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Darkbeer
10-01-2008, 05:37 PM
Starting this week, Disneyland Security is enforcing a new rule...

It wasn't clear the first couple of days, but it is now currently... (and of course, always subject to change).

No Zoom Lens larger than 6 inches in length.

Basically caused due to an incident with the Paparazzi when Lindsay Lohen and her girlfriend visited the park.

So be prepared to go back to the car if you are stopped at Bag Check.

adriennek
10-01-2008, 05:42 PM
That seriously sucks.

SERIOUSLY.

We have a friend who IS a professional photographer and owns awesome lenses that he uses to photograph... HIS SON! :eek: IMAGINE THAT!

That is so messed up I can't begin BEGIN to vent loudly enough.

Adrienne

Bytebear
10-01-2008, 05:46 PM
Well, guess I can put off getting that new lens now. :( So is it the lens and not the body? I was planning on getting the new Canon 10g which is the point and shoot, so maybe this helped make my decision.

ChurroGirl
10-01-2008, 06:09 PM
I believe from the OP it was just lenses 6inchs and over. Not the actual pro-camera itself.

Darkbeer
10-01-2008, 06:13 PM
I believe from the OP it was just lenses 6inchs and over. Not the actual pro-camera itself.

Depends who you talk to...

The Bag Check/Security folks will say "No Professional Cameras"

But when you try and get the "official policy", it is no detachable lenses 6 inches or longer without prior permission from the PR department (and I presume a Media Host to follow you around) in the parks.

And it is a brand new policy, and I think a lot of adjustments/changes will be made in the future....

Bytebear
10-01-2008, 06:17 PM
well, let us know. you will probably be the most affected.

ChurroGirl
10-01-2008, 06:19 PM
What constitues as a Pro-camera?

There are alot of smaller cameras that people use that can have attachments! And they look Professional...

Bytebear
10-01-2008, 06:21 PM
Especially now that the Canon Rebel is so afordable and becoming more common among all photographers. It really doesn't look very different from high end models. But if it is lenses, you can at least try to convince security it's ok.

TTFN92
10-01-2008, 06:50 PM
A Canon Rebel is not a professional camera. But are the security people going to be able to tell the difference? I would assume that the typical tourist with an SLR and a zoom lens that is shorter than 6 in. is going to be o.k. I'm sure this is going to cause some major negative feedback from the guest that doesn't know the rules beforehand and just wants to get some good shots. I do have to say that it would be pretty easy to get one in though. When we have a bag with snacks in it, they barely look in it. Who knows what could be hidden down there. But, I don't have an SLR with a zoom longer than 6" anyway so it doesn't matter. I would really like to know what ends up happening with this one. Another one of those times that one person can ruin it for all of us.

ChurroGirl
10-01-2008, 06:57 PM
I do have to say that it would be pretty easy to get one in though. When we have a bag with snacks in it, they barely look in it. Who knows what could be hidden down there.

That and a well packed stroller! Sometimes I see them so packed I feel like George of the Jungle is going to pop out and say hello! You never know whats in those!

AVP
10-01-2008, 06:59 PM
This isn't really a new policy, but it's definitely being reevaluated in light of recent events. I posted the following last November during an internal conversation with MousePlanet staff, and I'm going to re-post it here since it relates to the discussion at hand. I've removed some names and details of the CMs involved.

About 30 minutes after the Dancing with the Stars taping ended, I saw three people walk around the corner from the Matterhorn to the Castle forecourt. The two men both had pretty nice cameras, one had an extremely long lens.

They started to take some photos of the Castle and surrounding set up. I wasn't really paying a ton of attention to them because I noticed some activity among the press & pub / event management / security types all around the stage. Their little huddle broke up and one of the event managers approached the trio. "Who are you guys - who are you working for? Are you with Disney?" When they said that they were just guests in the park, he continued "You have a professional camera there. What are you doing?" They repeated that they'd been in the park all day and had happened across the activity around the castle and were taking some photos. [The manager] told them that they could not be inside Disneyland with a professional camera unless they had a media escort, and told them that they needed to leave. Only he wasn't very polite about it - his statement was "ok, you're going to come with me down to the park exit, and then you're going to leave." They protested, and he said "You can come with me, or you can come with the Anaheim PD - it's up to you."

The photographer told [the manager] to back down, that he didn't need to threaten them. [The manager's] reply was "I'm not threatening you." The photographer said "You just said you were going to have us arrested," and [the manager] replied "I'm not threatening you. You can choose to be arrested if you want, or you can just come with me."

