Disney just banned selfie sticks from its theme parks

Seth Wenig/APDisney considers the accessories a health and safety hazard. See Also 10 of the world's best city beaches 5 cultural faux pas Americans make while traveling abroad Don't make an expensive credit card mistake when traveling outside the US this summer

The selfie stick has become one of the symbols of our new mobile photography age, loved and loathed in equal measure, but the number of places banning their use is growing — and the latest locations to join the list are Disneyland in California and Walt Disney World in Florida.

Disney considers the accessories a health and safety hazard, as the Orlando Sentinel reports. "We strive to provide a great experience for the entire family, and unfortunately selfie sticks have become a growing safety concern for both our guests and cast," said Disney World spokeswoman Kim Prunty.

In other words, resort management don't want you smacking a fellow tourist on the back of the head while you're trying to frame the perfect shot. Trying to take a selfie stick on a rollercoaster ride is of course even more dangerous — Disney had already banned them from rides.

Disney says it will check visitor bags for the contraptions as they enter the parks, with the new regulations set to be added to the official websites in the next couple of days. The resorts in Paris and Hong Kong are also going to ban the use of selfie sticks from the start of July.

Selfie sticks come in handy when you're trying to get yourself in a shot, and save you the trouble of asking a passer-by to try to get to grips with the way your phone's camera software works; but they can also cause injury and distract other people if used irresponsibly.

The Museum of Modern Art and the Smithsonian Design Museum in New York, the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC and the Getty Center in LA have also decided to ban selfie sticks from inside their buildings. They've also been banned from Wimbledon this year because of their "nuisance value" in the stands.

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