Celebrity treatment

[Princess_Melanie]

I don't like the idea of celebs queue jumping but I guess there's not much we can do about it....just remember the one thing we have over them....

We can walk down Main Street in our own time, stop for the photos we want and do all the fun things we like to do that are non-ride based....celebs have to use all those backstage areas and don't always get to do the "normal" things....I know what I'd prefer - nomality!!

 

[pleefy]

I call shenanigans.

Logs at Splash Mountain are dispatched a lot more frequently than every 15 minutes. If there was a delay it likely wasn't because M. Jackson decided to ride Splash Mountain.

They had to install the oxygen tent. Took an extra 14 minutes.

 

[Megsmachine]

I didn't read all the replies, but I live in New York City and I was on line to get into Tommy Hilfiger's store and Mickey was there, bumped the line and got right in. They closed the store for a half hour while him and Minnie were shopping and looking around.

So I guess they owed Tommy the same treatment.

Damn celebrities.

 

[TLinden16]

This thread is a better fit for the theme parks community board, so I'm going to move it over there now.

 

[ilovecoasters]

People really do complain about everything these days.

It's quite sad.

Did this ruin your day, OP? I would hope not.

Hope you had a wonderful day and Tommy did not rip too much of the joy away.

I was just sharing some info and observations. Of course it didn't ruin my day. I don't understand why anyone is being judged though, just because they share their opinion or experience in the parks. Isn't that what this board is for?

 

[sandym718]

Some of you people want celebs to wait in a secured room until its their turn?

So, Disney should build VIP rooms for all rides???

From what I understand most rides have more secluded areas (near the exit usually I think) that guests with GAC (is that the right acronym?) passes sometimes uses. This includes kids who can't handle regular lines for whatever reason, etc. From what I understand, they still wait, it's just a better environment for them, though not necessarily a "room". That's the area I was thinking of when I suggested it.

 

[~Kik-Kik~]

He also probley paid more for this treatment.

When we saw kelly Rippa...OMG! It was a group of 15 people traveling in a circle with her and her kids in the middle. I am not exagerating. Her and her people took up the whole side walk infront of the Stich ride.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

There are many that don't, and they still get harassed. Did you read the link to the Reese Witherspoon article? She strives to keep her and her family out of the limelight as much as possible, and it didn't stop that guy from harassing them at DCA.

The fact that they chose to do something they loved, and happened to get famous in the process (b/c really, there are MANY more actors in the world who get paid nil than there are ones on the A-list), does NOT strip them OR their children of their rights. They are still U.S. citizens and have the right to their privacy as much as any of us do. They also have the right to be out in public without being harassed.

So by suggesting that they stand in line with the ordinary folk somehow infringes upon their rights? Maybe we have a different understanding of harrassment. I don't see getting your photo taken by fans in an extremely public place as harrassment.

I did read the Reese article. I already commented on that upthread.

 

[JenM]

So by suggesting that they stand in line with the ordinary folk somehow infringes upon their rights? Maybe we have a different understanding of harrassment. I don't see getting your photo taken by fans in an extremely public place as harrassment.

I did read the Reese article. I already commented on that upthread.

It's totally harrassment--read a few of the earlier threads where people have seen celebrities on line at rides and chaos has erupted because people create a big fuss over taking pictures and getting autographs. I think it holds up the line longer than just having a VIP scoot them on and off the ride.

Better yet, how would you feel if random strangers started snapping pictures of your children? That's what people do.

If they want to pose for pictures and don't mind taking them, it's one thing. But to have everyone impose on their privacy (even in a public place) and turn it into a photo session when they're trying to enjoy a day with their kids, that's not right, especially for the kids.

 

[fairestoneofall]

I really have no problem with celebrities getting VIP treatment. But, I did wonder if the OP meant that the entire line was held up while TH rode over and over again. Or, if it just affected the few cars around him. I mean, if it was just the few cars around him, I don't see the big deal. But, if it held up the entire line for the duration of his multiple rides, then I think that's pretty rude.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

It's totally harrassment--read a few of the earlier threads where people have seen celebrities on line at rides and chaos has erupted because people create a big fuss over taking pictures and getting autographs. I think it holds up the line longer than just having a VIP scoot them on and off the ride.

