smoking

[pjweaver]

I'd really like to see a segment on smoking in the parks and at the resorts.

I am a smoker, but one of the 'good' ones. That means I stay in the designated areas and don't sneak around with one hidden in my hand. I make the two mile walk to find a designated location, even at the resorts. AK now has only two spots at either end of the park, and most resorts now have only a few. My biggest problem is I now need to get a park map on our annual trip because they keep moving.

I remember Pete on a 7 in 7 talking about going on the balcony at the Contemporary for a cigarette and thought "you can't smoke there ". There needs to be a rant. A rant that explains to every smoker what is and what isn't appropriate. One that not only explains to the smokers where they can have their cancer stick, but also informs the non-smokers that if they park their stroller next to an ashtray there will be smokers there. A rant to all the people to explain that we smokers still exist in the World, but only if we follow the rules handed down by Disney.

I know we can all coexist if we try, and i think Pete is The One who can bring us together.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

I'd really like to see a segment on smoking in the parks and at the resorts.

I am a smoker, but one of the 'good' ones. That means I stay in the designated areas and don't sneak around with one hidden in my hand. I make the two mile walk to find a designated location, even at the resorts. AK now has only two spots at either end of the park, and most resorts now have only a few. My biggest problem is I now need to get a park map on our annual trip because they keep moving.

I remember Pete on a 7 in 7 talking about going on the balcony at the Contemporary for a cigarette and thought "you can't smoke there ". There needs to be a rant. A rant that explains to every smoker what is and what isn't appropriate. One that not only explains to the smokers where they can have their cancer stick, but also informs the non-smokers that if they park their stroller next to an ashtray there will be smokers there. A rant to all the people to explain that we smokers still exist in the World, but only if we follow the rules handed down by Disney.

I know we can all coexist if we try, and i think Pete is The One who can bring us together.

Even though I finally quit smoking 6 years ago, and totally agree with all you're saying. I was also one of the "good and considerate" smokers, but got highly ticked off at them "hiding" more and more smoking places - to the point where I would spend HOURS looking for them on vacation (following the "cigarette icons" on the guide maps) when I KNEW there was one there my last trip last year. It got so taxing that some of them even CM's couldn't help me find them, and even THEY were sometimes amazed at the ones that had gotten moved, or how "hidden" they were. It almost became a scavenger hunt. And they used to put some sort of pole on them (can't honestly remember, but at least you could tell where they ere from a way away) and then stopped doing that, and just making the tops of some random garbage can an ashtray - which - from the times I had to use an ECV - made it even HARDER to see from that level!! I also agree about the people purposely going into some of the smoking areas that WERE off the beaten path where you could actually ENJOY your smoke and not feel like a pariah, and then complaining about it. So - like I said - even a "reformed smoker" here agrees with you, feels your pain, feels you should definitely have your areas, and be easily able to find them!

 

[pjweaver]

I was amazed that they put a smoking area at a hub in the MK. There is now one at the gateway to adventureland where you will generally see 30-40 people smoking. I stumbled upon it on my trip this summer because it wasn't on a map yet. To make matters worse, families went there to enjoy their Dolewhips and complained about all the smoke. I don't mind having to go off the beaten path to avoid upsetting others, so it confounds me why Disney would put one there, but they did so I'm using it.

I will say that the smoking areas are where you will meet some of the nicest people as well as get great information. Every trip I find "regulars" just like at a bar, and we share which park is busy or where all the tour groups are headed so I can plan accordingly.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

I was amazed that they put a smoking area at a hub in the MK. There is now one at the gateway to adventureland where you will generally see 30-40 people smoking. I stumbled upon it on my trip this summer because it wasn't on a map yet. To make matters worse, families went there to enjoy their Dolewhips and complained about all the smoke. I don't mind having to go off the beaten path to avoid upsetting others, so it confounds me why Disney would put one there, but they did so I'm using it.

