Six Flags Bans Selfie Sticks, Other Camera Equipment Following Disney Incident

Six Flags is the latest theme park to ban the selfie stick in all its parks nationwide. Disney’s parks made the headlines with their own restrictions late last month, and it looks like they may have started a trend.

Six Flags ban was announced in an email to annual pass holders on Wednesday, according to Fox News.

“Nothing is more important to us than your safety. After careful review we’ve decided to prohibit selfie sticks, monopods, and similar devices at all Six Flags theme and water parks effective immediately. Guests who bring selfie sticks to the park will be asked to store them in their cars during their visit. We apologize for any inconvenience this causes, and thank you for helping us keep Six Flags among the safest theme parks in the world!”

The device, which holds cell phones at a distance so people can more easily take pictures of themselves, is now on the official list of banned items, along with explosives, knives, and glass bottles.

Although the restriction may seem harsh, the theme park operator has reason for the new policy from Disney’s experience.

As previously reported by the Inquisitr, a guest at Disney’s California Adventure caused a 30-minute delay on the California Screaming roller coaster after pulling out a selfie stick mid-ride. The high-speed movements and low overhangs created a hazard for both the user and the other riders, but unfortunately for everyone on board, the ride was stopped at one of the ride’s peaks, making the evacuation difficult.

Rather than go through the same thing, which could have been far worse on Six Flags extreme coasters, the parks appear to be taking preemptive measures.

Universal Studios theme parks also prohibit selfie sticks on rides, although guests can still bring them in.

Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lollapalooza, the Kentucky Derby, Wimbledon, and other tourist attractions are also restricting the selfie stick.

According to Theme Park Insider, Six Flags has a history of more restrictive policies than Disney. Keeping with that tradition, the parks will also be banning monopods and “similar devices” (Disney parks allows monopods and tripods, at least the non-professional ones that fold up neatly in a backpack).

The parks might lose a few selfie-obsessed park goers, but their overall corporate performance will likely withstand those consequences. The San Antonio Business Journal reports the Six Flags recently posted revenues for the second quarter of 2015, showing a 3 percent increase in revenue.

[Image Credit: Getty Images]