At the time I marveled that these were now ten years old--and I remember parking in the lot when it was brand new. Just as I took this photo, however, a Security Cast Member in a patrol unit approached me (well, he stopped a ways away and shouted through a rolled-down window) and told me photography was not permitted there. Since that statement didn't make any sense, my first reaction was to question why that was. As I evaluated the possible responses, I thought "security" or "because I said so" would be what I'd get, so I complied and continued walking. I brought this up to appropriate people, who agreed there is no blanket prohibition of photography there. I wonder what secrets are hidden in this Pinocchio sign that are waiting to be discovered?
Monday, April 21, 2008
The Photo Disneyland Doesn't Want You to See
After returning from a successful thesaurus networking trip (perhaps the first time such words were ever uttered), I'm still trying to catch up on, well, everything. The following photograph was taken Thursday morning in the Pinocchio parking lot. After parking in the structure (which I always do with much regret), I planned to walk to Downtown Disney. I snapped a couple photos of the Pinocchio lot from the structure itself, then one of the structure from the lot, and then this one of the parking marker.
At the time I marveled that these were now ten years old--and I remember parking in the lot when it was brand new. Just as I took this photo, however, a Security Cast Member in a patrol unit approached me (well, he stopped a ways away and shouted through a rolled-down window) and told me photography was not permitted there. Since that statement didn't make any sense, my first reaction was to question why that was. As I evaluated the possible responses, I thought "security" or "because I said so" would be what I'd get, so I complied and continued walking. I brought this up to appropriate people, who agreed there is no blanket prohibition of photography there. I wonder what secrets are hidden in this Pinocchio sign that are waiting to be discovered?
At the time I marveled that these were now ten years old--and I remember parking in the lot when it was brand new. Just as I took this photo, however, a Security Cast Member in a patrol unit approached me (well, he stopped a ways away and shouted through a rolled-down window) and told me photography was not permitted there. Since that statement didn't make any sense, my first reaction was to question why that was. As I evaluated the possible responses, I thought "security" or "because I said so" would be what I'd get, so I complied and continued walking. I brought this up to appropriate people, who agreed there is no blanket prohibition of photography there. I wonder what secrets are hidden in this Pinocchio sign that are waiting to be discovered?
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21 comments:
Weird incident! "Security" would have been a lame excuse that I wouldn't buy, "because I said so" is kinda hard to argue however.
When I left DL at Christmas it was so packed the CM's ushered me to the exit behind main street (west side) I started taking pictures like crazy, in about 15 seconds I was told "no photo's please" by a nice female CM. She must have seen my flash, heck she is in one of my pictures! I 1/2 expected them to confiscate my camera at the exit gate.
HEY, I was there Thursday too! Nice day huh?
Security probably has vague instructions about photography of "sensitive areas" because of a legitimate concern about criminal intent/terrorism. The problem here is that some people do not take the classic shot of Aunt Tessie and Uncle Bert in front of the Castle, and rather than discretely watching you for a few minutes, they just went to default "authoritarian" mode.
The sad thing is, websites like Google Earth have made a lot of the Disney inner workings available, so even photographing patently sensitive features (like the wire barricades and security pavilions) is really moot.
-Katella Gate
Is the Pinocchio lot Disney property? I don't believe the Mickey and Friends structure is. Isn't it Anaheim property? Can't be sure but it seems I heard that somewhere...
Maybe hidden in the sign is the plans for the Small World Rehab that the Imagineers stop by to pick up. The sign is the secret location....
Or maybe the security guard was having a bad day and just wanted you to keep walking?
This is strange. I always take a picture of the parking lot sign near my car at the ball park or the theme park or whatever. This tends to help me, um, REMEMBER WHERE I PARKED.
In Disney World parking lots they TELL you as you get on the tram to take a picture of your sign so that you can find your car.
the most likely scenario is that it's an overzealous security person who is making up new rules as he goes along and randomly decided to give you a scare. because he's such a big tough security guard.
To my knowledge, it isn't explicitly banned, though as other commenters have said, it is most likely out of a security concern. Another incident that has happened to one of my friends is that he was shooting pictures with a professional DSLR while wearing professional-looking attire and security asked him to stop because it looked like he was taking commercial photography, which the park prohibits without prior permission.
I tend to agree with George, who suggests that you might have looked like you were taking commercial photography... I've worked Disney and known a lot of Disney people in the past and cast members are always encouraged to help people take pictures, not the other way around.
To respond to a few of the comments... I was using a digital SLR, though if the Security Cast Member took any time to notice details (my very casual attire, taking no time to at all to really set up shots, using one of the cheapest DSLRs...) it would be plain I wasn't after revenue producing photos! While I really do not believe he stopped me because of such concerns, if he did, he sure didn't communicate it well!
If I had more time, or believed the Cast Member was enforcing a real policy and not acting with his own discretion, I might have asked to see a supervisor for clarification. Since I didn't really care about the parking lot photos myself, I kept walking.
I found the whole thing rather humorous. I'm quite non-threatening and generally a rule-follower. In all my years of visiting and working at the Park, this was the first time anybody at any time asked me to stop photographing something!
Casual attire? A cheap Digital SLR?
Sounds to me the classic outfit of a terrorist, everyone knows that regular digital/phone camera shots are no good for terrorism so I think you fit the bill perfectly.
I hope the FBI are tracking your IP address and kicking your door down shortly to keep us all safe!
Personally, I do this sort of thing because its damn near impossible to remember where I left the car. Take a photo of the nearest labelled pole and its trivial, at the end of the long tired day.
If Disney started banning this sort of thing, I'd be demanding (from customer service) some sort of car marker that solved that problem before I paid for my admission.
Just to respond to those of you talking about forgetting where your car is. You ARE allowed, in fact, encouraged to take your parking ticket with you, and use it to circle the area and aisle where you parked. You do not have to leave the ticket on your dashboard.
YOU'VE BEEN BOINGBOINGED!
How will I remember where I parked my car? I always do this to keep track. Ridiculous.
Does Pinocchio's nose seem a tad long in that image? Maybe you're not really where you think you are and that sign is a subliminal message to let you know that you've been lied to.
You're lucky you're not in the slammer now, young man. Kids like you are nothing but trouble.
So, were you able to report the security drone to management? Did you get a response? I notice this was over a year ago. Has this happened to anyone else since?
I have had several different problems with security after taking photos inside the park after getting permission from security that it was okay. There are a lot of inconsistancies with security. :/
I own one of these signs... it is authenticated and I have the paperwork...anyone interested...post back here if you are.
They have one it's called your parking ticket. You Mark on it where you parked and take it with you.
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