Better yet, how would you feel if random strangers started snapping pictures of your children? That's what people do.

If they want to pose for pictures and don't mind taking them, it's one thing. But to have everyone impose on their privacy (even in a public place) and turn it into a photo session when they're trying to enjoy a day with their kids, that's not right, especially for the kids.

I'm not saying that it's not completely rude for people to act the way they do sometimes when they are starstruck. My point is, I can't identify which "right" this is violating.

Having your children's photos taken while you are in WDW might not be something you like but it's par for the course with a visit. You have no idea who might have photos of your child. This is not harassment. If it were harassment, WDW would be in quite a bit of trouble given their elaborate security systems.

 

[JenM]

I'm not saying that it's not completely rude for people to act the way they do sometimes when they are starstruck. My point is, I can't identify which "right" this is violating.

Having your children's photos taken while you are in WDW might not be something you like but it's par for the course with a visit. You have no idea who might have photos of your child. This is not harassment. If it were harassment, WDW would be in quite a bit of trouble given their elaborate security systems.

No, strangers don't walk up to you for the purpose of taking photos of your children. They don't email them to friends on their cellphones, they don't put email them to TMZ or put them up on YouTube. You're not famous, they really don't care about your kids.

But if you're Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise, they snap away at your kids...I've seen it happen. And I can't see any parent being very happy about that or think it's anywhere near acceptable if it happened to them.

 

[Angel Ariel]

So by suggesting that they stand in line with the ordinary folk somehow infringes upon their rights? Maybe we have a different understanding of harrassment. I don't see getting your photo taken by fans in an extremely public place as harrassment.

No, suggesting that they stand in line isn't harrassment. It's what happens when they DO stand in line like everyone else. Like these from a PP:

A while back at DL we got in line for POTC. John Lithgow (3rd Rock, Harry and the Hendersons, Terms of Endearment) got in line with his family behind my wife and I...just like a "regular person". The frenzy began. There were people climbing over rope lines to get pictures or autographs. They were pushing his kids out of the way. The frenzy held the line up a number of times and was borderline dangerous. Lithgow and his family were very uncomfortable with the situation and kept apologizing to us and the people behind them. I felt bad for them.

That same trip we stepped in line for BTMR behind a Major League Baseball pitcher (I don't remember his name as I don't follow baseball). The same thing happened. People were pushing through the line to get an autograph or picture...holding up the line for longer periods than if they were escorted to the front and rode for a couple of times.

Please tell me how climbing over ropes, or pushing through lines to get pictures and autographs isn't harassment. these are celebs who TRIED to do exactly what you're asking of them, and this is what happened to them.

The fact that their lives are in the public doesn't mean that the public has the right to descend upon them at will while they are out with their families. If they specifically pose for a photo shoot or autograph line, that's one thing. But if they're just trying to enjoy the park like everyone else, they should be left alone to be with their families.

Obviously sometimes you and your family may end up in other people's pictures...that's not the same thing as specifically going up to someone and snapping away all you want. I'm sorry, but if someone I didn't know came up to me or my children intentionally and started snapping away w/their camera, I would absolutely have a problem with it.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

No, strangers don't walk up to you for the purpose of taking photos of your children. They don't email them to friends on their cellphones, they don't put email them to TMZ or put them up on YouTube. You're not famous, they really don't care about your kids.

But if you're Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise, they snap away at your kids...I've seen it happen. And I can't see any parent being very happy about that or think it's anywhere near acceptable if it happened to them.

Please tell me how climbing over ropes, or pushing through lines to get pictures and autographs isn't harassment. these are celebs who TRIED to do exactly what you're asking of them, and this is what happened to them.

I think you're both missing what I'm saying here. Is it rude for people to gawk over these celebrities and try to capture their children in photos? Absolutely! I can understand why they would be upset. However, I don't see how their rights are being violated by this. Where in the US Constitution or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights does it say that you have the right not to have your photos taken by strangers in public places?

Yes, if they are being physically assaulted, that's harassment. (I'm not condoning such behaviour in the least.) However, that is not what the poster that I was responding to was saying. They were talking about picture-taking and people making a general fuss over celebs and their families.

