Disney Paris still allows SMOKING all in the park
Disneyland Paris: This was sad to stand in line for Its A Small World with my 18 month old daughter and to have Europeans disregard the signs.
Disney Paris still alows SMOKING all in the park. This was sad to stand in line for Its A Small World with my 18 month old daughter and to have Europeans disregard the sighs. Unlike Disney World where there is sections to smoke, Paris Disney everywhere you walk there is smokers.
The rest of the park was nice, some diffrences, Pirates new story line in French. Haunted Mansion is at a wedding. Space Mountain is totaly dark and does a few 360. A fun day out my daughter loved Its A Small World we went twice. May 21, 2008
There is very little areas in Europe that ban smoking, but they are coming. They can barely get Europeans outside of British to come so it would be really bad to ban smoking at this time. Yeah, it really stinks (no pun intended), but thats Europe for ya!
From steve lee
Posted June 3, 2008 at 2:02 PM
I'm confused here. You said they were ignoring the signs. What signs are you referring to? Because if there's signs saying that you shouldn't smoke in a queue, then you can't really say they allow it (enforcement is an entirely different issue).
I think he means Sighs (like he was groaning about the rude smoker). Again, its just a European thing, but bans have started to gain ground, especially in Paris so its only a matter of time!
I had to read it again to get Sighs out of Signs. Maybe I read it wrong too!
From steve lee
Posted June 4, 2008 at 2:22 PM
The article headline had "signs," and the main body had "sighs." If the OP meant "sighs," then I guess you can ignore my previous post.
From Rob P
Posted June 6, 2008 at 1:54 AM
Nothing worse than being stuck in line with smokers.
They shouldn't need a sign to tell you not to smoke in line anyway. It's just bad form and bad manners.
I am surprised at Disney allowing it, whether or not it's in Paris, and if they believe that they'll lose visitors to the Park if they introduce and enforce a few simple rules regarding common courtesy then imho that's just absurd.
Anyway , for the record , I'm a Londoner who'd rather walk to Orlando than go to DL Paris.
From Gareth H
Posted June 6, 2008 at 4:32 AM
Good old Brits.
Now in England you can't smoke in pubs anymore, which have upset a lot of people, but people are adapting and pubs are building beers gardens to help (Although anyone who knows Blighty is aware that Beer Gardens are great for the 2 week summer (lol) but bad the rest of the year.
France is a little more laid back at the moment, but things will change at some point. Go in any Cafe in France and you'll stuggle to see through the smoke.
Last time I went to France, didn't really have much trouble with the smoking. Didn't go to Disney, but I just couldn't help but add that anyway. I'm sure people smoke in line. It annoys me to no end, and I agree wholeheartedly that it's common courtesy not to smoke when in line with other people.
Even so, when you're stuck in line for an hour to ride a two minute ride, sometimes you just gotta break 'em out.
I've been behind smokers on several attractions here in America, too. You'd be surprised.
From Rob P
Posted June 9, 2008 at 2:50 AM
.......and I was reminded of something I hadn't really taken in before (being a non-smoker) is that there are designated areas at Disney for people to go satisfy that habit.
I think that anyone who knows that they can't last out the advertised wait time should go get a quick fix in one of those areas before joining the line.
That's a 2 hour max wait time plus the ride itself so that in itself is worrying.
From Jason K
Posted June 9, 2008 at 9:46 AM
I think it's very selfish of those that smoke in lines for rides aimed at young kids. Last time I was in the line for Peter Pan at Paris with my youngsters, people would just light up. The worst part is that you can't walk away or you lose your place.
well being a smoker im slightly offended by these comments not all smokers are bad and inconsiderate when i want to smoke i will hunt out a little area of park where there is no body else about and smoke there, i must say i find pushchair wielding maniacs who think they have right of way over everyone far more troublesome than smokers!
You are very right hannah, but after going to Disneyland Paris, most of the guests are extremly rude so the rude smoker would not be too out of the ordinary at DLP. Still, you should not be smoking in line and you know that! You have some common sense, but I think this a cultural thing since Americans have pretty much gone out and banned smoking.
BTW, the way it works at the US Disney Parks is that there are special areas for smoking. Thats how it works in many places. If you smoke at Six Flags Great America in line, you get thrown out of the park.
Again, if they banned smoking, I think many Europeans would never come to the park. They are struggling as it is! In fact, is probably one of the most convient Disney Park to get to!
There's so much smoke at Disneyland Paris, I'm looking out at the park as I write this, and it's so thick you could literally walk on it over Guest's heads. I have noticed brave Disney managers diplomatically trying to get Guests at the Disneyland Parc not to smoke, but it's particularly bad at the Studios Park where I have never seen any attempt at information (signage) or advisement from Cast.
