It may be called “Characters in Flight” but the characters have disappeared from the design of the new aerial balloon at Disney Springs. The new look is a big blue globe with watery flourish designs and stripes similar to what was on the previous balloon,… Read More »New Aerial Balloon debuts at Disney Springs
Guests at Disney Springs from January 9 – 14 won’t be able to get the beautiful bird’s-eye view provided by the Characters in Flight Balloon as it will be closed for replacement. It is a standard practice of aerial tethered balloons to replace the balloon… Read More »Characters in Flight balloon at Disney Springs to get new look
After an accident with a similar balloon in Hong Kong, the Downtown Disney Characters in Flight Balloon ride closed on July 1st of this year. The balloon had been scheduled for replacement soon, but they just took it off line out of precaution earlier. This… Read More »Characters In Flight Returns to Downtown Disney with New Balloon and New Look
After an accident with a similarly constructed attraction, the Downtown Disney Balloon ride “Characters in Flight” has been closed for inspection. The accident yesterday at Ocean Park, Hong Kong, injured four on the SkyStar balloon and one of the ground after a 3 meter gash… Read More »Characters In Flight Balloon Ride Closed at Orlando’s Downtown Disney
Downtown Disney Orlando recently added a tethered balloon experience, Characters In Flight. It takes guests 400 ft into the air for a glorious panoramic view of the Lake Buena Vista area. When it opened the attraction was notorious for closing down for safety with even… Read More »Characters in Flight – an E-Ticket Ride
A ribbon awaits its severing for the grand opening.
Although the winds of fate prevented any actual guests from going up, up, and away, the new “Characters in Flight” balloon from Aerophile officially opened Tuesday morning in Downtown Disney, Orlando.
A single tether connects the balloon to the launch platform.
Many who have been on the ride during its soft opening days, claim it’s the best deal in Downtown Disney. Of course, the problem is that sometimes the ride isn’t open. Wind gusts can keep the balloon grounded. This has led to some issues with guests who get upset they can’t experience the ride. Disney has to put safety first even if the guest is leaving for the airport in 30 minutes. So plan accordingly and perhaps visit the balloon early in your trip.
Prices at the ticket booth.
Another problem is the unfortunate name of the attraction. The name “Characters in Flight” has led some guests to expect actual characters on the flight for a meet and greet. Alas, that’s just not the case. With all the other possibilities to name this attraction you have to wonder why they chose one that would be so misleading. Kind of like Disney marketing insisting on calling “Toy Story Midway Mania” Toy Story Mania, which makes it sound like a soft horror film instead of the fun midway games it actually is.
More info and photos below the cut:
Read More »Characters In Flight Balloon Officially Up, Up, and Away