Smoking Policy Ever Enforced?

[inkkognito]

There's not a lot of "bad" that I can say about USF/IOA, especially when compared to Disney, but I do notice one thing: MANY MANY more people totally ignoring the smoking policy. I don't know whether the Disney CMs enforce it more or people just obey it more for whatever reason, but it's rare for me to see someone smoking outside of the designated areas at WDW. In contrast, at USF/IOA I didn't even realize that there WERE desginated areas because I always saw people smoking everywhere...finally one day I noticed the policy on a park map. They were even smoking in the Hulk line last time we visited, right near the TM doing the second express pass check.

So do they ever enforce the policy or is it pretty much universally ignored (pun intended)? I am very picky about smoke due to allergies and very spoiled by the restrictive FL indoor smoking policies, so I tend to notice it a mile away.

 

[NotAmused]

I've actually seen the smoking policy enforced many times. There will always be people who ignore it, but what can ya do I know it is especially annoying when someone smokes in line and you are right behind the person so it blows right into your face...I hate that I guess it just depends on the TMs at that moment. Since it IS park policy, the TMs should always enforce it, but I'm sure there are times when they don't notice someone smoking and maybe they are tired of getting yelled at when they tell people they can't smoke.


But yes, I have seen the policy enforced many, many times so it had only been an issue with us once or twice. You can always "tattle" if you see someone smoking around you and there is a TM to point it out to nearby. I'm sure the TM will ask the person to stop.

 

[inkkognito]

Even if there isn't a TM around, I am not adverse to telling them straight out to stop myself (on Hulk, I got away from it quickly by breaking off into the Express line or I would have most definitely spoken up). Thus it's not a problem for me in line or if I happen to be sitting around somewhere. The times it really bothers me are when I am walking through the parks because it's not practical to say something to the person or "*******" I especially love it when they are walking two or three people ahead of me and the lovely aroma of their addiction is blowing back onto me in a cloud...ugh!

 

[tlinus]

I smoke. I ONLY smoke in designated areas....but I have to laugh at the non smoking people who walk into the area and complain about the smokers I usually catch someone's eye and point to the ashtrays and sign!!

I didn't post this with the intent to flame/get flamed, just my personal observation!!

 

[inkkognito]

tlinus, even tho' I am a semi-militant non-smoker, I feel your pain! I have no problem with people smoking in designated areas, but I have seen other non-smokers sigh loudly, shoot 'em the evil eye, etc. Uh, if you don't like it, why are you going by the smoking area?

 

[macraven]

the last two octobers the tm's have been nailing people for smoking outside of the designated areas.

and they weren't nice about it. it wasn't a "would you please put that out or go to a designated area"....it was hey you, put that out now.!

so i did

 

[Dagny]

so i did

 

[Metallicat]

Wish they would enforce the no smoking policy during halloween horror nights. cough cough.

 

[macraven]

Wish they would enforce the no smoking policy during halloween horror nights. cough cough.

they did last year.
i switched to nicorette gum for the event.

i went the second weekend and they nailed everyone
but i had my gum so i was smoke free.

i've started the gum and now i don't miss the smokes.
but i am totally addicted to the gum.

 

[KStarfish82]

I'm glad to hear that some employees are actually saying things to these people who are outside of their areas. Being a health teacher, this especially annoys me about how people can be so inconsiderate. I know many people have allergies, and many have asthma, including myself.

One time, when we were walking through Jurassic Park at night, a woman was swinging her cigarette at her waist. She came within one inch of hitting a little girl! The parent went ballistic! I don't blame them.

Not trying to make those smokers out there feel bad, but be considerate park people!

And QUIT NOW!

 

[Amity 3]

if I'm there solo, I'll get a few parks maps and walk up to people smoking outside the designated areas. I'll hand them a map and tell them to use it to find the smoking areas. it's better when you do it in front of their kids.

I've heard quite a few 'eff you's' when I walk away.

