Disney is making it clear: they REALLY want you to stop filming at their theme parks. In an effort to address rising complaints from guests about the disruption caused by cell phones and large cameras on attractions, Disney has taken steps to curb filming, especially the viral ride-through videos often shared by influencers.
Both Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort have already implemented several restrictions regarding filming. Selfie sticks and some external camera equipment are prohibited, and attractions like Roger Rabbit’s Car Toon Spin at Disneyland Park have reportedly banned filming for safety reasons. However, Disney is now taking even bolder steps to reduce personal filming on its rides further.
Last year, Walt Disney World Resort surprised fans by releasing a full P.O.V. (point-of-view) video of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure just before the ride’s official opening at Magic Kingdom Park. The move was well-received by many, as it provided fans with a way to experience the ride virtually, without influencers crowding the attraction to film their own ride-throughs. Disney’s decision was seen as a way to prevent disruptions and to maintain the guest experience.
Now, Disney is doubling down on this strategy with the upcoming release of two new P.O.V. videos from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland Resort. According to ComicBook.com, these professionally filmed videos will be available on Disney+ on May 4, 2025, to celebrate Star Wars Day.
The first video will offer a nighttime walk-through of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, filmed after Disneyland Park’s official closing hours. The official description for the video reads: “Celebrate 70 years of imagination and unforgettable storytelling at Disneyland Park by journeying through Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge. This immersive P.O.V. experience invites you to explore Batuu after hours, where droids work diligently, heroes emerge, and the First Order looms around almost every corner.”
The second video will feature a full P.O.V. ride-through of Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance, one of the most popular and complex attractions at Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Disney+ describes the experience as follows: “Celebrate 70 years of Disneyland imagination with a cinematic ride-along through Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance. This P.O.V. journey shows how seven decades of innovation can bring science fiction to life! Your mission begins on Batuu and quickly escalates into a daring escape from the clutches of the First Order. Do you have what it takes to rise with the Resistance?”
While Disney has not directly tied these P.O.V. video releases to their ongoing desire to limit filming at the parks, the timing and strategy are clear. By offering fans high-quality, official P.O.V. videos, Disney is giving guests an alternative to filming their own ride-throughs, reducing the need for influencers to disrupt the ride experience for everyone else.
Which Disney Park attraction should get an official P.O.V. video next? Let Disney Dining know in the comments!
Kind of funny considering they want you glued to your cell phone all day for everything else. So this is what they choose to worry about, people filming? How about devising a way so technology is put down so you can enjoy every moment with your family instead of being inside a little screen? So over this cell phone mess everywhere, but especially when you are supposed to be vacationing with your family and to get away from the “real” world. But they have made it to where you have to be glued to that thing all the time. One reason why we quit going a few years ago. I don’t want to be glued to technology, I want an escape from it!