Venting About Photography

[Davyjones]

Hey Gang,

I need to vent. :mad: My wife and I just came back from WDW and the only thing that truly annoyed me was this: When Disney asks you not to use flash photography during rides, how hard can it be?!? We were on POTC twice that day and both times someone on our boat KEPT TAKING FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY! I swear that it was almost every 7-10 seconds! My wife saw that I was getting annoyed with these people and could tell that I wanted to say something to them, so she told me to calm down. This kind of thing happened on multiple rides during my trip there. It of course didn't ruin my vacation, but come on! Can't you take pictures without using a flash? Can't you follow rules? Ugh...

Sorry. Had to get that out. Does this bother anybody else? :thedolls::mad:

[xoHelloKittyox]

It definatly is annoying. To be on a ride and totaly get the feel for it then FLASH! totaly ruins the ride for me. I dont blame you for wanting to say something. I would of wanted to too.:thedolls:

[mickey&missy]

YES! It's rude! I don't get it either and I know you'll find everyone here agrees. This topic has come up before.

I've been able to take some pretty good shots on rides without the flash. I haven't tried to take any on POTC, but I have on Buzz and ISAW. The beautiful thing about digital photography is that if it doesn't come out because you didn't use the flash you can erase it!

I wish there was a way for disney to better enforce the rule and I wish other people weren't so rude!

[WTDing]

I know what you mean. This really bothers me too. Last year a grandmother kept taking flash pictures on Peter Pan from the ship in front of us. It was at least once in every scene and it got really annoying.

This general lack of rule following and etiquette seems to be getting worse. Everyone seems to be forgetting that they are not the only people in the world, or the grocery store, or on the freeway, etc.

Too bad people just don't care anymore.

[merlinmagic4]

While it certainly may be true that these people have no regard for others they also may have a language barrier. Just a thought. They could put up a sign somewhere that says "no flash photography" in many languages. I agree it is annoying.

[BMan62]

I goofed one time and was taking flash pics in PotC. I had forgotten that my camera was set to Flash On when it booted up. Once I realized what was going on, I turned the flash off and all was right with the world.

[Jasper]

Certainly mistakes happen and certainly there can be language barrier issues. However, Disney does often broadcast such instructions in other languages and they also offer park maps in other languages that contain this information.

If the person is close enough for me to politely ask them to stop I will do so. While I don't think this will completely solve the problem I do think that if the offenders know that other guests are annoyed and are willing to stand up for their rights then I do think it will help.

[Von-Drake]

I agree it is very annoying. I make it a big point of turning the flash off on my digital camera when we go on rides. I did catch my dad taking flash pictures, but once I showed him how to turn off the flash everything was fine and then you notice it even more when others do not afford you the same courtesy.

[BluewaterBrad]

Yeah it bothers me about those photo idiots, BUT not as bad as the jerks that get in line, send their husbands (or kids) to get fastpasses, then hold up the line while those FP-getters cut half the line. It actually doesnt really happen to us because I NEVER let anyone cut for that reason. Twice security has been called over an incident with me and other guests. The security has sided with me both times. Now dont forget I let people get ahead in line all the time for any reason (kids, elderly, etc. things happen), but when I am walking into a queue behind a group and see and hear their rude and deceitful plan, my blood will start to simmer until the time comes when they have cut over half the line and try to pass. It doesnt happen. I know some people will tell me I should just let it go and stuff like that, but that is one line I must draw. (Sorry, I guess that was my vent!!):mickey:

[ligirlz]

I find it annoying too. Years ago DH and I were on a ride (I forgot what park it was) and someone was taking flash photography. A worker got on the overhead and yelled at the people saying "No flash photography please". they stopped after that.

DH always makes sure his isn't on flash and it works just as good.

