Characters in Flight Grounded maybe until November

**HauntedGabe** · 07-03-2012, 12:43 PM

Mouse Planet is reporting:

Characters in Flight grounded

The Characters in Flight balloon has been temporarily removed from Downtown Disney following an incident involving a similar balloon in Hong Kong. The accident, at Ocean Park, occurred when the balloon sprang a leak and plunged nearly 200 feet to the ground. Four passengers and one visitor on the ground were injured. Three other passengers and the operator were uninjured. Two of the injured passengers were taken to a hospital and later released after treatment. The visitor on the ground remained in the hospital with head injuries.
Following the accident, Aerophile pulled the Florida balloon for inspection, as well as a similar balloon at Disneyland Paris. The balloon's page on the Walt Disney World website has been temporarily disabled.
Some rumors indicate that the balloon may not be flying again until November. The balloon was reportedly scheduled for replacement in November, and therefore it makes less sense to try to put the balloon back in service only to deflate it again just weeks later.

**JNota0005DakMC** · 07-04-2012, 01:08 PM

I have this feeling we may have seen the last of this attraction... Anyone know if this was popular or not... I never noticed it flying when I was down there... But often I was at DD late...

**Mo Noyz** · 07-04-2012, 05:19 PM

When we were there in '10 we saw it flying early in the evening right around dusk.

It was nothing we'd have ever been interested in. Seemed like a pretty sorry excuse for an attraction, IMO.

**HauntedGabe** · 07-04-2012, 05:19 PM

In April I was in DTD late morning one day and Mid-Afternoon another, though not long either time. I never saw CiF up. You could very well be right.

November may come and it may quietly never reappear.

I never had the desire to ride it but it was pretty to look at in the evening. Actually a picture of it looking across the lake is my screen saver. It photographs beautifully at night and shows a reflection in the water.

**JNota0005DakMC** · 07-06-2012, 01:28 PM

i thought about doing it once or twice... and at $16 a person it wasn't terribly expensive... but it just never affected me enough to have a 100% desire to try it out...

**prickle** · 07-06-2012, 02:21 PM

I stay at the HGVC Parc Solei and my condo faced all of the parks, I saw the balloon flying all day starting early, except of course during bad weather. I also could watch every firework show the parks displayed. Very cool.

**HauntedGabe** · 09-26-2012, 11:58 AM

New balloon is there and being installed. Kinda surprised it came back.

**belldream** · 09-26-2012, 12:09 PM

We just never made it on, even though each trip we wrote it down as something we wanted to experience. I think it's a bit expensive for the length and type of attraction ... but then again, I thought perhaps I could get some really wonderful photos from up there. So we'll have to make this priority to do before it goes away for good

**HauntedGabe** · 09-26-2012, 01:03 PM

Originally Posted by belldream

We just never made it on, even though each trip we wrote it down as something we wanted to experience. I think it's a bit expensive for the length and type of attraction ... but then again, I thought perhaps I could get some really wonderful photos from up there. So we'll have to make this priority to do before it goes away for good

Yes, it does kinda add up if you are paying for a family of 4 or 5 over just a couple. Yet in a heartbeat many families will be forking out $18.99 for the plastic Enchanted Castle Souvenir Cup at Be Our Guest Restaurant in a couple of months.

**belldream** · 09-26-2012, 01:09 PM

Yes, and we will be among them LOL! Can't wait to own that mug!

**JNota0005DakMC** · 09-27-2012, 02:36 PM

I am extremely surprised that this is returning... I guess its good... Ill be down in late november, with family... my g/f desperately wanted to do it, and I have a feeling my mom will want to do it also... we shall see..