Addendum: Characters in Flight

A look at the ticket booth.  Hopefully you visit at the right time to fly right away.

If You Had Wings

Although I have limited shots of the full circumfrance of the Characters in Flight balloon, I wanted to make it known that the attraction run by Aerophile contains 12 individual characters.

1. Tinker Bell
2. Peter Pan
3. Wendy
4. Michael
5. John
6. Dumbo
7. Timothy the Circus Mouse
8. Flora
9. Fauna
10. Merriweather
11. Aladdin
12. Mary Poppins

Weather Permitting

After two rides on Characters in Flight today, I am very happy with Walt Disney World’s newest attraction. I was told today that the balloon in the largest hot air balloon in the world, both tethered and free flying. And there are 12 flying characters featured around its circumference. During today’s cast preview, we ascended the complete 400 feet. The trip was a three minute ascent, four minute hold, and three minute descent. The long flight time does make for a lengthy wait.

It is rumored that the soft opening of Characters in Flight will not happen tomorrow. Instead, Downtown Disney staff plan to have another day of Cast previews. The problem thereafter lies in the forecast. The Characters in Flight ride might not be available to the public until Sunday. In the meanwhile, here are some photos I took during today’s rides.

Downtown Disney West Side

Epcot

Characters in Flight

Many developments have been made recently on Aerophile S.A.’s Characters in Flight, the new attraction which will be located in Downtown Disney’s West Side.  According to their website, Aerophile S.A. was “founded in 1993 by two 25-year-old engineers, Matthieu Gobbi and Jerome Giacomoni, AEROPHILE S.A. reinvented the tethered gas balloon following an 80-year absence and become the world leader in tethered gas balloons through the development of three flagship products:

The AERO30NG since 1994, a big tethered balloon which can lift 30 passengers up to 500 feet every 10 minutes with 50 balloons sold in more than 20 countries in cities including Paris, Berlin, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Dubaï; the AERO2 since 2000, a mobile balloon for 2 passengers and the AEROPHARE since 2007, the first balloon which can fly up to 130 feet with 12 passengers up to 50 mph of wind. All products can be used as a totem, a billboard, and an amusement ride.”

Their site also includes press releases of their newest project with the Walt Disney World Resort.

Late March 23rd, the Aerophile S.A. operated balloon was inflated and is currently very visible from the other sides of the Sassagoula River. Trying to find it past Pleasure Island is a little more difficult because it’s restrained elevation just barely peaks over the stores.

The flight reflects another ride in Disneyland Paris by Aerophile S.A. called the PanoraMagique which flies 100 meters into the air over the foreign resort.  Once operating, Characters in Flight should be soaring 30 passengers about 300-400 feet in the air to show a breathtaking view of Downtown Disney and the nearby attractions. If the flight time of the PanoraMagique is of any comparison, this journey will be about 6 minutes long.   Set to open April 1, 2009, this massive balloon ride is still a sight to see before its take off.

Path Behind Portobello’s

Characters in Flight

Disneyland Paris PanoraMagique By Aerophile S.A.

Signage is up with price information.

$16.00 for adults

$10.00 for children 3-9

Including tax.

Get more information about Aerophile S.A. or the PanoraMagique by visiting their websites.