DSLR camera policy in the parks?

[therealgoofy]

What is Disney's policy regarding bringing a DSLR camera + lenses into the parks? I want to bring my XTi with a couple of lenses in a small camera bag. I'm far from a professional. I would be livid if I got all the way up to the gate and got turned away because I couldn't bring my camera in. Is there an official policy on this?

 

[Master Mason]

Well,

I was down at DL the last couple of days. On Monday I carried my whole bag, on one side of the esplinade the guy told me, that they were going to start not allowing "big" lenses in coming pretty soon. I walked though and went to the DL Hotel for dinner, and came back in the other side. The lady at the gate told me I couldn't go in the park with my big lens, which is a 70-200 f/2.8. I basically told her BS I had done it a number of times and I was going to go check on my dog which was at the kennel. She trailed me the whole way to the kennel talking into her walkie talkie. When I was done walking the dog a supervisor came up and asked to see my lens, and said I could take it inside.

The next day I went to city hall and asked for information about the new policy, such as why and what I could no longer bring in the parks. So, I was shown a paper with a picture of a high end video camera, a canon xxD series with kit lenscamera, and a Nikon that looked to me to be about a D80 or similiar with a kit lens. And was told that the people at the gate had been instructed that anything "bigger" than the picture should be turned away.

So, I asked for a manager, because that is rediculous, to leave that decision to such a capricious nature. Especially when any bridge camera has a much larger zoom capabitly than my lens. I explained to the manager how patently rediculious their new rule and and methods of determination are. He said he would take it to his superiors as he agreed with what I was saying.

In the mean time, his only answer for me was if the gate folks attempted to turn me away, that I should ask for the Manager to be called, not the supervisior, but the manager, and he/she will ask why you want to bring the lens in etc and then make a case by case decision.

Bottom line, you have someone making decisions, that has no clue on what they are doing. I told my girl friend, that you would think that Disney should have someone that knew something about cameras and pictures on the payroll, why didn't they go ask them before coming up with something so stupid.

 

[handicap18]

The only thing we've heard of recently is at DisneyLand in California where zoom lenses might be prohibited, but that is still kind of murkey and also based on who is working the security gate at the time you go it. (ETA: Looks like Gregg got the scoop on that one covered)

For Disney World in Florida, we haven't seen any reports of restrictions and many here on the photo board have been there VERY recently with their dSLR's.

Now there are some photography restrictions on some rides throughout the parks. Pretty much all the indoor rides prohibit the use of a flash, as does the Nemo show at Animal Kingdom. I think the only rides that prohibit photography is the Carousel Of Progress and RnRC.

 

[tripodjw]

The next day I went to city hall and asked for information about the new policy, such as why and what I could no longer bring in the parks. So, I was shown a paper with a picture of a high end video camera, a canon xxD series with kit lenscamera, and a Nikon that looked to me to be about a D80 or similiar with a kit lens. And was told that the people at the gate had been instructed that anything "bigger" than the picture should be turned away.

Out of interest, did their "guidance sheet" say anything about tripods/monopods?

 

[Master Mason]

Out of interest, did their "guidance sheet" say anything about tripods/monopods?

Nope it did not have a picture of any tripods. However, the FAQ's on what is allowed says this

Professional cameras and recording equipment. (Reporters must make prior arrangements with Disneyland® Resort Media Relations.) Folding tripod stands that can fit inside a standard backpack are permitted.

The other thing I found amusing is Heelies are prohibited, but yet I see them all the time, strollers are limited to 36x52 and yet I always see those tank stollers passed without issue. I also never see them enforce such rules as no flash on the rides etc....

ETA: I had my tripod slung on my back, and my girl friend had her's in a little carry case, no one questioned the tripods. Just my 70-200 lens

 

[RBennett]

You know, I'm going to be curious to hear what they say when I walk in. I'll be at WDW this weekend and all next week with my Pentax K100D, three lenses (including my Tamron 70-300) and a tripod. I think if they try to turn me away I might have to smack them with my tripod, but then my pictures may come out crooked!!

 

[DebºoºS]

The ban on "pro cameras and lenses" appears IMHO to have been revived by paparazzi taking pics of celeb guests (Lohan & Cyrus) at DL. See this link for their pics.

Guessing WDW doesn't get as many celeb guests or they haven't expressed concern over having their pic taken.

