Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Disneyland Ride Shut Down After Rider Pulls Out Selfie Stick
Disneyland officials told us not to bring selfie sticks into the park, but alas, we did not listen.
At about 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Disney officials were forced to shut down the California Screamin' roller coaster after a passenger brought a selfie stick onto the ride, KTLA reports. All the passengers were then evacuated, which took about a half hour. The ride started up again around 7 p.m., according to the Orange County Register.
Disney's California Adventure rollercoaster stopped because of a selfie stick, people stranded for an hour! pic.twitter.com/FjZQyGfThz
— Araksya Karapetyan (@Araksya) May 3, 2016
Disney banned selfie sticks at both Disneyland and Disney World in Orlando beginning June 30, 2015. The same ban went into effect at Disneyland Paris and Hong Kong Disneyland that July. The decision came after an incident on June 24 when a rider at California Adventure tried to use a selfie stick mid-ride, causing the ride to be shut down.
Support for LAist comes from
The reasoning behind the bans is safety-related, as no one wants to whacked with a selfie stick while on a roller coaster. It would also be a problem if the stick somehow interfered with the ride, as they're obviously designed with the ability to extend far beyond the limits of our arms. Theme parks actually use a method called the "envelope of protection" to test their rides to ensure that our arms don't get torn off. This involves attaching a disk with a number of spindles that act as a hypothetical person's limbs, though they're longer than any human's limbs could possibly be.
If you get caught bringing a selfie stick into the park at the gates, security will stop you and confiscate the contraband. Guests can pick up their sticks again when they leave. But here's a novel idea: don't bring them at all! As a reminder, here's a list of all the other things you can't bring to Disneyland.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.
Chip in now to fund your local journalism
(
LAist
)
Trending on LAist
-
Isolated showers can still hit the L.A. area until Friday as remnants from the tropical storm move out. -
First aspiring spectators must register online, then later in 2026 there will be a series of drawings. -
It's thanks to Tropical Storm Mario, so also be ready for heat and humidity, and possibly thunder and lightning. -
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/5425437/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3897+0+0/resize/640x396!/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
L.A. County investigators have launched a probe into allegations about Va Lecia Adams Kellum and people she hired at the L.A. Homeless Services Authority. -
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass suspended a state law allowing duplexes, calling more housing unsafe. But in Altadena, L.A. County leaders say these projects could be key for rebuilding. -
This measure on the Nov. 4, 2025, California ballot is part of a larger battle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives next year.
![A Black woman sits at a dais with a flag in the background. A name placard in front of her reads: Dr. Va Lecia Adams Kell[um].](https://scpr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/45c201e/2147483647/strip/true/crop/6298x3894+0+0/resize/786x486!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fscpr-brightspot.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com%2F76%2F00%2Febed9a7a4fbd9e5ba12997e51d59%2Fgettyimages-1258669633.jpg)
Best of LAist