Please don't use flash on PotC

[Geoff_M]

I was just there in May and I honestly don't remember anything about taking pictures (or not being able to, I should say).

The "no flash photography" rules are normally lumped into the same speech as "please keep your hands and arms inside of the ride vehicle at all times" and it either comes from a live CM or a recording (for example, IIRC, at the HM the ride narrator in your car says says something along the lines of "...and please, no flash photography. It frightens the spirits!"). I think part of the problem is that people tend to tune all of that out in the same way that they do flight attendants during the pre-flight safety demonstration ("Yeh, yeh, we've heard it a million times already! Blah, blah, blah!")

 

[Mary2e]

Ditto for me. It's no longer 1 or 2 shots. It's half a memory card's worth

Seriously, the problem has become much more severe as more people purchase digital cameras. I just bought a 4 gig card for $50 that will hold 1800 pictures. I can snap away at anything and just delete what I don't want.

No film purchase, no developing and people are now taking pictures they normally would not.

I think Disney really needs to crack down on this more. It's becoming a big problem.

 

[EmptyCinema]

I think selling photos or postcards of scenes from some of the rides might help with that. That and getting a CM on the PA: "You there! Blue shirt, back of the boat, with the camera! There is no flash photography!" Embarass them enough and SOME of them will put it away.

 

[Gobbles!]

My husband and I aren't usually ones to say things to others, except when it comes to flash pictures in PoTC. Before the ride starts the pirate guy introducing the ride says, "and no flash pictures!" The way he says it always cracks us up. So if we see someone on our boat taking flash pictures, we say in our best pirate voice, "Aargh! No flash pictures!" That way we are pointing out the rule breaking but keeping in line with the spirit of the ride. Next time you ride it listen for the pirate at the beginning.

 

[ead79]

I totally agree that this is just plain inconsiderate. It's against the rules, and it ruins the ride for others. Plus, it really ruins it for the picture-taker as well--how can they possibly be enjoying the attraction with a camera stuck to their face the entire time? I easily overlook a picture or two (maybe that person missed the warnings), but the folks who take 20 pictures in a 5 minute ride know that's not a good idea. For me this ranks right up there with the people who scream or talk so loudly that you can't hear the attraction's audio (and I'm not talking about screaming on ToT or a roller coaster!).

 

[DizzDoll]

I have to admit that I am one who took 2 (just 2) flash pics on my digital last year in PotC. One in the beginning with Davey Jones (came out really cool) and then the last one in the last scene with Jack. Also came out cool. Having taken those two I'm really not in a position to criticize anyone but there were many, many people taking a LOT more than two pictures. It looked like an invasion of the fireflies in there. And also I never even thought that flash photography in the dark could possibly trigger migranes. So, with my 2 good shots from last year aside, I am now a no flash rider. Consider me reformed.

 

[Lotus Vixen]

You really don't recall hearing, on almost half the rides, "no flash photography" ?

I do remember hearing it on some rides, and I remember specifically a few shows that mentioned no flash photography, but not specifically on POTC. And everyone is right - there were plenty of people taking pictures on Pirates, so maybe I just saw the others doing it and assumed it was okay on that ride.

I'm typically very much a "follow the rules" kind of person, so I wouldn't purposely do something against the rules if I had known about it. And as I said before, I don't really remember taking many pictures while on any rides (I know I did on the Jungle Cruise and the Safari at AK), much less on Pirates, but I saw this thread and felt bad in case I had since I didn't have any idea until seeing this thread that it wasn't allowed.

Lori

 

[Geoff_M]

Plus, it really ruins it for the picture-taker as well--how can they possibly be enjoying the attraction with a camera stuck to their face the entire time?

Another thing about it that maddening is that as as semi-pro photographer I know the fact that in all likelihood, they are doing it for nothing worth keeping because one of two things will happen:

1) The flash on their point-n-shoot cameras isn't powerful enough to adequately light the scene since it has an effective distance of 10-15 feet. Then end result will be either dark and/or grainy high ISO images that look terrible.
-OR-
2) The flash is powerful enough to light the scene, but as a result totally destroys the theatrical lighting of the attraction and the photos look nothing like you remember from the ride. Instead, it looks like someone has flung open an outside door on a sunny day right behind you!

People need to do themselves a favor a spend a few dollars and buy the WDW park souvenir book with the quality photos inside that actually look like what you see on the attraction. If you want photos for the scrapbook, buy some postcards. Save you camera for photos of you and your family in the world outside

 

[Stinkerbell317]

I think selling photos or postcards of scenes from some of the rides might help with that. That and getting a CM on the PA: "You there! Blue shirt, back of the boat, with the camera! There is no flash photography!" Embarass them enough and SOME of them will put it away.

Fabulous idea to sell postcards! Esp the last scene of Capt Jack and the treasure. That's when it seems people go wacko with the picture-taking.

