What if Disney banned all cameras and phones in the park?

[blueboxdoctor]

I have never been distracted/inconvenienced by someone else taking a picture. If I have to stop for a moment or walk around someone as to not get in their shot I'm fine with it, most people will do the same for me. Now, I may be a little biased since I recently got my first DSLR (Nikon D3300) and a few lenses for it, so I'm looking forward to bringing all that to WDW. Though, I will be a little annoying some nights with a tripod (which is easy to walk with as it has a bag with a shoulder strap and is pretty light), but I only plan to use it during extra hours when the big crowd has gone away, in less populated areas (such as behind the castle during fireworks), and basically in areas that won't be obnoxious.

As for cell phones, Disney has basically integrated them into the parks with the addition of their new app for Fast Passes.

Everyone can enjoy WDW their own way, so banning photography, well, that's just not going to work for a lot of people. And banning cell phones isn't going to work for anybody.

 

[DisneyNorthFan]

While a ban isn't necessary or realistic, I agree that most folks would get more enjoyment out of the park experience by limiting phone & technology use. For some that may mean they don't need them at all. Just like anything in life - the more you fully immerse yourself in the experience, the better.

 

[Tom P.]

What if I have a family emergency. My family has to wait 14 hours before they can reach me cause I was in the no phone magix kingdom?

I would oppose banning phones in the parks.

But in all fairness, Walt Disney World was open for 20+ years before handheld cell phones became commonplace. Disneyland was open for nearly 40 years before they became commonplace. Yet scores of people still visited the parks and managed to survive the experience. The idea of needing to be instantly accessible in any situation is a very new one, and I'm not sure that it has benefited us as a society, to be quite honest.

 

[EnergyKing]

You know what would increase my enjoyment of the parks? Better attractions, better overall theming.
People living on their cellphones has become the norm, i hardly even notice it.

 

[EOD K9]

In my case I made hardbound books out of each trip, and I look back on them pretty regularly, a few times a year at least, possibly more, especially when planning another trip. If I couldn't bring my camera to Disney World I'd be heartbroken.



Disney gives out phones??? Or was this a hypothetical situation you're proposing?

Adam

Just hypothetical.

 

[raven]

Cinderella"s castle is the #1 photographed building in the world. Why would Disney want to fall away from that? It's free advertising for them.

 

[FigmentForver96]

I would oppose banning phones in the parks.

But in all fairness, Walt Disney World was open for 20+ years before handheld cell phones became commonplace. Disneyland was open for nearly 40 years before they became commonplace. Yet scores of people still visited the parks and managed to survive the experience. The idea of needing to be instantly accessible in any situation is a very new one, and I'm not sure that it has benefited us as a society, to be quite honest.

Oh I agree, ( Just finished a paper on the effects of Google on the human brain). Things are totally different then they were before, and if something had happened we would not have known until later down the road. Now I know I can have my phone in case something happens back home and I need to get back.

 

[thomas998]

But the lockers are optional. Are they going to personally escort every guest with a cellphone to the lockers and watch them as they store it away? Are they going to frisk them after they store it again to make sure it's not on their person? Will there be more people getting banned from the parks because they just wanted to sneak in a photo of their kid riding Dumbo? Will there be a fine?

First you assume the lockers wouldn't be moved... I'm assuming if you banned cellphones you would create smaller lockers and maybe put them at the transportation center not the MK.... that way you're going to have very fast passage into the parks once no one has any bags, purses or anything else on their person when they go to the park.

Think about it we take vacations to get away and relax, yet the majority of Disney visitors seem dead set on bringing their work and outside distractions with them when they go there. Does anyone not remember the days before cellphones and pagers? The world didn't stop when you left the office and went on vacation, yet for whatever reason people have accepted this belief that they must stay connected to work and home when they go on vacation.

 

[Phonedave]

So when everyone shows up with a cell phone who didn't get the memo, what do you do? Turn them away? Tell them to throw out their cell phones? Go back to the hotel? Give every park guest a locker to store the cellphone outside the park?

The US Mint in PA does not allow cameras - of any kind. I was in Philly and at random decided to walk over and visit the mint (I had some time to kill before a wedding) and was denied entrance because my cell had a camera. At the time I thought they would have made a killing by having a little bank of cell phone lockers outside the building.

The thing I noticed during our recent annual visit was the number of people in lines on their phones. Not talking on their phones but either playing games or reading stuff on social media etc. Now I'd never presume to tell them what to do and it doesn't ruin my trip, however I think many of them miss stuff there to enjoy. Many of the lines at Disney tell a story, or build the atmosphere and I can't help thinking that these people are sadly missing out on all of this. Also strolling around and enjoying the beauty of the parks I can't help notice these days the number of people reading their phones as they walk around. Again it's their choice and their loss, but it's such a shame and they're missing out on so much.

That is really it - and I don't let it bother me. As long as people are not using light (screens, flashes, etc) in a dark ride, or blocking my view (people holding your tablets above your head to film Wishes, I'm talking to you here) it is their loss, not mine.

I work in telecomm, I have at least a half dozen devices that all ping together when I have a meeting, email, or message. I am on a computer and/or phone (or phones) all day. The last thing I want to do when work is done, is to talk on the phone some more. When I am at WDW, my phone stays in my pocket unless I need to check a FP+ time or reservation. I have more pictures from WDW than I can keep track of, so now I tend to take very few (just of new, or very interesting things)

-dave

 

[epcotisbest]

I took some sunset photos a couple of weeks ago outside MK, but other than that not so much. How many castle photos do you really need? Still don't use the phone at the parks. Anybody needs to get in touch with me can leave a message that I may or may not decide to check when I get back to the room.
As for a ban? No, if anything there will be more reliance on technology, not less.

