Cameras and CP's Coasters

Has anyone ever rode a coaster at CP with a camera in their pocket, and have the camera get damaged. I got an early Christmas present( A pretty nice camera), and can't wait to take it to CP. I have never really rode a rollercoaster with a camera in my pocket during the ride, and was wondering if anyone ever really had a camera get damaged while rideing a coaster.

Thanks Everyone, and Happy Holidays!

Anything can happen. It's just a chance you'll have to take if you want to bring it with you to an amusement park.

Well it really depends on how big your camera is...... I've got a Cannon 530 powershot.

And I keep it in this mini camera bag and secure it to my belt loops. And it's stayed safe on everything thing from Villain to TTD.

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/8041/img5425wt2.jpg

^ That looks like a nice little bag. I like that it's secured by a carabiner instead of any one of the other methods out there. :)

Unfortunately, my camera fits in a backpack, for good reason, and would never fit on my belt loop.

If it's one of those digital camera's that you can fit in your pocket, then it should be fine. I bring mine all the time, one time I kept it in my jeans front pocket for a couple days at the park and it was fine, it just gets in the way sometimes on TTD or MF. Otherwise a cargo pocket works better. Usually I would carry my wallet, hat, camera, sun glasses, and cell phone in my pockets.

Yes I have it in a pretty deep pocket before. For rides like Top Thrill Dragster and Millennium Force where no bins can be found. I don't have the most high tech camera, where it can't fit a pocket though.

Me and my sister take disposible cameras on coasters and non coasters, and we never have gotten caught and never lost it. The photos have turned out good, usually.

^That's extremely intelligent, I'm happy that you never got caught, but when the day comes and you're taking pictures on a ride and that camera hits someone else in the face, have fun.

TOPGUN1993 said:

And I keep it in this mini camera bag and secure it to my belt loops. And it's stayed safe on everything thing from Villain to TTD.

http://img519.imageshack.us/img519/8041/img5425wt2.jpg

I have the same case for one of my point and shoots... strangely enough, I've never used it at the park. The few times I do carry around a point and shoot while I'm riding rides, I just put it in my pocket, after I loop the wristband through my belt loop. A secure seatbelt will also help to keep it in your pocket. With that being said, if you're truly concerned about it, you're best off not taking it on the ride.

I can recall many a guest that has told me that they must hold onto their camera, for it costs $300+. If it costs that much, why are you bringing it on a ride in the first place?

With the compact point-and-shoot cameras are very nice for putting in a pocket. I normally have the camera in a cargo pocket or a tight fitting pocket in a case.

I can't stand people who take their cameras out on a coaster. What's the difficult concept of NOT being aloud?

It's even more fun when some moron takes out a camera or a phone on a ride and the whole thing shuts downs. That's what you really like, waiting in a nice long line in the hot sun (or freezing cold, depending on the time of year) and then get to stand around some more while security is called. Happened to my family in October on Woodstock Express. This was by far the longest wait of the day for us (My kids are 7 and 4) and the ride takes time to load and unload so it takes a while to get on. Two rides before we were finally going to get on, the train is dispatched and barely starts up the hill when some idiot answers his cell phone. The operator warned 3 times that she would shut it down, he ignored her, she e-stopped the ride. Unfortunately the park's security was understaffed and none were close or available to come to the ride, so after 10 minutes she started it again and the man was able to walk off unscathed. Apparently, had security been available, his day as well as the 5 other family members with him would have been over.

Tom

Gomez said:

What's the difficult concept of NOT being aloud?

Well, I think the biggest problem with it not being aloud is that the signs are all printed at the ride entrances and don't make any noise.

As for Miss Maverick, please don't go on the same day as me. You're not allowed to take pictures on coasters. In fact, there are only 3 rides where you ARE allowed to take pictures: Space Spiral, Paddle Wheel Excursions and CP&LE Railroad.

As for taking a camera - Go in, take your pictures for a few hours and then head to your car and lock your camera up. Don't worry about lockers or whether or not it is secured well enough. You're better off safe than sorry.

I've always carried my cell phone and even glasses in my pocket while riding, and nothing has happened to them. I don't think CP's coasters are rough at all, so I'd say there's a small chance that a camera would get scratched or damaged.

However, a small cell phone of mine literally flew out of my pocket when the train had gone over a bunny hill on Magnum. It was floating and twirling in the air, moving right along with the train. It was new at the time and very scary! I did manage to snag it :)

Anything can happen!

I've always had my camera and cell phone with me at CP. I just put them in my waistpack. The people that don't have waistpacks should just put them under their shirts. Then with their Cell Phones just switch them around their belts under the shirts that is my command; so the Cameras and Cell Phones won't fall out of the Thrill Rides.

JuggaLotus said:

In fact, there are only 3 rides where you ARE allowed to take pictures: Space Spiral, Paddle Wheel Excursions and CP&LE Railroad.

Make that four. The Giant Wheel was added to that group mid-season.

Its not on the list on the website which is why I didn't include it. Personally, both it and Sky Ride should be ok for photography, but then again, people leave common sense at home (if its even there) when they come to the park.

Much agreed. Most sources still don't list it, but I know I was told otherwise on several occasions last season. I think one of the big reasons both prohibited photography was for fear of someone dropping their camera and it hitting a guest, and rightfully so. Whether Giant Wheel has been added to list of rides where photography is acceptable or not, which is still somewhat undeclared in my book, something about Sky Ride just makes me think that there's more of a reason to prohibit photography. It covers a lot more midway area, the traffic is much greater in this area, and its quick load and unload intervals are just asking for a problem if you were to start getting guests who became more preoccupied with taking photos than getting off the ride.

it's stupid when people pull out their cameras on a ride. whats the point? you just get low quality and crappy images. To top it off you risk getting kicked out of the park, looseing your camera, or hurting you and/or another person.

But to you people who do use cameras on CP's rides, at least know how to do it. You don't whip it out when your first leaving the station or heading up the hill. If your gonna be dumb enough to do it, then don't hold other people back from enjoying CP.

DBCP said:
something about Sky Ride just makes me think that there's more of a reason to prohibit photography. It covers a lot more midway area, the traffic is much greater in this area, and its quick load and unload intervals are just asking for a problem if you were to start getting guests who became more preoccupied with taking photos than getting off the ride.

ummm, skyride is inclosed. You can't drop your camera........mabye 2 feet. And I don't think it hold anyone up from getting off. It been fine for years.

"Ummm," it's not entirely enclosed. One can drop anything they'd like from the cabin.

Thriller rollercoast said:

But to you people who do use cameras on CP's rides, at least know how to do it. You don't whip it out when your first leaving the station or heading up the hill.

..And is there a reason you're giving advice on how to do something that's prohibited by park rules?