'High Profile' Enthusiasts: A discussion

Do you think the behaviour of some well known enthusiasts is damaging to the parks and guests?

Well known ? I don’t think there are any that you can say are well known. Only within the enthusiast community. The general public have no clue who all these vloggers are.
So causing no damage to anyone.

I would sum all of this up as "much ado about nothing"...

But if AT wish to prohibit cameras on the rapids (which they are entitled to do if they so wish), they should consider putting up signs or making announcements before chastising people, especially in public. It seems unreasonable to enforce a rule that is not disclosed.

bluesonichd said:

Well known ?

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Have you seen how many subscribers TPW get in particular? Then take into account the broader number of unknown people who watch these kinds of videos without being subscribers. People film themselves on rides now daily, and you're never going to convince them not to when you have popular YouTubers doing it openly.

Parks should just have sensible filming policies like at Liseberg, Busch Gardens, SeaWorld etc where you just have to get your camera and associated harness equipment approved before being allowed to film. Seems like a simple solution and leads to very few issues.

Also I think it's worth saying, various 'high profile' enthusiasts have arguably done a lot worse than filming on rides...

While I think a lot of this is petty point scoring by Enthusiasts who seem to have a vendetta against TPWW, He should know better being ex Towers Staff and being with at least one current staff member. Vlog Culture is awful, who wants to watch a video where 90% is some guys face?

I've watched many of Shaun's videos. He only films where filiming is allowed. And often points out that he has to have his go pro harness checked out, like at Liseberg the other week. In all his Alton vlogs he doesn't film on ride, apart from the rapids. And he's often on there with employees of Towers. They don't seem to know it's against the rules either. The signage doesn't say you can't.

I don't think he'll do it again on the Rapids after this. He sometimes points out in his vlogs he emails parks to see if it's ok to film first.

He appears to the most repectable vlogger out there.

My view on this.
1. The sign is a bit confusing.
2. AT should of recognised that fact. Apologised for the confusion and stated cameras are not allowed on that ride.
3. Shawn should of pointed out the confusing sign and asked for clarification on the rule.
4. Use of filming equipment on press events are covered by press and filming policy and procedures.

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hmm....I think that perhaps some of the staff there have got something personal against Theme park worldwide, because it really comes across in their responses, the whole situation aisde
Either that or they detect a theme park enthusiast and know they can get away with slating them because enthusiasts are a minority compared to the GP. Because, you know, enthusiasts are actually honest about the place and they hate people who want them to do more than the half arsed money saving rubbish we've seen so far this season.

Sauron97 said:

Either that or they detect a theme park enthusiast and know they can get away with slating them because enthusiasts are a minority compared to the GP.

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I don't think this is the case at all, to me it just seems like a fairly standard response. Towers were challenged on it by TPW, so they decided to go 'by the book' and word it formally.

You know parks don't categorise people into "GP" and "Enthusiasts" and think one 'group' is smaller than the other and so can be treated worse. If anything it's people with a big fanbase like this that gets escalated the most online, I mean look how circulated this (fairly insignificant really) post is already!

Ok, I accept that they don't categorize us like we're on an FBI watchlist, but I do genuinely think that when they detect enthusiasts, their immediate thoughts are negative because some of us have called them out on perfectly legitimate stuff. Basically, I think they are well aware of us on here, and I'd bet they've formed their own opinions on what they think of us.

No radio button for "high profile" guests AND the park causing damage. Which would be my answer.

I think the enthusiasts community is 99% a friendly, helpful and fun place. 0.9% is people who have made mistakes or enthusiasts who go little OTT with their passion. The final 0.1% is the self entitled idiots, who are exactly that, regardless of their hobby.

If any of the 0.1% are causing damage to the parks it's because the said parks have allowed it happen by pandering to them in the first place.

As for the TPWW/AT spat, my only opinion is that both sides have handled it badly and could have dealt with it better outside the public eye.

This whole topic is ridiculous.

Rapids is easily the most filmed ride by visitors on the ride. Snapchats, vlogs, live streams etc. The ride is monitored by CCTV and staff all over. If filming on this ride was an issue then they would quickly say over the speakers to stop filming, however I’ve never heard or seen this happen once.

Like Shaun has said I’ve openly seen staff encouraging filming.

From my view and many others the Rapids has always been a ride you can film on.

Indeed, I have often asked if I can film/take pictures on the Rapids and have always been told that it's fine.

RoyJess said:

I heard different, but then I try not to listen to Chinese whispers

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Well, I did say supposedly, but what I said is what a lot of enthusiasts believe probably because that's what they want to hear. And the real reason should be kept secret if it is, it's his life and a couple of thousand people do not need to know every little thing about him.

I think that's another thing, Many vee-loggers seem to get a lot of hate deserved or not.

RicketyCricket said:

That’s fair enough but it was just a selfie on the rapids. It’s not like he’s juggling chainsaws on the back row of Nemesis.

Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt here, the rules were/aren’t very clear and I’m sure he’s learned from the mistake.

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Firstly, great line there, and that would be a great name for a release by some kind of metal band: The Nemesis Chainsaw Juggler EP (if anyone actually does this, please credit me!)

Its a tricky one because I myself have taken on-ride photos in the past. I'll wager that even some of those criticising TPWW over this have done so themselves too. Its not really something I do anymore, and I wouldn't plaster an on-ride photo all over the internet. In reality there is a big difference between taking a snap from a sedate, near walking pace ride such as the Pleasure Beach Express train, and holding a camcorder over the Oblivion drop, but rules are rules and if parks have a blanket rule about no photography or videos on rides then we should respect that really. I have no affiliation with TPWW nor do I sit about watching theme parks Vlogs, but I don't think a 'high profile enthusiast' (who am I right in thinking makes money from YouTube subscribers?) should be posting pics of themselves on a ride, and the fact that as stated before, staff members are in shot, makes it even worse.

Also I agree that anyone holding up a phone or camera to film or photo a ride deserves what they get in terms of their device falling into the drink on a water ride. I suppose that's the main risk of it really on the rapids, but when we get to rides like coasters, you are bringing into the equation the risk of your phone / camera smashing into someone's face. One other thing I simply do not get is POVs. I mean, I don't mind a good quality, well shot (with permission) POV but surely once that is online, why is there a need for anyone to try and take their own POV. Perhaps Mr TPWW should put his phone / camera down and learn to enjoy his day without needing to tell the world about it.

Talk about something being blown massively out of proportion!

Rules are rules and whatnot but there are some real jobsworths both at Towers and lurking on social media these day who look to pull you up on any little thing that you ever do that may be a tiny bit wrong.

I don't take my camera on park these days but over the years I am pretty sure that I've taken many a photo on the Rapids. This is the first time I've heard that cameras are strictly forbidden on them.

If some petty member of staff at Alton Towers had not flagged this up on Twitter, purely for their own ego, then this whole thread wouldn't even exist! I make this remark about said staff because the social media team in general have been so poor this season.

Yeah this is a bit over blown for what it is. I doubt there are many of us who haven't taken a quick photo on the rapids particularly at the very end when going back up the ramp into the station!!

Rapids are nothing as hell now anyway given the waterfalls are still turned off.

I believe the no photography on the rapids came in after a risk assessment review in the wake of the Drayton Manor incident.



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delta79 said:

I believe the no photo on the rapids came in after a risk assessment review in the wake of the Drayton Manor incident.



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Even without that it should be fairly obvious you shouldn't take photos on a ride known for hitting rocks with some force.

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