Comments on: POV Videos & Sneaking Cameras on Roller Coasters

By: The Coaster Critic

The Coaster Critic — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 12:12:37 +0000

PC, they can’t just take people’s word for it that cameras are secured. It would be a judgement call of the ride ops to decide whether you’ve really secured your camera and another guy hasn’t. Plus, how do they know it won’t become unsecured after an insane dive or loop? Are they supposed to know that you’re an expert rider with 20+ rides on the coaster you’ve ridden. They can’t judge or predict all that. It’s safer and easier for them to just restrict cameras on roller coasters.

Doesn’t that make sense?

By: PC

PC — Tue, 05 Jul 2011 03:21:01 +0000

To take an unsecured camera on a roller coaster isn’t smart I agree, but I have a small camera that fits in my hand and has a leash that goes around my wrist and have had operators take it from me even when I show them it can’t come off. I think if you can show them it can’t come loose they should allow it. There’s no way they’re going to stop people from using phones or anything else to video or take photos. I think it’s more of a liability on the parks end if someone gets hit they’re gonna get sued, or if someone gets hurt due to a ride malfunction and you got it on tape they’re up a creek. If it were strictly an issue of people getting hit with the thing, they would let you on with it if you showed them it’s secure. It’s no different than anything else that could be in anyone’s pockets that could fall out. Do they search everyone’s pockets to make sure there’s no loose items in your pockets? No, they’re trained to spot and take CAMERAS.

By: Matt

Matt — Sun, 03 Jul 2011 23:52:34 +0000

I was on escape from pompeii at busch gardens and this guy was taping the ride from behind me for the whole ride. I am glad the ops didnt see him and stop the ride because on some rides they will stop the ride if you are taping on the lift hill and take your phone/camera, then resume it. I saw this while waiting in line for steel force at dorney park. Personally, I think that taping the ride is not worth the risk of losing your phone, getting in trouble, or injuring someone. I like to watch official povs or professional povs. They are not only park approved but also much better than average povs.

By: The Coaster Critic

The Coaster Critic — Sat, 02 Jul 2011 14:22:07 +0000

Agreed Quil. I think some people will rationalize it until the cows come home because they just want it their way. I’d just feel better if the POVers were at least the only people riding, but even then they could drop their camera on a guest watching from off the ride. At the end of the day they just put their home made movies ahead of other people’s safety.

By: Quil

Quil — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 17:13:43 +0000

It’s not your camera most people are worried about, it’s what happens to the people behind/under you if you happen to let go of it.

By: MBrilhart

MBrilhart — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 00:06:13 +0000

It’s a matter of knowing what your doing and concentration. If I film a POV, I concentrate on my camera in my hand, and the ride in front of me. I never film a ride unless I’m positively sure that I can handle it with at least one free hand the entire ride. I would never take a video camera on anything that I hadn’t ridden before.

I’m well aware that there is always a chance of my camera not making it through the ride. I’ve filmed only mild roller coasters, flumes, and dark-rides. I currently have the only full-length POV of the soon to be defunct Skull Mountain at Six Flags America on You Tube. It’s very good quality, and I’m proud of the result. The thing about the cameras is that they are getting too much of a reputation when plenty of other loose articles are just as much of a hazard, if not more so. Many operators will tell me to put the camera away after I am already seated and buckled in. If I put the camera in my pocket and go about the ride, there is a far greater chance of it not returning then there is if I keep it in my hand.

Any rider with anything in their pockets could loose something at any moment during a ride, not even realizing it was there until it’s too late. Cell phones get destroyed because the riders don’t pay attention to them while they are riding. Hats, Glasses, and such are also subject to being a safety hazard if they fly off. I empty my pockets on any ride I know things could fly off/out or get destroyed on. I’m very aware of my possessions, and have no intention of destroying my camera or anything else on a ride.

By: Piedude81

Piedude81 — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 14:08:02 +0000

I have never snuck a camera on a coaster and never will. If you’re looking for fame on YouTube, here’s the facts. Most Un-Official POV’s don’t even get 1,000 hits.

By: The Coaster Critic

The Coaster Critic — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 04:51:52 +0000

Thanks for chiming in Paula. Hopefully this post will make some people think twice about taking cameras on roller coasters.

By: Paula Werne, Holiday World

Paula Werne, Holiday World — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 22:01:11 +0000

For the record, we don’t allow cameras on our coasters. It’s dangerous. I don’t care how sure you are that you won’t let go — how about the kid in the seat behind you who sees you get away with it and thinks it would be cool to try? It’s just not worth the risk.

Paula Werne
Holiday World

By: Quil

Quil — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 17:55:19 +0000

must stink to have to hold onto your nose all day in a theme park, just there to have agood time, riding a ride, Splat.