Flash Photos on Dark Rides

[wdwperry]

I was at Epcot on Thursday March 29th, one of the busiest times of the year, and I had some of the worst guest experiences I've ever had at Disney. On Journey Into Imagination, Living with the Land, Spaceship Earth and The Seas, I had people next to me taking flash pictures every scene. Why is Disney so reluctant to enforcing or vocalizing this rule even more? It truly does ruin the experience and can cause issues for people with sensitivity to flashing lights.

 

[larryz]

Flash photography on dark rides make me crazy for a whole host of reasons. I've been in the last row on Pirates when someone in the row in front of me felt it was okay to turn backward and flash a photo right in my eye. It was not, and I reacted accordingly.

I fail to understand how my taking a photograph in an attraction without using a flash or any other lighting assist has any impact at all on another guests experience. I'm making the obvious assumption in this statement that I'm not doing so in such a way that I expect another guest to get out of my way and I'm otherwise not being any more of an obstruction to their view than my head would be. I completely understand that many guests do not have either a camera capable, or the photographic skills (nor desire to have them) needed to achieve that which is completely fine. However, for some photography hobbyists, it's an an interesting (if frustrating) photographic challenge to get that perfect dark ride shot without any additional lighting. How is that compromising anyone elses ride experience?

Yeah, I really don't get the leap from "Don't do something to impede the experience of those around you" (as in no flash photography) to "don't do something to impede your own experience" (quietly taking non flash photos). Why is that second one anyone else's business?

If you can do it silently, and unobtrusively, more power to you.

Mirror click, fail. Holding camera up over your head, blocking my view, fail.

 

[drizgirl]

If you can do it silently, and unobtrusively, more power to you.

Mirror click, fail. Holding camera up over your head, blocking my view, fail.

My DSLR has a silent shutter setting and only an optical viewfinder so stays at eye height.

 

[LUVofDIS]

I love to photograph everywhere I go. I own a pro DSLR and Pro lenses. My setup is big compared to the avg. I do not own a flash and I always have my screen turned off. I do not like flash photos, I understand they are needed sometimes but I feel they are way overused. I try to stay low and I never ask or insist that people move or wait for my shot. I work around people, I never want to disturb their vacation because of me. I will walk and take photos with out stopping. My point is, you can photograph every second and not be in everyone's way.

To be truthful, in all my trips to Disney World I have only encountered someone using a flash on a dark ride a couple of times. Lucky I guess. The first time I had the honor was our first ride ever on Under the Sea - Journey of the Little Mermaid (I know, not the best ride to get upset about), there was a family and two of them were videoing the ride with the camera light on. After about twenty seconds I all but yelled for them to turn it off. They did and all was good.

The one I don't understand is when you see people use a flash for fireworks or a parade when the performers are fifty plus feet away. After a few shots they should realize it is hurting your photo more than helping. Oh well.