Flash pictures on dark rides

[DonaldDuckUSA]

This seems to have gotten pretty bad, on Pirates, Spaceship Earth, Nemo, etc. .

I've noticed this too. It used to not be so bad. It kills me too.

When my parents used to take me to WDW and the dark rides would stop for a moment (as they do), my parents once told me it was because "someone didn't follow directions."

They would say someone must have stood up, misbehaved, or snapped a flash photo. It was their way of making sure I never did those those things. HAHAHA. I forgot all about that. No kid wants to be held responsible for stopping a Disney ride!!!

Maybe instead of "No flash, please" we should start telling them "YOU'LL STOP THE RIDE IF YOU MISBEHAVE, YOUNG LADY!"

[Fangorn]

I'm sure it is also dangerous for the puppeteers on stage.

As the father of one of those perfomers, I can personally attest to the fact that the performers have been injured because of flash photography temporarily blinding them.

Steve

[azcavalier]

I think that while it is partly self-centered guests, I think that it's also partly based on the ignorance of those guests.

I think that a lot of those people, even the one with "professional" cameras, don't even know how to turn the flash off. *Every* camera has a way to turn the flash off. It just takes going through some menu options on some cameras.

But, the real reason that it drives me nuts is because it ruins the experience for me AND their pictures will be awful. The built-in flash on ANY camera is only good for round 8-10 feet. The reason for this is because anything past that and the light won't illuminate the scene while the shutter on the camera is open. You might think, "Yeah, but when my flash goes off, you can see that it brightens stuff really far away!" And you'd be right. But by that time, your shutter on you camera is closed. So it illuminated the close-up stuff, but not the far stuff. So it's worthless taking pictures of deeper scenes, parade floats, in stadiums (that always makes me laugh), etc. And if the shutter does stay open that long, it's going to be blurry. You cannot take a clear picture with a shutter open more than 1/50th of a second (or so), flash or no. The darker the scene, the longer the shutter wants to stay open, even with a flash.

So, that's what I think when that happens. Thanks for not just blowing the ambiance of the ride, but you're doing it for no good reason. I'm glad your pictures will ****.

[c&d]

I've asked people not to take flash pictures I just don't understand why they can't follow the rules. It really does ruin the ride, particularly for those on it for the first time to keep seeing the flash. It's as bad as those who videotape them, the warm glow of the LCD screen the entire ride.

I know I will never talk about a ride in the line because if it's someone's first time I don't want to spoil it for them.

[PopPhan]

I think that a lot of those people, even the one with "professional" cameras, don't even know how to turn the flash off. *Every* camera has a way to turn the flash off. It just takes going through some menu options on some cameras.

What really bothered me about my camera was that it was easy to turn the flash off, but impossible to turn off the auto-exposure light. It was a Kodak camera and I actually called them and asked how to disable the light....Their answer -- You can't! The camera needs it to figure out the focus and aperture settings. Even on "Manual" settings....Needless to say, that camera no longer exists in my possession!!

For parades and any shots with motion, I just use the Sports setting or High-Iso on manual. I don't think I have turned on the flash on my latest camera (Nikon 'Point-and-Shoot variety) since Day One!!

[mcjaco]

I think this last trip (got back yesterday), was one of the first in a long time, where I did not run into this problem very often. I was actually shocked.

[Bass T-bone]

Not only that, but flash is effective only up to a certain distance.

Like azcavalier said, what's really happening is that the shutter is staying open longer...
Beyond the flash range, the light emitted does nothing.
It's like taking pictures of fireworks... you think that the flash is actually enhancing the picture?

[JMTStone]

When my parents used to take me to WDW and the dark rides would stop for a moment (as they do), my parents once told me it was because "someone didn't follow directions."

We've got to be related. My Mom would have done the same thing.

My husband will say "please turn off your flash" and you can tell people understand him... they just don't care. I don't confront people. I get too mad when they will not follow the rules. And it ruins my experience.

My newest pet peeve is the same as Mel (and Christine too I think). In fact, I tweeted about it while I was there less than a month ago. I was sitting in the second row at Festival of the Lion King while a woman in front of me is using her iPad. So I see the show twice but it somehow blocks 1/2 of my view. I had it during Wishes. At Flight of Wonder; I hoped a bird would poop on one. I hate it. I hope this fad goes away quick.

[azcavalier]

My newest pet peeve is the same as Mel (and Christine too I think). In fact, I tweeted about it while I was there less than a month ago. I was sitting in the second row at Festival of the Lion King while a woman in front of me is using her iPad. So I see the show twice but it somehow blocks 1/2 of my view. I had it during Wishes. At Flight of Wonder; I hoped a bird would poop on one. I hate it. I hope this fad goes away quick.

