouting Mom.

Maybe I shouldn't have stopped short because all through the Peter Pan ride, he held up his map (the one that would have told him Pooh was closed!) and planned their next stops...

DH made me promise to stop being so "helpful"...think he used a different word! I just can't help it..the really sad thing is that this is the family that will go home and talk about how miserable WDW is!!!

 

[mitros]

We non smokers and those with severe allergies thank all of you smokers that are as considerate as you are. My poor DW is one with the smoke problem, and she also appreciates it when the kind and considerate smokers use the designated areas. We also know where all of them are, and are able to stay clear. Thanks again!

 

[gometros]

We were in the world on the 22nd and for the first time, I saw a CM point a smoker to the smoking section. So, it may just be that there are more smokers than CMs able to patrol the crowd.

 

[Maridw]

We were there over Thanksgiving weekend and I saw a few people smoking outside of smoking areas and mentioned it to my DH. He didn't know that there were designated smoking areas. I said that yes there were now smoking areas, but that they were marked. Some are out of the way, others aren't so far out of the way.

We had been in the past when both my best friend & I were smoking (I have since quit) and there weren't any smoking areas. We had two youngsters with us, 11 & 4, so we were mindful of where our cigarettes were. If she was smoking, I was on the side nearest her cig, and vice versa. This way we were limiting the possibility of anyone walking into it. If we weren't walking, then we would sit away from others so as not to bother them. When I was smoking I didn't smoke in my house or car.

Some one smoking doesn't bother me, we would request either smoking or non-smoking at restaurants (usually saying "which ever opens up first").

Even now someone who doesn't know I smoked will move away, but I tell them not to worry, that it doesn't bother me.

Also I understand about perfumes. My co-worker has severe asthma and heavy perfume closes her up completely. We have made our office perfume/after shave free. But then we only have 6 workers in our office so it is easy to do.

 

[disney_girl27]

I absolutely detest smoking!! I really don't care if people want to go ahead and ruin their own lives with it, but why do they have to go and ruin it for everyone else?! It doesn't cost them anything to pick up a park map and go smoke in what i like to call "the WDW Smoker's Association clubs". My 25 yr old sister smokes and i've been trying to get her to quit but it hasn't been working. When we were at wdw last jan. she wold smoke at the designated areas, but when the rest of my family went on Alien Encounter and she stayed...we got out and I saw her smoking around where little kids and other adults clearly did not want her there. I marched straight over to her and started asking her why she wasn't in the designated area...she simply said "well nobody's complaining" oooo I COULD HAVE JUST SLAPPED HER RIGHT THEN AND THERE btu I didn't. That night I threw away all of her cigarrettes..i know this was mean of me but she's so inconsiderate of ppl...while we're at home she smokes all around inside the house even though we tell her to stop. And since they don't sell cigarrettes @wdw she couldn't do anything about it. Afterwards we saw a man taht was smoking inside a restaurant at AK and we aw taht everybody around was really disguted and was giving him dirty looks...my sister then realized that even though nobody said anything they we're clearly not enjoying the smoke..so now whenever we go to wdw she doesn't light and she's cut back on the smoking at home..

 

[Cinderella37]

I know this post is about smoking, but I have to comment on 4mickeyfans' post. I get very annoyed also when people complain about WDW endlessly too. There are many vacation spots in this world, many cheaper than WDW. Go there. Don't waste a vacation complaining about everything from the price of the fries to the amount of profit that the park is making (which some feel should result in lower ticket prices). Yes, it is expensive. But enjoy your expensive vacation rather than compaining about it the whole time. Plus, go to Manhattan and order breakfast somewhere like the Plaza. You pay at least $35 a person for eggs. WDW doesn't have the patent on expensive food and entertainment aimed at tourists.