Balloons- Can you tour the park with them?

[TexasKiwiPrincess]

This seems like such a silly, simple thing!

I love the balloons at Magic Kingdom. They are so colorful and really make Main Street feel so festive. I always take pictures of my kids on MS with a bunch of balloons. Even though we love them, we've never purchased one, mostly because they are not allowed on the plane. Also, I don't remember how expensive they are but my gut feeling is they aren't a good value.

We have another WDW trip planned and my youngest again asked if she could get a balloon. I read somewhere (maybe even on these boards) that others have purchased a balloon and then passed it on to someone else on the last day of their trip. I like that idea, since we couldn't bring it home anyway, but then I thought, what in the world would we do with it while touring, on rides or in shows? We are beyond the stroller stage so we don't have anything to tie it down.

So, how do you tour Magic Kingdom with balloons? Can you park hop with them or bring it back into the park with you on a different day? How long do they last? Hours? Days? Weeks?

 

[BrianL]

This seems like such a silly, simple thing!

I love the balloons at Magic Kingdom. They are so colorful and really make Main Street feel so festive. I always take pictures of my kids on MS with a bunch of balloons. Even though we love them, we've never purchased one, mostly because they are not allowed on the plane. Also, I don't remember how expensive they are but my gut feeling is they aren't a good value.

We have another WDW trip planned and my youngest again asked if she could get a balloon. I read somewhere (maybe even on these boards) that others have purchased a balloon and then passed it on to someone else on the last day of their trip. I like that idea, since we couldn't bring it home anyway, but then I thought, what in the world would we do with it while touring, on rides or in shows? We are beyond the stroller stage so we don't have anything to tie it down.

So, how do you tour Magic Kingdom with balloons? Can you park hop with them or bring it back into the park with you on a different day? How long do they last? Hours? Days? Weeks?

You can absolutely bring them with you and park-hop with them, except I think they don't allow them into Animal Kingdom because of the possibility of the rubber getting into an animal habitat. I am not sure about doing rides and such with them.

 

[Wish Upon A Starbucks]

This doesn't answer your question but some airlines allow the balloons. We were on a Southwest flight with one a couple months ago. It popped mid flight which was kind of startling to everyone else on the flight. So I don't recommend it but some airlines do allow it.

 

[wilkeliza]

You can absolutely bring them with you and park-hop with them, except I think they don't allow them into Animal Kingdom because of the possibility of the rubber getting into an animal habitat. I am not sure about doing rides and such with them.

DAK will hold them at guest relations and return them when you leave if you forget.

I don't know about rides and stuff. I'll admit I'm a grown adult that has bought a balloon at Disney. We usually leave it in the room then deflate it to take it home to put in the scrap book. Silly but there are a few that just make you feel like a kid again (the Bayman and stitch balloons).

 

[WhispyPixie]

I think touring the parks would be extremely difficult with a balloon. When we had one on a stroller...we just tied it to the handle. After that...we made sure to get the balloon when exiting the park. Then it decorated our hotel room..lol If we were flying home, we deflated it and then they stuck it on the wall in their room for a short time. silly kids!

 

[bumbershoot]

We got a balloon once. It was during the stroller years which is the better time to get one so you don't have to figure out what to do with it while you ride space mountain.

It was a letdown. When you're holding it you don't see it or experience it. It's up above you and behind you (smacking other people in the face if you hold it wrong) and is being enjoyed by others.

Even my kid, who was under 5 at the time, felt the same. We would rather enjoy other people's balloons. Cheaper that way.

 

[HaveKidsWillTravel]

On our last trip a family gave us their balloon as they were leaving. We tied it to the stroller or it stayed in the room. That sucker lasted a long time. On our departure day we passed the balloon on to another family. It is one of my favorite memories.
This year my daughter (4) is already asking for a balloon. But we have a stroller. So the balloon will either be on the stroller or in the room. I plan on passing it on on our departure day.
If we didn't have a stroller I'd probably wait until leaving the park to buy it and then leaving it in the room.

 

[mom2rtk]

On our departure day we passed the balloon on to another family. It is one of my favorite memories.

Absolutely the best way to end a trip with a balloon!

 

[disnut8]

As stated, balloons are not sold or allowed in Animal Kingdom. But the OP's question was to tour Magic Kingdom with them and without a stroller or something to tie the balloon onto. It was also said that the youngest wanted a balloon and I think that is fine. But, I would advise the OP to do this. Take the youngest to a local shopping mall (outside) and have a prebought balloon with them (dollar stores have them for, well, $1). Then, have the youngest walk around with the balloon and see what happens.

 

[Crystal824]

We have gotten a balloon on several prior trips. Last time we did they were $10 so expensive for a balloon. We had a stroller so we tied it to the stroller everyday except AK days. We knew they weren't allowed. Without a stroller, I have no idea what you would do with it. We always pass it along to another family at the end of the trip too. It is fun way to spread some magic.

 

[TexasKiwiPrincess]

You can absolutely bring them with you and park-hop with them, except I think they don't allow them into Animal Kingdom because of the possibility of the rubber getting into an animal habitat. I am not sure about doing rides and such with them.

I did not know that about Animal Kingdom, but it totally makes sense.