I love my iPad. But not for videos or pictures. Are those people serious? The last thing I want to do is hold that thing up to video anything. Whenever I see someone using their iPad to film something, I just shake my head.

[JMTStone]

Twitter feed of @JMTMStone and you'll find the photo

https://twitter.com/JMTMStone/status...159872/photo/1

[Zawadi]

My biggest flash photography gripe at WDW is in the Little Mermaid Show at DHS. I love this attraction.
I have been known to yell out--"NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY" when people start taking pictures--especially during the Under the Sea scene with the puppets. When the flash goes off everyone can now see the puppeteers on stage manipulating the puppets. I'm sure it is also dangerous for the puppeteers on stage.

It is one of my favorite shows and I hate when it is ruined by thoughtless people. On top of that the pics these inconsiderate people are taking won't even look good!!

We were watching Animagique at Disneyland Paris (similar black light puppeteering) and a flash gun went off. A CM went over and insisted that the camera was switched off.

[GoBlueLacheta]

Maybe it is just "un-luck" of the draw, but this happens to us at least every other time we are on Pirates.

Yo-Ho Yo-Ho turn off your cam-era please.

[Opus X]

To me....this is one of those..."only the sick goto hospitals" So, All the folks that notice flashes...post here.
Honestly, We have never really noticed this phenomenon. Im trying to forget i even read about it...it makes me want to notice it happening.
But, honestly, I never really noticed or if i did...it wasnt something that gave me issues.
Of course....now ill sit right behind..some took using a tablet or something.
Murphys law.

[PAYROLL PRINCESS]

My Nikon Cool pix camera had the feature where you can shut it off. I thought I had turned it off but oops, I flashed. Needless to say, I stopped trying to take a picture.The camera I have now is a Canon and you have to actually LIFT the flash up. It actually takes pretty good pictures in the dark without the flash.That was one of the main reasons I wanted this camera. I was even talking to a friend, who is going to Disney the same week as me, about that feature because she was saying that her fiance wanted a new camera. It was a great selling point for her because they too go to Disney frequently.

[hauntedmansiongirl]

Twitter feed of @JMTMStone and you'll find the photo

https://twitter.com/JMTMStone/status...159872/photo/1

That would have driven me nuts! If you're going to do that, ask to sit in the very last row where you're affecting the least amount of people!

[JMTStone]

Yo-Ho Yo-Ho turn off your cam-era please.

Excellent

[Maggie T]

A few years back on POC some young people in our boat behind us did a video and took flash pictures. Well for the video they have me burping many times along with some choice words I kept repeating, not bad stuff but loud. I was in the video more than the pirates. For the stills my arms were pointing a lot and I was moving a lot in my seat. You have to understand I asked them if they understood no flash pictures and the young man told me to mind my business. Then his lady friend call me a jerk so I had fun with them. I am 6'1 weigh 250 lbs. and have lifted weights for 40+ years. When the ride was over they became scared when I asked them if they had any more comments. Just then an older lady came up to me and said I was really funny and thanked me for messing with those idiots. I would not have done anything to them but I hope they show some respect to the next riders.

[azcavalier]

To me....this is one of those..."only the sick goto hospitals" So, All the folks that notice flashes...post here.
Honestly, We have never really noticed this phenomenon. Im trying to forget i even read about it...it makes me want to notice it happening.
But, honestly, I never really noticed or if i did...it wasnt something that gave me issues.
Of course....now ill sit right behind..some took using a tablet or something.
Murphys law.

Admittedly, I have probably only had two experiences where it really bothered me. And it has to be a really dark ride (Haunted Mansion, for example) to bug me. Last trip, though, there was someone who took close to 50 photos about four cars behind us, flashing for each one. It doesn't bother me as much on Pirates, because much of the scenes are well lit, and so the flash doesn't do as much. But it destroys the ambiance in HM.

[angua85]

This used to bother me. And then one day I realized, my commenting was not going to change the legions of people who do it. And *really* the only way it was spoiling my ride was that I kept thinking (in my bossy voice) "you aren't supposed to!"

So now I ignore it. And it really (in the grand scheme of things) doesn't matter.

[JerseyDad]

That would have driven me nuts! If you're going to do that, ask to sit in the very last row where you're affecting the least amount of people!

...okay ...if I saw that ...I'd tell the person, "Okay...I feel for you ...I too am sorry you bought an Apple product ...but ..it's sorta' blocking my view ...but if you put it down ...we can sit later on ...have a drink ..and you can tell me how sorry you are for blocking my view ...and I'll console you for buying that 'thing'.