 

[EmptyCinema]

I do remember hearing it on some rides, and I remember specifically a few shows that mentioned no flash photography, but not specifically on POTC. And everyone is right - there were plenty of people taking pictures on Pirates, so maybe I just saw the others doing it and assumed it was okay on that ride.

I'm typically very much a "follow the rules" kind of person, so I wouldn't purposely do something against the rules if I had known about it. And as I said before, I don't really remember taking many pictures while on any rides (I know I did on the Jungle Cruise and the Safari at AK), much less on Pirates, but I saw this thread and felt bad in case I had since I didn't have any idea until seeing this thread that it wasn't allowed.

Lori

on Jungle Cruise and Safari they encourage taking photos. On the loading area at Safari, they even have tips on taking good photos!

I'm not sure what is up with Pirates... probably because it's such a "showy" ride, and it's SO annoying because it's a dark ride. IASW has a lot of photography as well, but it doesn't ruin the effect or blind me.

 

[gruZ]

I agree with all of the above - rude and inconsiderate. I also agree that most people doing it are not reading this thread. Last spring on POTC I said something to the guy behind me, and he stopped taking flash photos.

Since Disney isn't willing or able to do anything about it, that leaves it up to us to say something to the offender - in a pleasant way of course - otherwise it will continue.

 

[CaptHook34]

I think selling photos or postcards of scenes from some of the rides might help with that. That and getting a CM on the PA: "You there! Blue shirt, back of the boat, with the camera! There is no flash photography!" Embarass them enough and SOME of them will put it away.

LOL, that would sure embarrass someone.

 

[Cdn Friends of Pooh]

That and getting a CM on the PA: "You there! Blue shirt, back of the boat, with the camera! There is no flash photography!" Embarass them enough and SOME of them will put it away.

... oooh good idea!!! .... and maybe stopping the boat and shining a light on the offender would help

 

[honeybee30]

I'm not sure what is up with Pirates... probably because it's such a "showy" ride, and it's SO annoying because it's a dark ride.

With the addition of Johnny Depp, it has become a celebrity sighting!

I have loved Johnny Depp as an actor from way before Captain Jack, and I even like the PotC movies, but come on! It's a bleeping animatronic! Get a grip, people!

 

[EmptyCinema]

With the addition of Johnny Depp, it has become a celebrity sighting!

I have loved Johnny Depp as an actor from way before Captain Jack, and I even like the PotC movies, but come on! It's a bleeping animatronic! Get a grip, people!

Those people ought to buy a ticket to P&PP or go take a picture of the pirate tutorials. At P&PP they'll even pose with you!

 

[k5thbeatle]

...I was just there in May and I honestly don't remember anything about taking pictures (or not being able to, I should say). ...Lori

Well then this thread was for you. Wake up honey and start paying attention!

 

[ajw1718]

Get over yourselves....I was there in May and don't recall any postings or announcements that said you could not take pictures on POTC.

I must be one of the "annoying" ones who took pictures for my 3 year old to show to his friends and family when we got back home...

Sorry........but I did it for my children. Who cares if people take pictures in the dark?

When it is night time on main street, should I not take pictures of the castle because there is going to be a flash?

 

[Topo Bella]

I generally didn't find the flashes that bad until someone sat in front of us on POTC and flashed away, often turning to get a different shot and flashing us in the eyes (including my DD, then 2, who really had a hard time with the flash). I politely asked them to stop, which they did after a "snarky" look. As I've gotten older, I've found I feel much worse if I don't say anything.

I grew up at a Jersey Shore vacation spot and it has never failed to amaze me that people who are otherwise good and kind can turn into monsters when they are on vacation. Anonymity has a powerful effect on people and since they'll (most likely) never see you again, they often care little of what you might think of them. That combined with the sense of entitlement (yes, you paid a nice buck for your vacation - but so did we!), create a terrible result.

 

[ANTSS2001]

Get over yourselves....I was there in May and don't recall any postings or announcements that said you could not take pictures on POTC.

I must be one of the "annoying" ones who took pictures for my 3 year old to show to his friends and family when we got back home...

Sorry........but I did it for my children. Who cares if people take pictures in the dark?

When it is night time on main street, should I not take pictures of the castle because there is going to be a flash?

 

[MassMom94]

I should probably start a new thread, as my comment/pet peeve is not about flash photography on attractions - it's about people talking continuously and loudly throughout a ride. This happened to us last year on PoTC and also Splash Mountain. I thought dh was going to explode as Splash is his favorite ride, and there was some idiot dad who felt compelled to narrate the entire ride - "Look! It's a log! And there's a bucket!"- and I mean he did not shut up for a single second. You could barely hear the soundtrack! And on PoTC, we were on a boat with a party of 6-8 adults, who perhaps had enjoyed a few too many adult beverages before coming to the MK that night. They found everything just way TOO hilarious. One of the women in their party actually apologized to us, which was nice of her. Luckily it wasn't very crowded, so we just got right back into line and rode again!