Oh no! Not the Selfie-Sticks...

[Chimaera]

That was a cool video, I think my only concern with selfie-sticks is on rides - it's only a matter of time before there's an accident involving a stick on a ride, either flying out of someone's hand or hitting a piece of the ride scenery or structure.

 

[SabbyR]

That was a cool video, I think my only concern with selfie-sticks is on rides - it's only a matter of time before there's an accident involving a stick on a ride, either flying out of someone's hand or hitting a piece of the ride scenery or structure.

Has nothing to do with the post but I noticed in your ticker youd be at Pop in 2 months 1 week and five days. We will be there in two months, 1 week and 6 days!

 

[gdrj]

Just watched Wishes on Monday night from the hub area (not my preference, usually new fantasyland) and I could not believe all of the phone/camera sticks up in the air. I could barely see the castle. Mind you no one holds the camera perfectly still, so it's a constant distraction and I can't imagine they are actually recording a good quality video (that are already on youtube from countless users) I was so close from going to guest relations about this, because it's only going to get worse from here on out. I'm surprised they don't already have some kind of rule :/

That's my concern with it, its distracting to the others around them especially at a show or something where you are standing still. If you want to take a picture of your group and use it I have no problem with it. If you are becoming a production team and the stick interferes with my enjoyment I have a concern. On the rides I can see it being a safety issue with some people sticking outside of the ride car getting stuck, hitting something, bouncing back at someone and injuring someone, plus it distracts from others enjoyment on the ride.

Why yes, there is common sense and many people are respectful but a lot are not. Lots of things are safe or don't impede others enjoyment when used properly. Put 30,000 -50,000 in Magic Kingdom and there are going to be a couple thousand idiots who may impact others enjoyment.

Someone said should Disney ban strollers, well they do restrict there use in certain areas (park them off to the side). The wonderful scooters with people who have never driven them running over people have my vote for restrictions, but that's for another day (please don't get all ADA on me, I understand the need, rude and clueless occurs in all shapes and sizes).

 

[dad24]

That was a cool video, I think my only concern with selfie-sticks is on rides - it's only a matter of time before there's an accident involving a stick on a ride, either flying out of someone's hand or hitting a piece of the ride scenery or structure.

I used a GoPole on several rides (video in my signature) with no problems.

IMO, using a stick/pole with a wrist strap (if used properly) is much safer than all of the people I saw holding their cell phones up with one hand in the air for an entire ride.

 

[Chimaera]

IMO, using a stick/pole with a wrist strap (if used properly)

Key words in bold - someone using a wrist strap who isn't paying close enough attention could easily lose an arm if the stick makes contact with a fast moving structural element. I don't think people should be holding their phone out at arms length either. Whatever happened to "keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times"?? This applies to sticks too - if it's outside of your personal space on a ride, it's unsafe.

 

[FINFAN]

Key words in bold - someone using a wrist strap who isn't paying close enough attention could easily lose an arm if the stick makes contact with a fast moving structural element. I don't think people should be holding their phone out at arms length either. Whatever happened to "keep your hands and feet inside the vehicle at all times"?? This applies to sticks too - if it's outside of your personal space on a ride, it's unsafe.

this is a very good point. The length of our selfie stick looks longer than actually is, think fish eye type distortion. Ours was kept at under an arms length or as you said, inside vehicle but it looks longer when viewing. You can see my DS arm is bent while holding the stick, not outstretched ..tho we DID use it on teacups and I think Dumbo higher than our head height briefly. We asked before riding about that and we were told no worries so .

 

[FINFAN]

I used a GoPole on several rides (video in my signature) with no problems.

IMO, using a stick/pole with a wrist strap (if used properly) is much safer than all of the people I saw holding their cell phones up with one hand in the air for an entire ride.

The flight attendant at the beginning, lol...kudos on multi-tasking TSM and the GoPro! The water proof housing is the best for water rides and the rains!

 

[mom2rtk]

Someone said should Disney ban strollers, well they do restrict there use in certain areas (park them off to the side). The wonderful scooters with people who have never driven them running over people have my vote for restrictions, but that's for another day (please don't get all ADA on me, I understand the need, rude and clueless occurs in all shapes and sizes).

Come to think of it, I haven't seen any strollers on rides lately.

 

[FINFAN]

Come to think of it, I haven't seen any strollers on rides lately.

yet.......lol. Overall, it's unfortunate that things that can improve experience can also detract.

 

[draybook]

Yes.

From an interesting article on this at http://www.returnofkings.com/39946/have-we-reached-peak-narcissism-with-the-selfie-stick:

"The selfie stick represents the beginning of peak narcissism, because it shows that Americans are willing to look absurd in real life and ruin actual experiences to look better in the digital world. "

That's odd, because every single selfie stick we saw being used over the last two weeks wasn't being stretched out by the arms of Americans. Also, I don't gauge things by some article that I read.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I never understood taking iPads to the parks. My phone takes much better pics than my iPad. And even carrying a phone can be a bother when you go on water rides or it starts pouring rain. I'd be constantly worried about my iPad getting wet, dropping it, having it stolen,... Plus, every item you take into the parks is just one more thing to carry, store during thrill rides, etc.

An iPad easily fits in a backpack (which we take anyway) and we don't use it for pictures, texting or phone calls, but we do for everything else. Checking waits, weather, moving ADRs, etc. Mainly, because it saves battery life. Like our cell phones, we have a Lifeproof case on it so no fear of water damage.

 

[JoeA]

I have to say I am a little jealous of the person who thought up the idea of selling a stick for $20!

Brilliant!!

 

[TXAKDisneyFan]

An iPad easily fits in a backpack (which we take anyway) and we don't use it for pictures, texting or phone calls, but we do for everything else. Checking waits, weather, moving ADRs, etc. Mainly, because it saves battery life. Like our cell phones, we have a Lifeproof case on it so no fear of water damage.

This will be our first time to WDW since FP+ debuted. Previously, we spent little enough time on our phones that battery life was not really a concern (we never checked weather unless we wanted to know how fast a storm cloud would pass). This time, we have external battery chargers that we'll bring along - they're the size of a tube of lipstick, and cost $20 to $30 (a couple were free, since DH's employer gave them to employees as a Christmas gift). They've worked well so far, so we have no reason to think they won't at WDW. They're also cheap enough that if something happens to them (lost, stolen, broken) it won't be a big deal (whereas we'd be very upset if something happened to an iPad).

Also, besides not wanting to carry a backpack all day, or weigh it down with just one more thing, iPads (and phones for that matter) can pretty easily overheat. I had a smartphone overheat at the beach; luckily, it was fixable, but I've known others who weren't so fortunate. With as hot as it can get at WDW, I wouldn't want to risk ruining my iPad.

 

[LSUfan4444]

I am not suggesting that an iPad is ideal for everyone, only helping you understand why it might be useful and not really a hassle for some.

 

[momtosam]

Last May someone had one on Splash Mountain. I had no idea what it was at the time. Oh how times do change.

 

[alvernon90]

As predicted by many on this board, the Smithsonian banned all selfie sticks (and tripods) from its museums and gardens in Washington, D.C. [press release] If they are banned in other museums, Disney may find it easier to enact a ban in the parks.

 

[phinz]

I only saw one all week on the Fantasy last week, and that one was just being carried. I was quite glad of that.