I rode this balloon ride earlier tonight and I noticed the view of MK completely blocked by the Contemporary Resort. I asked the pilot if you can ever see Cinderella's Castle, and he said never. I'm having a hard time figuring out how the singular Contemporary tower could block out the entire MK park including the castle. I am also wondering how they couldn't have known this when they planned where to put this ride. It's a definite downer when you go up there thinking you'll see the crown jewel of WDW only to learn it's completely blocked by a hotel.
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Characters in Flight at Downtown Disney - I can't figure out how...
- Thread starter retroeric
- Start date
danlb_2000
Premium Member
Here is a picture taken from the balloon towards Magic Kingdom:
http://photos.attractionsmagazine.com/gallery/7990449_mz5iz#519361496_spdco-X3-LB
You can just about see the castle peaking out from behind the contemporary. You can also see part of Space Mountain. I think the reason you can't see much more is that there aren't that many tall attractions in MK that you would be able to see above the trees.
http://photos.attractionsmagazine.com/gallery/7990449_mz5iz#519361496_spdco-X3-LB
You can just about see the castle peaking out from behind the contemporary. You can also see part of Space Mountain. I think the reason you can't see much more is that there aren't that many tall attractions in MK that you would be able to see above the trees.
RiversideBunny
New Member
That reminds me of our very first trip to WDW, back in the '70's.
We drove.
I expected that we would be able to see the castle sticking up from miles away as we approached the WDW area.
We drove.
I expected that we would be able to see the castle sticking up from miles away as we approached the WDW area.
If I'm standing on Main Street USA, I can block out the entire castle just by holding my finger in front of my face! Weird, huh??
5 miles is nothing when you're 400 feet in the air. The pilot said on a clear day you can see as far as Kennedy Space Center. The MK Castle would definitely be visible without the towers.
I wonder if there were any other options on the placement of this attraction. It just seems strange because I would have to think 99% of all people who go up there, the first thing they look for is Cinderella's Castle, and it's not there.
Monty
Brilliant...and Canadian
- In the Parks
- No
I don't think anyone on the ground in MK would be able to see the balloon. The lines of sight in the picture linked above show only the top of Space Mountain and by the looks of it the Castle well above the level of the stage out front.
Like I said, even without the hotels, you wouldn't see much at all.
PhotoDave219
Well-Known Member
Um.... its big and its in the way? The Contemporary tower is physically bigger and just about as tall as the Castle?
MrBug
New Member
Yes - the new mission is to see if all the passengers rock back and forth, can they swing the balloon over enough to get a clear view of the castle...
Monty
Brilliant...and Canadian
- In the Parks
- No
KSC is 55 miles from the Characters in Flight balloon. To be able to see KSC from the balloon over the curvature of the earth would necessitate an altitude differential of approximately 3000 ft. Given the altitude of Lake Buena Vista is 94 ft, there's no way you could see KSC from the balloon on the clearest day imaginable. You could see a launch from KSC after its gained some altitude.
I'm guessing pilots on the balloon are as reliable as bus drivers and boat captains at WDW.
preludevtec01
Well-Known Member
So how long is the "ride"? Do you just raise up to the max altitude and then float back down?? The only reason I would want to ride it is for the view but it seems there isn't much of one, lol.
SpectroPhoenix
Active Member
I'm also considering taking the ride at some point soon. How's the view during Wishes?
Well this pilot sounded pretty knowledgeable. He seemed like he's been flying hot air and helium balloons his whole life, and yes you need a special pilot's license from the FAA. Since he takes this particular balloon up in the sky about two hundred times a week, I think he'd know by know if you can see KSC area. Unless he was simply lying to all of us.
klineski96
Active Member
To those complaining that the placement of Characters in Flight is terrible because you cannot see the Castle when you are in the air... please look at the following picture.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2555/4007257434_53491f7525_b.jpg
To explain what each shape represents:
1) The small solid PINK circle inside the thin PINK ring is Cinderella's Castle. (CC)
2) The small solid YELLOW rectangle inside the thin YELLOW rectangle is the Contemporary Resort. (CR)
3) The small solid YELLOW circle inside the thin YELLOW ring in the location of Characters in Flight. (CIF)
Now to explain the lines:
1) The RED line is the actual sight line from the CIF to the Castle.
2) The BLUE line is the farthest western point on Downtown Disney Westside that they could have put CIF, it's right next to Cirque du Soliel. Notice the view of CC is still partially blocked by the CR. This means that anywhere along the waterfront at Downtown Disney, Westside or Marketplace side, would have an obstructed view.
3) The PURPLE line shows the sight line needed to see an unobstructed view of CC from a spot located closest to Downtown Disney. It's all the way across the street from Downtown Disney!
4) Finally the GREEN line shows the sight line had CIF been placed somewhere along Disney's Boardwalk. Not that CIF fits well in Downtown Disney now, but does it fit better at Disney's Boardwalk?? Absolutely not.
So... to those who are complaining and don't like the fact that you can't see Cinderella's Castle, where would you put Characters in Flight instead? And "nowhere" isn't a choice.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2555/4007257434_53491f7525_b.jpg
To explain what each shape represents:
1) The small solid PINK circle inside the thin PINK ring is Cinderella's Castle. (CC)
2) The small solid YELLOW rectangle inside the thin YELLOW rectangle is the Contemporary Resort. (CR)
3) The small solid YELLOW circle inside the thin YELLOW ring in the location of Characters in Flight. (CIF)
Now to explain the lines:
1) The RED line is the actual sight line from the CIF to the Castle.
2) The BLUE line is the farthest western point on Downtown Disney Westside that they could have put CIF, it's right next to Cirque du Soliel. Notice the view of CC is still partially blocked by the CR. This means that anywhere along the waterfront at Downtown Disney, Westside or Marketplace side, would have an obstructed view.
3) The PURPLE line shows the sight line needed to see an unobstructed view of CC from a spot located closest to Downtown Disney. It's all the way across the street from Downtown Disney!
4) Finally the GREEN line shows the sight line had CIF been placed somewhere along Disney's Boardwalk. Not that CIF fits well in Downtown Disney now, but does it fit better at Disney's Boardwalk?? Absolutely not.
So... to those who are complaining and don't like the fact that you can't see Cinderella's Castle, where would you put Characters in Flight instead? And "nowhere" isn't a choice.
ChrisFL
Premium Member
If they kept the balloon with the yellow and red colors and added nothing to it, I agree, but I think they could have put it in the Boardwalk area and made it look more like a victorian style balloon very easily.