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Toady The Eighth
03-27-2003, 01:54 PM
I am sure this topic has been discussed before, but I'm going to bring it up anyway. And I am sure may of you will disagree with me.

I think that smoking should be completely banned in Disneyland. I think that if people want to pollute their own lungs, then that's their perogative. But Disneyland is a crowded, public place, and I am tired of walking by designated smoking areas, and being submersed in smoke.

I think it creates more work for the Disneyland Janitorial Staff, and I think that a lot of people disregard the designated areas and smoke wherever they please.

I think smoking should be confined to outside the park, or, at the very least, to ONE designated area, and it ought to be somewhere less crowded than the ones they have now.

scaeagles
03-27-2003, 02:08 PM
As long as it is a decision made by Disney and NOT by the government. I don't smoke, hate to be around it, but it's legal and the government taxes it to death, so they need to stop passing all those property right violating regulations. Not that this is the place for my little diatribe.....that aside, I would love it if Disney did ban it.

Toady The Eighth
03-27-2003, 02:12 PM
Scaeagles, I totaly agree with you.

Bill Catherall
03-27-2003, 03:56 PM
I disagree. I'm not a smoker and I can't stand to be around people who are smoking. However, I would rather not be around a smoker who needs a smoke and can't get one without leaving the park.

Also, I think they should reverse their designated smoking area policy. I never really had a huge problem with people smoking around me before. But now that they've concentrated all the smoke to a few areas I've noticed it even more and those areas are terrible to walk through.

The majority of smokers know that their habit bothers other people and they're usually polite enough to find a less populated spot to smoke. If someone were smoking next to me in line I would have no problem politely asking them to put it out. So I find smoking areas to be completely useless and banning it would cause too many problems.

Toady The Eighth
03-27-2003, 03:58 PM
At the VERY least, there should be ONE designated smoking area, and it should be somewhere in the back of the park where nobody has to walk through.

innerSpaceman
03-27-2003, 04:07 PM
Hey, lookie here, Bill and I are in agreement about something!


For the 40 or so years that Disneyland allowed smoking in non-designated areas, I never once noticed a problem with it - and now that all smokers are clustered into three junkie ghettos, it is disgusting to even walk past those places. The Matterhorn area is kind of out of the way, but the areas on Big Thunder Trail and down by the edge of the Rivers of America make once pleasant strolling areas into a smelly nightmare.

And, no, I'm not for having smokers leave the Park to get their fix. It's bad enough that they have to go to one of the ghettos. Disneyland is primarily outdoors, and as long as smoking remains legal, it should be allowed in the outdoor areas of the Park. Again, I remind you, I never had a problem with it all those many years that was the case.

dsnylndmom
03-27-2003, 04:08 PM
However, I would rather not be around a smoker who needs a smoke and can't get one without leaving the park.

Like Bill Catherall I am not a smoker but have to agree with this. We often go with a group of people and there are some who smoke and it would be harder on everyone if they had to leave the park to smoke.

I think the area behind Big Thunder isn't so bad but the smoking area near Haunted Mansion is just way too tiny and get's way congested and smokey(sp). If I'm not mistaken I seem to remember there was an area near Matterhorn that wasnt too bad last time but the Matterhorn was closed then too so it could be more congested now.

Just my personal opinion
Tina

furbE95
03-27-2003, 04:57 PM
Originally posted by Bill Catherall

Also, I think they should reverse their designated smoking area policy. I never really had a huge problem with people smoking around me before. But now that they've concentrated all the smoke to a few areas I've noticed it even more and those areas are terrible to walk through.

I couldn't possibly disagree more. Have you ever had to stand in line for splash mountain for an hour and a half behind a pair of chain smokers? Needless to say, its not fun. At least with the designated smoking areas, you can somewhat avoid the smoke. And if not, you pass through it for no more fifteen seconds tops. I say, a big thumbs up for confining the smokers.

Bill Catherall
03-27-2003, 05:20 PM
Originally posted by innerSpaceman
Hey, lookie here, Bill and I are in agreement about something! Uh oh. Is that a sign of the Apocalypse? ;)

napframe
03-27-2003, 05:44 PM
Originally posted by Toady The Eighth
I am sure this topic has been discussed before, but I'm going to bring it up anyway. And I am sure may of you will disagree with me.