This doesn't answer your question but some airlines allow the balloons. We were on a Southwest flight with one a couple months ago. It popped mid flight which was kind of startling to everyone else on the flight. So I don't recommend it but some airlines do allow it.

I didn't know any airlines allowed them! I can imagine it startled people, to say the least.

As stated, balloons are not sold or allowed in Animal Kingdom. But the OP's question was to tour Magic Kingdom with them and without a stroller or something to tie the balloon onto. It was also said that the youngest wanted a balloon and I think that is fine. But, I would advise the OP to do this. Take the youngest to a local shopping mall (outside) and have a prebought balloon with them (dollar stores have them for, well, $1). Then, have the youngest walk around with the balloon and see what happens.

She is old enough to manage a balloon. We've lost our fair share at other venues! She enjoys walking around with them, I just don't know what we would do with it when we want to go on a ride. As others have mentioned, the balloons seem to end up decorating the hotel room and are more hassle than fun. I'm not too keen on spending $20 on a balloon that just ends up in the hotel room.

I asked about MK because I've never noticed balloons at DHS or Epcot. A balloon in the World Showcase would be fun!

 

[Allison]

I can't think of what you would do with it while you are enjoying attractions.

 

[srauseo]

I have seen them hold balloons at the loading zone at rides. They tie them to a railing or something. I think they are used to accommodating them. This would be tricky at rides that have different load and unload areas though.

 

[Accident]

side note, they will replace the balloon at no cost if something happens to it..

I'm not sure how practical walking around with a balloon is if your doing rides.. Interesting question though.

they are pretty easy to deflate and you can rent/buy a small container of helium when you get home from any party city or similar store (and in toys r us). To rent it's usually from a welding supply or beverage company as gases are part of the systems that construction and beverage systems use. they might even be willing to just refill the balloon for you for a tiny fee.

 

[jwo1976]

This doesn't answer your question but some airlines allow the balloons. We were on a Southwest flight with one a couple months ago. It popped mid flight which was kind of startling to everyone else on the flight. So I don't recommend it but some airlines do allow it.

Funny story about this. On our honeymoon (2000) we were flying Delta. She wanted a balloon so I bought it for her. I knew she would keep it forever. So I offered to let the air out and fold it and pack it away. TO which she replied "Ive always taken the balloons on the airplane with no problems". So as you stated mid-flight the balloon exploded. This was one of the Mylar mickey balloons. Startling is not quite the word I would use to describe it. It sounded like something came off the plane. Lots of nervous people around us, the little girl across the aisle began to tear up. Since the balloon was in the overhead and I didn't want to bring attention to us, I waited a few minutes then got up and checked. Yep, her balloon. Needless to say we won't do that again.

 

[TexasKiwiPrincess]

I have seen them hold balloons at the loading zone at rides. They tie them to a railing or something. I think they are used to accommodating them. This would be tricky at rides that have different load and unload areas though.

Good point- I didn't even think about different loading & unloading areas.

I'm sure CMs have a plan in place. Maybe we will just wait and see when we get there!
Do you think it's worth a phone call? Seems like CMs at the call center are hit or miss.

 

[McKelly]

When our kids were in strollers, we tied it to the stroller the day we purchased it. It was kind of nice because it helped us find our stroller! After that day though- it stayed in the hotel room. It was one less thing to have to deal with in the parks. Once we didn't need strollers anymore - we only purchased one as we were exiting the parks and left it in the resort room after that.

 

[TexasKiwiPrincess]

they are pretty easy to deflate

That's good to know! Some balloons come with a plastic tie-off on the end that won't come off to deflate it. We tried once to get a special birthday balloon re-inflated. It tore a hole in the bottom of the balloon when we attempted to take the plastic piece off. I'll check with Party City before we leave to see if they are willing to re-inflate them. On our last trip we asked the balloon vendor if we could purchase deflated balloons to bring home. They said no, that you can only purchase the balloons inflated. If they are easy to deflate I would be more inclined to get one. Thanks!

 

[biondagirl]

Unless you have a stroller to tie it to, it's a huge pain.

We usually get one for our dd on the way out of MK. It then sits in our room to never be used again.

We drive down but there is no way we'll have flying around the car for 17 hours.

 

[Accident]

That's good to know! Some balloons come with a plastic tie-off on the end that won't come off to deflate it. We tried once to get a special birthday balloon re-inflated. It tore a hole in the bottom of the balloon when we attempted to take the plastic piece off. I'll check with Party City before we leave to see if they are willing to re-inflate them. On our last trip we asked the balloon vendor if we could purchase deflated balloons to bring home. They said no, that you can only purchase the balloons inflated. If they are easy to deflate I would be more inclined to get one. Thanks!

The mickey head balloon inside a balloon deflates just by carefully untieing the balloon at the bottom. Carefully is the key (and do it early because if you mess up, they will give you a new one for free to try again but you need enough time before you leave to go get it (and a park ticket to get into the park to find it, not sure if they sell them at springs).

see what party city or whatever local store you have has for refilling balloons, maybe you can just cut the plastic piece and put a new one in when you return home. I've never tried this so not sure you can completely remove the old plastic piece after you cut it to deflate.

don't bring an inflated balloon on the plane, the pressurization will probably cause it to pop and sound like somethign went really wrong.