[Ready2Go]

Sorry.... missed Turnwrench's Thread http://www.mousebuzz.com/forum/wdw-r...moke-free.html posted earlier.


From: Walt Disney World hotels are going smoke-free starting June 1 - Orlando Sentinel : Business Newsletter

Walt Disney World hotels are going smoke-free starting June 1


Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted May 1, 2007, 9:31 AM EDT

In what company officials are calling the largest single-site resort complex to institute such smoking restrictions, Walt Disney World announced today it will ban smoking in all guest rooms, indoor public areas, balconies and other locations at all company-owned and -operated hotels, and all Disney Vacation Club resorts at Disney World. That is 20 properties altogether.

Smoking will be allowed in designated, outdoor smoking areas only.


"We make adjustments to our operations based on guest demand," Senior Vice President Erin Wallace said. "This policy complements our efforts to provide our guests with the healthy living options they are requesting."

Walt Disney Parks & Resorts initially banned smoking at Disneyland's three hotels in California last year but allowed smoking to continue at Disney World hotels because there was more demand from guests for smoking rooms at the Florida resort than at Disneyland. But apparently there was not enough demand.

During the last five years, guest demand for smoking rooms at the Walt Disney World Resort has been declining steadily. Currently, less than 3.5 percent of Walt Disney World's 24,000 resort rooms are smoking optional, Disney reported in a news release.

[Dopey]

I was gonna say

[emamasa]

hey - you just want to keep us informed, no reason to apologize for that!

[The Goof Father]

I guess chewing tabacky is still okay!








I am glad they are making this small step towards better health. I grew up in a smoke filled home and I find that even the tiniest whiffs of cigarette smoke can choke me up nowadays.

[chastmastr]

On the one hand I understand how frustrating it can be for smokers to not have much of a place to go. On the other hand, both my parents smoked a lot, a whole lot... and they both died of lung cancer in August and January.

[MissDisney]

Good! I am glad! I have allergies and asthma, and my kids are sensitive to it, also! I am so glad not to have to smell other peoples' smoke!!!

[chastmastr]

Not to mention, which is one of the reasons Florida restaurants and things went smoke-free a while back, that servers and people who work in the industry are being put at risk to work in that environment even if they are non-smokers themselves. I think the hazards of secondhand smoke have become much more known than they were years ago.

[Soundgod]

Yes, but leave the balconies alone. Balconies are already off the ground and the smoke only blows up and away.

[ak172]

I am a smoker and I can tell you that I think I would go NUTS if I could not smoke outside my room on the balcone as well. I dont smoke in my house, car or around inclosed areas where my child is. It will not bother me to not smoke in the parks because I am use to not smoking during the day but man at night and when I wake up that would be HARD! So, anyone know if they are going to allow you to smoke outside your room on the balcone?

[tiggermamma]

Originally Posted by chastmastr

On the one hand I understand how frustrating it can be for smokers to not have much of a place to go. On the other hand, both my parents smoked a lot, a whole lot... and they both died of lung cancer in August and January.

I'm so sorry about your parents. My neigbor was a heavy heavy smoker and died of lung cancer and I have 2 relatives with emphyzema (oxygen tanks 24/7 now) from smoking. But having said that, smokers need a place where they can relax and smoke. Depending on the balconies of the resorts, I've had ashed fall on my head (insert eeeewwwwwww here) from someone smoking above me so maybe that's not such a swish idea. But where ever the "lounge" is it shouldn't inconvenience anyone. That's not fair.

[Bama Rama]

We are non-smokers and on our last trip in January our non-smoking room at POP smelled like smoke every morning!!! You could tell that someone in a room around our room would smoke and it would start smelling up OUR room!!! It was strongest in the restroom. We would have to turn on our ventilation fan and leave it on just to get some relief!! It was horrible!!!

[2nd Star]

Originally Posted by Bama Rama

We are non-smokers and on our last trip in January our non-smoking room at POP smelled like smoke every morning!!! You could tell that someone in a room around our room would smoke and it would start smelling up OUR room!!! It was strongest in the restroom. We would have to turn on our ventilation fan and leave it on just to get some relief!! It was horrible!!!

