To the %(#)@ soul who continued to use flash photography

[hiwaygal]

I just want to say thanks to everyone on this thread for "getting the word out".

I will admit, I have taken pictures on IASW both at WDW and DL. I honestly don't remember if I ever heard them say "no flash photography". They most likely did, but I was too excited to hear it. I do know I often looked for little signs or something stating "no photography" etc. Maybe that is something Disney could do, they could put a little sticker or sign in the boats/or at the entrance to let folks know in addition to making the announcements.

I don't remember if I used a flash. I would like to think I didn't because I have found that in "darker" areas, I know the flash "distorts" the colors, and that's what I like in the first place. So I'm usually snapping pictures with the flash turned off.

Anyway, I also learned a lot from you all about the sensors and such, I was clueless!!

So, I just want to apologize in case I did take a flash picture that bothered someone, and I promise, I won't do it again!!

I'm also going to look into some better camera equipment!

Thanks again everyone!!

 

[Took]

Let me join in the slamming of "flashers" who ought to be banned from WDW at the very least! Although we have never taken flash pics on any rides, permitted or not, at WDW, I too think WDW needs to post obvious signs indicating NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY (with some kind of picture) before every relevant ride. I don't think I've ever heard the "warning" on IASW, either. On POTC and GMR, the flashing is getting WAY out of hand.


took

 

[califred]

I want to apologize for taking pictures inside the rides. I honestly had no idea it was not allowed. The only places I heard no flash photography was in the shows. I did not see a sign, nor did anyone say anything about taking photos inside the rides. (I took picutres in small world and peter pan)

I promise we wont' do it again.

 

[Karibeth19]

We had a bunch of teenagers in our car on TOT once, who thought it would be funny to take flash pictures of themselves during the drops. One kid was holding the camera at arms' length facing the group and was snapping away during the drops. The problem was, they were sitting in the front row, so everyone behind them was being totally blinded by the flashes! I'm usually a non-confrontational person, but I got so fed up, I finally screamed, "Quit taking pictures, you're blinding us!". They did, but by that time, the ride was over and completely ruined. As we got off (stumbling around a bit because of all the flash spots in our eyes), my DH remarked to the group how inconsiderate they had been and another rider was reporting the incident to a CM. I hope they got the point!

 

[flbelle82]

oops .. is it still in bad taste if they turn on the lights in PoC and start evacuating everyone?

I would never take flash photography on an attraction, but that happened to us on 10/15/05 and I will confess that we snapped a few pictures of the cast members in the water.

When I started to read this thread I thought you meant my family .. boy was I glad you didn't mean us

Just to let you know, I believe that photography is prohibited if a ride breaks down, this is to protect the secrets and magic of the rides. When I have done shows at Disney before, we have been told that it is absolutly forbidden to take pictures in an area considered backstage, which to me would include a ride that might have the lights on when it is normally dark. I'm sure you did no harm, just something to think about next time...

 

[photonut]

I had no idea that flash photography was not permitted on the rides that are being mentioned here.
I have many a lovely photo from some of these rides and honestly never thought that I was offending anyone.
AND we have used our video camera many times (with the LCD screen) and never thought it had bothered anyone.

Would be wise for Disney to put up better signage and not rely just on announcements as we all know the CMs talk so quickly when you are loading for a ride and half the time you don't hear a word they are saying.

Anyway....All I am trying to say is that there are many of us that have done this over the years and never realized it was a problem for others.
Maybe the rowdiness of the groups taking the photos had something to do with part of the problem?

I have learned alot on this thread/.... thanks for educating me on some new Disney etiquette!

 

[BluOrchid2]

If you use the flash on certain rides, you may see how the imagineers created some of the magic ...and knowing how or why an effect is taking place takes away from the magic.

Yeah...but I don't understand why that would be scary!

 

[IwasatWDWforamonth]

I totally understand while I wasnt afaid , the constent flashing was really hard for me , I get occular migraines,,, and one time we had this person behind us taking a pic of everything in potc, everytime i turned my had a little i was blinded.
towards the end of the ride id had it and I took out my camera and started taking pics of her.
and when people video something its really nice if you close the screen,, i always do in the dark.

 

[SkipperBubba]

You'd think that people would use common sense. If the ambient light level is very low, wouldn't it stand to reason that a bright flash would a) annoy the people around you, and b) really mess up their night vision? I mean, really. I've taken pictures in a darkened setting (Not at WDW... after all, who wants to experience all those great rides through a viewfinder?) and it's messed with MY night vision.

People just need to think about others... I guess they feel that since they paid big bucks to visit the World, no one is going to tell them they can't take flash photos. Newsflash (no pun intended)... everyone else on the ride/in the show paid big bucks to be there, too.

