Parkwide Bans on Selfie Sticks Coming to Disney Theme Parks Next Week

June 25, 2015, 9:37 PM · Updated throughout: Friday, Jun 26, 9am

The Walt Disney theme parks will ban selfie sticks throughout its theme parks starting next week, the company confirmed Friday.

No Selfie Sticks
Photo via Yvette

Disney has a long-standing policy against the use of selfie sticks on its attractions, but the new ban would extend (no pun intended) to all areas inside the parks. "Selfie sticks have become a growing safety concern for both our guests and cast," a Disney spokesperson said.

The ban will go into effect at the Disneyland and Walt Disney World Resorts on Tuesday, June 30. Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland also will being banning the sticks by July 1. Wednesday at Disney California Adventure, operators shut down and evacuated the California Screamin' after finding a guest with a selfie stick on that roller coaster.

In a comment on our report about that incident, a reader who said that s/he was a former Universal Orlando team member questioned Disney's commitment to enforcing in-park restrictions such as a selfie stick ban. "The root of the problem is Disney, where they let guests get away with anything. They don't check children's heights, are lax about seating rules, and allow you to bring whatever loose articles on a ride. Just try to ride Pirates without someone taking flash photos or dipping their hands in the water. Did you know that Disney control booth operator can't spiel to guests for fear of 'bad show?' No wonder they're having PR problems being the 'bad guy' and enforcing rules now."

Another person raised concerns that tripods and other photography accessories would be included in the selfie stick ban:

Many other tourist attractions around the world, including the Smithsonian, the Palace of Versailles, and the Colosseum in Rome have banned selfie sticks on their grounds.

Update: And there's this:

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Replies (18)

June 26, 2015 at 12:16 AM · Good. I can't stand those things.
June 26, 2015 at 1:07 AM · Personally I think it's a good call. Selfie-sticks are a selfish craze that breeds thoughtlessness and impacts negatively on other park users. Time for folks to grow up and stop being so narcissistic!
June 26, 2015 at 2:14 AM · David couldn't agree more, sometimes the rudeness of some people spoil what was a brilliant day, hope this translates to all the other parks including Universal
June 26, 2015 at 3:21 AM · The Former Univeral Orlando team member is very immaculate about their comments on Disney with heights checks and loose items. I have gone with my kids over a dozen times in the past 10 years and their heights were always checked, always. We were always asked to stow loose items on rides. Sometimes you will get a person who doesn't follow the rules. It's not Disneys fault that there is an idiot on board.
June 26, 2015 at 4:13 AM · At first blush it ses a bit over-the-top. Wondering if there have been multiple occurrences in non-ride locations that have forced the hand of park operators.
June 26, 2015 at 7:49 AM · Great decision. Selfie Sticks are both a danger to others and an annoyance. If you want a picture of yourself, take a normal selfie or ask someone to take a picture of you.
June 26, 2015 at 8:00 AM · There are some trends that just need to be killed before they pollute the whole world, and this is one of them. It's narcissism run amok, not to mention crappy photography and news feed pollution. Add to that the thoughtless and inconsiderate trying to bring them on rides, walking by as if the signs that prohibit them don't exist. I say don't stop with confiscation or ban. Anyone caught with one should be lashed with it 25 times or until it breaks...whichever happens last.

Two thumbs up to Disney for not only looking out for their park guests and the overall atmosphere and safety, but also for taking the lead in the destruction of one of the worst American fads in history.

June 26, 2015 at 8:32 AM · Would this rule also apply to equipment for small video cameras, such as a GoPro with a pole mount?
June 26, 2015 at 8:37 AM · Wow. I knew selfie sticks were a nuisance, but I didn't realize they were enough of a nuisance to get banned from parks entirely!

Just as the old saying goes: "It only takes a few bad apples to ruin the whole bunch."

