Camera ban - does this apply just on rides or around the whole park?

[RJDG14]

Hello, I'll be visiting Thorpe Park tomorrow and need to know quickly (in the next few hours) whether the ban on "cameras and phones on rides" which know exists at the majority of theme parks run by Merlin applies just to while on the rides, or does it extend to the whole park (lets say photographing a ride, family photo or attraction from the ground)? It would be good to have an answer as soon as possible...

[Coaster]

You cannot use cameras or phones on rides, but you can use them off rides and in queuelines.

[darkadder312]

Yet people still go on rides with GoPro's.

[RJDG14]

Okay, that's all I needed to know. That was what I was guessing in that the ban only applies on rides  . It's probably due to health and safety.

[Coaster]

Yet people still go on rides with GoPro's.

They're not allowed to though.

[darkadder312]

They're not allowed to though.

I know they are not allowed but people still use them. Also another reason why they don't like people doing Pov's as they want you to buy their own Pov video on DVD.

[pluk]

Okay, that's all I needed to know. That was what I was guessing in that the ban only applies on rides . It's probably due to health and safety.

That's absolutely the reason and also means you can actually fim and photograph on rides which wouldn't present such a risk, such as the carousel and rumba rapids.

[dragon2000]

They dispatched a Stealth train with at least two people holding their phones up recording. Face palm - how can 3 members of staff not notice?

[Worthy9992]

On stealth ones the pre launch starts the only way to stop would be to estop the ride at that would make more problems. Unless they had they phones up before it started?

[dragon2000]

Yep, pretty much as soon as they sat down they had them up in the air. Operator was head down, on the phone and filling out paperwork while launching...

[THORPE PARK]

Hi dragon2000, do you have the time and date of this incident?

[Altitude]

I see it a lot on Youtube... Surely it's obvious when they hold their camera/phone about the height of the seat in front of them?

[dragon2000]

Hi dragon2000, do you have the time and date of this incident?

 

Was this past Sunday (14th). I think it was between 2-4pm after our lunch had gone down! Just want to avoid being hit in the face by mobiles on Stealth...

[pognoi]

Should see the amount of E-Stops they do on the big one at blackpool. At least 3 for cameras on the day we went, and on the nickelodeon ride we saw a couple guys go round waving their phones about. It's frustrating because they're the reason people with proper equipment can't film. Many know I have a collection of GoPro's and extremely secure restraints and straps for them, but I'm not allowed to film, and I reckon it's at least partially due to events like this.

[Project LC]

The reason you cant use GoPros is because it requires the health and saftey inspector to check it off. To prevent him/her from always checking peoples cameras they just impose a full on ban. 

[ashleyrose-66]

I went on Stealth a few weeks ago, and about halfway up, we noticed an iPhone in mid-air.

 

Yep, someone had obviously tried to film a little memento of their ride and had obviously lost their grip. 

He was making a bit of a song and dance about it as the ride came to a stop...

 

The fact is, it could have smashed someone in the face.  Not cool.

[Whatever]

I don't know if they were filming, but I was watching Vortex from quite a distance (say near Rush) and I just saw a little rectangle go 'weeeeeee'- splat! into the lake. Serves them right if they were filming.

[Kerfuffle]

It must be hilarious to see someone lose their phone on Rush! They lose their grip on their phone while facing upwards...and then you watch as they claw frantically at the air trying to reclaim the airborne phone!

[Whatever]

Maybe people should put parachutes on their phones to slow them down when they're dropped!

[Kerfuffle]

Parachutes bearing the Merlin logo when opened!

[pognoi]

that would be genius! No more cracked screens, no more camera bans... LETS FUND THIS

[Kerfuffle]

Maybe Thorpe can start charging £10 or something for a parachute? (one use per ride)

[TraX]

Before everyone gets blasted, remember that not everyone is filming. Phones, glasses (and false teeth) can easily come out of pockets that guests believe to be secure.

I agree that it's pointless filming a ride when there's no doubt some kind of official HD POV available on the net, but please be grown up about pointing the finger.

[pluk]

People who don't heed the warnings about items in pockets are just as bad though? Stupid and dangerous thing to do, whether deliberate or just through lack of brain.

[TraX]

I've seen a false leg come off on Stealth. I'm sure that the guy who lost it was sure that it was secured.

[pluk]

That one sounds a bit exceptional! Having said that, what is the official line with prosthetics? Something that size and weight could probably kill someone flying through the air, surely they should be removed before riding? They must remove them on inverters? Can't just allow danger because of a disability.

After that double amputee fatality in the states there must be guidance, even with otsr restraints.