Will the DVC resorts be next........

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Nick,
No debate here. Unless you are told by a CM to smoke in a non smoking unit (not outside) then I firmly believe you should be charged/fined. However, to expand, I think anyone taking stuff from the unit (which our dues do pay for) should have to pay for it.

I would vote yes for totally non-smoking, not just because of the smoke, but for any gains on insurance for having a smoke-free building. I figure there has to be some thing there - they certainly give discounts to homeowners. And I think the non-smoking should apply to the balconies as well. Plus I would think the smoking rooms would require more frequent painting, furniture cleaning etc. so there may be a savings on maintenance. I know when I smoked, the ceilings and corners of rooms were awful.

I doubt there are any insurance gains and if so, they are minimal and we do pay for it with our dues. I smoke in my home and have no tar buildup anywhere, but, then again, I clean all the time. There are no non smoking discounts to be had for prop. insurance in this state (CT).

And I think totally non-smoking is the only way to get people to stop smoking in the non-smoking rooms. I just wish the CMs wouldn't tell people that it's OK to smoke in the non-smoking rooms. (Is anyone from Disney reading this - stop doing that already!!!)

On the contrary, I believe it would cause more problems than we have now. I think a more honest statement from you wouldl be, I quit smoking, I see the light, and I think every one should do as I do.

I would love to see DVC go non-smoking. If I ever got stuck in a smoking room, it would be a big minus for the trip.

the chances of that happening are about the same as a plane crash, or less. Only 5% of each DVC resort is smoking. Very very minimal. I am more concerned about a smoker NOT being able to get a smoking room.

The problem that time was not that they didn't clean the unit well enough, but that the folks below us were smoking and it was permeating our unit. I had a sleepless week!

How did it manage to permeate your unit? I find it difficult to believe it went through the walls and there is NO shared ductwork. My guess is the previous guests smoked and left a lot of residue.

Contrary to popular opinion, we have not lost our sense of smell and I can smell smoke and residue (actually, I hate it) and I have only smelled that horrible smokey smell in one unit we have been in. A lot of our guests are non smokers and they have commented on how nice the smoking units smell (ie: no residual odor). I have actually been in hotel rooms that reeked so badly that I could not sleep (the pillows were horrible smelling) and have complained. So, there are smokers out there that are very sensitive to the smell of smoke (tar, nicotine and residual odor) and some of us actually do follow the rules and are more than considerate of others.

And I am an ex-smoker for 13 years now. I know for sure that I could have and would have been able to live through staying in a non-smoking hotel back when I was smoking.

I am happy to hear that you think you could, however, I don't see any reason why anyone else should have to. This is supposed to be "our home away from home" and I see no reason why anyone should not enjoy it while indulging in any legal activity, just like at home.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by crisi
Yes, but some of us are less sensitive to the smell of smoke. So what if I don't notice that the previous guest smoked in the room because I'm not sensative, so I don't call - but you, who follow me, do.

Some people are very sensative and might notice the stale smell of smoke left three or four visitors ago. Some people may even notice the smell of a smoker who didn't smoke in the unit (however, their clothes still sat on the bed or couch long enough to transfer an odor).

And some are totally neurotic.

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Thanks Gail..........I knew our DVC smoking

expert would reply.

 

[DeeP]

Originally posted by Nick@ VB+OKW
Thanks Gail..........I knew our DVC smoking

expert would reply.

And as usual, Gail is absolutely right on the money.

 

[JimC]

The marketplace is deciding the fate of smoking. The very strong trend is to severly limit or ban the practice. The tobacco industry paid dearly in the court system after decades of winning. Local and state governments are increasing the legislative pressure. But the likelihood of eliminating all smoking is about as likely to be successful as prohibition. The public does not yet want that.

Disney will do what the law requires and its guests legally request. The article Nick posted simply illustrates the direction the marketplace is heading.

As to current practice:

1. Smoking in non-smoking rooms should not be tolerated and the cost of the appropriate remedial action should be assessed to the guest. If a member continues to violate regulations more severe sanctions should be considered.

2. CMs should not encourage or suggest violation of DVC rules. I have no personal knowledge of this happening and I would be surprised (maybe I am naive) if they were.

3. As long as it is legal and there is demand for it, there should be some portion of the inventory (how much I do not know) that is available for smokers.

Personally I support smoking bans in any and all public or commercial spaces. But until the law and or public opinion agrees on that, we should each respect the rights of the other.