June 26, 2015 at 9:09 AM · While I am not a big fan of selfies at the best of time I can't help but wonder how much of this decision, although the correct one, comes down to people not using Disney photographers to get their pictures. As was mentioned in the article I don't remember my son ever being checked for height requirements any of the times we went to Disney, Universal checked but I don't remember any checks at WDW.
June 26, 2015 at 9:46 AM ·
June 26, 2015 at 1:50 PM · Forget Avatar Land/MK hub renovations/Disney Springs/Soarin & Toy Story MM expansions/anything else they have coming to the parks, THIS is the best decision they've made in ages!! Fingers crossed that Universal soon follow suit!
June 26, 2015 at 9:17 PM · They're just banning Selfie Stick Pro to secure safeness inside the park. :)
June 27, 2015 at 5:30 AM · I've never used a selfie stick, but the last time I was in the park I saw them everywhere. One advantage I noticed, was that I wouldn't accidentally wander into people's photos when they were taking a picture.
The selfie-stick extends a few feet away from the person taking the picture, and you have a physical barrier (the stick) preventing you from getting into the shot.
When you get somebody else to take the picture, they go out seven meters across the walking path, and other park patrons inadvertently keep walking through the picture, or stand there on the path looking stupid, while the photographer fumbles and the camera, trying to get it to click.
I'm not a fan of the selfie craze (awful pictures: "Here's an overly vain picture of my head blocking out someplace cool I visited") but I really didn't hate the selfie stick.
Too bad stupid people ruined it for those that used them responsibly.
June 27, 2015 at 12:36 PM · I think would be a nice idea to explain in the maps that people can ask a cast member to take photos, specially to help foreign newcomers that don't know this. I am brazilian and my sister has been to Disney world twice, she doesn't know english nor that she could ask a cast member, so she start using a self stick to take the photos.
June 28, 2015 at 8:28 AM · Personally, I think this is a bad idea. Especially because Go Pro Cameras, which give a unique view of the park with its fisheye lens, really need something to sit on.

To me, I did not see this any different than your arm, You can't stick your arm out of a ride, why a stick?

I think it is terrible they are getting rid of it because of rude guests. There is plenty going on in the parks that I take issue with.

That being said, they seem more out of control at Disneyland.

June 28, 2015 at 8:59 AM · The claims made by the "Former Universal" employee in the above article are not true in the least. I can tell you from experience that Disney ride/attraction operators are not forbidden from stopping or threatening to stop an attraction whenever a park guest attempts to break the rules.

One late evening I was THE ONLY rider on Star Tours in Walt Disneyworld and tried to take some still photos of the pilot and screen...lights came on and the effects stopped as the operator reminded me that photos were not permitted and if I persisted that the ride would be stopped completely.

Another time at Disneyland, I was going to attempt video filming on the Indiana Jones Adventure and the cast member loading us on the ride noticed, and forced me to turn it off and pack it all away before he would release the ride vehicle.

Disney does whatever it can to enforce the rules they've mandated. I've reported on smokers performing their filthy habit outside of designated areas (should be NO designated areas in my opinion, smoke at home or in your car) and security and cast members in most cases have no problem walking up to individuals and informing them that they can be removed from the parks.

The problem isn't really with selfie-sticks, it's that there are a high percentage of people who USE selfie sticks who lack any common sense on when it's appropriate to use one. This is akin to the people who like to climb up on thin railings over Niagara Falls for that "perfect photo" only to lose their balance and well become part of this famous attraction in a way they never dreamed (This actually happened in recent years)

Why a former Universal employee would be commenting on Disney security and enforcement of procedures is a laugh anyway. You see more people smoking throughout the Universal parks freely than anywhere else.

I've been going to Disney almost every year since I was 28 years old, and I can assure you that every ride loader does a thorough check to ensure that every seat belt is tight and secure, monitoring the sensors on each ride vehicle. But you can never underestimate the stupidity of an individual. If someone tries to stand up on a seated water ride, or put their hands in the water of Pirates of the Caribbean when logic suggests that there are hundreds of moving belts and gears and guides that are under the water surface, they are going to hurt themselves.

Safety is a religion to all Disney Cast Members, particularly those in charge of running the various attractions.

It's unfortunate that the "stupid" selfie stick users are cause of a park-wide ban, but Disney has to proceed with the notion that there are more of these people, than the ones with common sense. That's why they are constantly telling people to keep moving, use up all available space, and not to block entrances and exits...because common sense is not so common anymore!

June 28, 2015 at 2:10 PM · I don't think common sense was ever that common in the first place...

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