Characters In Flight Balloon Reopening

[DizneyFreak2002]

The Characters in Flight balloon which was shut down an accident in China will be reopening to the public... Installation of the new balloon is currently taking place... No date has been given to when the balloon will reopen...

[faline]

Thanks for the update. I wonder if they will be able to regain a consumer base? I never went on it. I was hesitant before, and, to be honest, would be even more hesitant now.

[TinkerbellT421]

Thanks for the update. I wonder if they will be able to regain a consumer base? I never went on it. I was hesitant before, and, to be honest, would be even more hesitant now.

DBF kept trying to get me to go on that thing. I won't do it. Doesn't help I do NOT like heights. But that story in china, did not help my fears

[DizneyFreak2002]

Thanks for the update. I wonder if they will be able to regain a consumer base? I never went on it. I was hesitant before, and, to be honest, would be even more hesitant now.

How much of a client base did it have before? Was it a popular side attraction in DTD?

[DisneyGlutton]

I went on it when it first opened. It was okay, not great. Theoretically the view should've been nice, but binoculars would've been helpful. It was also a hazy day which didn't help. It was certainly pricey, and given the possible safety concerns, I can't say I would ever do it again.

[Quadstriker]

Honestly VERY surprised they're putting this back up. I figured it was gone for good.

Never was really interested in going on it before, and that hasn't changed.

Out of curiosity, what do they charge for a lift?

[jnfr2424]

Honestly VERY surprised they're putting this back up. I figured it was gone for good.

Never was really interested in going on it before, and that hasn't changed.

Out of curiosity, what do they charge for a lift?

I think it was $16 for a 9 min ride
Glad I did it twice one day and once at night got great photos and I can hang on to the memories that's enough for me

[Melanie]

I'm actually surprised it's going back up as well, and am going to predict it won't do well. I thought about doing it one time last spring, when I was there with a girlfriend and her daughter and friends, but it was grounded due to wind. Actually, 80% of the time I was there over the last 3 years, it was grounded by wind.

[TinkerbellT421]

I'm actually surprised it's going back up as well, and am going to predict it won't do well. I thought about doing it one time last spring, when I was there with a girlfriend and her daughter and friends, but it was grounded due to wind. Actually, 80% of the time I was there over the last 3 years, it was grounded by wind.

You obviously have been there more than me, but I swear every time I was in DTD which is several times in one trip, that thing was grounded. I think once I saw it up. And it was a enough to make me feel instantly I was thankful it was always down cause I think DBF would have got me on that kicking and screaming!

[SBETigg]

I've seen it up many times during past stays. I'd actually forgotten that they had grounded it, and the whole incident behind it. I don't mind heights, but I'm not really interested in this either. I think they will still have riders. A lot of people assume that because it's at Disney, it's safe.

[DizneyFreak2002]

I can say last year, my friends and I were contemplating doing the balloon... My friends backed out because of the price... On top of that, not one person even ventured over to the balloon... The balloon wasn't grounded, it was open, but no one was lining up for it... That's why I wondered in a previous post just how popular this is...

[Polynesian Dweller]

I can say last year, my friends and I were contemplating doing the balloon... My friends backed out because of the price... On top of that, not one person even ventured over to the balloon... The balloon wasn't grounded, it was open, but no one was lining up for it... That's why I wondered in a previous post just how popular this is...

These rides are generally not that popular. They are also dependent on winds for operation, not just at ground level but aloft. There are lots of times that they are open, it's a calm day at ground level but they aren't flying because winds 50, 100 ft above don't allow it. This unpredictability cuts into the popularity and makes it impossible to pre-book a ride.

But, Aerophile has decided to try to make a business of it and has balloons worldwide so they must be doing something right.

[ransam]

what happened on this ride in china?

Thanks.

[Altair]

We thought it was fine. It's not a "must do", but it was something different. We went in the day, but night might be better. I think it was $16 per person at the time. It may have gone up since then (pun intended).

I don agree, it is grounded more than flying. We didn't feel unsafe in any way.

[faline]

what happened on this ride in china?

Thanks.

As I undertand it, it suffered a rapid deflation, fell 200 feet and injured several people.

[mook3y]

Posting from Dtd. Gondola was just moved from Saratoga springs to the balloon are and balloon laid out and helium trucks in place. They are saying open by October 1. This from the people there. 10 minutes ago

[Polynesian Dweller]

As I undertand it, it suffered a rapid deflation, fell 200 feet and injured several people.

Yep, that's it. A seam let go. The French equivalent of the NTSB has issued an airworthiness directive for that model balloon requiring examination and testing of the seams every two weeks. If they use the same model it will likely be very safe.

Aerophile is a French company and is required to follow this.

[DizneyFreak2002]

Posting from Dtd. Gondola was just moved from Saratoga springs to the balloon are and balloon laid out and helium trucks in place. They are saying open by October 1. This from the people there. 10 minutes ago

Thanks for updated information...

[mook3y]

They have started inflating. Probably 40-50 people around the balloon as it inflating. Right now center is about 6 feet of ground. Posting this dockside.

[DizneyFreak2002]

They have started inflating. Probably 40-50 people around the balloon as it inflating. Right now center is about 6 feet of ground. Posting this dockside.

Does the balloon look any different than the previous one?