new blog: Do You Own the Space Above You in a Theme Park?

[LeahZ]

Placing a child on your shoulders just as a show starts may seem harmless, but it does little to amuse guests behind you who are trying to watch the show or parade you are watching. And what about those cameras, iPads, and iPhones?

Read more here:

http://blog.wdwinfo.com/2015/01/26/do-you-own-the-space-above-you-in-a-theme-park/

 

[lorijohnhill]

The balloons cause viewing issues as well.

 

[PatMcDuck]

good point about the Balloons! I had a family next to us at the DL holiday parade buy 3 (THREE!) Baymax huge balloons just as parade was to start. We could not relocate by then, and they were in every photo I tried to take.

Their kids ignored the balloons and watched the parade, they were not blocking THEIR view of course.

 

[Disneyluvr2]

The kids on the shoulders is a big pet peeve of mine. I think it's totally disrespectful to everyone behind them. 99% of the time when anyone protests, if falls on deaf ears. I think it should be announced before the parades and fireworks that this is not allowed for safety reasons, and for the viewing pleasure of guests behind them. Parents should know this without being told though!

 

[Mousequake]

DLR should take a page from Tokyo Disneyland with this regard. They make announcements before every show/parade that tablets, phones, and cameras may be used, but not raised above eye level. They also enforce it on the rare occasion when somebody breaks that rule, which is AWESOME.

 

[zanzibar138]

Oooh this is a pet peeve of mine! Especially iPads. Those are big, bulky screens, and really do obstruct views. Last time I saw the fireworks, it was through the screen of the iPad being held up right in front of me I felt like I may as well have stayed home and watched it on youtube lol!

I don't mind if people want to hold up their camera (or even iPad) briefly to get a few photos throughout the show, but holding it above your head the whole time to get a video recording is not ok!

DLR should take a page from Tokyo Disneyland with this regard. They make announcements before every show/parade that tablets, phones, and cameras may be used, but not raised above eye level. They also enforce it on the rare occasion when somebody breaks that rule, which is AWESOME.

That is awesome

 

[Canuck16]

DLR should take a page from Tokyo Disneyland with this regard. They make announcements before every show/parade that tablets, phones, and cameras may be used, but not raised above eye level. They also enforce it on the rare occasion when somebody breaks that rule, which is AWESOME.

I 2nd this policy

 

[Susie63]

Oooh this is a pet peeve of mine! Especially iPads. Those are big, bulky screens, and really do obstruct views. Last time I saw the fireworks, it was through the screen of the iPad being held up right in front of me I felt like I may as well have stayed home and watched it on youtube lol!

I don't mind if people want to hold up their camera (or even iPad) briefly to get a few photos throughout the show, but holding it above your head the whole time to get a video recording is not ok!



That is awesome

Two words... spit balls It wouldn't take them long to hide their iPad lol

 

[Maddle]

I am absolutely in the corner with the author. I think people who hold up their camera or put a child on their shoulder are the most thoughtless folks around. It's just so obnoxious. (Kid on the shoulder is the worst!!!)

Maddle

 

[DizMe]

On my December trip, I saw a lot of 'selfie sticks' being used. I like the old system of asking someone walking by to take your picture I think if you had someone get out that selfie stick on a ride or in a show etc it would be pretty darned annoying and possibly unsafe.

And this is off topic but maybe another blog entry: I absolutely CANNOT stand those flashing lights that people wear. It is very difficult for me to be around those (migraines). I don't blame people for getting them--it's a cool idea--but it drives me right up the wall.

 

[DahliaRW]

At WDW last January we were waiting for the Electrical Light Parade. There was a dad with his daughter who was maybe 8 behind us. We politely let the daughter stand in front of us with our kids so she could see (we had staked out a curb spot). So the parade starts, and the dad hands his daughter his ipad which she then holds over her head the whole time recording, putting a big 8x11 obstacle in our viewfield. It was beyond rude!

 

[bluefunnel]

The first(and only) time I tried to catch World of Color, it was a little sliver between a big iPad and a shoulder kid. I never understood where this mentality came from.

 

[McNs]

I had a bad experience with some light up mickey ears and Fantasmic. We had the dessert package but had second row seats, and the person in front had the damn ears on. Drove us nuts, stupidest thing was the person wearing the ears couldn't see the lights flashing!

 

[4Mickeys]

I had a bad experience with some light up mickey ears and Fantasmic. We had the dessert package but had second row seats, and the person in front had the damn ears on. Drove us nuts, stupidest thing was the person wearing the ears couldn't see the lights flashing!

Yes it may be annoying but the person wearing them did so likely as that is how they are marketed by DL; as they sync the ears to both Fantasmic and World of Colour. So it really shouldn't be surprising to see them pop up at these shows.

 

[superlarz]

The balloons and tablets are the worst. I dont like kids on shoulders, but I at least understand why people do that. The people with balloons are just ignorant. And the people with tablets or phones recording the whole show? They should just download it off Youtube where someone already has a better video of the show. I was watching Magical last summer and a person just behind me to my right had their tablet up for the whole show, with the LED flash on the entire time. They lit up the whole area. It was horrible. All their video is going to be of is everyone else's heads in front of them due to the flash. Luckily I get to watch the fireworks often.

 

[Canadian Harmony]

I don't think anyone 'owns' the air above them. What I have noticed in my advanced age of *notquite50* is a HUGE lack of respect and courtesy toward others. Yes, I'm a Canadian, and yes, we do a lot of holding open doors for others and saying, "Sorry", however I have noticed that over the years, there's a lot more ME/MINE/I and a lot less YOU/US/OTHERS.

There's also a huge thing (trend?) where people are USED to seeing things on tv - you usually get a better view and you're saving the cost of a ticket. BUT... when you're actually at the event you've paid money for, it's for more than the fireworks (or hockey game...but I digress), you're there for the actual experience too. And it's hard to have that experience when viewing it from your video screen... when you're actually at the event!

I think people need to treat others as they wish to be treated; that is to say, if YOU don't want someone with a kid on their shoulders or a big hat or a balloon in YOUR view, then don't do it to others. If YOU don't want to see other people holding up their tablet or phone to record the.whole.thing, then YOU don't do it yourself! If YOU don't want to listen to someone else going on and on with commentary, then don't do it yourself.

We often find the traits we don't like in others, we often have ourselves and it makes it hard to hold up that mirror, but sometimes you need to think of others, especially in theme parks.

As my dad always said, "Hey, your proctologist called. He found your head."

 

[JandD75]

'As my dad always said, "Hey, your proctologist called. He found your head." [/QUOTE]'


Well said!!!!

 

[dnamertz]

I had a bad experience with some light up mickey ears and Fantasmic. We had the dessert package but had second row seats, and the person in front had the damn ears on. Drove us nuts, stupidest thing was the person wearing the ears couldn't see the lights flashing!

The success of those hats really requires them to be worn by a lot of people in the crowd. That would have a great added affect to the show. But if just a couple people in the crowd have them on, it's not impressive. And as you mentioned, only those around you can see it, so the wearer can't even enjoy it.