 

[jeanniec]

Well, I am one of the hated smokers (maybe I shouldn't admit it). We bought into OKW in 1994 and there is no "no smoking" clause in our contract. Probably wouldn't have bought if there was. The first time we stayed at OKW, we got to our room and saw a no smoking sign on the door. We immediately called check-in and said that they had made a mistake since we requested smoking when we reserved. They told us then (1994) that it was OK to smoke & housekeeping would bring over a couple of ashtrays for us to use! We were rather surprised, to say the least. So, yes, CM do tell poeple that they can smoke in "ns" rooms. Now, whenever, we sty at OKW, we request a building that is a smoking room and we always get it. Of course, the other resorts don't have separate smoking buildings so I guess it is not so easy there. We have stayed at the following resorts where we made a "smoking" reservations and have been given "ns" rooms and said it was OK to smoke there: BWV, VWL, VB, & HHI. At BCV last May, we were told that we could smoke on the balcony since there were no more "ns" rooms available. Maybe the problem is that there are more smoking members than rooms that DVC allots to smokers??? At any rate, we are not hotel guests but owners who were never told that we could not smoke at our "home away from home." I quit for a couple of years and understand how you can smell smoke that the evil smokers cannot. In fact, I am not a heavy smoker and do not like a room that smells like a bunch of chain smokers have been there. I have often wondered why so often we are have been assigned to a non-smoking room. I do try to limit most of my smoking to the balcony or porch. Just remembered that HH has smoking buildings, too, but if you reserve a studio or 1 BR, you may well be placed in non-smoking even if you reserve smoking. I have often thought that there are not enuf smoking rooms because we always reserve at the 11 or 7-month windows and end up in the wrong kind of room. In addition to OKW, we have ownerships @ VB & HH.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Nick@ VB+OKW
Thanks Gail..........I knew our DVC smoking

expert would reply.

LOL, no expert, just a smoker with, IMHO, a lot of consideration for others.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by DeeP
And as usual, Gail is absolutely right on the money.

Thank you Dee P.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

2. CMs should not encourage or suggest violation of DVC rules. I have no personal knowledge of this happening and I would be surprised (maybe I am naive) if they were.

I do have personal knowledge and experience and it does happen.

3. As long as it is legal and there is demand for it, there should be some portion of the inventory (how much I do not know) that is available for smokers.

Approx. 5%.

Personally I support smoking bans in any and all public or commercial spaces. But until the law and or public opinion agrees on that, we should each respect the rights of the other.

Actually, I support those bans (except in bars) and I do completely agree that we should respect the rights of others.

 

[mom2rb]

My husband smokes but not around me or my kids. Every hotel we have ever been in he has smoked on the porch or in Vegas he has had to go down to the casino. Smoke bothers me but if the Disney resorts went non-smoking my husband would not come. I have No problem charging people for smoking in a non-smoking room, people can always go on the porch or balcony.

 

[Hulabaloo]

I see it coming, Disney's Grand Californian is already like that as of last Feb.!

Hulabaloo

 

[Nick@ VB+OKW]

Originally posted by Hulabaloo
I see it coming, Disney's Grand Californian is already like that as of last Feb.!

I also think with-in the next 2-3 years all WDW resorts will be smoke free

. You have to remember this is Florida

not Alaska

. Smokers can always step outside to have a smoke

.

This will make reservations much easier. No more cigarette burns on furniture,carpeting,etc. Less smoke damage to curtains,walls,ceilings,etc. But the most important is employees of Disney(housekeeping) won't have to be subjected to working in those conditions. And don't tell me they are not forced to take these housekeeping jobs. They are human beings also that don't have the luxury or money to be able to pick and choose a different job.

The argument that when you bought DVC it wasn't in the contract won't hold any water, if and when DVC goes non-smoking. And if you choose to sell your DVC because of the non-smoking.............there will be hundreds waiting to buy it on the re-sale market.

P.S. Ask anybody in Cailf if they prefer it the way it was(smoking) or the way it is now(non-smoking) when they go out or stay at a hotel.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Nick@ VB+OKW
I also think with-in the next 2-3 years all WDW resorts will be smoke free

. You have to remember this is Florida

not Alaska

. Smokers can always step outside to have a smoke

.

This will make reservations much easier. No more cigarette burns on furniture,carpeting,etc. Less smoke damage to curtains,walls,ceilings,etc. But the most important is employees of Disney(housekeeping) won't have to be subjected to working in those conditions. And don't tell me they are not forced to take these housekeeping jobs. They are human beings also that don't have the luxury or money to be able to pick and choose a different job.

The argument that when you bought DVC it wasn't in the contract won't hold any water, if and when DVC goes non-smoking. And if you choose to sell your DVC because of the non-smoking.............there will be hundreds waiting to buy it on the re-sale market.