I will say that the smoking areas are where you will meet some of the nicest people as well as get great information. Every trip I find "regulars" just like at a bar, and we share which park is busy or where all the tour groups are headed so I can plan accordingly.

Yep - agree on meeting nice peeps in the areas, seeing them at areas and parks, and sharing info. I remember a smoking area in the MK, near the old Dole location (can never remember if that's Sunshine Tree or Aloha Isle - it's the one NOT near the flying carpets). It may be the same one your'e talking about, because I remember it always being JAMMED, ashtrays always FULL, and getting GLARES from others walking by because the walkway was so narrow there, so the smoke fully permeated the whole area, with a bunch of us being shoved in together. Matter of fact, I think the narrow walkway was part of the reason why they moved the Dole Whips, so WHY would they have had a smoking area there?

 

[wilkeliza]

Yep - agree on meeting nice peeps in the areas, seeing them at areas and parks, and sharing info. I remember a smoking area in the MK, near the old Dole location (can never remember if that's Sunshine Tree or Aloha Isle - it's the one NOT near the flying carpets). It may be the same one your'e talking about, because I remember it always being JAMMED, ashtrays always FULL, and getting GLARES from others walking by because the walkway was so narrow there, so the smoke fully permeated the whole area, with a bunch of us being shoved in together. Matter of fact, I think the narrow walkway was part of the reason why they moved the Dole Whips, so WHY would they have had a smoking area there?

They moved the one you are describing (use to be across from Aloha Isle near Swiss Family Tree House) to where the PP is describing. The current Adventurland smoking area is outside Adventurland near the bridge that leads to Liberty Square. It is where Peter Pan use to meet. I actually like that spot for smokers because you can still enjoy parades and fireworks while staying in the smoking section there.

side note: I'm not a smoker, just from a family of smokers so I have a lot of sympathy for smokers and even though I'm allergic try to be as friendly and helpful to smokers as possible.

 

[pjweaver]

Thats the one wilkeliza, though I remember the one across from Sunshine, it's now smack dab in the middle of a major crossway by the bridge into adventure land. Disney also put one on the left path around the castle and one on the outer path from space mountain to fantasy land. I only mention that because these are highly traveled routes where many people get offended by smokers. There are spots like the one near BTR that are off the beaten path that and don't get in nonsmokers way.

I would prefer to not offend anyone enjoying The Magic. At AK however, they have made an extreme jump. There is one area off the main path to Dinosaur, and another past the restrooms near Festival of the Lion King. Thats it. Therefor I drag my wife all over the park and make her wait for me. Yet another reason to not spend all day there. Epcot and HS have plenty of secluded areas, but even those are closing down. I suppose what bothers me most is that drunk college kids can roam Epcot freely, but I need to walk from France to Italy to smoke.

Actually, what bothers me more are the smokers who think they are fooling people hiding a cigarette. They are the ones ruining it for others and will eventually lead to a park wide ban.

 

[BriarPatchPrincess]

Another smoker over here. I've been to Disney twice since I became a smoker, first in November '14 and next in July '15. The difference in how hard it was to find a smoking area was startling.

I do NOT expect anyone to have to pick up after my habit, or have to run into it if they do not want to. I do not smoke if there is not a designated area, and never will. But I almost came to blows with a mother in Animal kingdom (we all know how out-of-the-way and hard to come by those ones are!) when she brought her children in and said that my cigarette smoke was not wanted there while her kids were trying to play.

I should also make the point that under no circumstances do I smoke around children.

I told her that this was a smoking area, in case she hadn't realised, and she said she had no-one else to go and we should respect her wishes to not smoke. In the smoking area. Yep. It was a come-to-Jesus moment for me, I just had to walk away. She was incredibly rude to boot.

My boyfriend was also a smoker at the time of our November trip and we met some absolutely lovely people in the smoking areas, so I do not mind at all having to find certain spots to smoke!

 

[Tom P.]

