Flash photography, or no flash photography...

[Wedbliss]

Flash photography on dark rides...drives me nuts. I have politely asked people to stop numerous times, especially on POTC where I find the flash almost unbearable. One time I asked a guy sitting directly in front of me to stop with the flash and his body stiffened. He was just about to turn around and tell me where to get off when the woman next to him said, "just stop". He relaxed, put the camera away and the rest of the ride was fine. I never saw him again. But the thought occurred to me, what if some kind of a fight had ensued? I decided that it just isn't worth it. I don't ask people to stop using flash anymore.

The CMs at WDW do a pretty good job reminding guests of the no flash rule during attractions. Actually, it's a toss up as to which is worse: putting up with a flash or putting up with repeated CM no-flash announcements. People don't always stop after the first warning and I have heard CMs have to announce it 3 or 4 times.

It bothers me that so many people don't even know how to use a flash. My favorite is when someone takes a flash picture in the Primeval World diorama oly to find they've taken a nice shot of their own flash. Also, what's up with people using a flash to shoot fireworks or the Electrical Parade? I get the feeling that many people simply don't know how to turn their flash off.

I've mellowed over the years. Life (or a trip to Disneyland) is too short to get upset over such things. Theme parks are a great place to exercise one's patience and learn not to sweat the small stuff. If you really can't deal with something then complaining to a CM is probably the best bet.

[Captain_Jenny1987]

I don't mind flash photography as long as they don't do it in the seance room at the Haunted Mansion.

[DaddyB]

Flash photos never capture the ambience of the ride. They just point out that you're in a dark room with a fancy mannequin, or at worst illuminate the 'magic'. I remember when Disney had a media event for Pirates and I was able to gear up my camera for a shot of the battle scene in the ride. As most of you know, I have a very powerful external flash on my camera. I lit that room up!

unfortunately when I did, it showed quite clearly that it's just a big room with water in it. The boat was washed out, the walls and ceiling tiles all showed.

I hope for the day when I can actually get a stopped boat at the entrance to that room so I can get a longer exposure and make that shot actually work.

[Superior_Xemnas]

I was on the haunted mansion with a friend who was going on and on about how she hates flash photography during the elevator scene I notice she was getting ready to take a picture and she used the flash feature. I gave her an annoyed look and she laughed it off as if it wasn't an issue. So, I think flash photography should not be permitted it ruins the atmosphere and ruins it for those who are going on for the first time.

[Horbigast]

Flash photography on dark rides...drives me nuts. I have politely asked people to stop numerous times, especially on POTC where I find the flash almost unbearable. One time I asked a guy sitting directly in front of me to stop with the flash and his body stiffened. He was just about to turn around and tell me where to get off when the woman next to him said, "just stop". He relaxed, put the camera away and the rest of the ride was fine. I never saw him again. But the thought occurred to me, what if some kind of a fight had ensued? I decided that it just isn't worth it. I don't ask people to stop using flash anymore.

In addition to the points made here about how dependent we've become on our resident technology, I think it's also a bit scary at how hostile people often become when you ask them to change their behavior, no matter how politely. It's not uncommon for a profanity-laced threat to be the response, even in the Happiest Place on Earth. I'm not sure what kind of social indicator that is, but at the very least, it's yet another sign of what's been lost over the years.

[DaddyB]

While I totally agree with earlier posts about telelphone screens, lets not forget to that many, many digital cameras and video cameras (digital or not) have screens on them now. So it might not be a phone, but an actual camera taking pictures without the flash... or someone trying to catch the ride experience on videotape.

Or for that matter a phone trying to videotape/take pictures without the flash.

I know on my daughter's camera (and on the iphone) there's no way to turn that off if you're planning on trying to get a picture. Many cameras don't come with viewfinders any more.

You might look at my most recent update. During the jungle cruise ride I took a bunch of pictures, some with flash and some without. In particular the photo of the hippo with the flash on clearly showed the seam at the hippo's jaw. Without the flash, it didn't. That was an outdoor ride, too! Imagine seeing stuff like that from "Pirates", "Mansion" or even "Pooh". It just tears away the curtain and you see the man behind the curtain. Sometimes it's best to not know about the guy in the booth with all the knobs and doo-hickeys.