 

[Metallicat]

they did last year.
i switched to nicorette gum for the event.

i went the second weekend and they nailed everyone
but i had my gum so i was smoke free.

i've started the gum and now i don't miss the smokes.
but i am totally addicted to the gum.

they enforced it last year? wow, I must have went when Barney Fife had the night off.

forget the gum. I hear they have these new nicotine patches that look like tattoos. way cooler than the gum. you can put a patch on your upper arm with the grim reaper on it and look all tough. scares the kids and the old ladies though.

just kidding.. good luck in kicking the habit.

 

[Metallicat]

if I'm there solo, I'll get a few parks maps and walk up to people smoking outside the designated areas. I'll hand them a map and tell them to use it to find the smoking areas. it's better when you do it in front of their kids.

I've heard quite a few 'eff you's' when I walk away.

My DH likes to walk by them and fart in hopes that they will blow themselves up.

 

[PlutoLuvr]

My mom had something crazy happen to her last September.

She's a very heavy smoker (finally got her to start Chantix -- I hope it works!!!), and she misses the days where you could smoke everywhere, even in lines waiting for rides. It's REALLY hard to get her to smoke in the smoking sections of parks, especially when she's waiting for us while we're on rides. She'll just light up anywhere

Last year, her and I were waiting for DH while he rode ROTM. We were drinking at the bar at Finnegan's. She needed a smoke, so the bartender poured our drinks into plastic cups and "held" our seats while we stepped out for a second. There isn't a smoking section all that close to Finnegan's (which there should be, IMO, with all the drinking that goes on there), and we needed to stay close to see if DH came out from the ride.

She found this little out of the way nook right outside of Finnegan's. She said she smokes there all the time . If you come out of Finnegan's and go left, then another immediate left, there's a bunch of like houses with steps along the row. She goes and hides up the steps in this little nook. I stand down on the ground so I can still see DH if he comes out. Honestly, I felt like a teenager with her hiding, and I must have looked like a lookout, LOL. (She's 60 and I'm 35.)

Well, she got busted by a TM. This guy came over and actually thanked her for finding such an out of the way place to smoke, that he wished other USO guests would be so considerate, and then he proceeded to give her about a dozen Express Passes for her "consideration."

WTH?

In her (and USO's defense), the spot she found is soooo much more secluded than any of the official smoking sections in either of the parks. I'm always surprised that the smoking sections are like on the sides of walkways where giant crowds go through.

 

[damo]

My mom had something crazy happen to her last September.

She's a very heavy smoker (finally got her to start Chantix -- I hope it works!!!), and she misses the days where you could smoke everywhere, even in lines waiting for rides. It's REALLY hard to get her to smoke in the smoking sections of parks, especially when she's waiting for us while we're on rides. She'll just light up anywhere

Last year, her and I were waiting for DH while he rode ROTM. We were drinking at the bar at Finnegan's. She needed a smoke, so the bartender poured our drinks into plastic cups and "held" our seats while we stepped out for a second. There isn't a smoking section all that close to Finnegan's (which there should be, IMO, with all the drinking that goes on there), and we needed to stay close to see if DH came out from the ride.

She found this little out of the way nook right outside of Finnegan's. She said she smokes there all the time . If you come out of Finnegan's and go left, then another immediate left, there's a bunch of like houses with steps along the row. She goes and hides up the steps in this little nook. I stand down on the ground so I can still see DH if he comes out. Honestly, I felt like a teenager with her hiding, and I must have looked like a lookout, LOL. (She's 60 and I'm 35.)

Well, she got busted by a TM. This guy came over and actually thanked her for finding such an out of the way place to smoke, that he wished other USO guests would be so considerate, and then he proceeded to give her about a dozen Express Passes for her "consideration."

WTH?

In her (and USO's defense), the spot she found is soooo much more secluded than any of the official smoking sections in either of the parks. I'm always surprised that the smoking sections are like on the sides of walkways where giant crowds go through.

I guess if the smokers would hide and smoke there wouldn't be a problem. I can see why they have to keep the smoking section obvious though, obviously. Sounds like there is enough problem even with the smoking sections in plain view.

 

[Motherfletcher]

I quit smoking 5 years ago and second hand smoke doesn't bother me. When I smoked I couldn't make it through a movie without having to leave and have a smoke. I feel the pain of those waiting in the hour plus lines at HHN especially after a few drinks (had to quit that too).