Flickr: Discussing Disney Prohibits Certain Cameras in Rate My: Disney Shot (Add One, Rate 5 – Read the Rules!)

I also read about this in a post on micechat.com.  Here’s the info from that post:

Due to some issues with Paparazzi on September 25th, when Lindsay Lohen and her girlfriend showed up at Disneyland, Disney Security and Bag Checkers are trying to prevent a similar event from happening in the future.

The current policy is that you cannot bring in “long lenses”, which seems to be lenses longer than 6 inches in length into the parks. Of course, it is a new policy, and can be adjusted at any time, but I was stopped and asked multiple times at bag check this week if I had any “long lenses” for my camera. So plan accordingly.

This appears to be a Disneyland-only policy for now.  I understand Disney’s position in relation to the privacy of its guests; however, I think this is an extreme measure.  Yes, there is a proliferation of DSLRs because of lower prices and no film developing costs, but I do not believe it is fair to punish the many for the few.

Instead, Security and the Cast Members should reprimand the offenders as they see the photographers invading someone’s privacy.  Yes, with a zoom lens, Security and the CMs may not be able to catch the offenders, but if Disney’s going to have celebrities come into the park, they should increase security appropriately to weed out these people.  In addition, the celebrities have to understand that they’re going to a place where everyone has a camera of some sort.  So they should either not go, or else realize that someone is going to take their picture.

I can also understand Disney prohibiting extremely long lenses for safety reasons, but an 18-200mm lens should definitely be allowed.

The “problem” with people bringing in DSLRs and zoom lenses will only get worse for Disney as prices continue to fall and more and more “average” people (“Joe Six-Packs” to quote our eloquent future VP) bring in DSLRs instead of the point-and-shoots (which also have zoom lenses).  I wonder how long this new rule will be enforced.  Hopefully not long..