Sneaking Cameras on Roller Coasters: A Public Service Announcement
Technology’s a great thing. Who would’ve thought ten years ago that we’d be able to do the cool 
things that we can with our gadgets? Cameras have become so small that they can easily fit into our pockets. Or they can be integrated into even smaller cell phones. Just this week, Apple announced that the new, slimmer than ever, iPhone includes a video camera. All of the sudden everyone’s a reporter or documentarian. We can whip out our micro-sized cameras at the mall, at a fender bender, or at a concert. Unfortunately, this makes it easier than ever to smuggle cameras onto roller coasters. Years ago, it would have been pretty rare, but today a quick YouTube search for ‘roller coaster pov’ yields thousands of illicit POV videos.
I’ve never video taped a ride while I was riding it. But, I hadn’t really thought there was anything wrong with posting amatuer videos on the blog. For years I’ve had POV videos on my coaster review posts. One day, a commenter on the blog mentioned that they were planning on recording an on-ride video on an upcoming coaster trip. I realized that by posting the videos I may have been inadvertently promoting the practice of sneaking cameras on roller coasters.
Dad of the Year Sneaks Camera on a Roller Coaster (With His Kids)
Last winter, when I was working on the Roller Coaster Wiki I came across a video of a man who snuck his camera onto the aptly named 230-foot tall, 77 mph Behemoth at Canada’s Wonderland. In the video, he documented his first attempt which was thwarted after he was told that he couldn’t ride with a camera. On his way out of the station he previewed his plans for a second attempt and exclaimed: “Stick it to the man!” He then sneaks the camera back onto the Behemoth.
Worst of all, he was riding with his daughter and son! Way to go Dad. Great job of teaching your kids right and wrong. Would you want to get smacked in the face by a hard, blunt object at 70+ miles per hour? Have we forgotten what that goose did to Fabio’s face? (Picture here. Caution, it’s bloody.)That’s what could happen if you lose your camera while riding a roller coaster or other thrill ride. It’s just plain stupid and dangerous. For some reason this dummy and many, many others must feel entitled to get their very own POV video.
And just in case you’re the selfish type that may not care about other riders and bystanders, you could also be flushing $200 or so down the toilet when your camera falls and breaks into a hundred pieces. I hope that I’ve made my point that it’s just not worth it to sneak cameras on roller coasters. I’ve posted the video that I’m referring to only to illustrate my point, not to promote prohibited POVs.
No More Amateur POV Videos & Some Alternatives
During my hiatus, I removed all of the amateur on-ride POV videos that I’ve embedded into the blog over the years. It wasn’t an easy task, but I think I’ve gotten all of them. If you happen to find any, please send me a message.
Alternatives
There are a number of alternatives to unofficial POV videos. They’re fun to watch, offer much better quality, and don’t put anyone in danger. Try one of these:
- Official POV Videos – Theme parks like Cedar Point & Holiday World have uploaded official on-ride and off-ride videos. Visit their YouTube channels: Cedar Point | Holiday World. Do you know of other parks that do this?
- Roller Coaster Documentaries – Every year cable channels like Discovery and the Travel Channel produce roller coaster documentaries. And these days their in HD! Here’s Montu featured on a Discovery channel roller coaster program.
- Local News Videos – These days it’s common for new rides to open with much local fanfare including local news reporters getting a first-hand look at the debuting roller coasters. Here’s a professional POV video of Kings Island’s Diamondback.
- CoasterTube & Robb Alvey’s YouTube Channel – Theme Park Review’s Robb Alvey has created a website to showcase all of the videos he and his crew have taken on their numerous trips around the globe. Robb gets permission from the parks to take POV videos. Many of the videos in the Roller Coaster Wiki are from Robb Alvey’s YouTube Channel. Also check out the Theme Park Review Channel and CoasterTube.
- Off-Ride Videos – Off-ride videos are actually better some times as you can see more of how coasters interact with their surroundings. Here’s an off-ride video created by CoasterImage of Hersheypark’s Stormrunner.
