Friday Family Fun - Characters in Flight

It's time once again to look at relatively inexpensive, fun activities beyond the theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort.   Today we'll take another peek at Downtown Disney – specifically though, an activity located within Downtown Disney.   Characters in Flight, operated by Aérophile, is a giant tethered balloon which takes you 400 feet above the Downtown Disney Area!  You’ll ascend into the sky and experience breathtaking views of the Walt Disney World Resort.   Depending on how clear day is, you will be able to see each the icons from each of the 4 theme parks, both of the water parks, plus pick out many of the resort hotels.

The balloon itself is decorated with some very famous silhouettes — Mary Poppins, Aladdin, Dumbo and other famous Disney characters!   The balloon takes off along the water’s edge of Lake Buena Vista, between the West Side and Pleasure Island areas of Downtown Disney.  But you can see the balloon itself from all over.  After dark, the characters continue to be visible thanks to the internal illumination. It's a special design created just for the Walt Disney World Resort, and is the world’s largest tethered gas balloon.  Tethered to a gondola platform 19’ in diameter, the balloon holds up to 29 guests plus the pilot.  Your stay up in the air lasts about 8 to 10 minutes, and provides spectacular views up to 10 miles away!  (Of course you can see other things away from Walt Disney World too – such as Sea World Orlando and the suburban sprawl that is the greater Orlando area to the east of the Walt Disney World resort.)

    

The balloon does not operate when winds get stronger.  Signs are always posted whether the balloon is operating or not.  Don’t be surprised if you think it isn’t very windy but the balloon is closed – as just remember that the winds at the surface are not always the same strength as the winds at 400 feet up in the air!  Weather permitting, the balloon operates every day from 10 a.m. to midnight.  It is an exhilarating experience, and I recommend it highly!