Same for me on my trip in Feb. at POP.

[unamadreditre]

Originally Posted by ak172

I am a smoker and I can tell you that I think I would go NUTS if I could not smoke outside my room on the balcone as well. I dont smoke in my house, car or around inclosed areas where my child is. It will not bother me to not smoke in the parks because I am use to not smoking during the day but man at night and when I wake up that would be HARD! So, anyone know if they are going to allow you to smoke outside your room on the balcone?

I'm pretty sure the non-smoking ban applies to the balconies. It does for sure in Disneyland.

[unamadreditre]

Here's a link to a yahoo news article: Disney World hotels to ban smoking - Yahoo! News
It says you can't smoke on patio, balconies or rooms. Sorry.

Disney World hotels to ban smoking

By JIM ELLIS, Associated Press WriterThu May 3, 11:07 AM ET

Kath Petchey, a cigarette smoker for 32 years, lit up freely as she walked with her husband along Downtown Disney's shopping district.

But if the Petcheys, from England, want to stay in a Disney hotel on their next visit, Kath Petchey won't be allowed to smoke in her room, balcony or patio.

The ban, effective June 1, permits smoking at designated outdoor areas. It extends to all the Walt Disney Co.'s 22 hotels and time-share resorts.

"Disney is being a bit of a drama queen." Kath Petchey said between drags of her cigarette.

Disney, however, is simply responding to demand from their guests, the theme park's spokesman Jacob DiPietre said Wednesday.

The transition to become smoke-free will allow Disney to better accommodate the increasing number of guests requesting nonsmoking hotel rooms, DiPietre said.

The ban follows a 2000 measure that restricted smoking throughout Disney's theme and water parks, limiting smoking to designated areas, DiPietre said.

"We're focused on responding to what our guests are asking for and our guests are overwhelmingly asking for smoke-free rooms," DiPietre said. "The number of guests requesting smoking rooms has declined dramatically in recent years."

DiPietre could not provide figures tracking the decline, but said it has been "significant."

Less than 4 percent of Disney's more than 24,000 hotel rooms are currently smoking optional, DiPietre said.

Guests caught smoking after the ban could face cleaning surcharges as high as $500, DiPietre said.

If Disney does not have the demand for smoking rooms, then the theme park should reduce the number of smoking rooms available — not ban smoking rooms altogether, said Gary Nolan, U.S. regional director of The Smoker's Club, a smoker's rights group.

"Disney is going to send money elsewhere," Nolan said.

Abraham Pizam, dean of the Rosen College of Hospitality at the University of Central Florida sees Disney's smoking ban as a positive move.

The odor from smoke lingers long after the smoker has checked out of the room — even permeating to nonsmoking rooms, Pizam said.

"Nonsmokers are really belligerent," Pizam said. "They want a smoke-free environment and they don't want to be affected by second hand smoke."

Some hotels located on Disney property are not owned by the theme park and will still offer smoking rooms after Disney's ban takes effect next month.

The 17-floor Royal Plaza hotel, for example, offers its 4th floor to smokers.

Not all smokers are upset with the ban.

Samip Bhavsar, of San Jose Calif., was taking a smoke break Wednesday outside Disney's Coronado Springs Resort, where Bhavsar was staying in a nonsmoking room.

"(The ban) doesn't bother me at all," he said. "(I only smoke) when I travel or when I'm with friends."

[Dana]

Originally Posted by Bama Rama

We are non-smokers and on our last trip in January our non-smoking room at POP smelled like smoke every morning!!! You could tell that someone in a room around our room would smoke and it would start smelling up OUR room!!! It was strongest in the restroom. We would have to turn on our ventilation fan and leave it on just to get some relief!! It was horrible!!!

I wonder how much more of that you will see now that there won't be any smoking rooms at all. I really think WDW is making a mistake with this one. I see how people break every other "rule" at WDW....why would they stop at smoking in the rooms? Hello....have you ever noticed the people who walk around the parks smoking even though there are designated areas? Why would they not smoke in a room and think that air freshner will "hide" it? I am going to be VERY interested to see how this plays out.