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

[ajh88]

Yeah, I hadn't heard of this either - interesting to know. We have several pictures of characters from our last trip where we weren't waiting for autographs, but snapped them from a distance with no issues. I certainly don't expect them to stop & pose for me, but I can't imagine being told not to take the picture at all.

And slightly OT, but we were just going through pictures from last year's trip (will I ever catch up!), and I kicked out a bunch because there were too many strangers in them!

 

[Robo]

What would someone be able to do to a photo shot at Disney World that would be of any actual HARM to the person in it?


(I am using the word HARM specifically.)

 

[marmar]

My husband & I do Adult trips to WDW. For many years we have taken some beautiful close up of Characters during these meet & sign sessions. In most cases we actually wait for a super short child who won't even show up in the photo. We get wonderful close ups of the face characters that way (Cinderella, Belle, Mad Hatter, Alice, Mary Poppins etc). I sure hope we don't have problems in the future.

If they move the characters into special areas then it is more difficult for us. That seems to be the trend. But I understand this gives them better Crowd control. It also keeps strangers from taking pictures of children.
Example is that there is now a "shop" in the UK where children can see Mary Poppins, Pooh & Co, Alice or Peter Pan. We used to get lots of pictures at the Studios as the chars used to rotate thru the hub area every 30 mins. They are now back in little nooks along the walkways.

 

[sorcerormickey]

What would someone be able to do to a photo shot at Disney World that would be of any actual HARM to the person in it?


(I am using the word HARM specifically.)

In our case, the person taking the photo was known on this board as being very weird and who knows what he was planning on doing with pics of my 5 yo nephew. He doesn't even know him - why would he need his photo?

 

[Robo]

In our case, the person taking the photo was known on this board as being very weird and who knows what he was planning on doing with pics of my 5 yo nephew. He doesn't even know him - why would he need his photo?

What HARM could come to a person from having a photo taken of them?

 

[CanadianGuy]

Well to be the dark side for a second..

Now that person "B" has photographic evidence of what person "A"'s nephew looks like..

 

[Nicoleclaw]

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.

LOL that is funny. I know as a teacher, in recent years, we have had to get signatures from parents that says their kid can be photographed by the school, teachers, etc. It is almost impossible to take a picture of stuff in Disney without other people in it...unless you can go when it is really really slow I guess.
We took a pic of Belle and the Beast (along with a couple other people) from the side once. Noone else was in it. We rushed out of dinner at 540 because they were supposed to be out there till 6. We got there by 545 and they had closed the line already!!

 

[sorcerormickey]

What HARM could come to a person from having a photo taken of them?

Because they could be some perv and I don't want them having a photo of my nephew - THAT'S WHY!!!!!!!!!!

 

[NYDisneyKid]

You could be using a camera phone and who would know? ºOº

 

[PrincessKsMom]

If this is the case, how come it's alright for the photopass photogs to take pictures in front of the Castle, the Sorcerer's hat, RnR, etc.? There are ALWAYS other people in the pictures. Also, how many times have you/your family waited on line to get a picture with the characters and someone else's kid jumps in the picture? If this is the new trend, then Disney better order up some more cast members, because I, as an adult, will stand in line to have my picture taken if this is the only way I can. I think it's ridiculous. You're in a public place where at least 50% of the adults in the park are carrying cameras. It's a picture for God's sake. It doesn't mean they know where you live, your telephone number, etc. People are just too crazy and paranoid -- and I've been called a helicopter parent on these boards?! Please.

 

[Robo]

Fewer duck pictures means a greener planet for everyone.

 

[Cool-Beans]

A friend of mine wanted to take a pic of one of the princesses once...or maybe it was Alice...it was a face character, anyway. Back behind LTT near what now the smoking area.

We waited in line and when our turn came she explained that she just wanted a pic and they told her that she couldn't do that. One of us had to go stand with her.

This was three or four years ago.

 

[Robo]

e waited in line and when our turn came she explained that she just wanted a pic and they told her that she couldn't do that. One of us had to go stand with her.

Maybe she was afraid. You know how fragile real princesses are!

 

[kaleighmariesmom]

I think that is weird because you dont know how many times people would run up and take pictures of the character with my DD. My DH joked that people must love our DD because she must have been in like 100 pics. No CM ever said anything to the people who were snapping photos with her in them. and this was only 2 months ago. I think it is kinda better when the CM says something.

 

[pixiedustforever]

What's next? Will photopass shares become "illegal"?
You will end up with pictures on a CD of total strangers!

 

[NYDisneyKid]

And what about character breakfast's? The characters pose with the kids and the parents are snapping away and I'm sure there are "other kids" in the backround. ºOº

 

[LadyDuchess]

I don't know about the rest of the population, but I for one never walk in front of someone else's photo if I can help it.

Several years back I was in line to meet Jasmine. Just as it was my turn, a woman was trying to snap a photo of the princess. Me, being somewhat overly considerate of others at times, stayed back so I wouldn't ruin the woman's picture, much to the chagrin of the character attendant. The CM told me to please go ahead while she told the other woman that if she wanted a picture, she'd need to take it from a distance or else stand in line.

Afterwards, the CM apologized to me and told me that she knew I was just trying to be courteous, but that allowing others to take pictures holds up the line and fewer people get to meet the character as a result.

(Also, I've witnessed on several occasions people who weren't waiting in line asking the next guests to please wait a minute so they can snap a picture -- and then throwing complete tantrums when other people were blocking their shot!)

Just my experiences with it. But like I said, my instance happened probably 5 years ago, so I don't think it's anything new... maybe it just depends on the CM? I seriously doubt it has anything to do with getting other children in the picture.

 

[imthatgirl]

i have lenses that i bring to disney that are up to 14x, and im in the process of saving for a larger one. you wouldnt even know if i took a close up of a character or your child with a character, and neither would the CM. maybe the CM was on a power trip.
but i dont want pictures of your kids, like Robo pointed out, what in the world would i do with them?

 

[Josh'sDad1974]

First off, I'm a newspaper photographer. There are no laws against taking photos of other people's kids. Now Disney may have a policy against it but there are no federal laws. Escentially, whatever you can see from a public access area (street, etc.) is in the public domain and you can photograph whatever and whomever you would like. Now does it make it right, who knows! I use good judgement when taking photos for my newspaper. I make sure a kid's parent is around when I take my pictures. The only time I don't is when the kid is older (say 12 and up). The schools have rules but they really don't enforce them until it is for their benefit. But Disney is private property and they can do whatever they would like.

 

[Feralpeg]

I take pictures of the characters all the time without standing in line. I just stand a ways off and use my zoom. I just get the character. I wait until the child walks away. I know the CMs are touchy about this, but I'm not standing in line to take a picture of the character by him or herself. I certainly don't want pictures of other peoples' kids.

Personally, I think it is a total over reaction. I guess it is possible that someone bad could take a picture of a kid at WDW. That could happen anywhere. Most people just want a picture of the character.