- Ride DVDs – Ride DVDs are becoming more and more common. They often include both on and off-ride footage and professional production.
Here’s footage from a ride DVD of Incredible Hulk and Rip Ride Rockit (below):
The bottom line is that you’re not James Cameron. You don’t need to tape yourself and your friends riding a roller coaster. Especially not at the expense of an innocent bystander who’s just there to enjoy a day at the park. As the name suggests, YouTube is all about you, but sometimes it’s better to consider everyone, not just yourself.
What’s Your Take?
How do you feel about POV videos and sneaking cameras on roller coasters? Have you taken a camera on a roller coaster? Leave a comment below. I’m kind of late to add this poll, but pick which option best describes your view on the matter. Poll added: 6.13.10
Loading ...
June 10, 2010 at 03:35
Taking cameras on rides is very dangerous and should not be done. I know dollywood has a camera on ten tornado and you can purchase your ride footage in a safe manner. http://Www.acemidwest.com also has off ride videos!
June 10, 2010 at 03:50
I am not really a big fan of taking cameras on coasters. Much prefer to do off ride shots. While in a MGMT position, I did however try to do a special onride shot that didn't work out. This was just after the ride was tested and ready for guest, but the park was five minutes from opening, so I was on by myself. There is on shot of it cresting the lift. The reast is a full course offride video.
There was a time at Freestyle Music Park, clearly had camera in hand, and video taped that with no operators taking the camera from me. All my vids are offride pieces
June 12, 2010 at 07:16
nice site, but i thought i saw a bit of POV at the beggening of that megaphes video.
June 10, 2010 at 05:40
I think these secretly-made pov videos are stupid, too, because of all the reasons you mentioned. Plus, most of these amateur videos are of horrible quality, some are so bad, you can't understand what's going on! But, many people liked those videos. How about replacing them with official videos, like you did for Intimidator. It won't be "illegal", but we can still watch the POV videos. Several parks make them, like Worlds of Fun, for instance.
June 12, 2010 at 07:21
also, while whatching an aumetur vid, the person generaly turns it around ad makes it point at their face. on certain videos they may be pointing it behind them at a grown man screaming like a little girl, but it's generaly pointed at them when there just smiling like a moron. that's just their way of saying: "My home park is better".
Pingback: Tweets that mention POV Videos & Sneaking Cameras on Roller Coasters | The Coaster Critic's Blog -- Topsy.com
June 10, 2010 at 07:39
I would first like to say, i understand everything you are saying about the safety of yourselves and others. I see both sides of the creek here.
But personally, i have to stand on the other side of it. I think if your not careless, (and yes i understand there are allot of careless people out there) theres nothing wrong with a little film-ography. Sure, theres online pov's with better quality. But are you in them? Were you on that spaceific train? Are you and your girlfriends and or kids screaming in the background? No.
Now as i have said in my posts before, i do not recomend these actions without total confidence in yourself to use your head. But i have had my fair share of ride ops tell me to hand over the camera. And just like our friend video'd above, i got right back on with the camera hidden safetly in my jeans.
I understand the danger associated with it, but until you show me some hard evidence, (and there may be some i dont know about) of anyone being seriously hurt, i will not say it is wrong to direct your own povs.
I think theres bigger fish to fry anyways, like all the people who like to put pennies on their knees on the Drop Tower rides to see them float.
June 11, 2010 at 10:48
Thanks for sharing your 'point of view'. While I can't really make you care about the well-being of others, there have been a few stories on here and on my Facebook fan page of people being hit with objects while riding coasters and that video link below of someone dropping their camera.
Your argument that as long as you have total confidence in yourself is pretty weak. I could be confident that I can drive after having a few too many and be dead wrong. Everyone who does this is probably confident that they won't drop their camera. I just don't think it's a risk that's worth it. Your need for a home made video shouldn't be able to adversely affect my family's enjoyment at the park.
