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POVs/On-Ride Videos

What do you think about recording video on theme park rides?

From Formula 40
Posted August 17, 2010 at 12:35 PM
Should guests 17+ be required to sign waivers in order to record POV or On-Ride videos? Should any form of video recording be banned in all theme/amusement parks? Should companies provide videos on their websites?


Comments in chronological order. Most recent at the bottom. Scroll down to respond.

From Bob Miller
Posted August 17, 2010 at 1:15 PM
I don't think so on a regular day but each themepark should have a time where you are allowed to film on rides. If it's on a regular day someone could get hurt if you drop the camera

From M. Ryan Traylor
Posted August 17, 2010 at 1:55 PM
Technically any on-ride POV video recording during a ride without permission is against most parks' policies. I also believe that it is against TPI's policies, and Robert can back me up. That's why you don't see them posted here.

The only videos that are on-ride that are posted here are done with permission and on media days. This allows for proper rigging of equipment that will provide a safe experience for the riders and reporters.

Parks should not allow any regular guest to record a POV. It's going to happen anyway. But parks should still post their properly recording POVs. I love watching them. And they are better with a stable image and not some schmuck bouncing around and screaming for their life.

From Formula 40
Posted August 17, 2010 at 6:38 PM
I think all major theme parks should provide on-ride videos on their websites. They wouldn't have to worry as much about guests bringing their camcorders on the rides. If they do, it's on them if they drop it. If your unsure if you can handle the different intensities/speed changes/dips/drops on the rides, then don't be an idiot and take the risk of damaging or dropping the cameras. Unfortunately some theme park guests tend to be idiots.

From steve lee
Posted August 17, 2010 at 7:52 PM
Actually, if someone can't hold onto their camera during a coaster, it's not "on them." It's potentially on other riders or other park guests...

I've no objections to people shooting video on dark rides or relatively tame coasters (I've shot plenty of Disney stuff and low-intensity coasters). Heck, even Robert has posted onride/POV on dark rides (on the TPI Youtube page, which you need a map and compass to find around here). But adult sized coasters? Leave the camera in the locker. Leave the video taking to the professionals (using professional camera mounts, not a roll of duct tape!).

Oh, and if you shoot video on a dark ride, NO ONBOARD LIGHTING. Get a camera that can push up the grain or give it up. And leave the lame nightvision stuff to the ghosthunter shows. No one wants to watch it's a small world through a green filter...

From Bradley Keith
Posted August 19, 2010 at 2:29 PM
I have seen signs not allowing it on Cedar Fair park rides including fines. People taping it could really hurt someone taping if they drop the camera.

From Pyra Dong
Posted August 19, 2010 at 6:47 PM
Yeeeh, technically they're not allowed on rides... and I don't think signing a waver will help. Anybody can sign a waver and it's still possible to drop the camera on some poor dude below. (I've heard horror stories of flying cell phones/keys/cameras narrowly missing people's heads) Then who would get sued? The person who signed the waver? You know that's not what's gonna happen.

Heh heh, on a side note; I would LOVE to record my own POV for memorial purposes, but I'm so scared to drop my camera... which is like my 3rd arm.

From Jorge Arnoldson
Posted August 19, 2010 at 7:55 PM
That actually spoils the experience for people wanting to ride/see what was being taped.

From TH Creative
Posted August 20, 2010 at 5:04 PM
"Sign waivers?" Really?

From Formula 40
Posted August 20, 2010 at 7:30 PM
Lol @ TH....I heard someone say that and was like, wow how would that even work?

From Tony Duda
Posted August 21, 2010 at 1:55 PM
So if I sign a waiver, and then I drop my camera, and then it smashes into the head of another guest, then that guest would only sue me and not the park because I signed a waiver. And if I am a poor dead-beat with no money, then that other guest is out of luck and has to pay for all the medical bills themselves.

Yeah, waivers are great and enforceable.

From Formula 40
Posted August 21, 2010 at 6:18 PM
^^Yup, basically. If you bring a camera onto a big ride, you better know what you're doing.

From Robert Niles
Posted August 24, 2010 at 9:49 AM
FWIW, I long ago established a no-POV policy on Theme Park Insider. Basically, if you had to violate a park safety policy to get a photo or video, I don't want to post it on the site.

(I also have a "no freebie" policy where I won't accept parks paying for my travel or lodging to attend media events, nor will I accept free passes for park admission on other days when there's no media event going on. From what I can tell, Theme Park Insider is one of the few theme park news websites with both of these policies. Hey, I run things a bit differently than others do.)

So the POV videos we have are ones that were taken on parks' media days, when they equip coasters with special cameras, to take POV, or were taken with the explicit permission of park management.

Ideally, parks would post POV video of their top rides on YouTube, for use by fans and Web publishers (such as TPI). Cedar Point and Holiday World are *excellent* about doing this BTW. The SeaWorld parks have posted edited POV - I'd love to see full versions, though. And I'd love to see other parks follow with POV online, as well.

From rick stevens
Posted August 24, 2010 at 11:25 AM
It would be great if all parks posted HD POV's of their rides. The ones taken by amateurs with a camcorder are just hard to watch. Too jumpy and way too much "Look at me!" footage.

From Formula 40
Posted August 24, 2010 at 8:17 PM
^^I'd appreciate that greatly. I enjoy watching POVs and I've seen some really good ones from regular users on Youtube.

From Marco Trevino
Posted August 25, 2010 at 10:43 AM
Hey Formula 40 you can see my videos on You Tube, just search maco173

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