Credit: Greg Dunlap, Flickr; Video Screenshot, TIkTok, @eljojo100A Disneyland Resort cast member recently enforced an unusual filming ban on Disney Park guests.
In recent years, filming and live streaming have become a controversial practice at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort. Most Disney Parks fans don’t have a problem with guests recording memories for their families. However, the increasing presence of flash video on dark rides and social media content creators recording loud voice-overs on quiet attractions has caused some to ask the parks to crack down on filming.
In some respects, Disney has listened. Earlier this month, Disneyland Park instituted a “hands-free” policy on the Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway attraction. Signs in the queue warn guests that all personal items, including cell phones, must be stowed away before the ride can begin. Trackless attractions like Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway and Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance often break down due to personal items dropped in the ride path, so it’s not surprising that Disneyland Resort banned filming and the use of technology here.
On August 13, TikTok user @eljojo100 shared a video of Disneyland Resort enforcing a different kind of filming ban. In the clip, the Disney Park guest tries to record some kind of commercial production on Main Street, U.S.A., when a Disney cast member stops him and tells him to keep moving.
“I need you to keep moving, please,” the Disney cast member says repeatedly. When the TikToker ignores his instructions and tries to raise their phone to film over his head, the cast member uses his hand to cover the lens.
“Nope, all the way down, please,” the cast member said. “I need you to keep moving. Thank you so much. We’re filming here; we can’t have you in the background filming.”
Later, the guest spotted the same Disney cast member recording the production with his cell phone. “He can be in the background and film, and it’s ok?” the guest asked.
The video amassed over 600,000 views and sparked a debate about whether the Disneyland Resort cast member’s actions were justified. Many Disney Parks fans defended the employee, arguing that it’s different for a guest to obviously record in the background of a scene rather than a cast member filming on a production they’re working on.
“He’s literally doing his job,” @antwonyz said. “He said ‘keep moving’ imagine just standing there just recording and appearing in the background while they’re working. You could have probably still kept recording if you just kept walking.”
“He’s probably recording something for the team he’s representing/a part of— not himself,” @dddarlin replied. “Also when a CM says to do something, just do it.”
Still, others argued that the Disney cast member was out of bounds.
“Its weird because they allow guests to record lol,” @strangerr_danger argued. “I’m a former CM and have done it multiple times myself for holidays, park filming, events..etc.. He just wanted some authority.”
“I swear some of those CM’s be having a crazy power trip,” @gbone2000 agreed.
Disneyland Resort’s rules don’t prohibit filming on Main Street, U.S.A. However, since the Southern California Disney parks are on private property, paying guests agree to follow cast members’ instructions or face ejection, regardless of the written policies.
Should Disneyland Resort crack down on guests filming throughout the parks? Share your opinion with Inside the Magic in the comments!