Tripod Policy?

[maxairmike]

Has anyone else had any issues with using a tripod there? I had no problems for close to two years until last weekend, when I went to set up for a nice picture opportunity in CityWalk. I had no sooner gotten my tripod out and was ready to put my camera on when I was approached by a security guard and told it was a Universal-NBC policy at all their properties of no tripods allowed unless you have a press pass. I was rather ticked off after two years of no issue, and knowing that tripods have been fairly recently used by others in both the parks and CityWalk. I checked with Guest Relations and they agreed with the security officer and said that has always been their policy.

I received no notice of this going through the bag check, with my tripod very obviously being carried in a bag on my back which I showed the security officer, not a word was said to me in Universal Studios, including by a RockIt team lead who held it for me on the platform to allow me to ride since I was alone and it is a few inches too large to fit in the lockers. Not a word was said to me in Islands, where I shot with the tripod for close to an hour and a half in Port of Entry, Marvel Super Hero Island, Toon Lagoon, and the Wizarding World. During that time myriad team members, leads, managers, and even other security officers walked right by me and even commented on some of the angles I was getting. I even asked a friend who is a team member in the parks when I returned home that evening, and they had no knowledge that such a policy existed. I scoured both Orlando and the Hollywood websites, eventually the NBC-Universal site, and even Googled a few different terms. I could not find anything about such a policy, or even a mention of not to bring tripods, and found several sites with suggestions that Universal is a tripod friendly place.

Did I just get unlucky, or is it just CityWalk that they care about when it comes to tripods? Or do they just not put up such relevant information on their websites thinking surprising guests is okay?

[/rant]

 

[CoasterKing]

Good question! I have used a tabletop tripod on all my visits and have never had anything said to me. Maybe it is small enough to be ignored.

CoasterKing
:king:

 

[Captain Chaos]

Max, I have never heard of such a policy... In fact, last October, I saw a few people with tripods set up in CityWalk as well as in the parks, and never saw anyone say anything to them...

You are right about their website, there is no written policy regarding tripods... Very weird...

 

[maxairmike]

I'm waiting on a response from Universal, which will be posted once it is received. I'll be curious to hear what their response is if they say they have a no tripod policy, since I specifically mentioned there is not even a reference to "professional equipment" across any of their websites or informational material.

 

[JT3000]

The tripod policy isn't new. I have a friend who's been unable to take his to the parks in the past.

 

[maxairmike]

Just received a call back, and was told that this is "one of those small, blue chip policies" that a lot of people don't really know about...that's kind of horrible proactive guest service when the majority of your employees don't even know a policy like that exists. Didn't even mention making sure the policy would be better informed throughout the resort, just that CityWalk security would be better informed...what a fail. :brick:

I really do enjoy Universal, but this along with their botched attempt at crowd control for the WWOHP opening that I witnessed really shows the not so organized and unpolished side of Universal.

Also, this makes them the only major park/chain that I know of that is photographer un-friendly in that regard.

 

[Captain Chaos]

The tripod policy isn't new. I have a friend who's been unable to take his to the parks in the past.

It may be an old policy, but it isn't communicated... And obviously selectively enforced since others have used tripods and never was told no... I'll defend Universal when it deserves defending, but when they are wrong, they are wrong.. and in this case, they are wrong... If it is a policy, they need to better inform guests... Post it on the website, make sure guests know before entering the park.. It really isn't that hard...

 

[Captain Chaos]

Just received a call back, and was told that this is "one of those small, blue chip policies" that a lot of people don't really know about...that's kind of horrible proactive guest service when the majority of your employees don't even know a policy like that exists. Didn't even mention making sure the policy would be better informed throughout the resort, just that CityWalk security would be better informed...what a fail. :brick:

I really do enjoy Universal, but this along with their botched attempt at crowd control for the WWOHP opening that I witnessed really shows the not so organized and unpolished side of Universal.

Also, this makes them the only major park/chain that I know of that is photographer un-friendly in that regard.

Max, I'll agree, that is horrible... They don't need to better inform their security.. They need to better inform the guests of this policy and obviously they fail to do so...

 

[Timekeeper]

I have two thoughts on this:

First, this policy may be "in the books," but it sounds like the type of regulations that you'll find if you google "stupid laws." Because (1) no one - even most employees - know that they exist, and (2) as a result, they are rarely enforced. As you pointed out, I'm willing to bet that more than 90% of employees are unaware of this policy.

Second, when I encounter a "stupid rule," I simply come up with a smart (or equally stupid) solution. For example, there used to be a rule that tripods were not allowed in Central Park in NYC. But that did not deter the use of monopods, bipods, or - you guessed it - quadropods. Stupid rule? Maybe. Stupid solution? You bet. But since we - and NYPD - all know what a "tripod" is, a table (with four legs) does not constitute the prohibited three-legged item. And in this case, bringing a table into the park is actually worse than a tripod, but hey, I didn't make the stupid rule. If Universal does not permit tripods, that would even include those 6-inch "tripods" used for point and shoot cameras. I use those all the time with the camera's timer for group photos. But even though they are the size of 3 Bic pens bundled together, I suppose they're PROHIBITED

As a photo enthusiast myself, I know that there are plenty of camera-steadying options available that are not three-legged offenders. Some are more convenient than tripods, some or bulkier and less convenient. But there are options. Clamps, beanbags, 1-2-or-4 legged pods, etc.