I think that smoking should be completely banned in Disneyland. I think that if people want to pollute their own lungs, then that's their perogative. But Disneyland is a crowded, public place, and I am tired of walking by designated smoking areas, and being submersed in smoke.

I think it creates more work for the Disneyland Janitorial Staff, and I think that a lot of people disregard the designated areas and smoke wherever they please.

I think smoking should be confined to outside the park, or, at the very least, to ONE designated area, and it ought to be somewhere less crowded than the ones they have now.

The Disneyland management, and only the Disneyland management should have the right to choose what is allowed in it's properties. When people tend to disregard common courtesy (smoking next to you/closed areas) that's when the books get slammed and rules have to be made. Usually if the non-smoking laws are too strict and drive away potential genres, the companies and regulators won't do anything about it (las vegas casinos). If you complain enough at City Hall that this stuff is actually bothering you, they'll listen. Our society is somewhat fragmented on moral stance which makes it hard for people to work things out just by the stroke of a pen on the law books but as they say, It's a free country.

Wizard69
03-27-2003, 08:24 PM
My beef with smokers in Disneyland is when they are smoking in non smoking areas. I hate walking through the park and having to inhale smoke from some idiot who doesn't use the smoking areas of the park.

They should have the smokers all smoke at Big Thunder Ranch
(but way deep in the back). :)That way we don't have to smell it as easily (unless you are going from/to Fantasyland.

PassionApathy385
03-27-2003, 08:40 PM
Get over it. I don't like people with strollers stopping in the middle of the walkway in crowded bottle-neck areas. But they do it anyways, and I get over it.

I think many of you who "can't stand the smell of smoke" can just grin and bear it.

Tatertotsmommie
03-27-2003, 09:22 PM
Last week I my kids and I staked out our parade spot on the curb of Main Street about 45 minutes early. About 5 minutes before the parade started, a couple came up and sat right behind us. The lady not only lit up a cigarette immediately, but was just blowing her huge clouds of smoke right at our heads. It was rediculous. I finally decided to turn around and ask her to blow up in the air or behind her or something, and I found that she didn't speak or understand a word of English. I couldn't identify the language they were speaking, so I figure that wherever they live, public smoking is probably more accepted and maybe blowing smoke in children's faces is not considered rude. Still, I didn't enjoy having to gag through the parade.

hlehmann
03-27-2003, 09:59 PM
Originally posted by Tatertotsmommie
.... I couldn't identify the language they were speaking, so I figure that wherever they live, public smoking is probably more accepted and maybe blowing smoke in children's faces is not considered rude.
If you go to almost any country except the USA, you'll find that far more people smoke, and they do it everywhere. I've been to Tokyo a couple of times, and it was nearly impossible to find a place that didn't have the smell of cigarette smoke.
It wasn't that many years ago in California that they made all public buildings smoke-free. I think people that have been living here for a long time forget how bad it used to be; you couldn't go anywhere without dealing with cigarette smoke.

I hate the stuff as much as anyone, but I'm fine with having it restricted to a half a dozen or so spots within the park. Don't forget that Disney's catering to a lot of tourists that aren't from CA. My only beef is that they picked the fountain in New Orleans Square (one of my favorite spots) as one of the designated smoking areas.

Tigertail777
03-28-2003, 12:01 AM
I am glad for designated smoking areas, too much smoke, and cigarette smoke in particular make my athsma kick in. When we went last time and saw fanstasmic for the firs time, someone lit up right to the side of us and guess which way the wind was blowing? I started to get a little dizzy I was trying to put up with it because I know how smokers like their smokes... but I just couldnt handle it anymore and asked them to please put it out or something. Luckily they were nice about it and stopped, I don't know what I would have done if they hadnt.. people were sitting in every square inch around us. I understand smokers have their rights too and I don't like the idea of banning it altogether, but at the same time I dont want to get dizzy and fall down from smoke, which it can sometimes do to me (even the heat in Mr. Toad is a little hard on me, but its short thank god). I don't know... maybe they could build some key indoor areas (small buildings) in several places for smoking?

