Hands up on ToT?

[Allison]

It's primarily a thrill ride, not a photo op, so feel free to put your hands up. If someone expects you not to, then they're the one's who are being rude.

If someone is really concerned about being blocked in the picture they should request the front row.

I have to agree. The point of the attraction is not the picture at the end. It is an extra that most people pass on buying.

 

[suemom2kay]

I can't believe there is hands etiquette on a thrill ride. This is not a portrait studio, it is a thrill ride. Whatever row I'm in, my hands will be up... GUILT FREE. I will not ask permission, ask for the back row or otherwise warn guests that I will be enjoying the ride to the fullest.

Why should someone alter how they enjoy a thrill ride for another guest's "photo op?"

Perhaps instead of thinking that hand raisers should ask for the back row, photo opers should ask for the front row.

 

[wvjules]

The last time we rode ToT the people in front of us asked if it was ok if they put their hands up. Totally unnecessary but nice of them anyway. Their arms blocked my "I'm gonna pee my pants" face.

 

[finnster77]

Wow...just wow. I can't believe that some are questioning others motives for putting their hands up...who cares what the reason is. IF you choose not to, fine. But don't cast aspersions on those who like to raise their arms/hands.
In all reality, you aren't getting more 'airtime' if your arms are raised. You get the exact same feeling if you just cross your arms over your chest!!!
I know that I have stuck my arms way up high, for the entire ride. And when I got off and saw the end result, in the photo?? I was horrified to see that I had completely blocked the young child behind me...and her family probably would have loved to have had that photo, but due to my outstretched arms, they didn't get to have a photo of their child's first ToT experience.
So now??? I either just cross my arms across my chest or I raise my arms only to shoulder height...doesn't impact anyone behind me.

This! ^
I'm not sure why anyone thinks that raising their hands over their heads increases "air time?"
To me, it cheapens the effect of the experience, reducing it to the level of a Six Flags wooden coaster. Sure, it's a thrill ride. But, that doesn't excuse the "it's all about ME and MY enjoyment - screw anyone who doesn't like it" attitude.

 

[Allison]

This! ^
I'm not sure why anyone thinks that raising their hands over their heads increases "air time?"
To me, it cheapens the effect of the experience, reducing it to the level of a Six Flags wooden coaster. Sure, it's a thrill ride. But, that doesn't excuse the "it's all about ME and MY enjoyment - screw anyone who doesn't like it" attitude.

Different strokes for different folks. If people enjoy it, let them do it all they want.

And raising your hands in the air does not equal the attitude your describe.

 

[Raenstoirm]

But it never occurred to me that someone would try to take a photo while the car is dropping...can you get a good pic that way? Wouldn't it all just be blurred?

Its actually pretty easy with an SLR if you time it right. I am still at a loss for a night shot though since I cant focus that fast and the autofocus cant do it at all in the split second it has.

But of all the rides we rode and viewed pictures of, I never, ever noticed someone's arms being up being a problem.

I hadnt really noticed much either, until we bought photopass plus last week (and got all the ride photos for "free") It can be REALLY annoying if you like the pic and want a copy. Here is my favorite example. This group (we are the unmatching ones in the back) blocked each other by lifting their hands. If they wanted a cute group shot they are out of luck!

 

[maxiesmom]

Sorry, but the last thing on my mind on a ride is "Gosh, if I put my hands up, will it bother someone else?". I figured it was part and parcel of going on a ride. I thought the main purpose of the ride was the joy of the ride, not the picture at the end.

Sorry, but there is no way I'm gonna change. If you want to make sure you face isn't blocked in a shot, ask for the front row. It is a theme park, not an opera!

 

[kelmac284]

I always put my hands up BUT I know when they take the pic so I keep them down during the photo. Otherwise they are up the rest of the time. That way you can "fly"

 

[stargazertechie]

I really don't give a hoot about someone else's opinion when it comes to what I do with my arms on rides. If you want a good ride photo, request the front row.

 

[Alesia]

This! ^
I'm not sure why anyone thinks that raising their hands over their heads increases "air time?"
To me, it cheapens the effect of the experience, reducing it to the level of a Six Flags wooden coaster. Sure, it's a thrill ride. But, that doesn't excuse the "it's all about ME and MY enjoyment - screw anyone who doesn't like it" attitude.

I don't put my arms up on rides. Ever. I just don't enjoy it. Having said that, I think that you're the one with the "it's all about ME and MY enjoyment - screw anyone who doesn't like it" attitude.

You seem to expect other people to want to enjoy the ride the exact same way that you do and I don't think that's fair. You may not get anything out of raising your arms up, but other people do and that's their prerogative. It's a thrill ride and it's unfair of you to expect anyone to lessen their enjoyment of a ride because you want a better photo op.

If TOT was primarily a photo op instead of a ride you would have a valid point, but it isn't - it's a thrill ride and it it's unreasonable to expect people to treat it like it isn't. As I said before, if you want to be assured that no one's hands will be covering your face in the ride picture, then you can ask to sit in the front row.

 

[finnster77]

I don't put my arms up on rides. Ever. I just don't enjoy it. Having said that, I think that you're the one with the "it's all about ME and MY enjoyment - screw anyone who doesn't like it" attitude.

You seem to expect other people to want to enjoy the ride the exact same way that you do and I don't think that's fair. You may not get anything out of raising your arms up, but other people do and that's their prerogative. It's a thrill ride and it's unfair of you to expect anyone to lessen their enjoyment of a ride because you want a better photo op.

If TOT was primarily a photo op instead of a ride you would have a valid point, but it isn't - it's a thrill ride and it it's unreasonable to expect people to treat it like it isn't. As I said before, if you want to be assured that no one's hands will be covering your face in the ride picture, then you can ask to sit in the front row.