They demanded to see the written policy that prohibits professional equipment, and [the manager] told them "no problem, you're going to walk with me down to City Hall and I can show it to you." So they all started walking down Main Street, with a Disneyland security officer not-so-discretely following them.

And of course I had to tag along, but at a slight distance.

As they were walking one of them said something to [the manager] that I didn't hear, but his response was "It's not about you sir, it's about your equipment." He went on to tell them that they could leave the lenses in their car or locker and return to the park if they wanted.

As they got nearer City Hall, one of them said something to [the manager], I didn't catch his reply, but their response was "So, there really isn't anything in writing you can show us?" [The manager] said "we can mail it to you."

Once they got to Town Square [the manager] said "can I trust you to leave now, or are we going to have problems?" They left unescorted, and I followed them out to talk to them.

They declined to identify themselves to me, but they said that they were freelance photographers and had been in the park since 10 am. They also said that they had been through bag check twice with their cameras, and nobody had said anything. They said that they had happened across the activity in front of the castle and wanted to take some photos. I *did* see them enter the area, so I can confirm at least that much.

I will say that they left rather too easily. If *I* were there as a day guest and had that happen to me, I would be pitching a major hissy fit. I would not have left only on the say-so of a manager with a name badge. They never produced (or were asked for) their admission media, and I found it a little odd that they wouldn't tell me who they were after I identified myself to them. The white male also had what appeared to be an earpiece, with the wire running into his messenger bag. That never entered the discussion, and I don't even know if [the manager] saw it.

So, on one hand, I may have witnessed Disney removing known paparazzi from the park after a celebrity event. On the other hand, I may have witnessed a Disney representative threatening perfectly innocent day guests with arrest for refusing to leave the park after a middle-management dweeb with a name badge told them that they couldn't have a "professional" camera in the park, without producing some policy to that effect.

And it all comes back around to the "what is the policy, and why don't they communicate / consistantly enforce it?" If they were trying to enforce the "no commercial photography" rule (which is barely stated anywhere a guest could actually see it), then there were certainly enough people there who saw me and who know exactly who I am that I should have been target #1.

If there is some new enforcement of the vague policy against professional equipment, and not just commercial use of photos taken, then how do they define that word? I know amateurs who have MUCH better equiment than do I, and I only use my "good" camera when I'm attending an event with other media. The rest of the time I shoot my pocket Casio, which is arguably a better camera than my D100 for most purposes. So a known professional / media photographer with a tiny camera goes unscathed while someone purporting to be a day guest with a hobby camera gets kicked out - 9 hours after first clearing bag check.



What constitues as a Pro-camera?

As mentioned above, I carry a small Casio digital camera that fits in my pocket. With that camera, I've photographed falling trees, falling construction walls, the Big Thunder Mountain accident scene, the Disneyland Hotel suicide scene, and, most recently, Kobe Bryant (http://mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/79244-2/KobeBryant-092208-AVP.JPG) at Disneyland.

My friend has amazing professional-grade equipment. With that equipment, he's photographed his baby.

Which of us should Disney be more concerned about? I completely understand that Disney is likely trying to deal with this issue before it becomes a REAL problem for them, but I would prefer that they deal with the unwanted behaviour instead of banning the equipment. If they're having problems with papparazzi trampling bushes and jumping fences, then they need to remove those disruptive people.

AVP

Darkbeer
10-01-2008, 07:00 PM
A reminder, there is the Bag Check, and then the Security officers.

As I understand it, it is a "Security" issue, and that there is a decent chance that you would be stopped in the parks with a "Large" lens, even if you get it past the bag check!

houseofmouse
10-01-2008, 07:11 PM
No offense but this is the dumbest thing I have ever heard! I have a Cannon Rebel Digital and while I usually don't have my long lens on, if they try to say I cannot even bring my camera in there will be one irritated Mouse.:mad: My regular lens is just 3 1/2 inches, so I am sure I will be okay. As often as there are no celebrities at Disney is this truly the truth or are they afraid of regular people selling pics of their park and not making money???

jenniebean
10-01-2008, 07:45 PM
:( I spent my summer in a summer school class for photography & was looking forward to putting everything I learned to use in Disneyland, since that's where most of my favorite photos come from.