[crltkcagle]

When we went to the Nemo show there was a lady infront of me who kept taking pictures using her flash. I also had my camera out but had the flash setting off. She would hurry up take and picture and then put her camera down. After a few times of this happening a cm came over and asked me to quit ruining the show for everyone or he would escort me out. I told him that my cameras flash setting was off. Then I raised my voice and said it is the rude lady in front of me who keeps using her flash. She turned around and gave me the evil eye and I gave it right back to her. LOL I wasn't going to get thrown out of Nemo because this lady was an idiot. LOL

[Soul_Power]

Yes, I agree. It's completely distracting, and I really wish people wouldn't do it. Like what someone said earlier, it's possible to get great shots without the flash. I just wish people would realize that!

[MickeyandTink]

Certainly mistakes happen and certainly there can be language barrier issues. However, Disney does often broadcast such instructions in other languages and they also offer park maps in other languages that contain this information.

If the person is close enough for me to politely ask them to stop I will do so. While I don't think this will completely solve the problem I do think that if the offenders know that other guests are annoyed and are willing to stand up for their rights then I do think it will help.


It must be something about POTC, because last year there was a woman sitting ahead of me in the boat who kept taking flash pictures. I chalked up the first time or two to her not knowing how to turn off the flash, but the final straw was when she turned around to take a picture and blinded me with her flash. :mad:

I castigated her for taking flash pictures and ruining the ride for the other guests. She quickly turned around. She didn't say anything, but the picture taking stopped.

[WhiteRose1]

People do not just do this in Disney, I was on the Louvre in Paris and people were taking FLASH pictures....right in front of guards...who were standing right next to the sigh: No Flash Photos in this room (in many languages)

UGH. Not only did the people not care, the guards did not do anything either!

I did not get the experience of lots of people taking pictures, and my eyes do not adjust well in dark places - I got lucky!!

[biodtl]

People do not just do this in Disney, I was on the Louvre in Paris and people were taking FLASH pictures....right in front of guards...who were standing right next to the sigh: No Flash Photos in this room (in many languages)

UGH. Not only did the people not care, the guards did not do anything either!


wow - that's awful! In a museum, it's not just about the comfort of others (which is an important enough reason), it's to protect the priceless art and artifacts. It's disappointing that the guards didn't do anything.

[JPL]

After years of frustration with Flash Photography I have given up getting annoyed it's just something that until Disney enforces we will have to live with. I actually came up with a new rule especially for POTC. I have my flash off and try to get pictures but If I am on a boat full of people taking flash pictures I just join in now figure I can't beat might as well join them.

[LoriMistress]

I've noticed that WDW is really laid back on the whole "flash photography" during an attraction. At DLR/DCA they do NOT tolerate it one bit. They will get on the loud speaker and threaten you out of the park for LIFE if you continue to use flash photography. POTC is the worst when it comes to it all thanks to the POTC movie and the AI.

[kelly.garrett]

On my first trip we went to the Lion King show, and right after the show began about 3/4 of the audience started taking flash pictures. It totally ruined the show for me because I was being distracted by the hundreds of flashing lights across the room and all around me.

Prior to the show CMs had said "no flash photography" about 10 times. What bothers me the most is that CMs emphasized it was for the safety of the performers and guests still did not care.

[Mousemates]

by the way its the same way at Disneyland...I finally decided to just get over it...I now simply go ahead and squint when ever we approach a "Jack Sparrow" because I know the flashes will start popping.

[minnie1956]

I will be honest, one trip I did that. I admit it.
I tried and tried to figure out how to turn the flash on my camera off. I really did!! I'm sorry for my past sins, I'm learning how to work it for this trip.
As a former Girl Scout I give my word to figure out my camera BEFORE we get there.
:bolt:

[laward32]

Out of my past 3 trips, I think I have only one good memory of POTC without someone using flash photography in my boat. It just ruins the whole atmosphere. I really wish they would inforce this more. Not real sure on how they can, but wish they would.:mickey:

[Dopey's Girl]

Flash pics in dark rides are one of my biggest pet peeves in WDW. I just can't stand it!!! I understand that you want fun pics of your vacation, but I want to enjoy mine too!

I will say something if the offender is near by, but I don't want to be the annoying woman who is yelling in the middle of the ride either!