While waiting for a studio parade, I actually tried counting while waiting an hour for step-off. Within a 25ft radius, essentially 100% of the guests were smoking at one point or another.
My friends at the park say that, amazingly, it's actually against French national law, not just park rules, to smoke in the park except in designated areas. I have been working in and out of Paris for twenty years, and I can say that my perception of French smoking is lower now than 20 years ago, and continue downward, but contrary to this I find the parks smokier now than five years ago.
It's probably related to the customs of the changing Guest geographical distribution at the DLP Resort (the key markets are Spain and Italy now) and guests from those countries simply unaware of the French national law.
^You do realize that is in Europe not America right? Many, many people in Europe still smoke a lot and it is crazy to put a no-smoking park in Paris.
I hate smoking just as much as the other guy, but it is part of their culture.
I was at WDW a few weeks ago and I was completely gob-smacked by the people disregarding the designated smoking areas. I was behind one classy lass who was cagey enough to attempt to conceal her cigarette with her hand. I truly think there are people out there who think rules are for the hoi-polloi and they are exempt from them.
So, it happens everywhere.
From Rob P
Posted September 6, 2010 at 12:55 AM
Well said Jennifer.
Not wishing to nit pick but , just in case we Brits get confused with our Continental European friends, we have smoking bans in most public places here in England. Except, of course, for the crowds of nicotine junkies blocking the entrances to all the office buildings and the huddled masses satisfying their needs up against the walls of restaurants and bars. Normally in the wind and rain.
As a lifelong non-smoker and one who is totally anti smoking
( having seen what it can do to families ) I think it's abhorrent that they allow it to continue in Public places like our theme parks ( special areas excepted ).
Maybe they should have to pass through a "smokers only " turnstile where Mickey Mouse nicotine patches are slapped on their foreheads as they enter.
You know, as a smoker I can say one thing. At least in most parks around the US, we'll smoke just about anyplace. Some of us are nice enough to go to the designated smoker areas and some won't. If I'm to far from a smoking area I'll find myself a hiding hole as far away as possible from other people if I really want a cigarette. This normally isn't a problem but some parks don't have many smoking areas. The mentality is this: I'm outside, I'm out of the way, I'm bugging no one so I'll have a cigarette.
Now with that being said, say you do run into someone smoking in your way. If your polite, we're polite. If you ask me nicely to please not smoke someplace (Even a designated smoking area) because you either don't like it or happen to be allergic to it, I'm perfectly happy to accommodate you. Why? You asked me nicely. If you get rude or snide with me, I'm going to purposely ignore you. Why? Your being nasty.
One the other side of this coin, you have non-smokers who will purposely walk threw a smokers area then complain. This drives me bonkers.
I chose to smoke, that's my right to make that choice the same way it's your right to chose not to smoke. With that being said, it's no one right to take that away from anyone.
Remember your basic manners, almost every single person.. smoker or non-smoker, tall or short, big or small.. responds to it.
Ms. Wood writes: I was at WDW a few weeks ago and I was completely gob-smacked by the people disregarding the designated smoking areas. I was behind one classy lass who was cagey enough to attempt to conceal her cigarette with her hand.
I respond: I have to disagree. If there are people smoking in the non-designated areas of the park it is VERY MUCH the exception to the rule.
Further, the origin of this thread discusses an anecdote regarding a guest smoking in a queue. As a guy who visits the WDW parks at least a dozen times a year I can't think of a single time I have been in a queue where someone is smoking.
From Ryan B
Posted September 7, 2010 at 5:24 AM
It's pretty rude of you, actually, to go to another country to sigh and roll your eyes at their culture. This is also the first Magic Kingdom to allow alcohol with meals. Read before you leave?
I actually think that Smoking is banned at DLP now, but I am not sure. I do know that you can't smoke in a Paris Cafe anymore!
@TH
You said "Further, the origin of this thread discusses an anecdote regarding a guest smoking in a queue. As a guy who visits the WDW parks at least a dozen times a year I can't think of a single time I have been in a queue where someone is smoking."
Well yes, because most of us who are smokers are not that completely inconsiderate.
In another country though you can't expect anything to be as you thought, a lot of Europeans smoke. Their laws aren't the same as ours and it's entirely possible that the people visiting DLP have the same exact mentality that the US smokers did about ten years ago. The "I'm a smoker, I'm outside so stop complaining". I don't know, I've never been there but it's a plausible guess.
Chances are that they find many American customs obnoxious or irritating, as well. And that's what this is all about. People aren't actually concerned about their health. The occasional encounter with second-hand smoke while outdoors isn't going to hurt you nearly as much as that counter service food you ate for lunch.