My special peeve is with those who insist on using red-eye reduction flash (especially on older Olympus cameras, where it strobes rapidly for a second or two, then shoots the picture with another bigger flash) when taking pictures of inanimate objects really far away. You just want to grab the person, shake them, and ask, "Do you REALLY think that Spaceship Earth (the building) is going to have red-eye? It doesn't even have EYES, for the love of God!"

OK... climbing down off my soapbox.

 

[cara76]

had no idea that flash photography was not permitted on the rides that are being mentioned here.

Me either , sorry anyone I offended.

 

[Schmeck]

And remember, some guests at WDW don't even speak English! Hopefully, they know enough to get by, but sometimes I have a hard time understanding the CMs as I get on a ride because of the themed music - and I'm from Massachusetts...

Still, it is annoying to have a ride spoiled by all the flashes! I guess a few signs on the ride vehicles wouldn't be too hard to do.

 

[sleepyone]

Yeah...but I don't understand why that would be scary!

My post wasn't about flash=scary. I was answering another poster's question about one of the reasons why it's not allowed.

 

[GoN2WDW]

...but DVCajun - I love the bracelet in your signature! Where did you find it??

 

[Fire14]

I personally asked a CM on IASW about taking pictures and was told it was fine. I also looked and listened and never heard word one about no flash or pics in general on this ride.

I am one of those that has taken pictures on IASW but we were also only ones in boat and boats in front of and behind us were empty.

 

[maxiesmom]

I must admit that I have never heard an announcement banning flash-photos on IASW. And while I understand it can be annoying, why let it bother you so? Unless you are one of the few who have a medical issue let it go! Do you really want a Disney World where you are told exactly what to do and when to do it? I am sure that something I do in the parks will bother someone on this board. And I don't mean to be rude, or inconsiderate, but people have different views on everything. Remember that not everyone gets to take multiple trips to the World, and maybe they would like a few pictures. If someone was constantly flashing on a ride I would probably just sit and roll my eyes. However you have to be a complete idiot to not realize when you are scaring a child. As for the rest of the picture taking crew, I just add them to the list of people who don't mean any harm but are a little annoying.

 

[Tinkbell]

I personally asked a CM on IASW about taking pictures and was told it was fine. I also looked and listened and never heard word one about no flash or pics in general on this ride.

Flash photos are not as bad on IASW as they are on POC. It is much darker in Pirates and those flashes really show up. It gets really bad in the darker rides. I've seen people use flash photography on IASW and it's not as noticable. Of course, if someone flashes it directly into your face, that's another story.

 

[Geoff_M]

I must admit that I have never heard an announcement banning flash-photos on IASW.

Since technically IASW isn't a "dark ride", I don't know that it's banned on that attraction. But it certainly is on attractions like POTC. I've heard CMs come over the ride's PA system and request someone in a boat nearby to say "No flash photography, please!". As others have mentioned, it "pulls focus" when I see people popping their flashes, it illuminates parts of the workings of the ride that are hidden in the darkness and seeing it "exposed" takes away from the illusion that has been crafted for my enjoyment, it messes why my eye's adjustment to the ambient light levels, etc. Will I let it ruin my day?... of course not. But the practice is still very rude and annoying (on dark rides) in my eyes.

 

[HappyMommy2]

Well, now I am embarrassed! We were on IASW last week a couple of times, and I took 2 flash pictures each time! I did this on our trip a couple of years ago too, when our boys were babies (one of my very most precious photos is of the kids' absolute awe and wonder as we rode through IASW). I honestly had no idea flash photography was not allowed on IASW. I hope I didn't offend anyone. I never take flash pictures on POTC or Peter Pan or any other dark-type ride but IASW never crossed my mind, yikes!

 

[declansdad]

Sorry I missed your earlier answer.

I also find it amazing that a number of times I see WDW web sites sporting flash photos taken in WDW "dark rides" where photography is prohibited. The people that took them should know even better than the general public.

I agree that if the ride states no flash photos then that is the rule you should abide by. However, you can take no flash, digital photos and later edit them to allow you to make out the picture. It may not be the best picture but it does work.

 

[Inga]

Thank you for posting this thread!

'Flashers' drive me nuts! On dark rides it is meant to be dark, so let's keep it that way.

A bit OT, we were on Peter Pan's Flight, the first riders of the day, and they had forgotten to turn the lights off in the ride. We did the whole ride with the flood lights on, it was not magical at all. We let the CMs know at the end so they corrected it and sent us through again!

There is no room for flashing lights on dark attractions!

Inga