Not likely to happen. There is nothing harmful about cleaning an area that has been smoked in. It is not second hand smoke that we hear so much about.
And, it will most definitely cause more problems than it stops.

The comment that it is FL not Alaska is a very snide comment.
There is NO reason why anyone should have to step out and smoke, most especially when they have paid for a "home away from home" we should be able to have the same "quiet enjoyment" of this facility as any non smoker. I know you would be overjoyed by this, but, a lot of non smokers don't feel it is necessary. 5% of the resorts are smoking, just let it alone.
In the long run, what does it matter to you where a smoker smokes as long as it is within the rules? I still say you have an issue with controlling others.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Hulabaloo
I see it coming, Disney's Grand Californian is already like that as of last Feb.!

Hulabaloo

I believe it has been non smoking for longer than last Feb. I believe it has been since it was redone and purchased by Disney.
It did not go from having smoking to not allowing it at all.
I don't think Disney will do that in FL and most especially at DVC where there are many members to keep happy.

 

[golfnut1264]

I hope they charge the smokers...

sorry i dont know how to make the picture smaller...it was the first time i added it and i tried to delete it when i saw how big it was....

can someone please tell me how to shrink a picture to fit at the bottom of the page..thanks

 

[Chuck S]

I seriously doubt that DVC resorts will go completely smoke free, unless Florida law madates it, and perhaps timeshares fall under a different law than regular resorts Of course, there is also the possibility that the insurance companies may come up with a truly significant discount for a smoke free resort - but believe it when you see it.

I am a former smoker, and was never a heavy smoker. I don't like to be in a room that has a stale smoke smell, I was in a smoking room ONCE at OKW, as we arrived early and that room was available a non-smoking room was not. Yes, it was annoying, but not so much that I wanted to go through the hassle of moving to a new room. We left the balcony door open whenever we were in the room and the smell eventualy faded after several days.

I would NOT like to see the DVC resorts go completely smoke-free. I think there should be smoking rooms available. I don't have a problem with people smoking on the balconies, or in outside areas. I think MOST smokers are considerate enough to not smoke inside a smoke free room. As long as it is legal to purchase and use tabacco products, there should be areas and rooms available to people to use them. People (smokers and non-smokers) should ALL be able to be comfortable at the "Home Away from Home".

 

[wilderness01]

I think smoking in a non-smoking room should have fines as well. Even if they smoke on the balcony there should be a fine. Maybe some smokers are considerate but not all. I had a party recently and some of the smokers would go outside to smoke but when they came in they reeked like an ashtray. It was a big deal since they would come in from outside and immediately sit on my couch. No I am not neurotic but there was a lasting smell. To those of us who have severe allergies to smoke it is not a case of being neurotic but a case of being able to breathe!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by GAIL HAYDEN
I believe it has been non smoking for longer than last Feb. I believe it has been since it was redone and purchased by Disney.

Just a slight correction... Disney's Grand Californian Resort in Anaheim was not "redone and purchased by Disney." Its was built by Disney at part of the Disneyland Resort expansion, which also included Downtown Disney and Disney's California Adventure.

The other two hotels at the Disneyland Resort were acquired by Disney. The Disneyland Hotel dates back to the 1950s (although the oldest parts have been demolished); it was built by Jack Wrather, and not acquired by Disney until the Michael Eisner era. Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel was originally the Pan Pacific Hotel.

Only the Grand Californian is a non-smoking hotel. The other two have smoking or non-smoking rooms available.

 

[TCPluto]

Originally posted by floridafam
Yes, CM's do tell people they can smoke in non-smoking rooms and this should be stopped.

Huh? Just what, pray tell, would make a room non-smoking then? Does it mean non-smoking while you are occupying it, and not at other times?

This doesn't make any sense, and I have a hard time believeing it.

 

[GAIL HAYDEN]

Originally posted by Horace Horsecollar
Just a slight correction... Disney's Grand Californian Resort in Anaheim was not "redone and purchased by Disney." Its was built by Disney at part of the Disneyland Resort expansion, which also included Downtown Disney and Disney's California Adventure.

The other two hotels at the Disneyland Resort were acquired by Disney. The Disneyland Hotel dates back to the 1950s (although the oldest parts have been demolished); it was built by Jack Wrather, and not acquired by Disney until the Michael Eisner era. Disney's Paradise Pier Hotel was originally the Pan Pacific Hotel.

Only the Grand Californian is a non-smoking hotel. The other two have smoking or non-smoking rooms available.

Big correction and thank you. I do get confused with hotel names.
Thanks for the information. It has always been non smoking, right?