No more smoking or vaping in the parks

[luvsJack]

I wholeheartedly agree there are plenty of places. I usually advocate for exploring the big beautiful world. It's your decision and I'm not trying to change it or whatever.

Respectfully, I'm just surprised that of all the things the moving of a DSA becomes your breaking point to go elsewhere. I say this having people around me smoke (via my mom's side of the family though pretty much all have stopped smoking due to health reasons and my best friend) it must be a very strong urge to smoke that all the things available to do at Disney, all the fun experiences to be had, all of the joy to see, that the moving of the DSA to outside the park is the line in the sand to go elsewhere.

I'm not seeing though why you couldn't still do those things. Would there be longer gaps in time because of walking outside the gates and then to walk back inside the gates? Yeah. But you could still ride several rides or see a show or watch streetmosphere activities while your husband goes for a smoke. And your husband can do the same while you go smoke. You could even look at what you can do/see/go on that is closer to the front of the parks so you are all reunited quicker.

Again, our decisions (well we had a two minute conversation last night) is not just based on this. Its a multitude of things. Other places ban smoking and we go because its well worth it to us. Smoking isn't our main objective. But is it worth it for us to go to a park that we normally would spend 12 hours in and eat all our meals in to keep having to trek back to the front of the park? That's for us to decide. We will see how it goes on our next visit (where we will do as I describe) and maybe we will go back to our old ways but most likely not.

 

[DisneyOma]

Again, our decisions (well we had a two minute conversation last night) is not just based on this. Its a multitude of things. Other places ban smoking and we go because its well worth it to us. Smoking isn't our main objective. But is it worth it for us to go to a park that we normally would spend 12 hours in and eat all our meals in to keep having to trek back to the front of the park? That's for us to decide. We will see how it goes on our next visit (where we will do as I describe) and maybe we will go back to our old ways but most likely not.

Sounds like it would be a good time for him to quit - before he dies of lung cancer like my dad did. That was a slow, painful death to witness. I wouldn't wish it on anyone but my worst enemy.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Again, our decisions (well we had a two minute conversation last night) is not just based on this. Its a multitude of things.

I said breaking point and line in the sand. Are those not accurate statements to describe what you were talking about?

Other places ban smoking and we go because its well worth it to us.

Okay this seems to be more like Disney no longer being worth it. Otherwise like I said seems like you have a very strong urge to smoke if moving DSAs outside the park means time to move on from Disney.

Smoking isn't our main objective.

..no it may not be the main objective but it does seem to be a main concern with respects to continuing to go to Disney or not.

But is it worth it for us to go to a park that we normally would spend 12 hours in and eat all our meals in to keep having to trek back to the front of the park? That's for us to decide. We will see how it goes on our next visit (where we will do as I describe) and maybe we will go back to our old ways but most likely not.

I mean I gave some advice. I don't see how you have to change your normal park touring habits. Is there a reason why you cannot continue to do exactly as you described you've done in the past? I even mentioned looking at things closer to the front of the park so you can be reunited quicker. You do you I'm just saying it doesn't appear you have to change your park touring.

 

[luvsJack]

Yep, simple. There is some helpful info in my signature...tobacco free Florida

Well, I thought that your link was going to tell me what places are smoke free. It didn't. I know all the ways to quit smoking. I have quit before and started back after 2 years. Actually I quit 3 times previously for 9-10 months when I was pregnant.

My dr. and I are discussing Chantix (which is how I stopped previously) but he wants to me to have a complete physical before he prescribes it and I haven't gone yet. So your link isn't giving me any information I don't already have. But you know, there are smokers that don't want to quit and all the giving of information in the world isn't going to change that. My dad smoked for a very long time. He tried to quit and then said "why do I want to be miserable? Sure I can live longer but for what? To feel like this?" So, he didn't quit. Don't assume that a smoker doesn't have the information just because they don't quit.