When confronted with such a stupid rule, I'd love to go into the park and set up one of these non-offending structures:

:lookaroun

And I have no idea what the heck this thing is, but it's not a tripod:

I love Universal, but as a loyal guest and photo enthusiast I have to say that they dropped the ball on this one. The only reasonable explanations for why a theme park would prohibit tripods are (1) they could be disguises for more menacing instrumentalities such as weapons, or (2) they could "get in the way" and interrupt guest traffic, or pose as risks that other guests might trip over, etc.

Well, we all know how [un]thorough security bag checks have become, and security checks only relate to bags (and not what is on the person), and tripods have become much smaller and lightweight, so I doubt it's the "potential menacing instrumentality" reason. There's nothing that a would-be-problem-causer would need to carry inside of a disguised tripod that couldn't be placed inside of a pocket, or pants, or jacket, etc. I suppose someone could machine the hollow legs into flasks, but then again, that's what flasks are for.

As for "getting in the way," it's interesting that this rule would even exist considering that Universal takes so many of its cues from Disney, which is tripod friendly (and at the same time, seemingly more security sensitive). :shrug: If they don't get in the way at WDW, there's no reason for them to get in the way at UO. Most guests don't want to carry bulky tripods around all day, especially because so many attractions require locker use which are limited in size. Tripods have become very small and lightweight compared to the good ol' days of over-the-shoulder VHS cameras. They don't "get in the way" any more than a person does. Brazilian tour groups permitted, but tripods prohibited? Maybe if we paid separate admission for our tripods... :hammer:

Okay, class, just to review:

The following item is technically a tripod, and thus a prohibited item:

The following item is technically not a tripod, and thus not a prohibited item:

Stupid? Exactly.

:brick:

 

[Captain Chaos]

LOL.. :lol:

Timekeeper, love the solution!!! :sohappy:

 

[maxairmike]

The main stated reason actually wasn't for safety or anything like that it was that guests might confuse you for a member of the media or our own photographers, which is why they require a press pass and media guide accompanying you if you wish to use a tripod in the resort.

Looks like I'll have to get one of those GorillaPod things that can wrap around objects and double as a table top tripod for trash cans and such.

 

[Timekeeper]

The main stated reason actually wasn't for safety or anything like that it was that guests might confuse you for a member of the media or our own photographers, which is why they require a press pass and media guide accompanying you if you wish to use a tripod in the resort.

Hogwash (or should I say, Hogwarts).

When it comes to theme parks, "reason stated" is often very different from the "actual reason." This "media confusion" reason is absolutely ridiculous. A member of the media needn't use a tripod at all, and if they do require a tripod, it's going to look like a media tripod, potentially accompanied by sandbags, and not something that can collapse down to the size of a compact umbrella.

Unless the media member is visiting incognito, any reasonable person can tell the difference between a member of the media and a common guest. Actually, the mere fact that UO requires a press pass and escort for members of the media per se demonstrates that possession of a tripod, alone, is not an indicator of media membership (the press pass and escort are!) :brick:

Asking a theme park for a policy "reason" is like asking a magician how a trick is done. You're not likely to receive the legitimate answer (sometimes this is for guest safety, or to limit liability exposure, etc.)

How on earth does Disney deal with the hundreds of guests with tripods around WDW? That surely leads to countless incidents of confusion. :hammer:

Looks like I'll have to get one of those GorillaPod things that can wrap around objects and double as a table top tripod for trash cans and such.

Careful, these things are, technically, also three-legged offenders; regardless of their trademark moniker.

I would continue to go with my compact tripod. As far as I'm concerned, Universal has not informed me of any such policy, and I'm only seeing it as hearsay on this discussion forum. On the rare occasion that an employee points out that it shouldn't be used in the parks, politely point out that there is no published notice of such a policy and and offer to fold it up and put it away ...or offer to add a fourth leg to it.

 

[JT3000]

I doubt the media explanation as well. I'm sure it has more to do with the tripod's potential use as a weapon. In fact, I believe this might actually be one of their post-9/11 policies. I know it's been in effect for quite a while, although sporadically enforced it seems. I've personally never witnessed anyone walking around the parks with a tripod though.

 

[Timekeeper]

I doubt the media explanation as well. I'm sure it has more to do with the tripod's potential use as a weapon. In fact, I believe this might actually be one of their post-9/11 policies. I know it's been in effect for quite a while, although sporadically enforced it seems. I've personally never witnessed anyone walking around the parks with a tripod though.

I suppose UO doesn't lend it self to tripod-needed photography as much as WDW does. WDW has a lot of evening shows, parades, and events, and with attractions like Festival of Lights, I could see why photo enthusiasts would want a tripod. UO doesn't (yet) offer anything that would require the purpose that a tripod serves. Heck, they're rarely open into the darker hours of the evening. And as I mentioned earlier, the attractions are difficult to experience if the person is traveling with a lot of gear. But we might see some tripods pop up when the new shows premier.