All I can hope is that parks see comments like yours and all of those videos on YouTube and crack down on this more. Hopefully, they'll eject people who film while riding and that will put a stop to it. And the ride DVDs do include your friends. I hate to sound like an old fogie, but your comment reminds me of the rising "me" generation (aka millenials, aka Gen-Yers).
Lastly, you said "I will not say it is wrong to direct your own povs". It's breaking a theme park's policies. So, I'm not sure it's debatable whether it's right or wrong. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.
June 11, 2010 at 15:05
I first have to say, i sense a bit of hostility from your post. I am simply playing a bit of Devils advocate on a subject which clearly can have two point of views.
Yeah, so i put in my two cents that yeah sure, i have taken a camera on board. So yeah, i think that if your sure you can hang on to it, its okay. If this was a one-sided disscusion, then why ask whats OUR take without expecting a few on the other side.
You asked, "How do you feel about POV videos and sneaking cameras on roller coasters? Have you taken a camera on a roller coaster?" I answered.
IM not trying to put gas on any fire here and i dont think theres a fire. Im just answering your question.
I think that a camera isnt any different than the people who ride with hats, glasses, park maps, and of course the thousands of people who loose their flip-flops on inverted roller coaster every year.
If you have a hat, sit on it or grasp it tightly in your hand. If you have flip-flops, the park supplies cubbies to put things in the loading are, if you do decide to take a camera, hold on to the damn thing.
June 11, 2010 at 17:32
Hey Jesse,
I'm not writing this to start a fight or argument. I believe the point is that it is against the rules to take a pov in any park around the world. So as a patron you are responsible for following rules in order to ensure your safety as well as other guests. Even though you are of the opinion that it is OK according to the rules of the park it is not ok. You could be a 200lb wrestler who has taken 50 pov's without incident but you never know when the strap will break or the camera will slip out of your hand. I mean you might have the opinion it is ok to steal but it is against the law and if you are caught there will be repercussions. I think it just points to a larger problem which is people young and old not having courtesy, respect for others, self respect and any kind of awareness that the world is bigger than just yourself and what you want. Line cutting, cursing and rudeness at parks is nothing new but it seems to get worse as I get older. If you visit a park just follow the rules and be considerate to others.
June 11, 2010 at 19:58
But there are parks who have no posted rules nor enforcement of this issue. At Dollywood Tennessee the ride op for Tennessee Tornado just asked me to kindly make sure i hang on to my camera. Sure, the ride is in the backwoods with no harm of hitting bystanders below, the same goes for every other ride at the park. I video taped Thunderhead as well as Daredevil Falls, not once being told to leave the camera behind. But then again, the ride ops at Dollywood are the nicest ride ops i have ever seen. Not just about letting me film, but in every other aspect of their work. But people in the Great Smokies tend to be a bit more laid back than the people working fore parks built around metropolis's.
In the end, if i see no conspicuously posted signs, and the staff have no issues with it, then its not a rule. Even if it is, its not my responsibility to go to a website and read all the rules and regulations of a park before going. I just pay and go. Simple as that.
June 12, 2010 at 08:42
Jesse, just think a bout it like this. imagne you realy enjoy hangliding. you decide to go hanglinding over a river that crosses through the town commons. there is a heavily used bridge there and you decide to bring your camera so yuo cantape the whole thing. since you don't want to break the law or any thing, you check whith your lawer. there is nothing the gov dished out against it. you pick the day carefuly, andx while you don`'t anticipate the day you picked being the hottest of the year, you do know it'll be sunny. It's the big day. you've never gone so high before, besides giong on a couple of plane trips before. you make sure your to have your camera in your hand. as you glide over the river, you're awestruck by the view. you reach the bridge. you point the camera down to get a better view for the many people you know will watch this. but the 90 degrees temperature has made your hand sweatey and some unexpected turbulece mak you hold onto the camera tighter. too tight. it flies out of your hand and crashes down tords the bridge. it could easily miss entireley. it could. but it dosen't. there's a traffic jam on the bridge, so thankfuly your cameras victim isn't driving at the moment. it dives straight down and shatters on the poor guy's head. he gets a mild concussion from it, you move quickly and nobody found out that you were the 'moron' who dropped it.
