People taking pictures on Spaceship Earth despite being told to stop

[grimley1968]

Seriouslly...Disney used to do that.
I have a vintage map of MK.
When I bought it it came with a brochure about WDW.
Which as actually as interesting as the map itself.

In the borchure they give tips on how to take pictures...to help
make your slide presentation better for when you got back home.
Things like how action shots are better than posed.
watch for unwanted items in the photo like garage cans..
including..flashbulbs are prohibited in most indoor attractions.

Sounds like this needs to make a comeback.

I think in those days, personal cameras were much newer to people and there was no assumption that people would know to turn their flashes off during dark rides, so Disney believed they needed to spell it out. Still, I remember people being much more considerate in this regard in those days.

Maybe Disney, and many guests, assume that people would know the basic etiquette of turning off their flashes during dark rides, and no longer need to be told in writing. This would be a very inexpensive first step to minimizing the problem: spell it out on those maps again. Turn off your cell phones during dark rides, and turn off the flashes.

 

[disneysteve]

Trouble is, the bozos don't care. So you're really just adding another annoyance to the ride (stopping it in addition to the flashes).Disney would rather shut you up with some free fastpasses or something.

I agree that some don't care but I also think some do. I think there are folks who are just simply clueless. They don't pay attention to the warnings or don't think anybody will really care if they don't follow the rules. A personal warning would deter those folks. No it wouldn't stop everyone but I think it would help a lot.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Maybe they all read that Disney World guide book I once saw reviewed here, where the author actually recommended taking flash pictures on Spaceship Earth. In a guide book!!!

 

[goofy4tink]

The flash pictures are blinding but an even bigger problem today, which I mentioned in another thread, is the digital cameras/phones in general. Even when taking non-flash pictures or shooting video, both of which ARE allowed on the dark rides, the cameras and phones today all have good size bright LCD display screens. Since those screens shine backwards, if you are stuck behind anyone using one, you've got that bright screen shining in your face the whole ride/show. That happened to us at American Adventure. It is tough to watch and enjoy a ride when the person ahead of you essentially has the equivalent of a flashlight aimed at your face the whole time. When I use my camera, I turn off the monitor but I've been told that not all cameras have that feature. Unless Disney were to ban photography totally, which I am NOT proposing, there is really no way around this one.

I really wish more digital cameras gave us the option of using a viewfinder...I know, archaic!! But, I hate using my camera in a dark place simply because of that screen. Drives me nuts. But, sitting in a darkened area, with someone texting is just as bad...the eye is just drawn there.

Really? Expell someone from the park for taking flash photos? Isn't that a bit of an over-reaction? You'd really advocate kicking dad out of the park for taking a flash photo of his kids on POC?

The vast majority of people who use flash on rides are, I think, simply wanting to take photos of things that delight or amaze them. Sometimes it doesn't even click with them that there's a flash until they take the photo. Sometimes it doesn't click with them that anyone else but their family is there because the other riders are hidden or in other cars. I don't think it's all conscious "me first" thinking. Some of it is just excitement and fun and thinking "OMG -- how cool is that?" And I'll bet its been happening as long as flash cameras have existed.

Enforcement is an issue too. I suppose you could interrupt the ride once or twice with voice-over warnings and then, if the flashes persist, stop the ride completely and pull the offending person off so that the rest of the riders can enjoy the remainder of the ride without flashes, but that would ruin it for everyone else too.

Also ... just because someone takes a lot of pictures on one ride doesn't mean that they are "adversely affecting the park experience for hundreds of people throughout their day". It may be only one ride, because it's a favorite or a favorite of someone who isn't there. Or ... could be that only one person complained while the rest of the ride didn't notice or didn't care.

It's easy to say "pull someone off and kick them out", but really difficult in enforce.

And so, yet again, those who wish to do whatever they want, even though it ruins something for someone else, and is against stated rules, is allowed to 'get away with it' simply because it's hard to enforce?? Yet again, Disney puts out a 'rule' that is more of a suggestion. Sorry, but I think it's wrong. Why does someone else get to be delighted or in amazement and then try to keep that memory, at my expense??? Aren't my experiences just as valid??
I will tell you that on that one Haunted Mansion ride, those teenaged girls taking flash shots of Madame Leota negatively impacted a lot more than just me....there had to be 50 people shouting at them by the time we got to the hitchhiking ghosts!! You could hear everyone screaming...'No Flash Photography' constantly.

My favorite is all of the people who take flash photographs of the fireworks at night. Really?

It does make me wonder how many people taking flash pictures simply haven't got a clue how to use a camera. They probably don't realize that they can turn the flash off, or that it is possible to take a picture without the flash. That said, it still doesn't justify disregarding the rules. If you are in a ride/show/attraction where flash photography isn't permitted, put away your camera unless you know how to use it properly.

