Disney On Ice questions

[hollisterluva92]

Hi everyone! I figured that this would be the best place for my questions! So, some background information. I'm not a newbie with my camera, but i'm not an amateur yet either, right in between. So! Here are the two camera's I have: Olympus E-420 and a Nikon Coolpix S3000. I've had the olympus for about 3 and 1/2 yrs now and I just got the coolpix for Christmas. Here's my dillema:
1. I am going to Disney On Ice: Toy Story 3 on March 25th here in Kansas City and I need to know
A. Will they let my olympus in?
B. Should I sneak it in?
I want really good shots, but i'm afraid, because of some of the stories i've heard, that they would confiscate it. Anyways, for any of you who have been to DOI, which would you prefer? Also, what are the best settings to use on my olympus? For instance, I tried today to get a good shot of the falling snowflakes here and had no luck, anyone have any tips about that? Thanks so much in advance!

 

[ssanders79]

I would check the venue's website so see what they list as their camera policy. It varies by venue. There is a possiblity where it might be OK in one town but not in another.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

I sent an email to Feld Entertainment, the owner of Disney on Ice. This is their response:

Thank you for your response. It is our policy that cameras of professional grade are not permitted. However, it is the venue staff who enforces this policy. We suggest you contact the venue with specific camera information.

Thank you and have a magical day!
Disney On Ice
Disney Live!

I have been to several venues for Disney on Ice and it appears that the individual venue decides the definition of "professional grade". I have gained access and been denied access with the same camera and lens. (Pentax K10D with a kit 50-200mm). The best recommendation, as ssanders79 stated, is to contact the actual venue to obtain their definition of "professional grade". Good luck and let us know the end result.

PS When they deny the use of the camera, they just won't let you bring it in and will not confiscate it. I had to stash mine in the car.

 

[hollisterluva92]

I would check the venue's website so see what they list as their camera policy. It varies by venue. There is a possiblity where it might be OK in one town but not in another.

I sent an email to Feld Entertainment, the owner of Disney on Ice. This is their response:



I have been to several venues for Disney on Ice and it appears that the individual venue decides the definition of "professional grade". I have gained access and been denied access with the same camera and lens. (Pentax K10D with a kit 50-200mm). The best recommendation, as ssanders79 stated, is to contact the actual venue to obtain their definition of "professional grade". Good luck and let us know the end result.

PS When they deny the use of the camera, they just won't let you bring it in and will not confiscate it. I had to stash mine in the car.

Thanks for the advice! I checked and they said as long as it's not a professional camera then it's fine. I'll probably just stash it in the bottom of my bag and show them my point-and-shoot if they ask. Does anyone have any tips on settings? Obviously no flash, but any other tips?

 

[mom2rtk]

Thanks for the advice! I checked and they said as long as it's not a professional camera then it's fine. I'll probably just stash it in the bottom of my bag and show them my point-and-shoot if they ask. Does anyone have any tips on settings? Obviously no flash, but any other tips?

Howdy neighbor! Is the event at the Sprint Center again?

Keep in mind they do have metal detectors. You can put it in your bag, but they will search it.

I'd call back and ask their definition of a "professional camera". One year there they wouldn't let me bring it in, and honestly, you don't want to have folks see you stow your camera in your car in downtown KC!

Last year I brought my Canon Xsi. I took the strap off and had on my small 50mm f/1.8 lens. It honestly looked an awful lot like many of the bigger bridge cameras coming in.

At one point the Sprint Center would allow nothing with a detachable lens. Last year a friend here in town said her husband brought his Nikon DSLR and was told no lens over a certain length.... maybe 3"???? He was sitting in the upper seats and had a long lens attached so it wasn't allowed, even though it was just a hair over the limit.

Do me a favor and let me know how it goes and how you do? I'd like to know for future reference. I'm always struggling with this issue. We're not huge Pixar or Toy Story fans here, so we passed on this year's show.

