On-Ride Filming Spurs Controversy
Securing the cameraWhen you visit Cedar Point, and you are in line for a ride on the ride platform, you often hear announcements from the ride operators, saying “The use of cell phones and cameras are strictly prohibited on this ride and all rides here at Cedar Point.” You might think to yourself, “Well, why is this a big deal?” Most of the Cedar Fair parks, including Cedar Point, have a policy that prohibits guests from taking on-ride photos or videos on any of the rides. Here is the rundown on why Cedar Point takes this policy so seriously.
Annie Zelm, Marketing Programs Representative at Cedar Point, explained that Cedar Point’s policy is clear regarding on-ride photos or videos. The key objective of this policy is safety reasons. Keeping their guests safe is Cedar Point’s most important responsibility. This policy, which is posted outside the entrance to every ride, and is also stated clearly in the announcements on every ride platform, prohibits riders from bringing loose articles on the ride because of the hazard they pose to other guests if they are not secured. Cameras, cell phones, or other devices are all categorized as loose articles; therefore, they are not permitted on any ride at Cedar Point.
Unfortunately, some guests still manage to violate Cedar Point’s policy, and this is why you sometimes come across photos or videos on YouTube or elsewhere online that were taken from rides at Cedar Point without the park’s permission. While you may think, “Oh, I can easily pull my phone or camera out once we leave the station,” and some guests do manage to get off of the ride with having successfully taken on-ride photos and videos, keep in mind that Cedar Point’s ride operators are trained to watch for guests who may be holding loose articles. If the ride operators notice someone pulling a phone or camera from their pocket once the train leaves the station, they can stop the ride right on the lift hill, and they will walk up to you and ask you to put your camera away. Or, they may even take it away from you and hold on to it until the ride is over. This is an inconvenience for the staff, the other guests on the train, and the guests in the ride’s queue line because the ride is delayed, due to one guest who has to violate the park’s policy by trying to take on-ride photos and video. So, it would be best to comply with this simple policy.
The policy applies to everyone. The only time that Cedar Point permits on-ride photos or video is when their marketing staff is taking them or when they are working with the media. As a side note, no member of the media is permitted to take photos or video without making these arrangements with the park. The park has to take special precautions in these circumstances as well.
© Cedar PointIf you are following Tony Clark, Digital Communications Manager at Cedar Point and also known as “The Communications Guy”, on Twitter (@TonyClarkCP), you may have seen behind-the-scenes photos of the park filming on-ride POVs for guests to enjoy via Cedar Point’s YouTube channel. In the behind-the-scenes photos on Twitter, you may have noticed that the park uses GoPro cameras to film the on-ride videos, and these cameras are secured to the trains. Now, if you own a GoPro camera, like me, you may think, “If Cedar Point uses a GoPro camera, then why can’t I use my GoPro on the rides? I have my own chest harness or other mounts that I can use to secure the camera.” Well, that is because even when the Cedar Point staff films on-ride videos for their guests to enjoy, they use camera mounts that have been inspected by their safety personnel. It is not possible for the park’s safety personnel to inspect guests’ cameras and mounts before they can use them on the rides. It is also not necessary, because the park staff already works hard to film HD on-ride POVs for their guests to enjoy. In addition, when the staff takes this on-ride footage, they do it before the park opens to ensure that no guests are in the area.
Cedar Point often invites coaster enthusiast club members to participate in early-morning photo shoots for major media outlets. Some of our CP Rundown staff members have attended these events in the past. The photo shoots are a good opportunity to see all the safety precautions that Cedar Point takes before they will ever allow a train to run with a camera, even if there’s no one in the car.
© Cedar PointI hope I've clearly explained Cedar Point’s policy regarding on-ride photos or videos, emphasizing that the park’s most important concern is the safety of their guests. I hope I have encouraged you to not be the one guest who has to try and sneak an on-ride photo or video. If you happen to not get stopped by a ride operator, you are risking the chance of endangering other guests and the ride because you could possibly drop the phone or camera during the ride. If a ride operator does catch you, the ride will probably be stopped, the ride operator will walk up to you, ask you to put your camera away, or they will take it from you and hold on to it until the ride is over, and you will delay the ride for not only yourself, but the other guests who are on your train and the guests who are in the queue line waiting to ride. So, let’s all be good ride warriors and follow Cedar Point’s policy regarding on-ride photos and video, and don’t take out your phone or camera to film video or take photos on the rides at Cedar Point.
By Jordan Smith