My favorite fireworks photo story....my friend was traveling with me. She is a photography nut..has taken classes, the whole nine yards. She has a very expensive SLR and wanted to get some good fireworks shots. There I am, with my little Panasonic point and shoot. She is setting all the stuff she needs to set, all the while telling me that I'm really not going to get very good shots...I mean, really, I didn't even have a tripod!! Well, there she sat, fiddling with exposures and white balance and all that technical stuff that I just don't understand. I took my camera off flash, and starting shooting....breath, let it out, click. My shots?? Ever so much better than hers. She just couldn't understand how I did it.

I'll start out by saying I hate flashes on rides. I hate flashes in general. I'll crank the ISO before I enable the flash. But there is a reason for flash in the situation you point about above. Cheaper cameras lack proper ISO control and usually don't have any type of control over shutter. I have a old Pentax P&S. If I disable the flash, it would default to 1/5 or something like 1/15sec depending on the lighting. But with the flash enabled, it locked the at about 1/60sec.

Obviously, the faster shutter speed is going to give less blur. Hence, people think they need the flash, because, quite frankly, the flash photos will always look better (even though the flash itself is doing absolutely nothing).

Well, where were you last year when I could have used that info at my dd's dance recital!!????? I have no idea what all those settings are for...I just put it on auto and off I go!!!
I will say though...I see too many shots of various performances that only highlight the back of the head of the person seated in front of the photographer!!
Off to check out my camera more deeply.

 

[grimley1968]

I will tell you that on that one Haunted Mansion ride, those teenaged girls taking flash shots of Madame Leota negatively impacted a lot more than just me....there had to be 50 people shouting at them by the time we got to the hitchhiking ghosts!! You could hear everyone screaming...'No Flash Photography' constantly.

I think I had to have been on that same ride at that time, or this exact thing happens WAY too often in that spot.

 

[Colleen27]

No flash=no problems...but I don't think 75% of people know how to disable the flash on their camera.

I think that is a big part of the problem... A lot of people just use their point & shoot camera straight out of the box and don't even know that they CAN disable not only the auto flash but also (on cameras that still have a viewfinder) the LCD screen picture preview.

But really, digital is the reason we see so much more of it now than in the past. When we were all paying to have film developed most people were more selective about the number and type of pictures they took. They didn't just click-click-click away through a 15min ride because they'd have had to reload the camera halfway though and would have been throwing away a lot of money developing garbage pictures.

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

This is really the problem - people don't feel they need to follow any rules. They just want to do whatever suits them and the heck with everyone else. Even when specifically told to stop misbehaving, they continue to do so. I'm not sure what Disney can do without causing all types of confrontations and putting CMs (and other guests) in danger.

It really does boil down to people feeling that the rules don't apply to them. I constantly find myself telling my kids (and not just at WDW) "because they don't feel as though the rules apply to them" about a LOT of things when they question why.

 

[WDSearcher]

And so, yet again, those who wish to do whatever they want, even though it ruins something for someone else, and is against stated rules, is allowed to 'get away with it' simply because it's hard to enforce?? Yet again, Disney puts out a 'rule' that is more of a suggestion. Sorry, but I think it's wrong. Why does someone else get to be delighted or in amazement and then try to keep that memory, at my expense??? Aren't my experiences just as valid??

Of course your experiences are just as valid. But come on. Do folks here (maybe even you) use late FPs? Same thing. There's a "rule", that is currently unenforced, that says you're not supposed to. But people do and Disney allows it everyone is perfectly okay with it. To the point where people would really begin to protest if Disney started enforcing return times. There's a "rule" that says that people going to MNSSHP aren't supposed to enter until 7pm, but Disney allows party guests to enter at 4pm instead.

So the "rules" about FPs and party entrance are also really more of a suggestion. Same thing. Why should FP users and party goers be allowed to work the system but flash photo people be banned from the parks? Do you think the Guest base as a whole would be willing to give up early entry on party night and late FP use if it meant no more flash photos on rides? I wouldn't.

You've mentioned valid opinions ... I believe my enforcement questions are also valid. I'd be interested to know how you think a "no flash photography" rule could be fully and effectively enforced. Confiscate cameras on the way in? Stop the ride every time someone takes a flash and escort them off? Loudly announce over the music / dialogue of the ride "No Flahas Photography!" Seems to me that would be just as harmful to the experience. And are Disney's resources better spent monitoring flash photos on rides than say, keeping bathrooms clean or having a few more people up at GR? I'm only asking because you seem so sure it's possible and maybe I'm totally missing an obvious solution.

