Commentary

Disney Bans Selfie Sticks

The Mouse has spoken.

The Walt Disney Company has banned selfie sticks at all its parks, including Disney World in Orlando, the company announced over the weekend. The Orlando Sentinel first reported the news.

The entertainment giant was moved to ban the silly-looking devices because of safety concerns, as theme park visitors had been using selfie sticks on roller coasters and other rides, presenting all sorts of mangling-related liability issues: even when not in use, the sticks could come loose during rides, and longer sticks might also be able to reach mechanical equipment, creating real potential for human and machine damage.  Disney also cited safety concerns among “cast members” at the parks.

Previously the sticks had only been prohibited on rides, but the new policy bans them throughout the parks. Disney already checks the bags of everyone entering the park; anyone with a selfie stick will be asked either to return it to their car or hotel room, or leave it in a locker and pick it up when they leave the park.

Disney is serious about the ban. On June 24, theme park employees shut down the California Screamin’ roller coaster in Disneyland’s California Adventure section after they spotted one of the riders using a selfie stick. Passengers had to leave the ride and the vehicles returned to the station. The roller coaster was out of service for an hour.

I never thought I’d say this, but: thank God for Disney, the voice of reason!

1 comment about "Disney Bans Selfie Sticks".
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  1. Dominic Mancuso from Broadcasting Consultant, June 30, 2015 at 11:56 a.m.

    Not to mention it was cutting into sales of those grossly overpriced pictures they sell after many rides as well as those from their roving photogs.

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