I don't know much about your camera, but I did find that I did much better last year with my Disney on Ice photos. I used spot metering since the subjects are so brightly lit against a dark background. I used shutter priority and just played with the setting. It has to be fairly fast since the skaters are always moving quickly.

Good luck!

 

[ssanders79]

If the venue has multiple entrances you can alway try that. It sometimes just comes down to the person your dealing with.

 

[mom2rtk]

If the venue has multiple entrances you can alway try that. It sometimes just comes down to the person your dealing with.

I've tried that successfully in the past. But I believe all of the entrances at this venue have metal detectors. That really has thrown a wrench into my sneaky ways!

 

[hollisterluva92]

Hm, I'll have to make a call on Monday and see what they say. That would really suck if they didn't let me bring it, it's my only "good" camera and I was really hoping I would get some good shots this year! If not i'll have to bring my new nikon, but I lost the charger so I'll have to buy a new one before I go. Gr! I've never been to the Sprint Center, but that is where it is. I just moved to KC back in June so this will be my first time going there! Any other tips on camera settings?

 

[mom2rtk]

Where are your seats?

 

[mom2rtk]

These are from last year's show, which was also at the Sprint Center. We were on the lower level, about half way back.

I shot with spot metering. I toyed around with the shutter speed but didn't go any lower than 1/200.

As I mentioned, I used my 50mm f/1.8 prime. It drove me nuts to to be able to zoom any, but I thought this was my best bet to get through security.

Have fun and post your results when you get back!

 

[hollisterluva92]

Where are your seats?

Section 101, Row 4, Seat 5

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

This morning I received this email in response to the question I asked back on February 25th

I apologize for the time it has taken for us to get back to you, but your inquiry prompted us to take a closer look at our camera policy for all of our brands.

Our policy for Disney On Ice is:

North America - US, CAN, MEX)

DOI - photos/videos permitted for personal (non-commercial) use only

International

DOI - no audio or video recording; non-commercial photos OK

Nothing in our policy outlines restrictions based on the type of camera, and if venue personnel indicated that, then it was in error.

We hope you continue to come to Disney On Ice shows with your family and that you capture special moments with your camera.

Best regards,

Lisa Taylor

Lisa M. Taylor
National Director of Public Relations
Disney On Ice/Disney Live!
Feld Entertainment, Inc.
8607 Westwood Center Drive
Vienna, VA 22182

703.749.5520 office 703.725.3465 mobile

 

[Darth Boeder]

I got an email a few days before our Disney on Ice and it sad no lenses bigger then 3 inches in length. HTH

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

The response that you received is similar to one of many, including an earlier response, I received. Since this email is from their National Director of Public Relations Lisa Taylor, I am going to make a large leap of faith that this is the policy going forward.

 

[pgowder]

When I went last year I was hassled about bringing in my 24-70mm.

The guards said they were trained by Feld that no lenses could come in longer than their hand.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

It seems like they have had a change of heart and now will allow any camera in as long as it is not for commercial use. I don't know to many pro photographers who bring their entire family (including children and grandchildren) to commercial shoots!

 

[Darth Boeder]

this is the email that I got for ours:


Show notes for Disney On Ice presents:

Let's Celebrate!

Oracle Arena, Oakland

Performance Schedule:
Wednesday, March 2 7:30 PM
Thursday, March 3 7:30 PM
Friday, March 4 10:30 AM & 7:30 PM
Saturday, March 5 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM
Sunday, March 6 11:00 AM, 3:00 PM & 7:00 PM

** As this event takes place over the course of multiple show dates and times, please double-check your tickets NOW in advance of arriving onsite to confirm the correct performance date and time you should be attending. **


We look forward to hosting you this week at Oracle Arena for our upcoming run of Disney On Ice presents Let's Celebrate. Please review the following "Show Notes" to help you prepare to attend this event. Please visit our website at www.coliseum.com to answer any additional questions you may have, or click here to send an email to our Customer Service Department. Thank you and enjoy the show!

Parking:
Gates open 90 minutes before each scheduled show time. Rates: $25.00 per automobile, $75.00 per limo/bus. (Rates include City of Oakland imposed parking tax)

Arena Doors:
Doors open 60 minutes before each scheduled show time.