[chrisb26]

I do also find it annoying at times. Especially when it ruins part of the ride for example this past trip we were on Haunted Mansion at the part with the floating eyes. Well somebody decided to take a picture with flash and you could see all the little things holding the eyes up and everything and it ruined it considering you are only supposed to see the floating eyes.

Another thing happened while we were on the Great Movie Ride and it was right after the gangster took us over and somebody used a flash. He yelled "what part of no flash pictures do you not understand?" I thought it was pretty funny and it must have worked cause there was no more flash pictures after that :D

[AHOTE]

When we went to the Nemo show there was a lady infront of me who kept taking pictures using her flash... LOL
I had a similar problem but with a man behind me. I wear glasses and everytime he took a picture the flash would reflect off my glasses into my eyes. I asked him twice to please stop using the flash. The third or fourth time he did it I turned around, leaned as close as I could and flashed my camera in his face. I got a :thumbsup: from the people around us. He didn't take another picture for the rest of the show and I got a blurry close up photo of the :goof: Now if we could only work on all the guest who :blah: :blah: :blah: :blah: & :call: :call:, but that's another vent.

[honeybear]

1) I never even noticed a sign that said flash photography was not allowed in Pirates of the Caribbean Ride. Maybe because it used to be a walk on and we would breeze right by any warnings. I have been on this ride MANY times, and I don't recall anyone's Flash Photography ruining my ride experience.

[disneyfankev]

it is rude and just as annoying as people saying the words in the stretching room in hm.:mad:

[KAJUNKING]

i surely dont have a problem letting people know i have a problem with flash photos on rides, once you call them out in front of everyone it usualy stops!

[Aggie97]

We had huge issues with this on our most recent trip, on many dark rides.

On Soarin', someone's flash photography caused the CM to make multiple announcements during the ride ("No flash photography," "I repeat, no flash photography," "I can see you taking flash photos," "If you take one more flash photo I will be required to stop the ride and escort you from it"). Kind of took away from the ride, to say the least.

On one ride through PoTC, someone in every row of our boat was taking flash pictures, for the entire duration of the ride. If it hadn't been such a bad experience, it would have been hilarious. I did speak with a cast member as we exited the ride. He apologized and offered us to ride again without waiting in line, which we did do.

I try not to let it get to me, but sometimes it's so unbelievably pervasive that it does ruin a ride!

[Goes4FastPass]

Firends, let's be kind. There are many people whoe simply don't know how to turn the flash off on their camera and there's a name for them: Idiots.

[SurferStitch]

On my first trip we went to the Lion King show, and right after the show began about 3/4 of the audience started taking flash pictures. It totally ruined the show for me because I was being distracted by the hundreds of flashing lights across the room and all around me.

Prior to the show CMs had said "no flash photography" about 10 times. What bothers me the most is that CMs emphasized it was for the safety of the performers and guests still did not care.

What surprised us so much last week is that the announcement now clearly states that flash photography IS allowed. You just can't use video camera lighting....huh??

[honeybear]

Firends, let's be kind. There are many people whoe simply don't know how to turn the flash off on their camera and there's a name for them: Idiots.

I don't think the name calling is necessary!

[Von-Drake]

I don't think the name calling is necessary!

Got to agree no need to go there. Some people just choose not to read the manual, or forget.

[EJS-Houston]

Certainly mistakes happen and certainly there can be language barrier issues. However, Disney does often broadcast such instructions in other languages and they also offer park maps in other languages that contain this information.

If the person is close enough for me to politely ask them to stop I will do so. While I don't think this will completely solve the problem I do think that if the offenders know that other guests are annoyed and are willing to stand up for their rights then I do think it will help.

Right on, Jasper! I think everyone here agrees that's rude, thoughtless and very annoying...but I believe the key word in Jasper's response is "polite." Once you allow yourself to speak in anger, you reduce yourself to the rude level of the flash-photog offender, and you give them the convenient excuse to dismiss you (and everything you say) as an angry jerk. By keeping your cool and politely but firmly ask them to obey the clearly communicated rules of the park, you give the offender no wiggle room.