ChurroGirl
10-01-2008, 08:06 PM
This whole situation just seems a tad foggy! I am going to assume that the statements were made for the lenses. Disney can't go telling people that we cant bring in our cameras to take nice family, vacation, etc. pictures.
Its just obsurd!

Again, what is the profile for a professional camera! AVP can take fantastic photos with her Casio and people can take fantastic photos with their procameras. So what are we to do?

I am going this weekend for 4 days. I am taking my Canon and I will have to report back as to what happens to me, if they let me pass with out a second glance or something else!

Andrew
10-01-2008, 09:36 PM
I am taking my Canon and I will have to report back as to what happens to me, if they let me pass with out a second glance or something else!
As always, if "bag check" denies you entry for any reason, turn around and wait ten minutes before trying again through another line. Odds are you'll get through with no problem.

ChurroGirl
10-01-2008, 09:47 PM
I have never had a problem before, but with this new issue arrising who knows!
We usually put it in a plastic bag wrapped in a towel so you cant even see it!

adriennek
10-01-2008, 10:02 PM
As mentioned above, I carry a small Casio digital camera that fits in my pocket. With that camera, I've photographed falling trees, falling construction walls, the Big Thunder Mountain accident scene, the Disneyland Hotel suicide scene, and, most recently, Kobe Bryant (http://mouseplanet.info/gallery/d/79244-2/KobeBryant-092208-AVP.JPG) at Disneyland.

My friend has amazing professional-grade equipment. With that equipment, he's photographed his baby.

And other people's adorable children, by request. ;)

Here's my ? - 6" retracted or extended? I don't have a professional camera. I have a Nikon D80. We have spent a boatload of money on a "nice" lens. It is not a professional lens. It's a very good wide-angle to zoom lens but it is NOT professional.

And yes, I take pictures of ... my kids. :eek: IMAGINE THAT!

Adrienne

AVP
10-01-2008, 10:19 PM
Here's my ? - 6" retracted or extended? I don't have a professional camera. I have a Nikon D80. We have spent a boatload of money on a "nice" lens. It is not a professional lens. It's a very good wide-angle to zoom lens but it is NOT professional.None of my lenses are over 6" retracted, so I'm not too worried. 6" is the length of a dollar bill, so it's easy to check.

AVP

silence
10-01-2008, 10:20 PM
And other people's adorable children, by request. ;)

Here's my ? - 6" retracted or extended? I don't have a professional camera. I have a Nikon D80. We have spent a boatload of money on a "nice" lens. It is not a professional lens. It's a very good wide-angle to zoom lens but it is NOT professional.

And yes, I take pictures of ... my kids. :eek: IMAGINE THAT!

Adrienne

TOTALLY my question right now.....I just bought a Canon 40d and got the zoom lens. I really had looked forward to using it at the parks on our upcoming trip!

TTFN92
10-01-2008, 10:54 PM
Which of us should Disney be more concerned about? I completely understand that Disney is likely trying to deal with this issue before it becomes a REAL problem for them, but I would prefer that they deal with the unwanted behaviour instead of banning the equipment. If they're having problems with papparazzi trampling bushes and jumping fences, then they need to remove those disruptive people.

AVP

This is exactly what I was thinking. I think they are using the wrong tactic to try to fix the problems with the paparazzi. There is such a small percentage of people who have a long lens on their camera who are going to cause problems. They are hurting so many people trying to deal with a select few.

BTW, what happened with Lindsey Lohan?

Burnt Toast
10-01-2008, 11:46 PM
I'm curious to know what exactly happened during this Lindsay Lohan debacle.

jenniebean
10-01-2008, 11:50 PM
Perez Hilton (http://perezhilton.com/category/lindsay-lohan/) pretty much picks up EVERY celeb debacle, & I've seen nothing recently about Lohan at Disneyland.

Unless this was a while ago?

Burnt Toast
10-02-2008, 12:10 AM
Uh...

http://perezhilton.com/2008-09-25-celesbians-love-mickey

It's right there on the link you posted. :P

jenniebean
10-02-2008, 12:15 AM
Uh...

http://perezhilton.com/2008-09-25-celesbians-love-mickey

It's right there on the link you posted. :P

Oh God... this is how lazy I've become. I can't even scroll down a web page I'm linking! Not only that, but this is how behind on my Perez reading, too!

Who's ready to start sending angry letters about paparazzi & celebrities messing with everyday people's lives (a la Brittany & the LAPD during her freak outs)?

ETA: We can mail them with the cute new Disney stamps just released :D