'Characters in Flight' Balloon down [for good?]

[SydneyJoLynn]

Due to an incident in China with the same balloon company as Characters in Flight, DTD will no longer be dispatching trips into the air.
Some are saying the flights are cancelled due to a helium shortage... yet helium balloons are still being offered in the parks.

I never been on this experience, but it just seemed so overpriced anyway.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Interesting. Have a source link you'd be willing to share?

 

[asianway]

The thing never looked safe to me...

Another crowning achievement to be left off the resume of Mr Lansberry

 

[asianway]

Interesting. Have a source link you'd be willing to share?

I get all my news at www.epcyclopedia.com - he tells it like it is

 

[SydneyJoLynn]

Here is an incident that occurred in China, from the same balloon company.

 

[Coca-Cola]

It's been confirmed due to the incident that occurred in China, it's been removed for inspections.

FROM: http://www.mickeyupdates.com/2012/characters-in-flight-balloon-removed-at-downtown-disney/

Characters in Flight Balloon is currently closed and removed from Downtown Disney until further notice. Recently there was an accident at Ocean Park in Hong Kong from the same manufacturer and operator as the Characters in Flight balloon. Three people were injured after the ballon headed into a steep dive on Thursday. Aerophile, the company behind the ballon, has decided to suspend operations of the balloons at Downtown Disney and Disneyland Paris, so they can conduct inspections.

It’s not clear yet if Characters in Flight Balloon will return to Downtown Disney. There’s no reason why it shouldn’t after inspections, but Disney has removed the attraction from their website. This would lead us to suggest the attraction won’t be returning or at least not for a while.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Personally, it was an eyesore to me. I'm glad it's gone.

 

[Traveliz]

We were down there this morning and noticed the absence of the balloon. There were employees working there the entire time and fielding questions. We were told the balloon was going through a safety inspection. Everything else (but the balloon) is still in place.

Liz

 

[mom2rtk]

Don't know the story here, but I do know I was unable to buy helium balloons for my daughter's grade school graduation this spring. I was told there is a shortage and everyone in town was out.

 

[minniebeth]

Aww, I liked seeing the Characters in Flight balloon flying over Downtown Disney. To me, it's kind of like DTD's icon, as the ball is to Epcot, the hat to DHS, etc.
We did get to fly in it once, and while I probably wouldn't do it again for the cost, we're glad we had the experience.

 

[asianway]

Aww, I liked seeing the Characters in Flight balloon flying over Downtown Disney. To me, it's kind of like DTD's icon, as the ball is to Epcot, the hat to DHS, etc.
We did get to fly in it once, and while I probably wouldn't do it again for the cost, we're glad we had the experience.

It was a blight on the WDW skyline as is the hat at the studios.

And it is a geosphere, not a "ball"...

 

[starrysky]

I was able to ride it last year and I really enjoyed the prespective it gave of WDW.

Ok some people might not think it was very pretty but to each their own.

 

[minniebeth]

It was a blight on the WDW skyline as is the hat at the studios.

And it is a geosphere, not a "ball"...

Well, aren't we the know it all today You say blight, I say icon. I respect your opinion, I respect mine. Have a nice day.

 

[Tink-aholic]

How can there be a helium "shortage"?? It is an element.

 

[Robo]

How can there be a helium "shortage"?? It is an element.

So is gold.

 

[North of Mouse]

Don't know the story here, but I do know I was unable to buy helium balloons for my daughter's grade school graduation this spring. I was told there is a shortage and everyone in town was out.

No shortages in our area

 

[Ameraucanas]

If you look into it Helium has quite a recent disturbing recent history. The US makes the most of it in the world we are the Saudi Arabia of Helium at around 80%. About 7% of raw natural gas is Helium. But sometime in the last decade the US decided not to stock pile it anymore creating instead a privatized system of Helium production in the US. During the past 10 years almost coinciding with the privatization the price of Helium has almost doubled and there is now shortages in many places around the world. The US was also dumping our stockpile and now we don't have one anymore.

Oh, the majority of Helium is for industrial purposes Arc welding, making silicon wafers, ect. Another reason for the shortage can be blamed on both China's building boom and increases in high end elections production.

Waking up today I never thought Helium would be so interesting and kind of a sordid tale of the modern world.

On the subject of the DTD balloon I was never too impressed by it. It was cute but never interested me.

 

[Polydweller]

Before this thread goes too far off the rails, the closure has nothing to do with helium shortage.. There was a serious accident Friday at Ocean Park Theme Park in Hong Kong with an Aerophile balloon of the sme design. It developed a 3 m (10ft) tear and fell 60 m (196 ft) to the ground injuring 5 people. Very nearly tragic.

Aerophile has grounded all of its balloons world wide for inspection. The length of time will depend on what they find. It could be temporary or even permanent though that's not at all clear.

But forget the helium shortage idea. It is not that!

 

[mom2rtk]

Before this thread goes too far off the rails, the closure has nothing to do with helium shortage.. There was a serious accident Friday at Ocean Park Theme Park in Hong Kong with an Aerophile balloon of the sme design. It developed a 3 m (10ft) tear and fell 60 m (196 ft) to the ground injuring 5 people. Very nearly tragic.

Aerophile has grounded all of its balloons world wide for inspection. The length of time will depend on what they find. It could be temporary or even permanent though that's not at all clear.

But forget the helium shortage idea. It is not that!

But now you all know not to count on buying helium balloons for your next birthday party.

I'm glad nobody perished in the incident and wish for full recoveries.

 

[Nalshersmom]

Our dollar tree has had signs up since April stating they are "temporarily" out of helium due to a vendor shortage.