Characters in Flight Balloon

[DizneyFreak2002]

Reports have circulated around the internet that the Characters in Flight balloon is gone from DTD... Seems like the company who runs the balloon ride had an accident at one of their other rides... Characters in Flight is no longer listed on the company's website... And information about the balloon ride has been removed from WDW's website...

I wonder if the company was responsible for shutting this down or if Disney, because of the accident in China, decided to shut it down... If anyone knows anything, please feel free to let us know...

[Polynesian Dweller]

The accident was at Ocean Park Hong Kong and 5 people were injured. It very nearly was a major accident. The gas bag had a 3m (10 ft) tear and that caused it to plunge 60m (196ft) to the ground. Very nearly tragic.

The company, Aerophile, is trying to determine why this occured and has taken down all of its balloons world wide for inspection. If this is a design flaw then they could be down for a very lengthy period of time or permanently.

[DizneyFreak2002]

The fact Disney removed it from the WDW website is interesting though... Especially with how bad they are updating it...

Better safe than sorry though... Keep it closed to make sure it is safe...

[Strmchsr]

The Characters in Flight balloon is definitely gone from DTD. That is confirmed.

[Melanie]

Very interesting development. I'm surprised it was still in business at this point anyway, being that 95% of the time I'm in WDW, it's not flying (due to wind).

And weird, weird, unprofessional things have been going on with their Twitter account for months. I can't believe Disney has let that continue.

That all said, it will be a bit strange not seeing it at DTD, grounded or not.

[Ed]

The Characters in Flight balloon is definitely gone from DTD. That is confirmed.

Has it been physically removed or just grounded ?

[DizneyFreak2002]

Has it been physically removed or just grounded ?

From everything I'm reading and hearing, sounds like it's gone...

[Polynesian Dweller]

From everything I'm reading and hearing, sounds like it's gone...

Yep, moved from its moorings to do a very thorough inspection. Same thing happening at all Aerophile locations worldwide at least those using this design, not just those at Disney parks. This is an Aerophile decision not Disney.

[DizneyFreak2002]

Yep, moved from its moorings to do a very thorough inspection. Same thing happening at all Aerophile locations worldwide at least those using this design, not just those at Disney parks. This is an Aerophile decision not Disney.

And that is the smartest thing to do... Remove it, inspect it, and make sure what happened in China doesn't happen anywhere else... Safety always has to come first...

With that said, I won't be sad if they never bring it back

[TinkerbellT421]

These kind of stories are what confirm my fears!

DBF past two trips has been trying to get me to ride that thing. I will NOT do it! For fears of that! lol

[#1donaldfan]

That must be some mysterious rumor as my DD and I were there week before last and it was in operation, at least unmanned. It was flying high the day we were at DtD !!! I don't ride it myself, but certainly did see it in operation. We were there Friday the day Brave opened and unless it was "grounded" after that date.......

[DizneyFreak2002]

That must be some mysterious rumor as my DD and I were there week before last and it was in operation, at least unmanned. It was flying high the day we were at DtD !!! I don't ride it myself, but certainly did see it in operation. We were there Friday the day Brave opened and unless it was "grounded" after that date.......

It was removed this past Friday night, a week after you were there...

[TracyL]

I had planned to give it a try, but never quite got around to it, largely due to the aforementioned wind problems. Every time we we there and wanted to go, it was grounded for wind.

Sad to hear about the accident and certainly agree with their decision to ground them all until they sort it out.

[Polynesian Dweller]

That must be some mysterious rumor as my DD and I were there week before last and it was in operation, at least unmanned. It was flying high the day we were at DtD !!! I don't ride it myself, but certainly did see it in operation. We were there Friday the day Brave opened and unless it was "grounded" after that date.......

Not a rumor. The Hong Kong accident was last Friday (or Thursday depending on report, probably international dateline issue) and the Characters balloon was taken down June 29th for inspection.

[Ischyros]

Well, this makes sense then. Conner Prairie, an interactive history park by where I live, has one of these balloons made by Aerophile. I guess this would be why I haven't seen it flying this week! They have absolutely no information on their website though about if it will be back. The park's website still says this "The balloon manufacturer, Aerophile, located in Paris, France, has a spotless safety record. They have never had an accident."

I've never been on it but I've seen the thing during landing. It sways majorly back and forth, like a giant upside pendulum, and that was during calm winds. I don't know if the one at Disney was the same way as I've never seen it flying, but that is enough to scare me off of riding it!

[VWL Mom]

Wait til I tell my boys! They wanted to go up Thursday night when we were there and I wouldn't let them. I told them it was an accident waiting to happen, talk about deja vu.

[DizneyFreak2002]

Wait til I tell my boys! They wanted to go up Thursday night when we were there and I wouldn't let them. I told them it was an accident waiting to happen, talk about deja vu.

Lynn, what are tonight winning lottery numbers... Quick, NJ still has an hour...

I'm wondering how much this is going to hurt Aerophile's business...

[VWL Mom]

Lynn, what are tonight winning lottery numbers... Quick, NJ still has an hour...

I'm going with 8 0 3....oh wait, the drawing was at 8P

[DizneyFreak2002]

I'm going with 8 0 3....oh wait, the drawing was at 8P

Yea too late LOL...

[Melanie]

Definitely gone. I was in DTD today, and the platform is just empty. Although, the kiosk is still there with all the information about pricing, etc.

I was told today by Matt at Attractions Magazine that it would be back. Apparently the balloon was due to be replaced in November anyway, and now instead of repair, they are going to go ahead with replacing. Not sure when it will be back up.