I am not a smoker and never have been. And, quite honestly, I can't stand cigarette smoke. Yet even so, it bothers me how it feels like smokers are being treated more and more like second-class citizens, banished to some tiny little corner of every environment. Seems like we could be a *little* more accommodating.

 

[wilkeliza]

@pjweaver I was at MK this weekend. The smoking section near the castle is gone. It was just benches this weekend.

@BriarPatchPrincess tell anyone like that, that they can take it up with Disney. You are following the rules do not let her and her little sbowflakes ruin your day. I would continue to smoke and remind her she is the one choosing to be in the smoking section. She could have taken her little ones to the bone yard to play.

 

[Princess Jes]

Another smoker over here. I've been to Disney twice since I became a smoker, first in November '14 and next in July '15.

I'm curious, and I mean no judgement or disrespect by any means (I'm a curious person by nature)
It seems you've only taken up smoking in the past year or so? I'm always curious as to why adults take it up these days when there are so many warning and deferents etc?
Like I said, I'm not passing judgement, my FIL just had a double lung transplant due to advanced emphysema so absolutely don't judge smokers.

 

[pjweaver]

Thanks for the update @wilkeliza. We go to the World two or three times a year, and it seems like they always move the spots. It was there in August, and struck me as odd since that was a hot spot for photos of the castle.

On a side note, my wife, who is not a smoker, hates my little stops on our trips. She has even commented that if there were more smoking areas tucked away she could hop into a shop or grab a snack, but the ever shortening list of areas makes it too much, so she is forced to sit and talk to me for five minutes. Perhaps Disney revenue would pick up if there were more locations.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

Thats the one wilkeliza, though I remember the one across from Sunshine, it's now smack dab in the middle of a major crossway by the bridge into adventure land. Disney also put one on the left path around the castle and one on the outer path from space mountain to fantasy land. I only mention that because these are highly traveled routes where many people get offended by smokers. There are spots like the one near BTR that are off the beaten path that and don't get in nonsmokers way.

I would prefer to not offend anyone enjoying The Magic. At AK however, they have made an extreme jump. There is one area off the main path to Dinosaur, and another past the restrooms near Festival of the Lion King. Thats it. Therefor I drag my wife all over the park and make her wait for me. Yet another reason to not spend all day there. Epcot and HS have plenty of secluded areas, but even those are closing down. I suppose what bothers me most is that drunk college kids can roam Epcot freely, but I need to walk from France to Italy to smoke.

Actually, what bothers me more are the smokers who think they are fooling people hiding a cigarette. They are the ones ruining it for others and will eventually lead to a park wide ban.

I think I remember the one by the castle - if you're facing the BACK of the castle, was it on the right hand side, before you go down the path? That's where one used to be that annoyed me when I smoked, and one of the ones I used to remember getting TONS of glares and nasty comments when I was in "my area".

 

[wilkeliza]

I think I remember the one by the castle - if you're facing the BACK of the castle, was it on the right hand side, before you go down the path? That's where one used to be that annoyed me when I smoked, and one of the ones I used to remember getting TONS of glares and nasty comments when I was in "my area".

yep it use to be on the right if you were facing the castle from Fantasyland. I never understood why it was in that spot since it was where people were diverted when the stage show was going on. However, I never fault a smoker for bad smoking section placement, I always fault Disney since it is their decision.

 

[Accident]

AK now has only two spots at either end of the park, and most resorts now have only a few.

Someone recently posted that a CM told them AK is a smoke anywhere outdoors park. I don't really get that and I don't agree with doing that so I stick with the designated areas everywhere I go, not just at disney.

My biggest problem is I now need to get a park map on our annual trip because they keep moving.

In oct 2014 I was on a trip where frozen summer was still happening at HS and ended mid-trip. There was a smoking section across from sci-fi cafe but overnight when the stage disappeared that spot became a nursing mothers area. You have to get a paper map every day for the park, they change that fast. Even faster, the smoking area next to space mountain that is under the people mover moves to the other side of space mountain during the halloween parties. The day map shows it in 1 place, the party map has it in the other.