[Young@Heart]

mental note......

"make sure I know how to turn the flash off of my new camera before August" :blush:

[valjane]

On one ride through PoTC, someone in every row of our boat was taking flash pictures, for the entire duration of the ride. If it hadn't been such a bad experience, it would have been hilarious.

This happened to us during our last trip, too. We were in the front row of the boat, and the three rows behind us were all taking flash pictures. The guy in the row behind us was off to my right and kept totally blinding me out of my peripheral vision.

Finally my husband turned around and demanded that the whole boat stop immediately. It worked. :)

[lightyearfan]

i put this in another post . so i just going to paste so i don't have to write again me and dw couldn't agree more! it can get down right obnoxious, but some people are going to do what they're going to do. we went to the hall of presidents and the cm kindly states please no flash photography, and guess what happened.......??????? as soon as the curtain rose up a bunch of flash bulbs starting going off, some much that at the end of the show the cm got really annoyed and said and i quote "thanks to all of you who decided to use flash photograohy after we stated please no flash photography". i tell you whats going to happen, WDW is going to prohibit the use of any kind of camera use in there attractions, and this would be bad for people like me and dw who comply to the rules, and at the same time take pics and video if allowed.

Victor

[thrillme]

I obey and do not use flash photography in boats and YES I do agree that it's PAINFULLY annoying when people do.

I think there are some people who may only do this "once" in their lives and want to capture every moment...where it's rude and annoying...They're afraid of missing something.

Perhaps Disney could help out a bit by creating ride "postcards". A series of postcards that contain several scenes of the ride as if you took them yourself only more professional. Sell them for 3 for a $1. I'd certianly buy them. Or offer a "ride video" for a reasonable price.

[valjane]

The dumb thing about flash, too, (aside from it being annoying) is that your pictures are going to turn out pretty bad anyway.

I like the postcard idea.

[chrisb26]

What surprised us so much last week is that the announcement now clearly states that flash photography IS allowed. You just can't use video camera lighting....huh??

You know I noticed the same thing during the Lion King show last week also I was very surprised they had said that. Considering you're so used to hearing No No No then they said Yes it was kind of strange.

There was also another attraction where they said this but I can't remember right now. But I do remember a guy had the light on his video camera and was asked to turn it off.

[chick20679]

Hey Gang,
I need to vent. :mad: My wife and I just came back from WDW and the only thing that truly annoyed me was this: When Disney asks you not to use flash photography during rides, how hard can it be?!? We were on POTC twice that day and both times someone on our boat KEPT TAKING FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY! I swear that it was almost every 7-10 seconds! My wife saw that I was getting annoyed with these people and could tell that I wanted to say something to them, so she told me to calm down. This kind of thing happened on multiple rides during my trip there. It of course didn't ruin my vacation, but come on! Can't you take pictures without using a flash? Can't you follow rules? Ugh...
Sorry. Had to get that out. Does this bother anybody else? :thedolls::mad:

You could have been on the same boat we were!!! We were in the last row of the boat on PotC and the woman in the family in front of us KEPT taking flash pictures!! After the 15th or so (at least) flash, I just couldn't take it anymore, so I leaned forward and politely said: "you know, you really aren't supposed to take flash pictures". Thankfully, she either heard me or just decided she had enough pirate pictures and stopped.

I totally agree that this trend is MADDENING.

I simply don't understand how people don't get that they are ruining the "Magic" for others.

It feels better to vent and know others are annoyed too.... just wish there was something that could be done.

[TheRustyScupper]

1) Sometimes you have to make exceptions.
2) English is a tough language.
3) Especially
. . . for people born in this country
. . . raised in this country
. . . educated in this country
. . . and are increasingly selfish and self-absorbed

[mouselover93]

i hate that :thedolls::mad:

[dumbo ears]

I hate that too! Its like how many picutres can someone take of the same thing.