 

[Angel Ariel]

However, I don't see how their rights are being violated by this. Where in the US Constitution or the Universal Declaration of Human Rights does it say that you have the right not to have your photos taken by strangers in public places?

Are you seriously saying that if a stranger specifically came up to you (as in you're not in a shot accidentally) and started snapping pictures of you and your family, that you wouldn't have a problem with that? That you wouldn't feel like your right to privacy hadn't been violated now that these random people you don't know have pictures of you and your kids?

Who knows what kind of sick things could be done with said pictures--especially pictures of kids.

As a teacher, I'm not allowed to take pictures/video of my students AT ALL--even for professional portfolio reasons--without the consent of every single parent (which, when you teach 400+ kids is a lot of permission!)...specifically b/c of how those photos could be used by others. There may not be a specific right saying that someone can't take a picture of you, but even just following someone w/a camera can constitute harassment.

And what right is there that says everyone is allowed to take a picture of whoever they want, whenever they want, regardless of how the subject of the picture feels?

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Whether or not I would be upset is not the point that I'm making.

There is a difference between stalking someone and taking their photo continuously and taking a shot or two of a celebrity that happens to be standing in front of you. If someone was being stalked, that is a cause of legal action. Clearly, if someone takes a photo of you at Walt Disney World, wanted or unwanted, you may not like it but you don't have much of a case.

 

[Angel Ariel]

THere's also a difference between taking a picture from afar, and interrupting the family when they are clearly trying to just be a normal family.

There may not be a specific law that they are violating by interrupting these people's lives, but that doesn't make it right either. There's more to right and wrong than just the letter of the law.

 

[Mr. & Mrs. Smith]

Fair enough but how does that go against my proposal of making them wait their turn at attractions? And, as I and others have expressed, waiting their turn doesn't necessarily mean physically standing in line.

 

[Angel Ariel]

So we know that TH rode twice in a row--but who's to say that he didn't wait before then? If there are off stage waiting areas, like those proposed, how would anyone in line know that celebrities are in fact waiting their turn? It's not like Disney would shout it from the rooftops if it were true. And, as other PPs have said, there are celebrities who DO wait their turn--so again, how can we possibly know beyond a shadow of a doubt that TH never waited?

And, as others have stated, other people sometimes get to ride twice in a row also, so it's not just limited to celebrities. I agree that his signaling was a bit obnoxious, but it's presumptuous to assume that he walked right on everything with no wait and got to do whatever he wanted for however many turns he wanted.

What it comes down to is that there is very limited information on what kind of treatment celebs get at WDW, and clearly from PPs not all celebrities choose (or are offered, perhaps) the same thing (for better for worse). So how can any of us possibly just sit back and assume we know exactly what they did?

I'm sorry, it's just a pet peeve of mine recently that people online assume that they know whole situations from just a few details, from one person. One person's experience is not the same as another's--I'd imagine that goes for celebs as well as everyday people.

 

[perla75]

I've been following this thread & just decided to reply. I'm a big follower or E! channel, Star Magazine, etc... (my other devil besides my love for WDW! ).
I'm so nosy about celebrities, not to extent that I'd care to meet any of them, but I'm in awe with reading about their lifestyles.

Anyways, that said, I've seen the videos and pictures. Common people & news people are just NOT kind or respectful towards these people. They follow them, hound them for autographs, snap cameras in their faces, scare their kids.... it's disruptive to them, but it's also disruptive towards the people around them. It's just not worth having them wait in line with other people-unnecessary chaos that I'm sure WDW doesn't want to deal with. Could you imagine if Brad & Angelina took their kids to WDW?? You really think everyone is going to wait in line and ignore them? Probably just as much as young girls would have compliantly sat in their Splash Mountain logs with Michael Jackson 20 years ago-yikes!!

I would rather they stay separate in the parks, but I do think there should be a limit (Tommy Hilfiger's actions were obnoxious). I think they should give the celebrities fast passes for every single ride. Even if they got them in advance. They could allow one turn on the ride & if the celeb wanted another turn, they could just get another FP to come back and do it.