Designated Smoking Areas

As a non smoker, I’m a little shocked by the number of users on this site who are so ironfisted when it comes to not wanting smokers to have their own little, out of the way area to smoke. I can’t remeber ever being put off by the current setup. Say the park creates designated smoking areas right outside the four park entrances. How long would it be until that isn’t acceptable either? Not long, based on what I’ve heard, if I had to take a guess.

GoBucks89 said:

Its interesting because I mentioned lower socioeconomic groups (not as you refer to it in terms of low class, immoral, undesirable, poor people) but to say that it may well be the case that people who frequent CP smoke in higher numbers than the general population.

The horse is dead at this point, but I wanted to push back on this specifically.

I never referred to that group as anything even a little close to "low class, immoral". I have consistently viewed this issue from a business perspective. That is, the goal of the park should be to maximize profit, which inevitably leads to generating as much revenue from as few guests as possible, which leads to trying to get certain types of guest into the park over other types. Yes, in this case that means preferring non-smokers over smokers, simply because there is a statistical correlation to higher disposable income over less disposable income, respectively.

You're the one who brought the morality baggage into the conversation.

CPVet said:

...I’m a little shocked by the number of users on this site who are so ironfisted when it comes to not wanting smokers to have their own little, out of the way area to smoke.

Meh, see above response. It's not personal. I view it as a business decision, period. It comes down to one simple thing - that land could be put to better use by the park.

WalMart doesn't allow smoking in the store. I have never seen anyone smoking in Walmart.

Meijer doesn't allow smoking in the store. I have never seen anyone smoking in Meijer.

Cedar Point doesn't allow smoking in the park. I always see people smoking in the park. (in non designated areas)

As a guest, I'm not going to go up to a smoker to tell them to put it out. I don't want that type of confrontation at a place I go to to relax and enjoy myself. If Cedar Point wants to be non-smoking, their employees, not just security, should be enforcing this rule.

Here’s the thing....WalMart and Meijer are indoor establishments.

If you don’t think employees haven’t tried enforcing the designated smoking area policy, you’re dead wrong.

That is all

I've posted this before, but I was a former employee. It's hard to enforce the smoking policy with guests who don't want to listen / follow the smoking policy. An employee can tell the guest about the smoking policy and inform them where they can smoke. However, 10 seconds after we leave, they light up again. I've been told the " But I'm not smoking" lie while they try to hide their lit cigarette behind them even though you can see the smoke coming from their hands...

^ Exactly this. Or how about the pissed off guest that doesn’t want to walk the 50 yards and flicks a cigarette at you. Has happened a few times to me, no matter how much you sugar coat it.

The smell of the Cig. or the person's breath can get me sick. All the Smoking Areas are by a Coaster or ride. I can smell them going down the hill of the M. Force or when you are stopped on the Maverick. I don't want to be that bad, but check their pockets and fanny packs before they enter the park. If the Security Finds them. They will have to take their smokes to their cars. It is just like at the bars or casino for person's ID to see if they are 21 and able to get in. I am 39 and they check my ID at the Casino.

^ Ahh, the smells of CP. Dead fish aroma along beach, rotting piles of midges in the sun, horrible smell of armpits from ride op who doesn't shower checking restraints, disgusting dumpster aroma below Blue Streak, whatever that odor is near Panda Express. Occasional wacky tobaccy aroma from discreet locations.

Then there is the sweet smell of bacon near Pinks, the BBQ from Famous Daves, steam from CPLERR, kettle of popcorn along Frontier Trail, sweets & sugar near candy store, food trucks, even the electric char from Dodgem, grease from various lift-hills.

Smoking areas do not seem to bother me, they may bother some. Certain Vape flavors actually smell good.

The only smell by Panda Express I’ve ever noticed is that delicious smell of orange chicken/garlic while waiting in line for MF.

TwistedWicker77 said:
^ Exactly this. Or how about the pissed off guest that doesn’t want to walk the 50 yards and flicks a cigarette at you. Has happened a few times to me, no matter how much you sugar coat it.

Or the guests who ignore you and keep walking, or the guests who blow smoke in your face and tell you to go $#@& yourself.

