Welcome back to planDisney, Janet!
I see you’re preparing for a summer visit to the
Walt Disney World Resort with your family; it’s getting close! I also see how the
Walt Disney World Resort Property Rules list of prohibited items can cause a little confusion. Fortunately, I have assisted another Guest with a similar question, have spoken to a Cast Member on your behalf, and used a Gimbal in the park for some
planDisney content myself, so we should be able to clear this up rather quickly!
One of the best parts of a Disney vacation is capturing the special moments so you can relive them when you return home. While I am a huge proponent of letting the Cast Member photographers associated with
Disney PhotoPass take all the photos, I also snap some pictures on my cellphone!
The Prohibited Items list states that “selfie sticks, hand-held extension poles for cameras...are not allowed in any theme park or water park.” It also states that “tripods or monopod stands that cannot fit inside a standard backpack or that extend over 6’ are not allowed...”. In my opinion, the differentiating factor here is that a traditional selfie stick extends far out, which can interfere with other Guests' experiences. In contrast, when used to capture selfies, a handheld tripod isn’t much more of an extension of your hand and is still considered to be within your own personal space. Referencing the second rule that a tripod must fit within a backpack and not extend beyond 6’, I would assume your equipment is acceptable. However, I would be prepared to show security and/or Cast Members that the hand-held doesn’t extend and is used to stabilize your camera for photos/video. While this specific item isn’t listed as prohibited, security and Cast Members reserve the right to restrict the use of items not listed that may be disruptive to other guests in the parks.
As you get closer to your trip, if you want to personalize your vacation with something from the
Enchanting Extras Collection, I would be happy to give you recommendations. Knowing how you want to capture special moments, I think booking a
Magic Kingdom Fireworks Dessert Party would be the perfect addition to your vacation!
See you real soon!
Brent