2007 Smoking Policy

Since the year is now winding down, do you think the new policy was successful, or was it too restrictive on those who smoke?

I don't see how it could be restrictive on those who smoke since it was rarely (if ever) enforced. The policy seemed like a big joke to me.

It was a complete failure. Zero signage telling people about the new policy, combined with zero enforcement results in zero success.

I said it in March/April and I'll say it again. Cedar Point (before this season) had a no smoking policy in place regarding all queue lines. That has never been sufficiently enforced. Just like the real world, there is no point in creating more rules (laws) if you can't/won't enforce the ones that already exist.

This was nothing more than a PR ploy.

I assumed along with you JL that what you say has happened would be the case. They want to appear to be enforcing it, but then again they don't want to ire the smokers at the same time. The bottom line is that they need customers.

Not once have I seen it actively enforced this season.

A few weekends ago, there was a couple standing outside Red Garter, with 2 CP Police less than 10 feet away, and a "designated smoking section" 40 feet in the other direction.

Did the police say anything? Nah. At least not until after they were almost finished, and one of them pointed it out to the other guy, and sent him over to tell them that "next time..."

Oh, let's not forget on opening weekend - our group was in the park walking out after close, and spotted an employee, shirt un-tucked, strolling the midway under TTD with a lit cig cupped in his hand. When he saw "tha 5-0" coming his way, he immediately flug his CP shirt off, balled it up, and his it behind his back. Did they say anything to him about his lit cigarette? nah.

I usually have no problem with smokers, never have been like a lot of people who complain about them, but the fact of the matter is - either enforce the rule, or get rid of it. It might be good PR to say you're going "smoke free", but unless you let people know, it's a pointless rule.

Nope, I had no problem smoking where I wanted and when I wanted. Although I did hide my cigarette beneath the handle of a stroller most of the time. Not once did I have anyone say anything to me about it unless you count my wife saying "you cant do that" to which I reply "watch me". All I have to say is its an open air atmosphere and unless its inside of a building or in a cue line then whats the problem? If you dont want the smoke, walk around. At least I wouldnt blow smoke directly into someones face.

Great attitude there, buddy. :rolleyes:

And it is private property and if they want to say you can only smoke in designated areas, then you smoke in designated areas instead of giving all smokers a bad name by being the ass that everyone remembers.

And do I need to mention that the only thing worse than see a smoker ignore the rules is seeing a smoker ignoring the rules while pushing a stroller?

*** Edited 9/24/2007 6:54:35 PM UTC by JuggaLotus***

As a worker this past summer I will say that a lot of employees just didn't care to enforce it, and a lot of the reason was because the smokers just didn't care. That didn't stop me from trying to enforce it, but believe me, I got quite a few "that's complete bull sh*t!" from guests. For the ones that weren't courteous there were one or two that were decent about it though. Another problem is that management just didn't want to put up a lot of signage about the policy. Quite a number of employees told management that guests just were not paying attention to the notice in the map and were constantly telling us that they had no clue that notice was even on the map until we pointed out. And you know what, management just shrugged it off in every experience that I had and know about. There seemed to be a double standard with management on this issue. If you were seen near a smoker and failed to enforce the policy, you would most likely get quite a verbal warning; yet management seems reluctant to put anything up that will make the policy noticeable to our guests. While we (the seasonals) were at fault, as a worker I also feel that management was at fault for lacking the initiative to do anything about it beyond disciplining us. We can't spend our entire day constantly on the lookout for smokers when we're trying to pay attention to our rides and the safety of those guests. Please, put noticeably large signage at all of the entrances and throughout the park. *** Edited 9/24/2007 7:00:19 PM UTC by BlueStreak64***

speedys_id said:
Nope, I had no problem smoking where I wanted and when I wanted. Although I did hide my cigarette beneath the handle of a stroller most of the time.

Oh Good... get it out of the air, and closer to the young child... perfect.

I agree with Mike. I think a big problem was that a lot of people simply were not aware of the policy to begin with. I know many of the people on my crew did their part to enforce the smoking policy the best we could. Most of the times I confronted someone who was smoking, they were unaware of the policy. Then of course there were the people with the attitude, like speedys_id, that felt they did not need to follow a simple rule. I think it was these kind of people that would deter some employees from enforcing. There were a few employees that I would talk to that would ask me why they should bother enforcing when there were people they would confront and after walking away would only light back up.

I personally think that the problem would be solved if the park would do more to let the guests know of the policy and if it were better enforced by the employees. Even with the attitude of speedys_id, I'm sure that if there were employees to confront them over and over and over again, they would eventually get the hint.

