Guests visiting one of the world’s largest theme park resorts this week may notice a new addition scattered across hotels, walkways, and retail areas—2,800 of them, in fact. The signs, uniform in tone but themed to their locations, are hard to miss and mark the start of a major new policy rollout.
While the core experience at Disney’s twelve global theme parks remains consistent, operational differences often reflect local laws and visitor expectations. From costume rules in Tokyo to queue systems in Paris, each park adapts to its market in subtle but important ways.
This time, it’s Shanghai that’s implementing a notable shift. Beginning May 29, just ahead of World No Tobacco Day, Shanghai Disney Resort will introduce stricter smoking regulations, including a dramatic reduction in the number of designated smoking areas and a widespread signage campaign.
Fewer Smoking Zones, More Enforcement
The resort is reducing its smoking areas from 24 to 11. This follows a comprehensive review of guest flow and congestion points, with many former smoking zones located along high-traffic paths or near park entrances. The goal, according to the resort, is to reduce second-hand smoke exposure for non-smoking guests.
Smoking—including cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and vapor products—will now be allowed only in clearly marked locations. To support the update, over 2,800 “No Smoking” signs will be installed across Shanghai Disneyland, Disneytown, Wishing Star Park, and the resort’s two hotels.
The signs will use visuals for both traditional tobacco and e-cigarettes and match the aesthetics of their specific locations.
Cast members are also receiving updated training on how to address smoking violations. They’ll be equipped with bilingual reminder cards that feature QR codes linking to the nearest approved smoking area. Chief Bogo from Zootopia will feature in newly displayed etiquette posters, reinforcing the message around respectful behavior.
Part of a Broader Trend Across Disney Theme Parks
Shanghai Disney’s move mirrors a wider industry trend. In 2019, both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort eliminated smoking inside their theme parks, limiting it to designated zones just outside the gates. Universal Orlando Resort implemented a similar policy earlier this month, banning smoking entirely inside its main parks.
Elsewhere, rules remain more lenient. Tokyo Disney Resort still permits smoking within the parks—three zones in Tokyo Disneyland and two in DisneySea. Hong Kong Disneyland and Disneyland Paris also retain smoking areas, though the latter has drawn criticism for inconsistent rule enforcement. Guests have reported people smoking openly in high-traffic areas, including Main Street, U.S.A., and near popular attractions.
Cultural factors may help explain those differences. In France, 28% of adults identified as smokers in 2023, compared with 11.6% of Americans in 2022. The country ranked third in the WHO European Region for tobacco use, with more than 16 million adult smokers.
For now, Shanghai’s tightened restrictions set a new benchmark for Disney’s global parks, especially as health messaging aligns with international awareness dates and public pressure mounts around secondhand smoke. Whether other resorts follow remains to be seen.
Do you think Disney should be more or less strict about smoking in its theme parks?