Now Imagine you took a trip to Six Flags Great Adventure. You're going to ride El Toro for the first time. you decide to take a POV video of it from the front seat. as you fly over the most intense airtime bumb in the hole ride. so intense that ytour camera flies out of your grasp and smashes into the wall by the entrance of this section of the park. no one is hurt, but the workers swa the camera you snuck on at the picture booth. security ejects you from the park. you loved the ride, and are happy you got to ride it before being ejected, but thanks to your geat idea you're not going to be riding it for another five years.
June 10, 2010 at 08:30
On my trips this year i've seen a big problem with loose articles. It seems every time I go on Intimidator-305 coins are flying all over the place and on one ride a phone came loose and hit me in the leg (it wasn't painful and no injury but could have been). The phone was actually the property of the woman beside me. A few weeks back on Nitro a womans camera went flying over my row's head and someone in the row behind us actually caught the camera. So yes i agree it is very dangerous for folks to do pov's but the only way I see a stop to it is if Parks get more strict on enforcing the rules.
June 12, 2010 at 08:44
siux flags kick them for five yaers the firt time and 15 the second.
June 10, 2010 at 13:11
I have to disagree with the whole "it's not dangerous" article. It IS dangerous. Someone's HAT hit my hand on El Toro, and it hit my hand so hard I thought it was a cell phone. While hitting my hand just hurt some and was annoying, if it had hit me in the head I'm afraid to think of what would have happened. Fortunately, at Great Adventure they are much more strict. Often times, when I leave a ride like Bizarro or Nitro, security has a dragnet (not literally) at the exit and they stop someone who they have video taping on camera and they ACTUALLY escort them from the park.
June 10, 2010 at 15:39
I thought that special permission was needed to even think of taking a camera on a ride along with surgical gloves and duct tape! I remember about a year ago, when I was at my home park, Valleyfair! (the exclamation point is part of the name), I remember a guy that took a camera on our Morgan hypercoaster Wild Thing, the ride was stopped halfway up the hill, security came and wrestled with the guy a bit before escorting him out of the park. Those, like me, complained because we had to wait nearly 20 minutes after the guy was taken to even be let to sit down. And there was an acrophobic young child on the train which made the whole situation worse. And I was in the front of the line for the front row after waiting a good 40 minutes to even enter the station!
June 12, 2010 at 08:47
videotapers ruin it for every one.
June 10, 2010 at 17:11
It really is dangerous to take cameras on amusement rides. Look at this video of a guy who lost his camera on Kingda Ka. I wouldn't want to be pelted with a camera at 130MPH.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5CSTQoeGGJI&fe…
I'm not sure if that video is real, but I'd bet it is.
June 10, 2010 at 17:43
Thanks for the link. I think Austin sent me the same video. It doesn't show much, but it is more proof that it can and does happen.
June 11, 2010 at 07:16
Wow haha I did send the exact same video to you.
June 11, 2010 at 16:39
If the person taking the camera onto the ride was the only person at risk I would say go ahead its their choice, however we all know that isnt the case and its usually the innocent riders who have followed the rules that end up paying (either by getting hit with said item or by having to wait for the offender to be removed)
The amature POVs are 9 times out of 10 rubbish and there is usually a much better official one out there. If people want to remember get an on ride photo or just take a photo infront of the ride.
Perhaps parks could add camera holders on their rides so that people can pay a little extra and film it. The faster the rides go the more dangerous this is going to become and alot of legal problems could arise.
June 12, 2010 at 08:52
rip ride rockit dose have things similar to what jjhobo said,but they're the parks cameras.