 

[Hikergirl]

People keep mentioning that they didn't enforce the DSAs but is that really what you mean?
OK maybe there weren't CMs walking around whose job was solely to catch smokers outside of those DSAs but are you all saying that if a CM saw someone smoking that they would just throw up their hands and say oh well and let them just smoke wherever?
The problem isn't with enforcement, the problem is with entitled inconsiderate jerks who don't abide by the rules, period. Now those people can just be told to leave the park to smoke, and hopefully every time they choose to do what they want they will be told to leave until eventually they won't bother to come back.

 

[luvsJack]

People keep mentioning that they didn't enforce the DSAs but is that really what you mean?
OK maybe there weren't CMs walking around whose job was solely to catch smokers outside of those DSAs but are you all saying that if a CM saw someone smoking that they would just throw up their hands and say oh well and let them just smoke wherever?
The problem isn't with enforcement, the problem is with entitled inconsiderate jerks who don't abide by the rules, period. Now those people can just be told to leave the park to smoke, and hopefully every time they choose to do what they want they will be told to leave until eventually they won't bother to come back.

You are right, it is entitled inconsiderate jerks who don't abide by the rules. But if that many people were seen outside the DSAs, Disney was not enforcing the rules.

 

[ettinkerbell]

They have the technology to implement the tracking of warnings on the "big brother" magic bands.

SO TIRED OF SEEING TOOTH IMPLANT ADS EVERY OTHER POST WITHOUT AN OPTION TO STOP SHOWING THESE REALLY UGLY ADS!!!

 

[luvsJack]

I said breaking point and line in the sand. Are those not accurate statements to describe what you were talking about?

Okay this seems to be more like Disney no longer being worth it. Otherwise like I said seems like you have a very strong urge to smoke if moving DSAs outside the park means time to move on from Disney.

..no it may not be the main objective but it does seem to be a main concern with respects to continuing to go to Disney or not.

I mean I gave some advice. I don't see how you have to change your normal park touring habits. Is there a reason why you cannot continue to do exactly as you described you've done in the past? I even mentioned looking at things closer to the front of the park so you can be reunited quicker. You do you I'm just saying it doesn't appear you have to change your park touring.

Ever smoked? Ever had the urge to smoke? Its not just a "I want a cigarette" like "I want a brownie". Its an addiction. One of the strongest that there is. And for some their anxiety can get out of control from not having a smoke.

Disney isn't going to miss me or my family. Its ok. We will go back. We just won't stay there or eat all our meals there. We will go to Orlando, split our time with the other parks or whatever and it will be ok.

 

[DeniseJH]

People keep mentioning that they didn't enforce the DSAs but is that really what you mean?
OK maybe there weren't CMs walking around whose job was solely to catch smokers outside of those DSAs but are you all saying that if a CM saw someone smoking that they would just throw up their hands and say oh well and let them just smoke wherever?
The problem isn't with enforcement, the problem is with entitled inconsiderate jerks who don't abide by the rules, period. Now those people can just be told to leave the park to smoke, and hopefully every time they choose to do what they want they will be told to leave until eventually they won't bother to come back.

I certainly can't speak for everyone's experiences, but on our trip this past January we did see several people smoking and CM's just walked right on by. Did they not see/smell the smokers? I don't know, but if even more are going to try to do it even more are going to get away with it. Besides, what do they have to lose? They get told to put it out? They'll just light another a little while later, and they'll get what they need. I guess one thing we need to know is if/how they are going to enforce this.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

Well, I thought that your link was going to tell me what places are smoke free. It didn't. I know all the ways to quit smoking. I have quit before and started back after 2 years. Actually I quit 3 times previously for 9-10 months when I was pregnant.

My dr. and I are discussing Chantix (which is how I stopped previously) but he wants to me to have a complete physical before he prescribes it and I haven't gone yet. So your link isn't giving me any information I don't already have. But you know, there are smokers that don't want to quit and all the giving of information in the world isn't going to change that. My dad smoked for a very long time. He tried to quit and then said "why do I want to be miserable? Sure I can live longer but for what? To feel like this?" So, he didn't quit. Don't assume that a smoker doesn't have the information just because they don't quit.