I noticed a couple of gold-tags walk past smokers when we were there on bonus weekend. Any change like this HAS to start with management. They cannot ignore violations and yet expect the regular workers to do the same.

3 things need to change for next year if they plan to keep this policy in place.

1 - Signage. Putting signs at the smoking areas noting them as the designated smoking areas does NOT tell people that there is no smoking elsewhere. Giant banners at all entrances as well as no-smoking signs along the midways DO tell people.

2 - Queues. The queues have been smoke free for years now, yet the enforcement has been lax. During the busiest times, plan to have security at your busiest rides monitoring the queue. This will add to the overall safety of the park (not that they have a safety issue). Security can not only keep an eye out for smokers, they can help with line-jumping and general crowd control.

3 - Enforcement. From beginning of May to the end of October, every member of the team needs to be a part of enforcement. If the regular employees see the managers enforcing the rule, they will also enforce it. When you see management ignoring it, you have no incentive to follow through on your own.

It will be interesting to see if Cedar Point makes the improvements necessary to better enforce this rule.

Out of all the CF parks I have been to (all of the Ohio parks) the policy was not effective, no one followed it. Most employees did not enforce it either.

speedys_id said:
Nope, I had no problem smoking where I wanted and when I wanted. Although I did hide my cigarette beneath the handle of a stroller most of the time. Not once did I have anyone say anything to me about it unless you count my wife saying "you cant do that" to which I reply "watch me". All I have to say is its an open air atmosphere and unless its inside of a building or in a cue line then whats the problem? If you dont want the smoke, walk around. At least I wouldnt blow smoke directly into someones face.

I worked at Michigan's Adventure this year. When we went through orientation the group I was with was told we were not allowed to say anything to any person who was smoking in the park. I saw so many people walking around smoking. It mad me sick. A few people did ask me about the smoking policies and I directed them to the proper designated smoking areas. Way to go to the people who follow the rules. And a big 'you suck' to those who blatantly disobey them.

It sounds like a big "you suck" should go out to management as well for not giving the employees the power to enforce a park rule.

I never thought I'd see the day when Six Flags boots patrons from their parks for smoking while Cedar Fair's management does nothing. I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and say this year was a transition year. If they continue to do nothing in 2008, I'll be very disappointed.

speedys_id said:
All I have to say is its an open air atmosphere and unless its inside of a building or in a cue line then whats the problem?

I think the problem has less to do with the second hand smoke (although it is nasty to catch a cloud of it in your face) and more to do with careless people not watching their lit cigarettes. Those midways get crowded, and I've come close to getting burned several times, and I've heard from lots of people who have been burned by smokers not watching out.

As for enforcement, it's tricky for sure. As others have mentioned, it's pretty common to get a less than courteous response. We make people put out their cigarettes before they come in the gates if they have them lit, and tell them we're a smoke free park. About 75% of the time, they walk 10 feet past the gate and light up again. So I think the problem stems from lack of enforcement (largely due to fear of confrontation), lack of signage, and some smokers simply not caring about the rules or common courtesy. Note: I certainly don't include all smokers in that category. There are many who follow the rules and use designated areas.

speedys_id said:
Nope, I had no problem smoking where I wanted and when I wanted. Although I did hide my cigarette beneath the handle of a stroller most of the time. Not once did I have anyone say anything to me about it unless you count my wife saying "you cant do that" to which I reply "watch me". All I have to say is its an open air atmosphere and unless its inside of a building or in a cue line then whats the problem? If you dont want the smoke, walk around. At least I wouldnt blow smoke directly into someones face.

But this attitude shows it doesn't matter how many signs you place with some people. They knew the rule & didn't feel obligated to follow it. I think it will be a long time before people in general obey smoking rules. Many believe it violates their personal rights, so someone that normally obeys laws may feel they can stand on principle.They will not concede that their smoking violates the right of someone else to breath smoke free air. It's something they have been allowed to do for a long time & it just doesn't sit well with them that it is no longer allowed.

I can empathize with how hard it is to break habits you've had a long time. The only time I get annoyed with those that smoke at the park is when they do it in line & I can't get away from it as I have smoke induced asthma. Well, also when children are unwilling victims of smoke inhalation from parents.

^ That's why I love to read that Six Flags is now giving customers like speedys_id the boot without a refund. Maybe then people like him will think twice before blatantly disregarding posted rules and regulations.

Everyone that I told about the smoking policy seemed to be nice about it, I can only remember two angry guests all summer concerning the policy. Even people coming through the gate didn't seem to mind putting theirs out. Most people I knew from working there, said they 'only told people to put their cigarettes out only if someone else told them to'. And it's because theres a lot of employees who aren't comfortable going up to guests like that.