Has anyone had this happen to them at security?

[TeamSy]

So we were riding up to Epcot today on the friendship boat - my husband, myself, and 2 yr old. I had my phone out and recorded as we were pulling up to Epcot because my daughter is OBSESSED with boat rides and it’s something i definitely wanted to save. As I was passing through security the guy asked if I was recording as we were pulling up and I said yes and then I had to stand there and show it to him (the WHOLE thing)... with a waiting 2 year old, because it’s against policy to record security. I had no idea I was even doing that as I was just recording her sitting there and us pulling up to Epcot and I can’t imagine I’m the only one who has ever done this. Then he went through our stuff and noticed I made a small chalkboard sign (it was a pregnancy announcement to hold with one of the characters) and made a huge deal about signs not being allowed, even small ones, but eventually he “let it slide.” I never had something like this happen before at Disney!!! It was so weird!

 

[RADOPT]

I have heard that signs of any kind are not allowed in the parks. I believe Walt made that rule from day 1. Hope you had fun.

 

[Tigger in a kilt]

It’s against policy most places to video security, so I’m not surprised. It does make sense. Congratulations on your pregnancy!

 

[PeterPanFan123]

So we were riding up to Epcot today on the friendship boat - my husband, myself, and 2 yr old. I had my phone out and recorded as we were pulling up to Epcot because my daughter is OBSESSED with boat rides and it’s something i definitely wanted to save. As I was passing through security the guy asked if I was recording as we were pulling up and I said yes and then I had to stand there and show it to him (the WHOLE thing)... with a waiting 2 year old, because it’s against policy to record security. I had no idea I was even doing that as I was just recording her sitting there and us pulling up to Epcot and I can’t imagine I’m the only one who has ever done this. Then he went through our stuff and noticed I made a small chalkboard sign (it was a pregnancy announcement to hold with one of the characters) and made a huge deal about signs not being allowed, even small ones, but eventually he “let it slide.” I never had something like this happen before at Disney!!! It was so weird!

Yes, we encountered a similar situation just prior to boarding the monorail at the Poly. I was taking a picture of my family just prior to entering the security post, and the security officer advised me that no photos are allowed of the security area and I would need to delete the photo. It was a bit off-putting at first, as you similarly mentioned, but ultimately I understand and appreciate their enforcement for the safety of the guests.

Congratulations to you and your family! I'm glad they let the sign "slide." Did you get the announcement photo that you wanted?

 

[DisneyOma]

So this is basically a post about not knowing the rules and being surprised by them? Okay.

 

[Chrisizzle]

It’s happened to me at security at other places (foreign airports). Your security cast member was going above the call of duty by watching it with you so you didn’t have to delete it, site-unseen.

I was actually wondering about cameras last time I was at Disney security and looked for signs. I personally didn’t see any. I may have missed them but they should put some up to make it more obvious if recording is a no-no.

It looks like security was also being nice to you be letting you keep the ‘sign’ too.

All in all, you had a positive experience whether you know it or not.

 

[DisLiss]

I like to watch WDW videos on Youtube, so yes, I have heard many times, by many people, that it is an absolute no-go on video-taping anything around security. I'm sorry it turned out to be an issue for you. We can't all know everything ahead of time, so sometimes things catch us unaware. Glad they took the time to check the video for you instead of just making you delete it. It's nice when they try to work with people in dealing with unrealized rules like that.

(I think the no-signs thing may go all the way back to the early years of the parks when they were trying to discourage protesting in the parks.)

 

[Tigger in a kilt]

Walt’s vision or not, it’s ridiculous not to have signs up, given the volume of guests from all over the world. Walt never imagined that we would all carry video cameras in our pockets. It is causing an unnecessary point of conflict between guests and security.

 

[Chrisizzle]

Walt’s vision or not, it’s ridiculous not to have signs up, given the volume of guests from all over the world. Walt never imagined that we would all carry video cameras in our pockets. It is causing an unnecessary point of conflict between guests and security.

I laughed the first time I read your post. I thought you were referring to not allowing people with signs into the park given the tourists from around the world.

I was like “really?!? Is carrying a sign around an amusement park really an integral part of people’s vacation?”

Then I realized you meant there should be signs stating you can’t record security. I think you are getting two things mixed up here.

Walt banned people carrying signs into the parks to prevent protests, advertising, etc. Walt did not ban official signage to inform guests of things.

 

[Tigger in a kilt]

I laughed the first time I read your post. I thought you were referring to not allowing people with signs into the park given the tourists from around the world.

I was like “really?!? Is carrying a sign around an amusement park really an integral part of people’s vacation?”

Then I realized you meant there should be signs stating you can’t record security. I think you are getting two things mixed up here.

Walt banned people carrying signs into the parks to prevent protests, advertising, etc. Walt did not ban official signage to inform guests of things.

Ah, got it! I don’t remember seeing any signs at security that said you couldn’t film, so that’s what I thought was part of the whole “Walt’s vision”.

 

[GoingSince1990]

Most Disney security guards are wonderful people; unfortunately, you encountered one of the small minority who are officious twits. Wasting time scrutinizing a video shot by a mother of a 2-year old in case she accidentally included any footage of security screening is utterly moronic. And a normal person would have smiled and offered congratulations on seeing the small pregnancy announcement, not delivered a pompous lecture about how signs are banned. Like the TSA, this kind of security job does unfortunately attract a contingent of people who positively enjoy inconveniencing and berating people, and the only thing you can do when encountering such “bad apples” is to try to not let it spoil your enjoyment of your day.

 

[Chrisizzle]

Most Disney security guards are wonderful people; unfortunately, you encountered one of the small minority who are officious twits. Wasting time scrutinizing a video shot by a mother of a 2-year old in case she accidentally included any footage of security screening is utterly moronic.

If someone were to record a security checkpoint for nefarious purposes, would they do it overtly, dressed as a terrorist (whatever that looks like), or would they make it look like they were recording something innocent, like a two year old child?

I think this was an occasion where the security guard was being ‘wonderful’ and finding a way to let this mother keep her footage. Any other place (like an airport, police station, or border crossing) and the video would need to have been deleted, period... perhaps even the phone confiscated.

 

[Allison]

So this is basically a post about not knowing the rules and being surprised by them? Okay.

Nothing wrong with that at all.

 

[TeamSy]

Most Disney security guards are wonderful people; unfortunately, you encountered one of the small minority who are officious twits. Wasting time scrutinizing a video shot by a mother of a 2-year old in case she accidentally included any footage of security screening is utterly moronic. And a normal person would have smiled and offered congratulations on seeing the small pregnancy announcement, not delivered a pompous lecture about how signs are banned. Like the TSA, this kind of security job does unfortunately attract a contingent of people who positively enjoy inconveniencing and berating people, and the only thing you can do when encountering such “bad apples” is to try to not let it spoil your enjoyment of your day.

I agree! We encountered some really wonderful security guards our entire trip, which is why this caught me so off guard! Also because we were ON the friendship boat approaching Epcot, so I didn’t even think twice about it or even know security was just on the other side there!!! It seemed like a very average thing for people to film and was totally innocent, so his abruptness about it and then to hound us about doing us a favor for this “sign” was just like whoa, chill, okay lol. I was just wondering if this happened to anyone else because it seems like a bad place for security if they are going to worry about people filming from the friendship boats approaching, or go crazy over a small thing for a pregnancy announcement lol.