I will tell you that on that one Haunted Mansion ride, those teenaged girls taking flash shots of Madame Leota negatively impacted a lot more than just me....there had to be 50 people shouting at them by the time we got to the hitchhiking ghosts!! You could hear everyone screaming...'No Flash Photography' constantly.

Of course, by that time, every single person screaming was probably egging the girls on. Nothing, short of stopping the ride and pulling the girls with the camera, would have solved it. My guess is that every time they heard someone yell "No Flash Photography!", they gleefully took another picture just to be snotty.

 

[webshark3]

Well, where were you last year when I could have used that info at my dd's dance recital!!????? I have no idea what all those settings are for...I just put it on auto and off I go!!!
I will say though...I see too many shots of various performances that only highlight the back of the head of the person seated in front of the photographer!!
Off to check out my camera more deeply.

LOL, yeah, depending on the camera, it's always different. When I get a new camera, I like to test drive it in all types of conditions. Like I said, my cheapo Pentax which lacked shutter control would have needed flash at the recital just to get a fast enough "auto" shutter speed. But knowing that, I wouldn't bring that one to the recital.

Next on my recital-soap-box; Parents! I know you love your iPhones, but please hold your phone in LANDSCAPE mode when recording video. I know portrait looks good on your phone screen at that moment, but try to imagine how it will look on your widescreen tv.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

My worst experience with flash photography was not at an indoor attraction, it was Thunder Mtn. We were riding at night (our favorite time to ride!) and the people 2 seats ahead of us were turning around taking photos DURING the ride of the people in the seat directly in front of us. It completely blinded us. The first time we thought it was just a "woohoo! look at us on Thunder Mtn!" shot and it wouldn't happen again. WRONG. Multiple photos during that short ride. I had to just close my eyes and even cover them it was so uncomfortable. We were so annoyed when we got off the ride.

 

[disneysteve]

Do folks here (maybe even you) use late FPs? Same thing. There's a "rule", that is currently unenforced, that says you're not supposed to. But people do and Disney allows it everyone is perfectly okay with it. To the point where people would really begin to protest if Disney started enforcing return times. There's a "rule" that says that people going to MNSSHP aren't supposed to enter until 7pm, but Disney allows party guests to enter at 4pm instead.

So the "rules" about FPs and party entrance are also really more of a suggestion. Same thing. Why should FP users and party goers be allowed to work the system but flash photo people be banned from the parks?

It isn't "working the system" if the folks in charge allow it. Disney could very easily start enforcing FP times or entry time for hard ticketed events. Wouldn't cost them a penny or require any additional staff. I don't really feel those are comparable anyway since what time you enter the park for MNSSHP doesn't impact the experience of other guests. I don't think it is a question of whether or not they should enforce rules. The question is how to do it that is efficient, effective and least disruptive to other guests.

 

[W.E.D.]

Worst experience for us: We're eating a nice, romantic dinner at San Angel when around the corner on the river comes a guy with his video camera, and he has the light on. Let me tell you, it does great things for the atmosphere in that pavillion when a spot light is dancing all over the place.

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

It isn't "working the system" if the folks in charge allow it. Disney could very easily start enforcing FP times or entry time for hard ticketed events. Wouldn't cost them a penny or require any additional staff. I don't really feel those are comparable anyway since what time you enter the park for MNSSHP doesn't impact the experience of other guests. I don't think it is a question of whether or not they should enforce rules. The question is how to do it that is efficient, effective and least disruptive to other guests.

AMEN and here we go again....

 

[ols386]

Of course your experiences are just as valid. But come on. Do folks here (maybe even you) use late FPs? Same thing. There's a "rule", that is currently unenforced, that says you're not supposed to. But people do and Disney allows it everyone is perfectly okay with it. To the point where people would really begin to protest if Disney started enforcing return times. There's a "rule" that says that people going to MNSSHP aren't supposed to enter until 7pm, but Disney allows party guests to enter at 4pm instead.

So the "rules" about FPs and party entrance are also really more of a suggestion. Same thing. Why should FP users and party goers be allowed to work the system but flash photo people be banned from the parks? Do you think the Guest base as a whole would be willing to give up early entry on party night and late FP use if it meant no more flash photos on rides? I wouldn't.

You've mentioned valid opinions ... I believe my enforcement questions are also valid. I'd be interested to know how you think a "no flash photography" rule could be fully and effectively enforced. Confiscate cameras on the way in? Stop the ride every time someone takes a flash and escort them off? Loudly announce over the music / dialogue of the ride "No Flahas Photography!" Seems to me that would be just as harmful to the experience. And are Disney's resources better spent monitoring flash photos on rides than say, keeping bathrooms clean or having a few more people up at GR? I'm only asking because you seem so sure it's possible and maybe I'm totally missing an obvious solution.


