Dark Rides/attractions and Phone lights

[njchris]

I got to go on Haunted Mansion Holiday today! I was so looking forward to it. Luckily I will be able to go again with my pass/key. What goes through some people's minds that they think it's O.K. to turn on their phone camera light to video or take pictures in a dark room of people? In the elevator/stretching room someone was recording but had the camera light on the whole time. I had to turn my back to her, limiting what I could look at without being blinded. I assume a CM is in there but they said nothing. Then she was a few cars ahead and since you can see them sometimes, she had it on in the Madame Leota room, again distracting everyone else. Then again in the ghost dancing room and it just reflected off the glass. Are people really this unaware of their actions? I hope she didn't ruin it for anyone that couldn't ride again.

Anyone else have these experiences, or have been guilty of doing this? (I won't judge.. too much. )

 

[Epicnemesis]

It’s so rude and shows an overall lack of decency.

I try not to judge the way other people enjoy the parks, kids on shoulders, one or two party members joining their group in a line late, adults taking up a lot of time with characters while kids wait in line, all that is fine.

These pricks who light up and ruin a ride other people spent time in line to see are on another level of self centered rudeness. All for a video they will never watch.

While we are on the subject of annoying tech habits, I also judge people who film stuff on their iPad.

 

[Tangled26]

Ugh. That really bothers me. I hate it when people ruin the experience for others! I know the CM’s don’t want to deal with it (neither would I) but I really wish there was something that could be done about it.

 

[gelatoni fan]

I thought that Haunted Mansion was one of those rides where "flash photography and video recording with lights" is prohibited.

edit: If what these people did is against the rules, the CMs should have stopped them. If it's not against the rules, I think it's reasonable for them to experience the park in this way even though it is rude.

One of my biggest annoyances related to this is when people put their phone up to record the fireworks so if you aren't in one of the first few rows, all the phones are in the way.

Tokyo Disneyland outright bans photos and videos of any kind during some rides and shows. I can see how that improves the experience for other guests but find it a bit harsh as there are so many cool things to show off at the parks.

I assume that the rules where invented in a time when people still did things with film. Now with smartphones and stuff, screens are a major source of light pollution so I think the rules should be updated so that photography and video are allowed but NOT when there are any screens or lights in dark places.

 

[poptart90]

I agree. Terrible. Rude. Self-centered. Obnoxious. And SO typical of the way many people choose to "experience" life these days...from behind a phone staring at the screen as the attraction (or their life) passes by without a glance up to consider how their behavior may be impacting others. Put the phone DOWN! Enjoy the MOMENT.

If you want to watch a screen, go home, turn off the lights, and knock yourself out on YouTube! for pity's sake!

 

[Cholula]

I'm surprised no one said anything. I can understand if the CM in the stretching room didn't feel comfortable confronting directly, but I've been on plenty of rides where an anonymous CM has come on the loudspeaker to remind people to turn off flash/lights.

 

[lalasmama]

Confession:

I took a flash picture in the Tiki Room. New phone, didn't realize it had an auto-flash that you had to disable. Ooops! The picture has like 10 other guests looking at me like I was the rudest person ever. As soon as I realized what happened, I wanted to apologize, but then I'd be the rude camera flasher and loud interupter so hubs told me I just need to let it go. It's been several years and I still feel bad about it!

 

[JoMarch]

I agree with everyone.

my other pet peeve is video taping and loudly narrating or commentating throughout the ride.

 

[DizMe]

While we are on the subject of annoying tech habits, I also judge people who film stuff on their iPad.

I'm so glad this isn't as much of a thing these days. I often used to find myself behind a person on Pirates etc who had to record the entire ride on a raised iPad.

 

[poptart90]

I agree with everyone.

my other pet peeve is video taping and loudly narrating or commentating throughout the ride.

I'm so glad this isn't as much of a thing these days. I often used to find myself behind a person on Pirates etc who had to record the entire ride on a raised iPad.

Wow. Just wow.

 

[cruisehopeful]

It completely ruins the experience. I think it's a mix of people who are clueless that they are blinding people/distracting people and people who are entitled because they paid so much money they deserve to do whatever they want. I also don't understand how they can enjoy the ride/experience when they are focused on taking pictures/video instead of being immersed in the experience. Maybe we need to turn on our phone flashlights and shine it at them so that they know what they are doing. Make a big light battle - of course, I am being sarcastic.

 

[Epicnemesis]

One more thing, those filming lights aren’t designed to shoot things far away, so literally all they are doing is annoying people. It’s about as useful as the idiots who use flash when taking pictures of the fireworks.

 

[Malcon10t]

I took this pic a few weeks ago at fireworks, of all the people with cameras up. I realize everyone wants to have the fireworks on video, but there is this place called Youtube and many of these folks have better views/equipment, and letting them do it, you can watch the show in the minute and not thru your camera.

 

[PirateBrigade]

Oh I hate this, I'll casually say "hey turn that light off" if they're within earshot, but usually they aren't.

A loooong time ago I really was trying to capture memories on camera (concerts and whatnot), but, just like not being cheap, being present in the moment is something I'm focusing on now. I realize that 90% of the footage I captured was never looked at again, and that my working memory is more durable than shuffling video files around.

It took a decent while for me to get there.

That said, I usually don't mind when people just video tape something (dad, what's a video "tape," is it like sticky tape?), but yes the narration and holding the iPads like Simba over Pride Rock was annoying. I will still capture snippets of the DL band, maybe fireworks/mix magic projections, haunted mansion ghosts (my light is off/screen is dim, you're welcome), etc... to post on IG stories for when I humble brag about being at the parks

 

[SteveH]

Been an ongoing issue for years, there is always a new growth of rude/oblivious people and the "it's all about me" people out there. I've seen/heard CMs on some rides call it out. But right now I think a lot of CMs are just trying to get by without getting yelled at by some park goer. So I'm all in favor as a community of speaking up and calling that person out without being just as rude as the person who started it all. Be sure to give praise the CMs when they do call it out though.

 

[PirateBrigade]

So I'm all in favor as a community of speaking up and calling that person out without being just as rude as the person who started it all. Be sure to give praise the CMs when they do call it out though.

Me too, call it out, people!

But then, they'll get into a fight with you, then FIVE cameras with lights come out to tape the fight.

Can't win.

 

[SteveH]

@PirateBrigade very true, pick your battles.

 

[evilmommie]

I agree with everyone.

my other pet peeve is video taping and loudly narrating or commentating throughout the ride.

Some of the “Disney Influencers” are the worst offenders of this obnoxious behavior. I’ve written to and had in person conversations with DLR mgt about this conduct. They can ruin the magic with the way they overrun the parks.

 

[teamtreto]

I had this happen in the Little Mermaid ride. I came out nearly blind. People are ridiculous.

 

[PirateBrigade]

Some of the “Disney Influencers” are the worst offenders of this obnoxious behavior. I’ve written to and had in person conversations with DLR mgt about this conduct. They can ruin the magic with the way they overrun the parks.

I hate these fake, wanna-be celebrities and their cargo-short wearing, camera holding boyfriends...hahah. Your 37 followers don't care about your video!

Aren't commercial video productions not allowed at Disneyland? I feel like this could be easy to enforce...the collateral damage = non-annoying DLR trip reports that appreciated on these boards by non-obnoxious people