 

[Admiral01]

If I'm going to ignore the Vatican's ban on taking pictures inside the Sistine Chapel, I'm definitely not going to abide a camera ban inside a theme park.

 

[EnergyKing]

First you assume the lockers wouldn't be moved... I'm assuming if you banned cellphones you would create smaller lockers and maybe put them at the transportation center not the MK.... that way you're going to have very fast passage into the parks once no one has any bags, purses or anything else on their person when they go to the park.

Think about it we take vacations to get away and relax, yet the majority of Disney visitors seem dead set on bringing their work and outside distractions with them when they go there. Does anyone not remember the days before cellphones and pagers? The world didn't stop when you left the office and went on vacation, yet for whatever reason people have accepted this belief that they must stay connected to work and home when they go on vacation.

Personally I wouldn't like the thought of my cellphone being stored all the way back at the transportation center. Needing to access it once inside the park would prove inconvenient. Second, if they built more lockers right outside the MK it would probably cause more of a cluster jam than we currently have right now. Not to mention they'd be sending in a lot of annoyed guests, so right off the bat you're creating a negative atmosphere. Cell phones have helped me locate members of my family numerous times in the parks- without cell phones it could get potentially frustrating. I'm sure there would be non-stop complaints rolling in. Also, if you're banning phones, should you also band mp3 players/walkmen? Anything that could possibly be a distraction? Where do you draw the line?

I get that people take vacations to get away and relax. I hear ya, and yes I wish people could just take something in for a change and not broadcast it on social media. However, that's just the world we live in. Every single member of a family has a cell phone these days, even the young ones. It's very idealistic, but banning seems like it would be more trouble than it's worth.

 

[Arthur Wellesley]

If I'm going to ignore the Vatican's ban on taking pictures inside the Sistine Chapel, I'm definitely not going to abide a camera ban inside a theme park.

While I think the whole idea of banning cameras is silly, it's entitled people like you with no regard to posted rules who make discussions like this pop up in the first place. It's not the camera or smartphone that's the problem. It's the moronic, narcissistic users who disregard rules which make them troublesome.

 

[mouse_luv]

What kind of disease does he have that forces him to carry a camera?

Reread that. I said I have medical issues and require my phone, not DBF who carries the camera.

 

[DManRightHere]

What if I have a family emergency. My family has to wait 14 hours before they can reach me cause I was in the no phone magix kingdom?

Hey! We were fine without phones until the past 15 years!

But no, people would choose no Disney at all over no phones. We're addicted.

 

[Prince-1]

If I'm going to ignore the Vatican's ban on taking pictures inside the Sistine Chapel, I'm definitely not going to abide a camera ban inside a theme park.

Thanks for the input Mr. Massengill.

 

[FigmentForver96]

Hey! We were fine without phones until the past 15 years!

But no, people would choose no Disney at all over no phones. We're addicted.

Like I said before, will not argue that point. Society has conformed to technology that we have become dependent on it. Yet like all things there is both upsides and downsides. The downsides is it does make us more dependent, but I can also get my information much faster in emergency situations. Yes we were "fine" for many years, but I also speak from personal experience. When I was a young child we went to Disney, and my parents, at the time, didn't have cell phones. We were six hours away from home and the night we got there my uncle passed. We stayed in Disney for seven days and we didn't know about his death until we got home.

For some people they don't need a phone and that is awesome. I personally only use mine to keep if someone HAS to reach me while I am in the park. I now use it for FP, but I am not on it for anything else. Any pictures I take aren't messed with until I get home.

 

[MICKEYEARSFL]

Think about this....

I remember a day when the guests at Disney weren't tied to their smartphones texting, taking pictures, Facebooking, and Twittering. I remember a day when My Disney Experience (Disney's app) didn't exist. I also remember when apps didn't even exist! Now, you all may be wondering, "When the hell was this?!?!?" Well, it would be a time back in the 1970s and 1980s when Polaroid Cameras were all the rave (take one photo and the camera developed the film. Remember having to wave the photo to develop?). Back then we were a group of "click and shoot" type people. We were also treated to a world of VHS and BetaMax "cam-corders" (video cameras). I'm sure the youngins on this board are running to their parents or even grandparents asking, "What's VHS? What's BetaMax?"

The "technology" back then is probably no different than what it is today. It's just smaller and less expensive! My parents carried around a Panasonic VHS CamCorder (approx $1500) along with the accessories and tapes. Nowadays, the phones are a few hundred bucks, smaller than their technological ancestors, and can store hours of pictures and video.

I'm not that old - but thinking about 30 years ago definitely threw me back into my childhood to where I remember a different type of Disney. Though, as I said before, it's not that different. We just advanced the technology (and made some changes to Disney along the way).

I remember in the 80s taking pictures with the camera that my Mom bought, me I had to advance the film to take a picture and it had flash cubes! a big treat for me was going to Epcot to have the photos developed. Then in the early 90's my parents got this sweet camera with film I think my dad went threw 20 rolls on that vacation. We also had a Sony handy cam with a video 8 cassettes, I still love going back and reminisisng of those days! We as a society don't know how good we really have it! especially with photos! I can definitely relate to what you are saying here!

 

[StarfishAndStingrays]

I'd be okay with people not bumping into me while texting, or pushing into me to get the best photo for their Instagram...but I'd be sad for a ban because my SO is a professional Videographer and is planning on grabbing some unique shots of our trip as a gift to my family for taking us-if Disney banned cameras he wouldn't get to capture those cool moments to make our gift to my parents.

 

[stevehousse]

Seeing as how they just spent billions to keep you on your phone, not likely ever!

I do hate when people use their flashes on a ride though! Idk and always embarrass my wife but I always tell them to turn it off!!! Lol