PhilMP
03-28-2003, 12:14 AM
Hmm...banning smoking. Let's take it a few steps further and have designated stroller-stopping and stroller-hitting-ankles zones. How about stupid-guest zones, but then the majority of the park would be empty. :)

Smoking is a vice that is never going to go away, as long as there are companies willing to engage in the sale of tobacco and tobacco products.

I do smoke, and while I do know it will give me lung cancer and whatnot, I, and many other young people who do, don't care. We don't want to kill ourselves, we're just apathetic. Besides, if you're an ODV CM, chances are you smoke. :)

I do believe in INDOOR smoking bans, or smoking areas or whatever, but I don't believe in outdoor bans or designated areas. Indoors, cigarette or cigar smoke tends to hang around and just stay there, subjecting other people to it. Outdoors, the prevailing winds will carry it away, and if you're just passing through, it's a minor inconvenience that will be over in a few seconds.

However, most people are courteous enough not to smoke in a line or waiting for a parade or fireworks or whatnot, so if you do encounter someone like that, you have my permission to ask them to stop, since I have the common courtesy and common sense to refrain from smoking since it does subject non-smokers to unnecessary hardship and lung disease.

Phil

Polar33
03-28-2003, 12:53 AM
Completely banning smoking would cause so many issues with a great majority of people, it is not a good business move. The way it is now, with only three smoking areas in Disneyland there are a number of smokers who ignore the policy. Keep in mind that when people go to Disneyland they go there to relax, and have fun. Not to go way out of their way just to smoke. "Where can I smoke?" Is quickly becoming a popular common question. Yet I cringe 75% of the time I get asked it because the answer usually involves traveling a good distance.

I feel that Disneyland could use more smoking areas, preferably one in each land. If someone would actually spend time researching it they could not only find locations (or make new ones) that would be convenient yet out of traffic. I'm sure that they could also create some sort of air flow/purification system that would not distract from the natural theming of the area and would cause the odor to barely be noticeable to passers by.

Tigertail777
03-28-2003, 04:05 AM
goodness! there are only 3 designated smoking areas in the whole park??? no wonder so many ignore it! That seems kind of unfair to smokers. I like polar 33's ideas about having some off to the side place in each land, with air flow purification systems. That sounds ideal for everyone. sort of a mini little smokers lounge in each land, Disney could even make a little more money by selling tobacco products in a few of them like they used to do on main st. I personally actually like pipe smoke (though I dont smoke it)... for some reason it doesnt make my athsma act up much at all really not sure why, and I love the smell of a tobacco shop that carries different bins of pipe tobacco. Anyways, with only 3 designated areas, I can see that Disney is almost encouraging smokers to light up in other places. Does DCA have designated areas too?

MammaSilva
03-28-2003, 05:17 AM
Smoking areas... Yes, DCA and Disneyland both have designated Smoking areas.....in DCA I only know 3 (there might be more I haven't been since New Years Eve trip) One is across from Soaring over California, a very tiny little area at the end of that building that houses the store, then just around the corner (sort of) if you walk 'behind' GRR there is a smoking area .. that one is nicer, more open and has a little shade....then over on the Boardwalk.. this one was originally the most STUPID one I had ever seen since it was under Screaming, less than 50 feet from King Tritons Carousel and the Bathrooms... they moved it down the boardwalk to a location that has no shade and fewer places to sit down....

As to 'rude' guests....even when smoking was allowed thruout the park it was NEVER allowed inside any of the buildings, parade waiting areas, ride queues, or any of the restaurant patio areas, so the incidents of waiting for a parade or Fantasmic, those people are the same ones that make no effort to be considerate of others regardless of rules. People are going to disregard rules .. deal with it, I've noticed a trend tho, if a CM notices a smoker but that person has obviously made an effort to be out of the traffic flow even if they aren't in one of the designated areas, they 'tend' to just not 'notice'. Being a smoker I am very aware of where I am, and how the wind patterns will impact others since Disneyland isn't the only amusement park I go to...and even in those parks with no restrictions I make every effort to impact as few guests as possible.

scaeagles
03-28-2003, 05:18 AM
I doubt if Disney will ban it, but like I said in an earlier post, it's their decision and theirs alone to make. Many smokers are courteous and genuinely understnad that the majority of nonsmokers don't like to be around it, but like with any group, those smokers that don't care and are rude give the whole group that reputation.

