Disney is banning smoking areas in all its theme and water parks across America
Disney is reportedly going to ban smoking areas in all of its theme and water parks in the United States. There will no longer be any lighting of cigarettes allowed at Disneyland in Los Angeles, California, or Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
It is also being reported that smoking will also be banned in at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex since it falls under Walt Disney World or Downtown Disney in California. The ban on smoking will also include vaping as a rule.
Disney has said that the ban on smoking is slated to start from May 1 and that there will still continue to be designated smoking areas available outside the parks and entertainment areas. They also said that Disney Springs, the outdoor shopping complex in Walt Disney World, along with the company's hotels will also continue to have smoking areas.
According to Daily Mail, smoking has already been banned from Disney hotel rooms and balconies, but the resorts still have designated smoking areas. However, no announcements have been made yet for Disney's international parks, which includes Paris, Hong Kong, Tokyo, and China.
Spokesman Erica Ettori told Orlando Sentinel that enforcement of the ban will be left up to Disney employees. She also said that the company's employees have been trained to politely ask those who are lighting up inside the park to go to the designated areas outside the entrance.
The people sent out to smoke will be allowed back in once they have finished. She further added that if any visitor is caught smoking inside the park, they will not be punished.
The smoking ban isn't the only change being rolled out across Disney parks this year. The company has also announced that it is banning oversized strollers, and that parks will also stop allowing families to bring loose or dry ice for coolers or cooler bags.
The company recommended that visitors keep their items cool with reusable ice packs and noted that all quick-service restaurants give out free cups of ice for coolers. With its new set of rules and changes, Disney hopes to free up space as the theme parks become more crowded and, in the case of the ice, speed up the bag check process.