I didn't type a word about messing up a photo opportunity. I don't give a hoot about the photo. I was referring to the people (maybe even you?) who had posted that they didn't care what anyone else thought, they were going to raise their arms if they felt like it. (Hence the attitude I referred to.) I'm not asking anyone to "enjoy the ride the exact way I do." Just be considerate of others and the fact that they may want to enjoy the view and effects, not neccessarily your arms flopping about in front of them. If I'm on a midway carnival wooden roller coaster, that's one thing. You're missing the boat on ToT if you think it's simply a "thrill ride."

 

[finnster77]

It's primarily a thrill ride, not a photo op, so feel free to put your hands up. If someone expects you not to, then they're the one's who are being rude.

If someone is really concerned about being blocked in the picture they should request the front row.

Yep. Attitudes like this are what I'm referring to. Since you classify it as a "thrill ride" (whatever that means) it's automatically hands up? Screw anyone who enjoys other things about the ride.

Yep. I'm the selfish one.

 

[maxiesmom]

Yep. Attitudes like this are what I'm referring to. Since you classify it as a "thrill ride" (whatever that means) it's automatically hands up? Screw anyone who enjoys other things about the ride.

Yep. I'm the selfish one.

As that poster suggested, if the pic is important to you, sit in the front row. That way you get what you want, and others can have what they want. Expecting someone to keep their hands down on a thrill ride (and yes, ToT IS a thrill ride) is ridiculous.

*Thrill is defined on thesaurus.com as a sudden excitement. So calling ToT a thrill ride is a perfect definition of it.

 

[JennaDeeDooDah]

This thread is baffling to me. I guess I was just raised differently from some of the posters on this thread, but I am going to do my best to ride a ride in a way that is respectful of other people on the ride. I'm not going to put my hands up because that not only possibly blocks their photo, but also their view. I do not understand why someone would need to have the forethought that other people would be inconsiderate and plan accordingly. Why not just assume that people are going to be courteous? And why not just be courteous? If it is that big of a deal to put your hands up, just request a seat in the back. It's no big deal, I assure you, to the cast member and you aren't being inconsiderate to your fellow riders. Everyone will win. Many people who are going to ride aren't thinking that people are going to be putting their hands up and aren't going to think to request a front seat. If you know that you will want to put your hands up, just request the back.

 

[SDSorority]

Wanted to get the disboard opinion on etiquette as far as hands up on Tower of Terror goes. We LOVE to put our hands up! Sometimes we ask to sit all across the back, so I know it isn't blocking anyone's picture, but I also don't like to always request seats b/c it's extra work for the cm, and someone else we are riding with may have been hoping for back, or it's just really busy. I was just wondering what the general opinion is on riding rides with people who put their hands up in front of you?

We always put our hands up now. At first I held on for DEAR.LIFE.OMG.

But now, I try to spread my arms apart to not block the face of the person behind me. We KNOW when the flash is going to be, so if we think about it, we don't put our hands up until after that's over.

 

[GBBTomorrow]

This is the first really "new" idea I've come across on the DIS in a while. I never in a million years would have thought about whether or not it's courteous to put my hands in the air on a ride, and I like to think I'm a person who cares about others. I can remember going on my first roller coasters with my dad when I was a kid and him urging me to put my hands up. What a fun memory! I just thought putting your hands up was Standard Operating Procedure on thrill rides, something fun to do. I would not put a kid on my shoulders in the front row of a parade or wear a tall hat in Hall of Presidents or cut in a line. But I never imagined someone would have a problem with people enjoying a ride to the fullest. It is a "ride", right?

 

[brookmey]

You can put your arms up all you want in front of me! I hold on like the world is ending and I'm screaming like a banshee. The last thing I want is a picture of that!

 

[Melmac]

I always put my hands up BUT I know when they take the pic so I keep them down during the photo. Otherwise they are up the rest of the time. That way you can "fly"

This is what DH and I do. And, if we want a really good photo, we request the front row.

 

[SnwflkCts]

When do they take the picture? When they start the first drop I assume? I definately hold on for dear life ...

I used to hold my hands up on roller coasters but somehow when I got older, I became more afraid ... like I would not fly out when I was 25 but would when I was 50 -- it must be that invincible feeling you have in your 20's.

I'm surprised this thread got so heated ... I just didn't expect it to ...

 

[ftballfan7]

This thread is baffling to me. I guess I was just raised differently from some of the posters on this thread, but I am going to do my best to ride a ride in a way that is respectful of other people on the ride. I'm not going to put my hands up because that not only possibly blocks their photo, but also their view. I do not understand why someone would need to have the forethought that other people would be inconsiderate and plan accordingly. Why not just assume that people are going to be courteous? And why not just be courteous? If it is that big of a deal to put your hands up, just request a seat in the back. It's no big deal, I assure you, to the cast member and you aren't being inconsiderate to your fellow riders. Everyone will win. Many people who are going to ride aren't thinking that people are going to be putting their hands up and aren't going to think to request a front seat. If you know that you will want to put your hands up, just request the back.

I am also baffled by this thread, but for different reasons. People have been raising their hands on thrill ride drops for decades. Now suddenly people are whining about it. Those who are accusing those who do it of being self absorbed or rude could also be accused of the same thing. I guess a case could be made either way, but the main point of the ride is the thrill ride aspect of it. Perhaps it is a sign of the times that something that has been accepted as a normal practice is now considered by some to be unacceptable. I still believe that if a photo or a view is more important than the actual ride to someone, than they should request the front row. Anyone who doesn't realize that some people will raise their hands during the ride must have spent their lives in a bubble, I just don't see it as being an unanticipated occurrence.