Speaking of maps, only the MDE app and website resort maps actually indicate where the smoking sections are. There is no paper map and the signs at the resorts have been changed to no longer show smoking sections.

I remember Pete on a 7 in 7 talking about going on the balcony at the Contemporary for a cigarette and thought "you can't smoke there ". There needs to be a rant. A rant that explains to every smoker what is and what isn't appropriate.

The rant is simple, disney will be polite and ask you to stop if it's not a designated area but they will have police escort you off property and I've seen it multiple times every trip. Smoke where it's indicated or risk being arrested or banned.

 

[wilkeliza]

Someone recently posted that a CM told them AK is a smoke anywhere outdoors park. I don't really get that and I don't agree with doing that so I stick with the designated areas everywhere I go, not just at disney.
.

I don't believe a CM would have ever said that. AK is definitely not a "smoke anywhere" park as the entire Walt Disney World property is labeled "smoke free" and smoking is only allowed in designated areas. Heck CMs even have to smoke in designated areas back stage.

 

[pjweaver]

Easy answer for that wilkeliza, every time I wear my pins in a park people think I'm a CM. I get asked for directions or what a ride is like. I usually am able to help, but this could have been someone messing up. No CM would say that, especially at AK.

 

[wilkeliza]

Easy answer for that wilkeliza, every time I wear my pins in a park people think I'm a CM. I get asked for directions or what a ride is like. I usually am able to help, but this could have been someone messing up. No CM would say that, especially at AK.

I'll never forget the time a woman just put her kids gum in my hand and said can you throw this away for me. I said um excuse me what did you just do?! She was like oh I thought you were a CM you have those pins around your neck and your adult so I assumed you worked here. I got very un-Disney and said no I don't work here, do you see a name badge? Further more would you really treat a CM like that putting your child's nasty (insert undisney word here) gum in their hand?! I was so taken a back by it. This was on my first trip 5 years ago.

 

[pjweaver]

I didn't want to go off topic too much. On my last visit in July I was stopped by a family trying to ask me questions in Spanish. Basically they wanted to know what space mountain was. Of the entire family, only the 8 year old daughter spoke any English, and my Spanish is equal to a toddlers vocabulary.
We did work it out and I was able to direct them to the People Mover, which is what they wanted all along, but thats when I realized wearing a lanyard and pins makes people think I'm a working cast member. Keep in mind that all of this happened at the smoking area just outside Space Mountain. I was wearing shorts and a Jimmy Buffett tee shirt, but had pins on so I guess thats the new CM costume.

 

[pjweaver]

I really just wanted to see how guests dealt with smoking/smokers at the parks and resorts

 

[SorcererHeidi]

yep it use to be on the right if you were facing the castle from Fantasyland. I never understood why it was in that spot since it was where people were diverted when the stage show was going on. However, I never fault a smoker for bad smoking section placement, I always fault Disney since it is their decision.

Yep - same one, and agreed! One of my faves (but think it's long gone) was in the middle of the "garden area" in France - close enough to the "main promenade" to be great people watching, but off the beaten path so you didn't get glares. Also close to refreshments if you wanted them. My other fave one was down the end of the short little "side street" (near the backstage CM entrance) at the first "little street" on the right, right outside of Tony's. Used to have some awesome conversations with not only other guests, but a lot of CM's there (coming in/out of backstage) there!! There also used to be an awesome one outside MouseGear in Epcot, near the fountain - but under an overhang in case it rained, and again - far enough away from pedestrian areas so you didn't feel like you were "boterhing anybody". Like I said you (or somebody else here mentioned) AK has ALWAYS been terrible for finding/having areas, and the only one I usually used at MGM (yeah, I still call it that!) was outside Brown Derby before you went through the Animation Courtyard arch - that one wasn't bad as far as being "annoying to others" either. Don't know if any/all of them still there.