One of the points of my signature is that Florida has a campaign of helping smokers quit. I'm glad you and your Doc are talking about quitting. I wish you luck.

I had a good friend that recently died from COPD. It was not a pleasant way to die and it devastated her family.

 

[Hikergirl]

You are right, it is entitled inconsiderate jerks who don't abide by the rules. But if that many people were seen outside the DSAs, Disney was not enforcing the rules.

Not necessarily, maybe there were so many of those entitled jerks that Disney couldn't keep up with enforcement, and this ban is the way to deal with them.

 

[Jennifer Garay]

I like the people pushing their smoking is bad mmnkay agenda on here like having an addiction is so easy to quit. How about you try telling that to someone who is suffering from a heroin addiction. Or while you're at it, why don't you say disney shouldn't allow wheelchairs for those just morbidly obese. Those people should just be able to stop eating and workout and lose weight. Yes, smoking is bad for you, everyone knows it. A good majority of the smoking areas were out of the way (ie the one by tomorrowland speedway before the tron construction) and you would have to make it a point to be there to be affected. The people who didn't use those areas will continue to not use those areas. If disney doesn't give a crap to enforce it, people won't give a crap to obey it.

 

[Hikergirl]

I certainly can't speak for everyone's experiences, but on our trip this past January we did see several people smoking and CM's just walked right on by. Did they not see/smell the smokers? I don't know, but if even more are going to try to do it even more are going to get away with it. Besides, what do they have to lose? They get told to put it out? They'll just light another a little while later, and they'll get what they need. I guess one thing we need to know is if/how they are going to enforce this.

Since that remains to be seen we won't know if this will make a difference.
I'm optimistic that it will, that people will either be decent and not want to take the risk of being asked to leave the park so they won't light up in the parks, or that Disney takes a hard stance and actually removes smokers who get caught from the park.
I doubt it will stop every single one of them, but eventually over time it will just be how it is, most people will get used to it but there will the few that continue to disregard the rule. Those people will one day get their karma though so it evens out in the end.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

Not necessarily, maybe there were so many of those entitled jerks that Disney couldn't keep up with enforcement, and this ban is the way to deal with them.

Could be. It will take awhile for the ban to really show the full effect. There are many places that have gone smoke free and it has worked. Wonder if Universal will take it up as well.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Ever smoked? Ever had the urge to smoke? Its not just a "I want a cigarette" like "I want a brownie". Its an addiction. One of the strongest that there is. And for some their anxiety can get out of control from not having a smoke.

Ugh please please please don't try to school me on addiction. You must have missed my comment about being around smokers with my family and my best friend.

Also mentioned my grandmother stopped smoking after 67 years (can't remember if it was this thread or another). My uncle and my aunt stopped after god knows how many years because they couldn't get surgery they needed until they stopped, my husband's grandmother stopped smoking after many many years after a quintuple bypass, I've dated 2 guys that smoked, my one sister-in-law and her husband smoke although they for a time did vaping but have since switched back to cigarettes.

Unfortunately my best friend smoked during pregnancy and still continues to smoke.

To answer your question though no I've never smoked, no I've never had the urge to smoke and thankfully my husband and I are on the same page as that. But don't mistake that fact to mean I don't understand what smoking does to people and I'm not just talking about health. I witnessed it my whole life and still witness it now with my best friend and my sister-in-law and her husband whenever I see them.

I will say there could be a silver lining to moving the locations to outside the parks depending on where you're at inside the parks when you need a smoke break--- you'll get more steps in at the parks

Disney isn't going to miss me or my family. Its ok. We will go back. We just won't stay there or eat all our meals there. We will go to Orlando, split our time with the other parks or whatever and it will be ok.

I don't see how your park touring has to change based on how you said you did touring before. The only thing that changes is the length of time for the breaks. Maybe this is more about you're upset with the changes made on an emotional level not necessarily on a practical level since I don't see how the park touring has to change personally--I get it if that's the case though.

