I was told I couldn't take a picture of Donald Duck!

[antree]

I was in Epcot On Sunday July 13th. We just seen The Hansen Brothers in Norway and my son and I was running to meet my DH near Mexico. As we were running by we seen Donald Duck. My DS says mommy look it Donald. I say lets get a picture, he says I am only showing you I don't want to get a picture He so weird. So I said OK but I want to get a pic of him because my DB loves Donald. So I walked off to the side of the line and snapped a picture of Donald. No one else I just got his face so I can show my Brother.
The cast memeber there told me I couldn't take a picture and stood with her arms opened in front of Donald so I couldn't get it. WHAT was up with that? {but I had already taken the picture}.
I said what, you can't tell me I can't take a picture, I didn't yell or be mean about it. She said get in line or move.

Honestly, I was not blocking anyone, I didn't step in front of anyone. actually there was no one near me I was way off to the side. I snapped the picture and turned to leave when she made the remark.
When did this start? What is up with that? I found it confusing and upsetting that I was told I couldn't take a picture, and I was outside.

 

[Madi100]

I think it has something to do with taking pictures of the characters while they are with other families. A lot of times when you are taking your pictures of a character, they are with a child, and you don't have permission to take that child's picture.

 

[BuzzandAriel'smom]

Yeah they don't like it when you take pictures without waiting in line. Not sure if it's to protect the people in the picture (how many of us have pictures with other people in it?!) or just to create order in character situations.

Sorry she didn't explain it to you or use polite phrasing.

 

[Sleeping Becca]

The CM probably thought you were trying to line jump.

If I was not allowed to have strangers in my vacation photos, I don't think I would have many photos.

 

[motofox4]

this happened to us in december when i was trying to take a picture of captain hook.. i didn't want to get a picture with him, i just wanted his picture so in between one family getting their picture and the next walking up, i tried to get a quick shot of him.. the cm told me i couldn't take a picture of him because of "new laws" regarding children.. so even though it was in between families, i guess the chance that a child could have been in the shot is the reason i was told i couldn't take it..

 

[saraheeyore]

I'm guessing it will have been incase you got a pic of a kid in it
can't take pics of your own kids in swimming pools here incase you get someone elses kid in it

 

[grimley1968]

I agree it probably is to protect others who wish to take pics with the characters. The OP did say no one was with Donald at the time. However, the line might have been held up just a bit because they were waiting for the OP to finish taking the pic before letting the next guest in line come up to meet Donald. If they had to stop the line every time for someone out in the crowd who wants to snap a random photo, the lines would get extremely slow, so they have to take action, and it may be seen as rude by some guests, to stop this.

 

[dburg30]

I think it has something to do with taking pictures of the characters while they are with other families. A lot of times when you are taking your pictures of a character, they are with a child, and you don't have permission to take that child's picture.

Were you in the 'exit' lane? Then sometimes they will make you move, but I've taken many pics of the characters between people. I do try to not take pics of other people with characters, but at a place like WDW you do basically have to give up an expectation of privacy.

 

[dburg30]

this happened to us in december when i was trying to take a picture of captain hook.. i didn't want to get a picture with him, i just wanted his picture so in between one family getting their picture and the next walking up, i tried to get a quick shot of him.. the cm told me i couldn't take a picture of him because of "new laws" regarding children.. so even though it was in between families, i guess the chance that a child could have been in the shot is the reason i was told i couldn't take it..

I'd like to hear of this 'new law' as they call it.

 

[antree]

Ok I understand you shouldn't take a picture of a child that is not yours. But You know thousands of people are snapping away in Disney and you are going to be in it. I guess they could just try and stop it as they are there.
I don't know When I do take pictures of characters I take the face only when childern or adults are around. We were just at the Dance party in Playhouse Disney at DHS and I was snapping away at the characters and only their faces because honestly I don't want strangers in my pictures.

I guess for now on my DS will have to get in line with me and take pictures

 

[mom2minniemouse]

That's really, REALLY strange if it is a new "law" at WDW. It's DISNEY WORLD. LOL! There are kids everywhere. They can't possibly think that every photo that someone takes in a park crowded with children won't have someone else's kid in it. That would make taking any pictures in places like Crystal Palace next to impossible. LOL!

 

[rainwatter]

as for the whole kid in the picture thing, if that was truely the case, you wouldn't be able to take pictures anywhere. My husband took a picture of DD and I on Dumbo, and guesse what, there are other kids on the ride, other kids in line, other kids walking around, other kids meeting with a character in the background....

At the character meals, there's DD with Jasmin, and right behind her other kiddos with Mulan plain as day.

Or what about group shots on rides? I purchased picts of DD and I on Dinosaur, Test Track, Splash Mountain... and all of them have other kids in it whose parents may or may not have ok'd my purchasing their childs photo. I also don't remember being asked if I wanted my DD's photo available for others...

My guess is that they don't want people "cutting" or getting in the way and they are using the "there could be kids" line to simplify the process.

 

[HdnMickeyGrl]

I think if that law really prohibited taking pictures of other people's kids then no one could bring a camera to the parks. But I agree, I think it was probabaly just to prevent the idea of line jumping. I've always thought they should allow a pause so people could get a "just character picture" in. That could take care of 10 people at once. Maybe allow it right before the character is going to leave. Everyone can snap a photo at the same time and then the character can leave.

 

[sorcerormickey]

Yes, I believe it was because someone else was there.

We had a problem at Star Wars Weekends with a former-DISer taking pics of my boyfriend with his nephew visiting a character. I freaked out on him and told him to stop, but he really didn't care.

Maybe CMs have been told to watch for this sort of thing.

 

[HdnMickeyGrl]

Not to get side tracked but did you know they can zoom into and recenter the ride photos. So if you only want you or you and your family etc... they can zoom in and recenter the photo and then you don't get the random extra folks.

Now back to your regularly scheduled thread...

 

[TheRustyScupper]

The CM probably thought you were trying to line jump.

1) Imagine if several people starting moving around the line to take pictures.
2) All of a sudden, the line doesn't exist any longer.
3) Others waiting for pictures would step out of line.
4) It is simple courtesy to the characters and to other guests.

NOTE: Talks of taking pictures of other kids may or may not be true and may or may not be an excuse. I just have not heard of such a "new rule". But, it certainly could be real.

 

[antree]

Just for the record, I know you weren't there and what not, but I was no where near the line to try to line jump. I was not holding anyone up as a little girl was walking up to him a snapped a picture of Donald I was far away enough that i zoomed all the way in to him and the reason the cast member saw me was because no one was around me. I was in no ones way. So maybe it was the idea it wasn't my child. But again kids pictures are be taken everywhere. My DD14 told me that while she was getting her picture taken in front of the castle by a photopass person. Some one took their picture too in front of the Castle.
There is just no way of stopping it.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I'm with Rusty Scupper on this one. I think it has more to do with crowd control.

You maybe were not crowding the character...but the next person might be five feet in front of you - and the next five feet in front of that person....If the handler doesn't shut down the taking of pics by people not in line, then the situation can quickly escalate - and trust me - the folks who have waited ten miuntes in line are gonna be upset if someone else can just run up the side and get a pic without waiting.

Really, I'm not part of the WDW police crew...but I do think in this case there's safety issues.

 

[Jenvenza]

IDK, I think it is a bit strange. Especially if it is over not taking pictures of other children. I cannot imagine how many kids have probably made their way into photos of ours. I would love to only have my family in it, but Disney has quite a few kids running around. Sorry she was rude to you!

 

[Tink3Bell]

Just learned something new!