Disneyland’s New Attraction: Smoking Limits

For years Disneyland visitors mingling with Snow White and Goofy, Mickey Mouse and Sleeping Beauty voiced a common complaint: They’d rather not mingle with smokers.

On Sunday, Disneyland further restricted smoking at the park, designating just four areas where lighting up is allowed.

The reaction from smokers: Grumpy.

“Where does it stop?” asked Bill McCollam, 57, indignantly, grousing about the country’s increasingly moralistic bent. Next, he muttered, they’ll be restricting “diaper changing and breast feeding.”

The new restrictions, announced in November, limit smoking to areas near Big Thunder Trail, the Haunted House, the Tomorrowland railroad station and outside the main entrance. Park employees have been deputized to courteously relocate errant puffers.

Previously, visitors were free to smoke anywhere in the park as long as they were not on a ride or waiting in line for one, or in restaurants or stores.

Despite the ban, McCollam, of Westminster, said he lit up in the middle of the park anyway, and no one seemed to care. “I don’t think they’re going to say anything about it.”

Besides, he said, he and his girlfriend couldn’t even find the designated smoking areas, only stumbling by accident upon an inconspicuously placed sign.

However, McCollam’s girlfriend said the ban was a good idea.

“I don’t enjoy people blowing smoke in my face,” said Pattie Eber, 69. “I get choked up. I have allergies, but he’s really courteous about that,” she said nodding toward McCollam.

For smokers, it made a long day at Disneyland even longer.

Alberto Barrios was barely outside the park’s gates, when he lit up and took a soothing draw.

The first he’d heard Disney was policing smokers was on the tram ride in from the parking lot. By then it was too late. Barrios, 72, spent a few tough, nicotine-free hours at the park.

“I think to prohibit someone from smoking is discrimination,” the West Covina man said before hopping onto a departing tram with his family.

Santa Ana resident Robert Nicol, 45, found out about the ban through television news coverage before coming to the park. Walking away from the main gate with his family, he lit a cigar.

“I don’t care,” he said as he smiled and puffed his stogie. “I’m outside the gate.”

“And I won’t let him smoke in the car,” interjected his wife Karen, who had her own smoking restrictions.

A similar nonsmoking policy took effect in November at Walt Disney World in Florida. Officials say smoking also will be restricted Disney’s California Adventure theme park when it opens next year. Disneyland Resort Hotels also ban smoking in indoor common areas and prohibit lighting up in many hotel rooms.