Can you see WDW on Delta flight from ATL?

[kda]

You can tell we don't have much to worry about by this question that will probably seem ridiculous to many of you. DH would LOVE to see WDW from the plane as we approach the Orlando airport.

For many years, we've had direct flights from Hartford and they fly over the water and approach the airport from the east ....... you can't see WDW. This time, we're taking Delta to Atlanta and then on to Orlando on the trip down (grabbed a low fare last week when it went down for a few hours). For those of you who have flown Delta from Atlanta to Orlando, can you see WDW from the air? If so, which side of the plane do we need to be sitting on?

Thanks!

Sometimes, it's the little things in life ..............

 

[dudspizza]

You can tell we don't have much to worry about by this question that will probably seem ridiculous to many of you. DH would LOVE to see WDW from the plane as we approach the Orlando airport.

For many years, we've had direct flights from Hartford and they fly over the water and approach the airport from the east ....... you can't see WDW. This time, we're taking Delta to Atlanta and then on to Orlando on the trip down (grabbed a low fare last week when it went down for a few hours). For those of you who have flown Delta from Atlanta to Orlando, can you see WDW from the air? If so, which side of the plane do we need to be sitting on?

Thanks!

Sometimes, it's the little things in life ..............

I would think that the carrier does not matter. All planes come in from the same direction depending on the wind.... In all of my flights, I have never seen WDW on the way in... I think I saw the castle on the way out once.

It is really neat when you do see stuff from the air. My last flight was to Corpus Christi. The plane left the airport and did a loop over downtown as we took off. I saw my hotel, the bowling center where we had the national tournament, and the T Head islands. It was a great way to say goodbye!


Duds

 

[Obi-Wan Pinobi]

I just looked at a satellite image of MCO and it looks like the runways run north to south. WDW is west-southwest of MCO. If your flight were approaching from the south and you were on the left side of the plane, you might see WDW, but I don't think the Castle or SSE are quite that big. I know if you're approaching ATL from the east and you're on the right side of the plane, sometimes you can see Stone Mountain, but that's WAAAAAAAY bigger than the buildings at WDW.

One of the best views I had on a flight once was ATL-LGA. On the approach, the plane came over NJ and Staten Island, and it was a wonderfully clear day. I could easily make out the Garden State Parkway, the Statue of Liberty, and Manhattan. Awesome. I wish I'd had a camera.

 

[safetymom]

I fly in and out of Orlando quite often and I have never seen WDW out of the plane. I have flown many different airlines and nothing.

One of my last trips the pilot flew us over the Kennedy Space Center. When you see from 30000 feet that runway they have to land the shuttle it doesn't look very big.

 

[spiceycat]

long ago you could. and the pliot would announce it and you could see maybe Epcot???? but kept in mind how high you are.... this was generally before the plane started to land.

besides sometimes WDW is a no fly zone. (when the government thinks that WDW is on the hit list again)

 

[NotUrsula]

The only time we ever saw it was when we were detouring around a hurricane, and looped way south. We had to bank around hard to get into position for the runway approach, and Spaceship Earth was briefly visible out of the port windows when the plane banked.

 

[Lisa_Belle]

I've never seen it flying out of Atlanta. But if you want a good view of a city, fly out of Reagan National in DC. The planes aren't supposed to fly higher than the monuments, and let's just say you get an up close and personal view.

 

[dvc guy]

Someone may have more info, but it is my understanding that WDW is a no fly zone, and while they may fly around it, they do not fly over.

 

[DebbieB]

Someone may have more info, but it is my understanding that WDW is a no fly zone, and while they may fly around it, they do not fly over.

I believe there is a altitude restriction, they cannot fly below so many feet (3,000?). I've seen planes flying over (high). Even on approach to MCO, planes would probably be above the restriction.

 

[malificentsman]

Two years we came in right over Daytona Motor Speedway. It was still very big from where we were!

 

[OKW Lover]

You can see WDW if its clear and you are landing in the correct direction. If you are landing to the South, look to the fron right of the plane (probably on a 45 degree angle or so) for some large buildings about 20 miles out. They will be the Swolphin. You might also pick-out the Contemporary and some of the other tall hotels near Disney.

If landing to the North, you probably won't see WDW unless the plane has to fly to the west of MCO before making its turn to the North. In that case, WDW will probably be right underneath you.

We've had the most luck when leaving MCO. Typically the planes leave to the South and make a 180 to the right (west) to head for Atlanta. On that route, you're almost guaranteed to fly right over Disney.

 

[boBQuincy]

Maybe.
Depending on air traffic and other factors, you might come across the area somewhere just North of WDW. If so, the best viewing would probably be on the right side of the plane.

Flight patterns vary considerably, so it's a pretty big "maybe".

 

[kda]

Thanks very much for all your help!