^Joshua, second-hand smoke is MUCH WORSE than fast food. Nobody will die from a meal or two that is fast food, but second-hand smoke is like smoking yourself. Trust me this is not something you want to argue about with me.
I'm not talking about second-hand smoke exposure as a result of living or working in a smoking environment. I'm talking about walking in the open air past the occasional smoker.
I have not chimed in on this one, but as a former smoker that is married to a smoker I think I can relate to both sides. I hate it when people ignore the smoking sections. My wife is not one of them. If you travel across the US, you will find various smoking norms. I think that the TPI members can attest to the fact that smoking regs are vastly different in the East, West, and Midwest. This also applies to other countries. We cannot apply our standards on everyone. I wish we could all agree on where and when to smoke, but it will be a long drawn out process that may never actually happen. As others have said, if you let people know your preferences politely people will usually respond. Approach them with vengeance; you will hit a brick wall.
Nobody will die from a fast food meal or two, and nobody will die from passing a smoker or two outside. People will die younger from a life of fast food however, and will die younger from a life of passive smoking, fact.
However the rules are as follows for DLP:
No Smoking at all attractions, queue areas, restaurants, boutiques, indoor and covered areas. Now all enforced by French law. There are designated smoking areas in the park. There is no need to smoke in queues with children.
So people should respect the laws.
(I'm from Ireland - and there has been a smoking ban in public places for several years. I think its brilliant.)
Sometimes people from the US dont realise that there are numerous countries in Europe - all very different.
Disney does allow smoking, in designated areas.
we were there in august 2010, it is dreadful people smoking everywhere, it looks really bad and give a bad inpression to visitors, it should be banned at all disney parks everywhere. !!!!!
The unfortunate thing is that people are slaves to their cigarettes and some of the people don't care that smoking bothers other people and can harm other people.
Smokers' Paradise!. Just got back from DL Paris. I thought the couple of comments I read about smoking prior to our trip were those of overzealous Brits (I am also a Brit) who are used to basking in smoke-free zones. Unfortunately it was much worse than I imagined. The smoke and smell were so all-pervasive that I was coughing and had a sore throat all through our 2-day visit. My daughter could not stand the smell either. Of course the French, italians and Spanish are used to smoking pretty much anywhere, but the Brits did enjoy themselves too, smoking as they walked around. The Brits do tend to have a bit of consideration (guilt?) though and did not smoke in the lines or restaurants. I saw smokers in several lines despite the one or two small signs there telling them they would be fined 68 Euros. I was close enough to 3 smokers to ask them to stop (all French/Spanish/Italian). All reacted with huge shock as though I had just grabbed their security blanket. What was shocking to me was that the people around them said nothing. The first, a guy, stubbed it out there and then. The second a young woman, pretended to stop, but continued. The third, refused to stop. What is it coming to that they both ignore the fine and the people around them, while waiting to go on a kiddies ride? In the restaurant they smoked too. In Last Chance Cafe in DL there were 3 smoking (2 together) and one smoking a stinking cheroot next to his little kids. It was plain to see in the empty restaurant, but I told the staff anyway. They reluctantly told the couple, who reacted as if someone had told them Santa did not exit. The cheroot smoker saw this but was not approached carried on craftily. We gave up. Then another couple arrived and started stinking the place up, right in front of 2 staff members, who completely ignored them. Mostly as my daughter and I went into a queue, the people in front stubbed out their fags (UK meaning) and we stood for 30 minutes or so in their smoke cloud. Let's not forget, apart from the immediate effect on those around them (me for instance), smoking stinks. As Steve Martin says when asked (lucky him!) do you mind if I smoke, he responds, "Do you mind if I fart?" Anyone going around making a deliberate stink is doing something anti-social. I complained to one of the cast members. He thought I was asking where I could smoke. he said, Oh smoke anywhere you like! I then complained to Guest Relations in Studios (where it was worse) and I got a sympathetic reply, saying that Europeans (hey, I'm one too) are not able to adapt to a non-smoking environment. i said, but isn't it against the law in France. He said yes it was. Seems France is more interested in imposing laws to stop 300 women in the country wearing the veil than enforcing a law which will protect public health and stop Pairs stinking. The solution? Well, I have to say that I saw NO SIGNS (except in the lines) reminding people not to smoke and the cast members could obviously try harder - big signs at the gates and being told there as they enter not to smoke - and more signs and follow-up inside. Then I will thin about going back. I don't hold out more hope though, Disney is too keen to have a laissez-faire attitude to adults than to protect kids from the stink and smoke.
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