I think the smoking areas do not work well - why not just have a no smoking in line or during shows policy? That way if you want to move away from it you can. And any smoker that can't last for an hour or two without a smoke in line or during a show has a real self control problem. You can't smoke on airplanes, and smokers make it just fine.

MammaSilva
03-28-2003, 05:28 AM
The chances of Disneyland banning smoking 100 percent is so slim that I wouldn't even hazzard a guess to the probablity factor.....they have way too large an international guest base, where smoking at your table in a restaurant is considered normal behavior. It's not going to happen. I am probably way off base but I wouldn't be surprised to learn that the ONLY reason they have gone with the designated smoking areas at all was to toss a "bone" to the non smokers here in the United States. It's my understanding that at EuroDisney there are NO smoking restrictions to speak of other than the most basic, no smoking inside the rides type rule. I haven't heard about TDS or TD and the smoking policy there, maybe another padder can enlighten us on that park.

This is the wrong forum, but I've never been to WDW so I don't know what the smoking policy is there.... maybe one of the padders can share on that area as well?

choco
03-28-2003, 05:41 AM
It would be great if smoking was banned in the entire park. Yes, smokers would then have to walk "farther" to get outside the park to smoke, but that's no different than being at, for example, South Coast Plaza and having to walk far to get outside of the mall to smoke.

Although the smoking situation is not optimum right now, before, when people could just smoke anywhere, it was much worse. We had to constantly walk by smokers. It wasn't just a case of a few people smoking here and there. It was a case of constantly being bombarded by smoke everywhere in the park. People were also smoking in the ride lines, and castmembers were not enforcing the no smoking in lines policy by asking them to stop. We had to specifically ask castmembers to enforce the rule on many occasions.

Now, with the designated smoking areas, we can just avoid those areas or move past them quickly. Although not ideal, it's worlds better than it was for us before and makes our visits much more pleasant.

If Disney were more serious about their non smoking rules, they would somehow inform each visitor (maybe at the ticket booth or entry), before entering the park, of the rules. It's a little ridiculous to expect that people actually read the little side notes on the park map. If they were actually informed in person about the rules and consequences of not following them, they would realize that Disney was serious about enforcing them and would possibly think twice about violating them.

disneyscott
03-28-2003, 06:54 AM
I sat here and just deleted my whole post, After I read it back it wasn't MP friendly. I hate post like this. This is a topic that makes my blood boil. Then I took a deep breath had a cigarette, and thought, this is one of the favorite topics for "trolls". Why would anyone feel the need to **** a group of people off with such a stupid topic. We know that there are thoese out there that don't like smokers, I hate reformed smokers, they are the worst.

One thing that you have to give to smokers is the friendship that we show to each other. How many time (you non smokers out here) are people around you and you just stay quiet, but you get smokers near each other most of us start talking to each other like were best friends.

Disney does a great job of having the smoking sections (I would like a few more) but it allows me to enjoy my cig and not deal with YOU that don't like it.

I would like to see this thread moved to the lounge, as it doesn't belong here, it is a statement and doesn't have anything to do here, one thing is for sure it will get alot of pages

innerSpaceman
03-28-2003, 07:07 AM
Here here. Rules that aren't posted might as well not exist. There are no signs, no information given at the gate. Just stuff in tiny print on an obsure piece of paper that most people don't even get.

scaeagles
03-28-2003, 07:31 AM
Relax, DisneyScott....I don't think the subject is "we don't like smokers", but "we don't like cigarette smoke". In fact, early on in this stream, I said I hate it when the government decides to violate private property rights and rule on where people can smoke. Most seem to agree with that. I live in Phoenix, which has suburbs that have passed laws allowing no smoking in any building - public or private - with the exception of private residences. It is ridiculous.

You must admit, though, that some smokers, just as some non-smokers, are rude and violate the rules that are established by the owners of the property. Don't get upset at posters who simply want the rules followed.

And by the way, I hate it when people stop suddenly in walkways or block passages with strollers or ram my achellies tendon with whatever. It's an issue of courtesy to one another.