Arena Box Office:
Box Office opens at 10:00 am on Wedneday and Thursday, and 9:00 am on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Box Office is located on the main Plaza area. The Box Office closes 60 minutes after the start of the last scheduled show time each day.



Tickets:
Each guest 24 months in age and older requires a paid admission ticket. Guests under 24 months of age may enter the Arena without a ticket, but must sit on an adult's lap.

Additional tickets may be purchased by calling Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000, online at www.ticketmaster.com, at any Ticketmaster outlet, or by visiting the Arena Box Office in person. Click here to purchase tickets.

Will Call:
Will call tickets may be claimed at the Arena Box Office at any time during the day you are scheduled to attend the show. Refer to Box Office hours above. Proceed to the specially marked "Will Call" windows located at the Arena Box Office with your photo ID to claim your tickets.



Directions/Transportation/Traffic:
Oracle Arena is located at 7000 Coliseum Way in Oakland, CA. Exit Hwy. 880 at either the Hegenberger Road or 66th Avenue freeway exit. Click here for maps/driving directions. We encourage all guests to consider taking public transportation to the Arena. We are easily accessible via Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART), Capitol Corridor (Amtrak), and AC Transit. For updated traffic information, please visit 511.org.


Performance Length:
Each performance lasts approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes, including a short intermission between acts.

Cameras:
Small, personal cameras with lenses less than 3 inches in length will be permitted inside the Arena. Professional grade cameras and audio/video recording devices of any kind are strictly prohibited.
Strollers:
Complimentary stroller check services will be available. The stroller check area will be located inside the Stella Artois Club on the east side of the Arena. Guests arriving with strollers are encouraged to enter the Arena via the Plaza Entrance, located just past the Box Office next to the Warriors Team Store.

Prohibited items:
Our standard policy is that food and beverages may not be brought inside the Arena. Because these performances are geared towards small children, exceptions will be made on a case by case basis to permit guests to bring inside select items such as baby bottles containing formula, etc. Water bottles and large "meal" type food items will be prohibited. All bags are subject to search. For a list of other prohibited items, please click here.

No Smoking Ordinance:
Both Oracle Arena and Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum became "Smoke Free" facilities effective August 1, 2010 in compliance with Oakland Municipal Code 8.30.40. As a result of this ordinance, designated smoking areas will NO LONGER EXIST in or near the Arena, Coliseum, Box Offices, or main Plaza areas.

Smoking is permited in the parking lots, however there are no "in and out" privileges to access the parking lots during any event. For more information regarding this ordinance, please visit: www.oaklandnet.com.

Seating Maps:
Oracle Arena Seating maps are posted on our website. Please click here to view a seating map for this event.

Disabled Guests:
We are dedicated to making the facilities accessible to patrons with disabilities and hope to make your visit an enjoyable one. To obtain additional information on services available to disabled guests, please click here or call (510) 383-4982.

 

[Gianna'sPapa]

Cameras:
Small, personal cameras with lenses less than 3 inches in length will be permitted inside the Arena. Professional grade cameras and audio/video recording devices of any kind are strictly prohibited.

That was definitely the old policy. Trust me, I have saved the email and plan on bringing a copy with me the next time I attend Disney on Ice! There will always be somebody who didn't get the "policy" memo.

 

[LordAthens]

Something else to consider trying, if you have little ones still in diapers, a 70-200 fits incredibly well on the bottom of nearly all diaper bags. Put a stack of diapers and a box of wipes on top, I've never been hassled. Also, many of the Crumpler Million Dollar Home bags look oddly enough like a diaper bag None of our arena's in Pittsburgh have metal detectors, so I'm not sure how that would work if you have tight security with detectors or hand searching.

It's nice to see they changed their policy though.

 

[mom2rtk]

I was just wondering how Disney on Ice went to the OP. Since I also live in KC, I'd like an update on the camera/lens policy at the Sprint Center.