I didn't say Disney would or wouldn't miss you.

Of course it will be ok. Like I said there's a big world out there.

 

[Hikergirl]

Could be. It will take awhile for the ban to really show the full effect. There are many places that have gone smoke free and it has worked. Wonder if Universal will take it up as well.

It has worked around here for sure (at the local park I frequent), but it's been a few years since the ban went in to effect. There are those occasional people who will still try to hide their cigarette or their vaping, but that number really pales in comparison to the people who smoked before the ban.

 

[wenrob]

My thoughts as a smoker FWTW. Things change and you either adapt or you don’t. To be honest my first thought was, “Awe, crap” but was quickly followed by, “Eh, we’ll figure it out.”

I live in a city that can be pretty accommodating to smokers but even here it’s changed quite a bit. We were passing through a casino a couple weeks ago where it’s acceptable to smoke but it felt weird so I waited until we were outside. I’ve adapted to not smoking just anywhere so I’ll adapt to this. We tend to send our kids off to do something when we take a break anyway. The only things that would make me reconsider actually going are if I couldn’t have them on me at all or if I had to go all the way out to Harbor.(Disneyland) But we’re afternoon break takers so that might not be a big deal. I can live a few hours without but I’d be lying if I said it wouldn’t make me a little grumpy. The only other way I could see Disney losing my $$ is if there’s not somewhere to go from Downtown Disney where we prefer to eat. If I have to go from there, through the Esplanade and out past security I might as well keep going and find somewhere to eat outside the parks. People will adapt, though I think some will spend less time therefore less $$ in the Parks. Obviously Disney doesn’t think that will hurt too much if at all. It is what it is.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

It has worked around here for sure (at the local park I frequent), but it's been a few years since the ban went in to effect. There are those occasional people who will still try to hide their cigarette or their vaping, but that number really pales in comparison to the people who smoked before the ban.

We will be at Epcot on May 1 so will see how that rollout goes. DH likes to get a bass ale and people watch...he may have a show.

 

[BrianL]

People keep mentioning that they didn't enforce the DSAs but is that really what you mean?
OK maybe there weren't CMs walking around whose job was solely to catch smokers outside of those DSAs but are you all saying that if a CM saw someone smoking that they would just throw up their hands and say oh well and let them just smoke wherever?
The problem isn't with enforcement, the problem is with entitled inconsiderate jerks who don't abide by the rules, period. Now those people can just be told to leave the park to smoke, and hopefully every time they choose to do what they want they will be told to leave until eventually they won't bother to come back.

CMs would certainly ask guests that were smoking outside of a DSA to please refrain from doing so and direct them to the nearest DSA, but they didn't have any teeth. Most people probably immediately comply and maybe grumble about it, but there was no penalty. Nobody was kicked out, and if the guest ignored the directive completely there was nothing for a CM to do. Now, some seem to want "enforcement" at a higher level, but personally I prefer Disney's style when it comes to rules infractions, and that is to never escalate a situation. It will only make things worse to be confrontational with smokers, line jumpers, etc. The park will become about policing and may lead to ugly incidents. Now, if someone is continually flaunting the rules, maybe security should get involved, discretely - they are good at that too - but I wouldn't really want to see people getting tossed out for minor things. What purpose does it really serve? I'll just prefer to not let the few disagreeable people ruin my good time.

 

[Hrhpd]

Of course. But as I said before, I agree with those that said Disney could just enforce the DSAs. Also, I believe, as others have said, that people are more likely to light up just anywhere now since we all know the CM's aren't going to go to the trouble of stopping them. They could be making it worse instead of better. Imagine if they made line jumping against the rules...

If they kept the DSAs in the parks, they wouldn't benefit from being able to advertise smoke free parks, a definite perk for more and more people.

It is also easier to police when you can tell someone that there is no smoking in the parks period vs telling someone they have to go stand somewhere else in the park. It is the mindset that once you cross security, no more smoking vs "oh, smoking is allowed in the parks, I will just do it here since I don't know where the DSA is."