 

[therealgoofy]

The good news is that I'm going to WDW and hopefully won't experience the same problems that some are encountering at DL. If any photographers have recently gone to WDW and taken in some lenses I would be interested to hear how that went.

 

[MontanaZoo]

The ban on "pro cameras and lenses" appears IMHO to have been revived by paparazzi taking pics of celeb guests (Lohan & Cyrus) at DL. See this link for their pics.

Guessing WDW doesn't get as many celeb guests or they haven't expressed concern over having their pic taken.

Thanks for explaining, I was trying to figure out what possible reason they could have. I thought they were thinking we would be able to smuggle in weapons in the lenses or something. You can't sell any pics with Disney anything in it so I wasn't really getting their reasoning.

Umm...won't the paparazzi just bring in smaller cameras?

 

[alan]

Umm...won't the paparazzi just bring in smaller cameras?

Oh for goodness sake, stop being sensible. We're in the late 2000s, after all. It's blindingly obvious that everybody with a camera and a long lens must be either a terrorist or a paedophile, and so we must stop people with such gear long before they can get to the point of being a danger.

We've got to protect the children, you know - it's much more important than any thoughts of a sense of proportion, justice, or basic common sense.

regards,
/alan

 

[DebºoºS]

The good news is that I'm going to WDW and hopefully won't experience the same problems that some are encountering at DL. If any photographers have recently gone to WDW and taken in some lenses I would be interested to hear how that went.

I haven't been since June. A CM did ask who I worked for and after a long moment and quizzical look (it was hot and I was tired) I said no one.
You would've thought I had waved my hand and said "these aren't the droids you're looking for" because she just looked back at me blankly and walked away

 

[handicap18]

I haven't been since June. A CM did ask who I worked for and after a long moment and quizzical look (it was hot and I was tired) I said no one.
You would've thought I had waved my hand and said "these aren't the droids you're looking for" because she just looked back at me blankly and walked away

The force is strong in this one!

 

[NostalgicDad]

Well,

I was down at DL the last couple of days. On Monday I carried my whole bag, on one side of the esplinade the guy told me, that they were going to start not allowing "big" lenses in coming pretty soon. I walked though and went to the DL Hotel for dinner, and came back in the other side. The lady at the gate told me I couldn't go in the park with my big lens, which is a 70-200 f/2.8. I basically told her BS I had done it a number of times and I was going to go check on my dog which was at the kennel. She trailed me the whole way to the kennel talking into her walkie talkie. When I was done walking the dog a supervisor came up and asked to see my lens, and said I could take it inside.

The next day I went to city hall and asked for information about the new policy, such as why and what I could no longer bring in the parks. So, I was shown a paper with a picture of a high end video camera, a canon xxD series with kit lenscamera, and a Nikon that looked to me to be about a D80 or similiar with a kit lens. And was told that the people at the gate had been instructed that anything "bigger" than the picture should be turned away.

So, I asked for a manager, because that is rediculous, to leave that decision to such a capricious nature. Especially when any bridge camera has a much larger zoom capabitly than my lens. I explained to the manager how patently rediculious their new rule and and methods of determination are. He said he would take it to his superiors as he agreed with what I was saying.

In the mean time, his only answer for me was if the gate folks attempted to turn me away, that I should ask for the Manager to be called, not the supervisior, but the manager, and he/she will ask why you want to bring the lens in etc and then make a case by case decision.

Bottom line, you have someone making decisions, that has no clue on what they are doing. I told my girl friend, that you would think that Disney should have someone that knew something about cameras and pictures on the payroll, why didn't they go ask them before coming up with something so stupid.

Nope it did not have a picture of any tripods. However, the FAQ's on what is allowed says this


The other thing I found amusing is Heelies are prohibited, but yet I see them all the time, strollers are limited to 36x52 and yet I always see those tank stollers passed without issue. I also never see them enforce such rules as no flash on the rides etc....

ETA: I had my tripod slung on my back, and my girl friend had her's in a little carry case, no one questioned the tripods. Just my 70-200 lens

Gregg.....Thanks for providing this information. I wondered about your experience knowing that you had probably been recently or would be going shortly. The thread over on the DL board got a little out of hand with way too much speculation and accusations. After a few exchanges including myself, I promptly decided to stay out of that conversation.

