Security & Photography

[Panhead]

Hey everyone,

So I can tell you from the start that this will be a long post with multiple stories all relating generally to one topic. To start off, I am "a photographer", I live about 20 miles away from WDW, and I have an annual pass. So on days that I don't have class, I like to trek over to WDW and snap a few pics. Every time I go, I always have my camera, tripod, and backpack; maybe this makes me suspicious, I'm not sure. It seems as though almost every time I go something goes wrong, maybe my fault? So lets get to it!

Stories:


1. This just happened on Friday. So the day started off at Animal Kingdom, after I'd had enough I drove to MK to get a Dole Float D ), I then took the resort monorail to the Contemporary to watch the sunset on the roof. I've been on the roof of the Contemporary twice prior. I voluntarily walk the 10 flights of stairs from level 4 up to 14 to the roof. As I was doing so, I noticed a Disney security guard eye'ing me up from the other staircase. He was intently watching me climb each flight of stairs. As I got above about the 8th floor, he crossed his arms and looked kind of mad. I figured security would be waiting for me on the roof. Luckily nothing happened, I guess he did not approve? Thoughts? I figure; if I make the conscious effort to climb 10 flights of stairs to take a picture, let me be. It's more trouble for me than you.

2. This story also involves the contemporary hotel roof; I don't have very good luck with it. So this was in January. I think MK might have closed at 8:00 or so that night, so after Wishes I decided to go atop the Contemporary and watch Illuminations from the South side of the Contemporary. I walked from MK to the Contemporary peacefully. Everything went great... until I tried to leave. At this time it was around 9:20pm, the monorail stopped at 9pm. I tried walking back to MK to catch the ferry to TTC; security wouldn't let me take the sidewalk back to MK to catch the ferry. He told me there 'might' be a bus running to the Poly, after which I could walk to TTC. So just then a bus pulls up to the Contemporary, I had to run (with all my camera equipment in hand) back to the bus station to catch that bus. My question here is, what was I expected to do had I not caught that bus? Would I have to rent a taxi to take me from the Contemporary to the TTC parking lot?

3. I was at DTD one day, it was kind of boring, not much to take pictures of there. So I decided to take an adventure, I took the boat to Key West; I planned on making it a round-trip. When I got there the driver informed me that the boat was for resort guests only and I had to get off, I was not allowed to stay on. So, how do I get back to DTD? I had to take a bus, yay.

4. One time I was taking a picture by POTC when a cast member standing by POTC asked me what I was using the photos for. I guess he was thinking maybe I would be selling prints of my photos?

5. Security saw me taking a photo in the main lobby of the Contemporary (I really don’t have good luck with this hotel!) and he was intently staring me down. He never did anything, and I got my picture.


So that’s really all the stories about photography/security I can currently remember. All of these have happened to me within just the past 6-8 months. I’m kind of afraid if I keep “exploring” throughout WDW eventually security might seriously hassle me for some reason, I definitely don’t want to be blacklisted. Really, the biggest thing I wanted to get from this thread is the answer to story #2. What would you guys have done in that situation?


Thanks,

-Chris-

 

[Don]

The interest in what you are using the pictures for and what you are being watched for may have something to do with suspicion of the early stages of terrorism.


Although not nescesarily in Disney, many terrorist attempts have been thwarted by police/security finding people taking "random" pictures of buildings or areas, as this is often part of the planning stages of a terrorist plot.


Although 95% of cases are completely innocent, you should be happy that security is taking note of this.

 

[benyeomans]

I guess it is because you're alone taking pictures with the full gear (tri-pod, backpack etc...) Although i don't agree with the attention photographers get, i understand that it is their job to look out for the best intentions of their guests. If nothing has been said, just carry on and maybe over time people will start to recognise you and lay off.

 

[mergatroid]

2. This story also involves the contemporary hotel roof; I don't have very good luck with it. So this was in January. I think MK might have closed at 8:00 or so that night, so after Wishes I decided to go atop the Contemporary and watch Illuminations from the South side of the Contemporary. I walked from MK to the Contemporary peacefully. Everything went great... until I tried to leave. At this time it was around 9:20pm, the monorail stopped at 9pm. I tried walking back to MK to catch the ferry to TTC; security wouldn't let me take the sidewalk back to MK to catch the ferry. He told me there 'might' be a bus running to the Poly, after which I could walk to TTC. So just then a bus pulls up to the Contemporary, I had to run (with all my camera equipment in hand) back to the bus station to catch that bus. My question here is, what was I expected to do had I not caught that bus? Would I have to rent a taxi to take me from the Contemporary to the TTC parking lot?


So that’s really all the stories about photography/security I can currently remember. All of these have happened to me within just the past 6-8 months. I’m kind of afraid if I keep “exploring” throughout WDW eventually security might seriously hassle me for some reason, I definitely don’t want to be blacklisted. Really, the biggest thing I wanted to get from this thread is the answer to story #2. What would you guys have done in that situation?


