Originally Posted By AutoPost This topic is for Discussion of <a href="http://www.LaughingPlace.com/Latest.asp?I1=ID&I2=3849" target="_blank"><b>Latest: Characters in Flight takes flight</b></a> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://laughingplace.com/files/latest/20090330-4.jpg" width="399" height="272" /></p> <p>The Characters in Flight attraction at Downtown Disney is currently in testing. Above is a shot of a test Monday morning taking from I4 near the Team Disney building. Guests are expected to start riding the first week of April.</p> <p><b>Related: </b><a href="Lotio-View-854.asp">Characters in Flight Construction at Downtown Disney</a> includes close-up pictures and attraction info.</p> <p> </p>
Originally Posted By CTXRover Price is $16.00 for adults, $10.00 for children (very comparable to prices for similar balloon attractions at Philadelphia zoo ($15.00) and DLP (12 Euro, which is about 16.00 USD) Maximum height is 400ft. Hours of operation are Sunday to Thursday from 10:30 am to 11pm. Friday and Saturday it is open 10:30am to 12am. The balloon will not fly if wind conditions are greater than 22MPH.
Originally Posted By brerroadrunner I can't help but think this is awful "touristy". Helicopter rides, bungy jumping, and balloon rides all fall into this category. I think it is beneath Disney. Times must really be getting tough if Disney needs to resort to these types of attractions. First American Idol, now this. Both seem hokey but that's just my opinion. They took out Adventurer's Club and replaced it with this? UGH!!!
Originally Posted By stitch4336 I don't mind it in DD - I think I'd have an issue if it was in a park, that would verge on tacky They had one of these at San Diego Wild Animal Park last fall when we were there - about the same price. It's a bit pricey for a family of 4 to go up for a whole five minutes - but a good money maker I guess for the mouse.
Originally Posted By itsme My local zoo{philly} has one of these and people go nuts for it. Though it does get shut down often due to wind which imo we don't really get a lot of.
Originally Posted By leobloom I bet it'd be fun to ride in that balloon if it was getting blown around by hurricane-force winds. Other than that, I can't see paying $16 for this. (3 or 4 trips up in the balloon are as expensive as a day in the park? Good luck with that, especially in this economy.)
Originally Posted By -em two more views: <a href="http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t71/DL_EM/3-09219.jpg" target="_blank">http://i157.photobucket.com/al...9219.jpg</a> and from the roof of the Contemp yesterday <a href="http://i157.photobucket.com/albums/t71/DL_EM/3-09221.jpg" target="_blank">http://i157.photobucket.com/al...9221.jpg</a> I think its pretty but unless they have a great cast discount I doubt Ill ever go... The view from the contemp is better
Originally Posted By dshyates If you think the Balloon ride is tacky, what do you think of the tiny train ride they have in DtD? I was shocked when I saw it. It is the same as the outlet malls around the country.
Originally Posted By MPierce Hey....I've got an idea. Why don't they hang streamers advertising sham wows, and pick up a few extra bucks? Come on Disney execs. think out of the box. There's always more ways to make money.
Originally Posted By tonyanton Interestingly, one of the earliest aerial view paintings of Disneyland (by Peter Ellenshaw) I believe showed a tethered balloon ride from the hub area, so this isn't totally without precedent.
Originally Posted By CarolinaDisneyDad I still think it's a good idea. People will ride it and it will make money. I don't get the tackiness argument. It's a balloon ride. Relax and have fun. I'm always in favor of Disney trying new things.
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt little kids (under 5) love the train ride at DtD..mine did anyway.
Originally Posted By dshyates "little kids (under 5) love the train ride at DtD..mine did anyway." Little kids also like parking lot carnivals. Does that mean that they should put one in DtD? Disney was always a great place to teach your kids the difference between ____ and shinola.
Originally Posted By Fe Maiden <<Little kids also like parking lot carnivals. Does that mean that they should put one in DtD? Disney was always a great place to teach your kids the difference between ____ and shinola.>> Oh, please. Why would Disney put in a small train ride and carousel in DtD for little kids?. You would think Disney understands that going in from store to store with their parents is exciting enough. What's more fun for a little kid than standing in a crowded store at the end of the day waiting for Mom or Dad to pay for all the stuff they're going to bring home. Does everything have to be some grand lesson?
Originally Posted By A Happy Haunt <-also thought Pooh's Playground was cute! Disney has something for everyone!
