Those who smoke are slowly being pushed out of Disney. If Disney doesn’t want smokers there, they should just say there’s no smoking. If they take money from smokers and lead them to believe they will be accommodated, they should do that. The primary challenge is that no matter if it’s at the parks or at the resorts, the areas they choose to be designated for smokers makes ZERO sense.
Disney has taken away smoking areas inside the parks that were in good locations. Ones that were totally out of view and away from anyone walking by. Then, they moved the smoking areas far outside the parks, but some are in spots that families must walk by to get to buses, etc. Smokers don’t like it when non-smokers fake cough as they walk by, (Disney is who put them there after all), and non-smokers don’t want to be forced to walk so close they smell smoke.
To make matters worse, Disney reduced the available seating at the already reduced number of smoking areas available. And if that’s not enough, the one at Magic Kingdom is dark and so far away from security, I would not feel safe out there alone.
This is one of the smoking areas at Coronado Springs…
The area is pretty, right? But it’s where people — non smoking ones — walk by with their kids. Last year, there were 2 benches and 3 or 4 Adirondack chairs in this same spot.
This year, there was one small bench that’s in the direct sun for the biggest part of the day. Smoking areas are packed with no place to sit (or even stand sometimes), so people are sneaking smokes and vaping in areas that are not designated as such.
Was it an armed robbery or some equally horrible crime?
Every single year, one of the EXPO vendors gives out hand-rolled cigars. Near one small bar area is a section that’s well below the walkway, and it’s where many of the VIPs and event organizers gather at the end of each day (me included at times). This year, some lit those cigars they received as gifts… just like they’ve done every single year to date — (my brother smoked it up with the rest of them) and it was all good.
The next night is when the trouble started.
Frank spent over $3 million bucks with Disney for convention services and catering — not to mention he booked around 1500 rooms and has already signed a contract for the next event. He was pretty pissed when a young Coronado Springs security officer came at him with an attitude about his cigar that night.
He asked Mr. Security to check with his superiors… stating the group had permission to commandeer that area, enjoy cigars, alcohol, and finger foods. Mr. Big Shot Security instead called the Orange County police. Uniformed officers arrived in force and Frank was escorted to his room (after being threatened with jail).
BIG APOLOGIES came from much higher up the next day, but the event experience was still in the shitter by then. You can be served alcohol to the point you’re pretty darned intoxicated at the resorts and the parks, and you can wander around anywhere you please. But you can’t smoke or use a vape without walking 500 miles. (I’d be fine if both were eliminated.)
For the record, Perry smoked where it was allowed. 🙂
I would like to tell Disney to SERVE all visitors and provide a comfortable environment for all guests. They cater to all genders and all ages — as they should — but that same service should be provided to everyone that purchases a room or a park ticket.
- Create appropriate areas with better seating options for those who choose to smoke AWAY from those who don’t.
- And PULEASE… place an age restriction on the smoking areas. People puffing while holding their kids is unacceptable.
- Simply put up a sign that says, “no one under X age allowed in smoking area.” It would be easier to police that than trying to catch smokers hiding all over the place.
Not cool, Disney and every Disney resort. FIX IT!
As an aside, I was bitching about this same stuff in 2021 — you can read my rants HERE and HERE.