Thanks,

-Chris-

Maybe the ferry had stopped running nearly an hour and a half after park closing? To be fair they don't really want people around the parks once they're closed and it's probably unusual for people to want to walk back to the park so late so was probably deemed suspicious. I'm not having a go at you but you might be better planning how to get from a to b in advance more when staying after park closing, Disney will have a cut off point as to when they're responsiblle for transporting people around property (especially those who deliberately wait around) and I'd hate to see you stranded with a long walk with expensive equipment sometime.

 

[wilkeliza]

Hey everyone,

My question here is, what was I expected to do had I not caught that bus? Would I have to rent a taxi to take me from the Contemporary to the TTC parking lot?

Yes they would have made you take a taxi. My boyfriend and I ate at the Contemporary for dinner one night and it ended well after park closing that day. The monorails had stopped running to TTS and so had buses to and from the Magic Kingdom. We ended up having to cab back to Pop!. What is interesting is that at Hoop Dee Do review they have buses back to every resort after each dinner so I was a little surprised they didn't have that at the COntemporary. I guess it is harder to get a cab way back at the Hoop Dee Do review.

My advice to you is to not go places you really shouldn't be. They are probably suspicious because you are not a resort guest (how they know you are not one is another story probably because you are willing to climb the stairs and not just take the elevator up) and the resorts are actually only for those staying at the resort and their guests.

Disney is proactively protecting their image now with the ease of access to great high quality photos of the parks everywhere. I wouldn't be surprised if one day we see a sign that bans certain caliber of cameras. They don't mind you taking pictures of your children or yourself or lo-res pictures of the parks but they don't want a lot of people putting out high-res pictures that will then mean someone could copy the parks in another country that they have no jurisdiction in (remember creepy Japan (?) Disney nock off that is now vacant) or they don't want people selling the pictures.

 

[wm49rs]

I've found that it appears to be the presence of the tripod (as opposed to other camera equipment) that garners the attention of the Disney staff and security....

 

[fosse76]

The interest in what you are using the pictures for and what you are being watched for may have something to do with suspicion of the early stages of terrorism.


Although not nescesarily in Disney, many terrorist attempts have been thwarted by police/security finding people taking "random" pictures of buildings or areas, as this is often part of the planning stages of a terrorist plot.

That's absolutely not true. That said, Disney is more concerned with "professional" photographers selling the pictures for profit then any other reason.

 

[fosse76]

Yes they would have made you take a taxi. My boyfriend and I ate at the Contemporary for dinner one night and it ended well after park closing that day. The monorails had stopped running to TTS and so had buses to and from the Magic Kingdom. We ended up having to cab back to Pop!. What is interesting is that at Hoop Dee Do review they have buses back to every resort after each dinner so I was a little surprised they didn't have that at the COntemporary. I guess it is harder to get a cab way back at the Hoop Dee Do review.

How late was it? You could easily have just taken a bus to Downtown Disney and then switched buses to get back to your resort... that is if you didn't want to spend money on a taxi.

My advice to you is to not go places you really shouldn't be. They are probably suspicious because you are not a resort guest (how they know you are not one is another story probably because you are willing to climb the stairs and not just take the elevator up) and the resorts are actually only for those staying at the resort and their guests.

That's not entirely true. Some amenities are for that resorts guests only, but other offerings aren't there for the spefici use use of that resort's guests.

 

[Lynne M]

Just because the fire stairs go to the CR roof doesn't mean they want guests up there. As far as I know, it's a backstage area.

It really doesn't surprise me that someone who's outfitted as a professional photographer and frequently visiting the property would be attracting the attention of security. Disney is fiercely protective of images of its property. I'm sure they assume that you're a pro who's selling WDW images.

 

[wdwfan22]

So you were not a Disney Resort Guest and didn't dine at the resort, but felt you should be allowed to climb the stairs to the roof to take pictures. I'm sorry, but you really have no business being at the Contemporary. Security had every right to watch you.

 

[peter11435]

There are signs on the stairwells that say "No roof access."

 

[Panhead]

The interest in what you are using the pictures for and what you are being watched for may have something to do with suspicion of the early stages of terrorism.

Although not nescesarily in Disney, many terrorist attempts have been thwarted by police/security finding people taking "random" pictures of buildings or areas, as this is often part of the planning stages of a terrorist plot.

Although 95% of cases are completely innocent, you should be happy that security is taking note of this.

Okay, that is a good point. I hadn't thought of that, fair enough.

My advice to you is to not go places you really shouldn't be. They are probably suspicious because you are not a resort guest and the resorts are actually only for those staying at the resort and their guests.

- I have been told multiple times that the resorts are free to explore, have I been mislead?

Disney is proactively protecting their image now with the ease of access to great high quality photos of the parks everywhere. I wouldn't be surprised if one day we see a sign that bans certain caliber of cameras. They don't mind you taking pictures of your children or yourself or lo-res pictures of the parks but they don't want a lot of people putting out high-res pictures that will then mean someone could copy the parks in another country that they have no jurisdiction in (remember creepy Japan (?) Disney nock off that is now vacant) or they don't want people selling the pictures.

