Smoking Question for AKL

[eclectics]

Hi. Planning a Sept. AKL trip. I recently was able to finally quit smoking cigarettes after 30 years (hurrah!). In order to accomplish that, I had switched to smoking a pipe for awhile as I quit the cigarettes. I've finally got the pipe down to a little smoke with my morning coffee and before turning in at night. I know it's stupid and not beneficial at all (no inhaling allowed!), but it does make me less cranky! Hopefully soon I can toss out the pipe too. I booked a non-smoking room because I assumed the resort would be like POFQ where you could smoke outdoors just about everywhere in the public areas (I always tucked myself away from the crowd however, because I realize it really annoys some people). From reading posts, I get the impression that there is only one smoking area at AKL and that is near the bus stop and you have to stand? Is that correct? I enjoyed sitting on a POFQ bench with my coffee and smoke and would like to do the same at AKL with my twice daily pipe "sessions". If not, maybe I should book a smoking room? Anyone know where the smoking rooms are at AKL (savannah view) and how far away from the beaten path they are? I am aware of the balcony rule. Thanks!

 

[dmslush]

Congrats on kicking the ciggys! I quit 3 years ago, and have never regretted it!

But, when I went to AKL in 2001, I was still a smoker. I booked a smoking room and it was at the very end of the Zebra trail.. I mean at the VERY end. As for designated smoking areas, here is the Map of the resort and I am not seeing anything that is designated as a smoking area.

 

[shellybaxter]

My sister is a smoker and the rest of our group was not, so we booked non-smoking. It is not easy to get outside at the AKL. You will need to either go out the front of the hotel and to the left where there is an ashtray and a bench or to the pool area. Somewhere near the pool (not sure where since my sister always went out front) is an area with an ashtray. The other "outside" places I can think of all overlook the savannah and smoking is not allowed on the savannah (at least that's how I understand it)

Shelly

 

[Nik's Mom]

I am not a smoker, but I did see the smoking area. It's going toward the bus stops, but I did see people sitting on benches as they smoked. I actually think it's a terrible place for a smoking section, because we had to pass right by it when we came from the bus stops every day.
Congrats and good luck to you on stopping! You will love AKL!

 

[golfgal]

I am not a smoker, but I did see the smoking area. It's going toward the bus stops, but I did see people sitting on benches as they smoked. I actually think it's a terrible place for a smoking section, because we had to pass right by it when we came from the bus stops every day.
Congrats and good luck to you on stopping! You will love AKL!

We thought the same thing. They should put the smoking area on the other side of the valet stand where no one walks. We saw people smoking on their balcony in a no smoking room. They were gone the next day so I don't know if they were only staying one night or if they got kicked out. The smoke was wafting up to our balconcy. I thought that smoking wasn't allowed on the balcony even in a smoking room.

 

[DVCconvert]

I get the impression that there is only one smoking area at AKL and that is near the bus stop and you have to stand? Is that correct?

The area I think you're speaking about is just outside the main enterance and rounding the corner towards the giftshop door which opens to the sidewalk coming from and going to the bus stop. There are benches there. The bus stop itself also has ash recepiticles. Also, and the 1st floor, just as you walk out the door towards the pool and/or the Mara, and just outside from Jiko's & Boma's there is an area without any seating.

HTH, and Best Wishes towards you goal!

 

[ralfrick]

I am not a smoker, but I did see the smoking area. It's going toward the bus stops, but I did see people sitting on benches as they smoked. I actually think it's a terrible place for a smoking section, because we had to pass right by it when we came from the bus stops every day.

Yes, heaven forbid that anything would distract from breathing in those pristine exhaust fumes from the busses.

Cheers.

 

[Nik's Mom]

Yes, heaven forbid that anything would distract from breathing in those pristine exhaust fumes from the busses.

Cheers.

The buses park quite a bit away from the smoking section. I never smelled exhaust while walking past the smoking section. Just the disgusting smoke smell that killed my father only weels before (he died of lung cancer after smoking for 50 years).

 

[shellybaxter]

The buses park quite a bit away from the smoking section. I never smelled exhaust while walking past the smoking section. Just the disgusting smoke smell that killed my father only weels before (he died of lung cancer after smoking for 50 years).

I'm sorry about your father. I'm not fond of the smoke smell either. A little tip we used when my sister wasn't with us (and therefore we didn't need to stop by the smoking area and pick her up) was to cut through the gift shop on the way to the bus stops. We avoided the smoke smell that way. I do think that Disney needs to have designated smoking areas that are not in the bus stops. I was surprised to see ashtrays in the bus stop waiting areas themselves. I wonder what the thought was on that?

 

[DVCconvert]

Just the disgusting smoke smell that killed my father only weels before (he died of lung cancer after smoking for 50 years)

My father also died as a result of years of smoking. Yet I recognize he was smart enough to know the risks, and make a personal choice. I am sorry for your loss, as I am about my own. But I wonder at what point does/will society as a whole decide to tolerate or condem personal choices...Are those who are now overweight be the next societal targets? Perhaps those who don't wear hats in sunlight? These things are all (mostly) personal choices. We as a society need to decide how much, or how little we as individuals are permitted to chart our own course in life don't we?

 

[Nik's Mom]

You are absolutely right, DVCconvert. Everyone should have a right to make a choice whether or not to smoke. I choose not to be around smokers because it is dangerous for my son, who has asthma. While in the theme parks, I stay away from the designated smoking areas. But due to the location of the smoking area at AKL, we passed through that smoking section every day.
I totally agree that there should be a smoking section. While Dad was alive and still smoking, he had is own little smoking corner in my yard that was away from the kids play area. My only problem with the smoking section at AKL is that it is in the path leading from the lobby doors to the bus stop. They would have been better putting the smoking section on the other side of those doors. In general, I believe that WDW does a pretty good job and providing smoking sections in good locations. I just don't like the AKL section. Other than that little issue, AKL is a fabulous resort. If we ever stay at AKL, we'll take that short-cut that was mentioned. Plus, I will take any excuse to shop .

I just wanted to add that I'm sorry for your loss as well. It's horrible to watch someone die of cancer. I wish they could find a 100% cure of such a terrible disease.