You are correct in the complete idiocy of this new stance. For them to just decide to make some arbitrary decision and basically leave it up to a mere judgement call astounds me. Disney is always so detailed in everything they do. Why would they throw that out the window in this situation?

(Maybe this will be the impetus I need to make my first ever trip to WDW next time around. )

 

[Michele]

If the paparazzi is the reason for this policy then maybe they should wait until there is one in the parks and then enforce this policy by escorting them out and not letting them take the pictures. Otherwise, they run the risk of disrupting an innocent person's vacation.

 

[boBQuincy]

I honor of Alice in Wonderland the policy seems to be an un-policy! We were at WDW a few weeks ago with two SLRs with decent size lenses, and on 07 September I was sporting a 30D with a L series 70-200 f/4 (with lens hood) at AK and no one said anything about it.

It seems this is another one where the CMs make it up as they go and it's gonna' be a bad day (temporarily) if we run across an overzealous one.

We are going back in December and I plan to take my "professional" Xsi with 70-200. We will find out then if any droids attempt to stop us.

 

[11290]

Was at WDW on Monday, Oct. 6 and took in 1 DSLR with zoom lens, 2 additional lenses (in bag), 1 GorillaPod and several batteries and cards with additional wired and non-wired remotes. Only thing I had to do was open the main bag and unzip the accessory pocket.

Went back and forth to 3 parks and never had one iota of a problem.

 

[pxlbarrel]

I think it's been said a few times now that the policy of what constitutes a "pro" camera is at DL not WDW.

I was at DL in July with a Canon 40D, 17-40 mm, 50 mm and 70-300 with a tripod strapped to my bag. They didn't bother me at all. Must be a new policy or the fact that I was dying carrying all that stuff that pegged me as a foolhardy amateur.

Hmmm...but wait a sec...now that I think of it. The day we visited the park, we did the Segway tour and entered the no-fly zone (what do you call that area between the two parks??) at 7 am. Security waved us through without checking our bags (so much for security). The night before when we went to Downtown Disney, I was only carrying the 40D with one lens on it.

I think I got lucky with the Segway tour.

 

[Armadillo4]

I posted this in the Disneyland board too, but can repeat details here too.

This is a new policy at DL only. Not WDW.

A regular DL guest and photographer, Britt Dietz, spoke to an area lead and manager(s) about this new policy. He routinely takes photos in the park with a Canon 5D and 100-400L IS lens (he's friends with a lot of CMs) and was stopped at bag check last week. They mentioned the same story about paparazzi causing problems during Lindsay Lohan's recent park visit (Sept. 24). With the Miley Cyrus event happening just a couple weeks afterwards, some executive decided to flex his/her power and implemented this new policy.

The new policy stated to Britt was simpler from the one given to Master Mason: no lens longer than 6" (before extending) would be allowed. The type or size of camera body was never brought up.

I visited the park last Sunday--yes, the same day as the Miley Cyrus event--to see what was up and to "test" the new policy. My Canon XTi with 18-200 lens was allowed, but I was asked to take my 70-300 back to my car or hotel room. Once inside the park, I noticed many, many guests with dSLRs. I stopped counting after the 12th or 13th dSLR that I saw. Although there were no large zoom lenses to be seen. Most of the Nikons that I saw had the Nikkor 18-200 lens attached. At the MiceChat meet that I attended, there were at least 5 of us with dSLRs and a few of us compared stories about the bag checks. I don't think anyone will have a problem bringing your camera into the park. The bag check CMs seem to be focusing on lenses.

I might get a chance to visit DL this upcoming weekend too and will see if anything has changed, although I doubt it. If there's anything newsworthy to report, I'll post it here.

 

[ukcatfan]

The new policy stated to Britt was simpler from the one given to Master Mason: no lens longer than 6" (before extending) would be allowed. The type or size of camera body was never brought up.

Add one more benefit to prime lenses. While there are many that go over 6", the same focal length should be shorter than a zoom. I wonder what the CMs will think of the Pentax pancake lenses.

 

[WillCAD]

Well, I guess the real paparazi will simply put a kit lens on their cameras while goint through the bag check, wear cargo pants, and keep longer lenses in the big pockets.

Or they could wear a small sling bag under a sweatshirt and arrange it so look like a beer belly.