Of course, by that time, every single person screaming was probably egging the girls on. Nothing, short of stopping the ride and pulling the girls with the camera, would have solved it. My guess is that every time they heard someone yell "No Flash Photography!", they gleefully took another picture just to be snotty.

I don't know about MNSSHP, but for the MVMCP, doesn't Disney itself advertise that the party begins at 7pm, but that those with those specific tickets may enter the park at 4pm?

 

[krb2g]

There are some times in Disney when a flash will greatly improve your pictures. Funny enough, though, none of those times are on dark rides. If you're outdoors in the sunlight and trying to take a picture of your family, turn your flash on to evenly light your family's faces (notice here that the flash is not trying to illuminate everything in the picture, just details close to you). I have no problem with dark ride photography--if you turn your flash (and autofocus) lights off. My Nikon D40 has a killer autofocus light that's as bright as some flashes. So, I don't autofocus in the dark rides (which really isn't such a loss, as by the time the autofocus works, you've moved past whatever you were trying to shoot--the trick is to learn to focus quickly and efficiently yourself!).

 

[thomas998]

I think the last time we road the PoTC we didn't even hear any announcement about not taking flash pictures... Normally I don't bother taking photos because when I use my flash it illuminates too much and I don't want to see the machines behind the magic.

But when some rude sucker in front started doing flash photos I just set my flash to full power and start popping photos in their direction every time they started to take some... I think after a bit he got the idea and stopped.

 

[book_junkie]

Maybe it's me, or my experience, but I've found that in POTC I can ask nicely the people in front of me and they'll stop. The last time it was a group of teenage girls popping pictures with the flash- my husband asked and they ignored him, so I leaned over and tapped them on the shoulder, and explained that they were ruining my night vision and they needed to stop please.

Then again, maybe it's that librarian voice.

 

[Katie In Wonderland]

I'm still wondering what is in the caveman scene on Spaceship Earth when you take a photo... I'm not bold enough to take a picture

So am I! and I would NEVER do that. I think it's wrong to take a Flash picture on a ride...but I'm still curious...?

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

Maybe it's me, or my experience, but I've found that in POTC I can ask nicely the people in front of me and they'll stop. The last time it was a group of teenage girls popping pictures with the flash- my husband asked and they ignored him, so I leaned over and tapped them on the shoulder, and explained that they were ruining my night vision and they needed to stop please.

Then again, maybe it's that librarian voice.



I'm a librarian too - I think the "librarian voice" is a lot like the "mom look" - it's REALLY scary!!

 

[BlueChariot]

Of course your experiences are just as valid. But come on. Do folks here (maybe even you) use late FPs? Same thing. There's a "rule", that is currently unenforced, that says you're not supposed to. But people do and Disney allows it everyone is perfectly okay with it. To the point where people would really begin to protest if Disney started enforcing return times. There's a "rule" that says that people going to MNSSHP aren't supposed to enter until 7pm, but Disney allows party guests to enter at 4pm instead.

So the "rules" about FPs and party entrance are also really more of a suggestion. Same thing. Why should FP users and party goers be allowed to work the system but flash photo people be banned from the parks? Do you think the Guest base as a whole would be willing to give up early entry on party night and late FP use if it meant no more flash photos on rides? I wouldn't.

You've mentioned valid opinions ... I believe my enforcement questions are also valid. I'd be interested to know how you think a "no flash photography" rule could be fully and effectively enforced. Confiscate cameras on the way in? Stop the ride every time someone takes a flash and escort them off? Loudly announce over the music / dialogue of the ride "No Flahas Photography!" Seems to me that would be just as harmful to the experience. And are Disney's resources better spent monitoring flash photos on rides than say, keeping bathrooms clean or having a few more people up at GR? I'm only asking because you seem so sure it's possible and maybe I'm totally missing an obvious solution.

I don't think I quite understand the comparison here. Disney chooses not to enforce FP times and early entry to special ticketed events. Conversely, I hear and see warnings all of the time from CMs about not using a flash on dark rides and certain shows.

As for enforcing the no flash rule, I have been in the middle of a ride when a warning is given over the loud speaker "No flash photography." This should be standard practice IMO. While the announcement will effect the ambiance of the ride, I would still at the very least want to be able to see the ride. The flash not only illuminates the inner workings of dark rides, but effectively blinds everyone within a certain radius of the flash.

That said, I agree there are two types of offenders here... those that don't know how to disable the flash on their camera, and those who think the rules don't apply to them. Of course the more egregious are the later. Perhaps a more effective tactic for the former would be to simply ask them to place there finger over the flash on their camera.