June 11, 2010 at 16:40
I'm one of the not-so-lucky people who has been hit in the face with a disposable camera. It was back in the days when digital cameras, mini camcorders and cell phones were just beginning to come on the scenes and disposables were all the rage. The ride was Blue Streak at Cedar Point … by no means the biggest or fastest coaster at the time … and I was expecting to have a typically enjoyable backseat ride. On the second drop, I got hit in the face by what felt like a brick. It bloodied my nose and gave me quite the goose-egg. I never really saw it coming, so I can't tell you how far toward the front of the train it originated.
June 12, 2010 at 08:55
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.
June 12, 2010 at 13:01
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
June 12, 2010 at 19:51
Thanks for chiming in Paula. Hopefully this post will make some people think twice about taking cameras on roller coasters.
June 19, 2010 at 05:08
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.
June 30, 2011 at 16:06
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.
July 1, 2011 at 09:13
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.
July 2, 2011 at 06:22
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.
July 3, 2011 at 15:52
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.
July 4, 2011 at 19:21
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.
July 5, 2011 at 04:12
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?
April 8, 2012 at 20:29
I just stumbled upon this article and I couldn't agree more. I've never tried to make a POV video on a roller coaster for a number of reasons. First, it's against the rules. Why jeopardize getting expelled from a park for something so stupid? I'd rather just enjoy the ride. Second, they're crappy videos. Even with professional rigging, it's hard to get a roller coaster video that looks good. Even if you do, what can you really see? You might see your girlfriend's hair floating up and down, or the horizon do a loop or two, but you can't really see what the coaster is doing or relive that exhilarating feeling you got by watching the video later. I've only recently started to video tape rides to accompany the ride profiles I do at my local park, but they are all off-ride videos. I will not take a camera on a ride.
August 6, 2012 at 17:41
The last time I rode Apollos Chariot a girl in the front dropped her Blackberry as we neared the top of the lift hill. The phone bounced down the floor of the entire train then dropped into the inside of the lift chain housing. We could hear it sliding down inside. Right after we rode and for the rest of the day we noticed the Chariot stuck halfway up the lift hill every once in a while, and we wondered if the phone had messed with the chain gears or something. What a stupid waste!
As with everything they won't get serious about it until someone dies…
August 6, 2012 at 23:50
A small point of terminology: The problem isn't amateur videos, per se, it's videos made without permission by people who don't know what they're doing.
East Coast(er) General of Coasterforce is technically an amateur, since making POV videos on roller coasters is not his job, but he always gets permission from the park in advance, and he's as well-equipped and experienced as a pro; in particular, he knows how to secure his camera properly. Because of his knowledge and experience, he also gets superior results, often superior to professional POVs shot with mounted cameras. (By now, his reputation probably also makes it easier for him to get permission in the first place!)
The point of the original post stands, though: As it is, the chances are remarkably good that East Coast(er) General, or somebody else on Coasterforce, or one of the folks mentioned above has already made a better video of the ride you're interested in than you're going to, and put it on YouTube. Unless you're going to set out to do what they do, and do it right, it's probably best to leave it to them.
August 7, 2012 at 22:09
Good points. And I agree. Amateur is okay if both conditions are met (permission and experience). I found out recently that Busch Gardens is allowing riders with chest mounted cameras on their rides as long as the rider's are given the okay by ride ops. Seems like a surprising move to me.
August 18, 2012 at 05:29
Actually there is many videos that East Coast(er) General/CoasterForce DON'T get permission with and just sneaks it on. For Example Cedar Point I know for a fact cause the only way someone can get videos is if there with television like Travel Channel or Discover Channel. Anyone else no matter how experienced they are wont let them. You can also tell cause in their videos it doesn't start in the station and starts after they are already on the lift hill. He also uses a small cannon vixia camera.
August 19, 2012 at 13:59
I'd agree with you CoasterFun. I wonder that when I've seen CoasterForce videos in the past. Most don't start until the riders are out of the station and they end before they return. I was agree with Matt's point about permission and experience and the term 'amateur'.