- The only problem I have with that theory is that the camera industry is moving in such a direction that soon it will be almost impossible to regulate such a ban. I would guess that in about 5 years time, compact cameras will no longer be sold, they will be replaced by camera phones. The quality and ease of camera phones are definitely going to be the next generation of cameras. So everybody will have a high quality camera in their pocket at all times.

I've found that it appears to be the presence of the tripod (as opposed to other camera equipment) that garners the attention of the Disney staff and security....

Interesting, that could be the case. I'd hate to shoot without a tripod at night though.


And to those talking about the fire stairs at the Contemporary, let me enlighten you on how I found out about this. So I had seen pictures and video from atop the CR and had wanted to go there. So I did a little research and found the California Grill, I thought I'd be able to take the elevator up there, no problem (Nobody told me prior that this was "off-limits"). So I get to the CR and find out you need reservations to get into the California Grill, fair enough. So I kindly ask the CM's standing at the California Grill reception desk (on level 3 or 4, I forget) if I could go up to the observation deck to view the fireworks. They suggested the best way would be to take the elevator as high as it will go (I think level 10?) and go out to the stairs and climb the rest of the way up to the observation deck. So I went to do that, the line at the elevators was no bueno, so I went back and asked him if I could take the stairs all the way up. He kind of looked at me funny (obviously, 10 flights of stairs), but responded with "Yes, you can climb the stairs all the way up". This was my first time going atop the Contemporary, after having 2 conversations with the California Grill reception desk, I felt comfortable hiking my way up there. He said nothing about it being restricted, and in fact was extremely helpful. After reading all of the replies, I may end up not going back up there, I'd really not like to lose my Annual Pass privileges; however, I have only based my actions on what I've seen and been told.



Thanks,

-Chris-

 

[CP_alum08]

Yes they would have made you take a taxi. My boyfriend and I ate at the Contemporary for dinner one night and it ended well after park closing that day. The monorails had stopped running to TTS and so had buses to and from the Magic Kingdom. We ended up having to cab back to Pop!. What is interesting is that at Hoop Dee Do review they have buses back to every resort after each dinner so I was a little surprised they didn't have that at the COntemporary. I guess it is harder to get a cab way back at the Hoop Dee Do review.

My advice to you is to not go places you really shouldn't be. They are probably suspicious because you are not a resort guest (how they know you are not one is another story probably because you are willing to climb the stairs and not just take the elevator up) and the resorts are actually only for those staying at the resort and their guests.

Disney is proactively protecting their image now with the ease of access to great high quality photos of the parks everywhere. I wouldn't be surprised if one day we see a sign that bans certain caliber of cameras. They don't mind you taking pictures of your children or yourself or lo-res pictures of the parks but they don't want a lot of people putting out high-res pictures that will then mean someone could copy the parks in another country that they have no jurisdiction in (remember creepy Japan (?) Disney nock off that is now vacant) or they don't want people selling the pictures.

I agree. If you are constantly looking over your shoulder and worried about security, chances are you are doing something you shouldn't be.

 

[wilkeliza]

I only know the resorts are for those staying and their guests as well as people with diner reservations because I have had people who live in the area pick me up at resorts when we are there and they are always stopped by security and asked for ID and why they are going to the resorts. Typically during the day security is a little less strict but at night and in early mornings this always is the case.

The resorts are open in the sense that you can go explore them from Disney transportation but you shouldn't pool hop or be anywhere outside the lobby or restaurants and arcade. I know in Contemporary I have seen signs that say floors xx-xx are for guests of the resort only same with Grand Floridian. They are fine if you are there to check out the lobby and stuff like that but not okay for you to be lurking in guest only locations such as the Observation deck and the room halls.

Also the Observation Deck to my knowledge is just for use by California Grill guests now. They used to let just anyone up there but recently it has become for California Grill guests only.

We ended dinner around 10 that night I believe. This was in January so all the parks had been closed well by then that night. I don't remember anything about buses actually from that trip. We were told if we needed to get back to our resort we could take the monorail to Epcot but the monorail was not running and our other option was to walk to the Magic Kingdom and take a bus from there. We just cabbed because it was quicker and we knew even if there was a bus to DTD the ride from DTD to Pop! would be ridiculously packed that late at night even in January.

 

[radev104]

The interest in what you are using the pictures for and what you are being watched for may have something to do with suspicion of the early stages of terrorism.

Although not nescesarily in Disney, many terrorist attempts have been thwarted by police/security finding people taking "random" pictures of buildings or areas, as this is often part of the planning stages of a terrorist plot.

Although 95% of cases are completely innocent, you should be happy that security is taking note of this.

That's absolutely not true. That said, Disney is more concerned with "professional" photographers selling the pictures for profit then any other reason.

This is true. I'm a criminal justice grad student and just took a Homeland Security and Counterterrorism course. We had to do a terrorist plot portfolio and many of the plots that were given out were not successful. The reason they were not successful was because they were "scouting" the area with cameras. I would be happy that Disney security is taking notice of this.