SO what course of action does an employee have for smokers blowing smoke in their face or ignoring their direction about smoking areas? Can cp police or security even do anything?
It’s the same for line jumpers who don’t listen, “oh well guess they can do it since they didn’t listen”

People who smoke in line are the absolute worst, because there's nothing you can do to get away from it (other than leaving the line, obviously). Last year there were a couple people just a few feet behind my group smoking in the "tunnel" portion of the SV line and it was awful.

I agree with cpki310, the people that should be enforcing this rule is cedar point, but they don't. Hey Tony, it is time for Cedar Point to step up to the plate and put an end to this.

Put this on the white board for you next meeting.

GL2CP said:
SO what course of action does an employee have for smokers blowing smoke in their face or ignoring their direction about smoking areas? Can cp police or security even do anything?
It’s the same for line jumpers who don’t listen, “oh well guess they can do it since they didn’t listen”

What makes you think CP Police/security can’t do anything once an employee has been violated? The answer is, yes. Perhaps the park should be patrolled by more security to enforce the no smoking policy.

In terms of line jumpers, if an employee witnessed somebody line jumping and didn’t do anything about it, that is just simply a lazy/poor performing employee. If they did and the line jumper becomes irate, proper protocol would be to contact security. If it wasn’t seen by an employee, it then becomes your word against theirs, and in turn, there really is nothing you can do.

Why does everyone (and by everyone I mean JustCoasting and maybe one or two others) act as if Tony is the Vice President of every department at the park and makes all of the decisions regarding literally everything.

^Wait... so his title isn't "Tony Clark, Supreme Coaster Chancellor, Lord of Line Skippies, Herder of Enthusiasts, Master of Midways, All-Seeing Cedar Point Overlord?" (long may he reign)

Meanwhile, upstairs in the Coliseum....disenfranchised enthusiasts make their plea...

djDaemon said:
The smoking areas individually may be small, but taken in aggregate that space could be put to better use. Heck, simply planting trees in their place would be better ROI in terms of guest happiness, considering the percentage of smokers in the US is 14% and falling.

Ohio has a 23% rate of adult smokers, slightly less than the socialist European Union averages.
Europa park, ‘the best theme park in the world’ allows smoking virtually everywhere except In queues. (https://www.europapark.de/en/info/worth-knowing)
That 14% looks a lot more financially desirable about now-

“The recent U.S. jobs report shows signs of economic positivity and may give Floridians a boost in confidence, as they map out their travel plans for the coming year,” Jenkins said on Thursday. “Floridians have the luxury of being just a day-trip away from popular attractions, beaches, and cruise ports. Although road trippers will encounter higher gas prices in the spring and summer, AAA does not expect prices at the pump to exceed last year’s highs.”

Theme parks, the beach and cruises are the most popular vacation plans for Floridians. More than a third of Floridians–36 percent–plan to head to theme parks while 31 percent are going to hit the beach, 29 percent plan to take a cruise and 28 percent are headed to major cities.

Summer vacations remain popular with 80 percent of Floridians planning to take a break of at least three days during that season while more than half of those surveyed–46 percent–plan to do the same thing for spring.

Hmm. Did a little (and by little I mean I spent exactly 35 seconds) digging on Ohio smoking rates, and found this clever tool from the CDC. You can actually zoom in on the township (at least I think that's what those are) level and see smoking rates. Just shift the "measure" to current smoking and hit GO.

I have to say I was pretty surprised.

Looking at Cleveland: the estimate is roughly 30%! Maybe win the Browns start winning this will start to fall.

Looking at Toledo it's north of 26%

Detroit mirrors Toledo; virtually identical rates.

O. H. !!

(cough cough)

I. O.!!

What the hell, Ohio? It doesn't surprise me at all that dense urban areas have higher smoking rates, but 30%? (some areas in the darkest orange were as high as 50%...the lightest of oranges are down at the national average of 14) The smoke starts to clear around Rocky River to the West, and on the southern outskirts of Parma.

I can't wait until the day cigars are banned nationwide. Nothing but a personal and public health hazzard.