Disney had originally advised that Selfie Sticks should not be used on rides, and should be stowed for the duration of the attraction. There is no park ban on the selfie sticks, yet! Due to health and safety reach concerns on many attractions - Disney has now put an outright ban on the use of the selfie taking sticks on any attraction at its parks. Rides are rigerously tested before opening, using a technique called 'Envelope Testing' where the maximum reach of riders is tested. This is obviously compromised through the use of selfie sticks as they extend a riders so-called 'reach'. The use of the devices is not only hazardous and dangerous for the rider using it, but also to other riders in the same, or nearby, ride vehicles.
Disney has recently installed 'No Selfie Sticks' signs outside the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad attraction at the Magic Kingdom, as shown in the photo below from @InsideTheMagic on Twitter.
As part of the new effort to stop selfie sticks from being used on rides, Cast Members who are in 'greeter positions' (i.e. those at the start of queues, FastPass+ convergence and boarding CM's) are instructed to ask any guest visibly holding a selfie stick to stow it for the duration of the attraction. If a CM sees any guest using a selfie stick whilst on the ride/attraction (using the onride cameras situated throughout most attractions), they will be asked to stow the item using the attractions public address system, or the attraction will be emergency stopped by a cast member. This is not, as such, a new policy - Disney's policy was always that guests must not stick any items out of a moving ride vehicle.
In a memo to Cast Members earlier this week, all employees were informed of the new procedures and were provided information about how to resolve these selfie stick issues!
