Drone show duration at Disney Springs?

[nenser]

anyone know how long the show lasts?

 

[rteetz]

About 5 minutes.

Shown twice nightly.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

I knew it was short, due to the short battery life on the drones.

 

[rteetz]

I knew it was short, due to the short battery life on the drones.

When it was being tested it was closer to 10 minutes and had a Santa segment. That was cut though. As drone tech improves I would expect them to be in shows longer, such as Illuminations...

 

[Phdmama06]

I was surprised at how short it was! Barely five minutes. Hopefully we will see them do more with drones as they perfect their techniques!

 

[McCoy]

When it was being tested it was closer to 10 minutes and had a Santa segment. That was cut though. As drone tech improves I would expect them to be in shows longer, such as Illuminations...

I know it's all just speculation and rumors and hopes at this point, but every time I see Illuminations mentioned as a possibility for the drones, I find myself wondering how they could pull that off, since there isn't any good landing spot in the area that doesn't get within 150-200 feet of guests, or whatever that precise limitation is. They would essentially need to put in a large landing area floating in the water, it would seem, which I can't imagine they would do, unless during the show they restrict access to like 1/4 of the World walkway, which would seemingly require shutting down an entire pavilion or two, which I also can't imagine they would do. Or otherwise apply to the FAA for another exemption. I know it's not important right now, it's just something I wonder about how they could do it.

 

[SorcererHeidi]

I know it's all just speculation and rumors and hopes at this point, but every time I see Illuminations mentioned as a possibility for the drones, I find myself wondering how they could pull that off, since there isn't any good landing spot in the area that doesn't get within 150-200 feet of guests, or whatever that precise limitation is. They would essentially need to put in a large landing area floating in the water, it would seem, which I can't imagine they would do, unless during the show they restrict access to like 1/4 of the World walkway, which would seemingly require shutting down an entire pavilion or two, which I also can't imagine they would do. Or otherwise apply to the FAA for another exemption. I know it's not important right now, it's just something I wonder about how they could do it.

GMTA, I've had the same type of thoughts, only not as well thought out, due to limited brain power.

 

[rteetz]

I know it's all just speculation and rumors and hopes at this point, but every time I see Illuminations mentioned as a possibility for the drones, I find myself wondering how they could pull that off, since there isn't any good landing spot in the area that doesn't get within 150-200 feet of guests, or whatever that precise limitation is. They would essentially need to put in a large landing area floating in the water, it would seem, which I can't imagine they would do, unless during the show they restrict access to like 1/4 of the World walkway, which would seemingly require shutting down an entire pavilion or two, which I also can't imagine they would do. Or otherwise apply to the FAA for another exemption. I know it's not important right now, it's just something I wonder about how they could do it.

I've heard they could begin testing with drones in illuminations as early as next year.

They wouldn't need to put a floating barge in the water. They can be programmed to take off from different areas even atop buildings if needed. They just need to fly over water. The patents originally filed for the drones had Epcot specifically mentioned. I'm sure they know what they are doing.

 

[McCoy]

I've heard they could begin testing with drones in illuminations as early as next year.

They wouldn't need to put a floating barge in the water. They can be programmed to take off from different areas even atop buildings if needed. They just need to fly over water. The patents originally filed for the drones had Epcot specifically mentioned. I'm sure they know what they are doing.

I understand that, my questions are mostly where those take-off areas actually could be. Whenever I have seen Illuminations, people completely encircle the water. I just can't personally picture an area the drones could take off from that wouldn't require them to fly over people, without shutting down major current viewing areas. Any insight on that? I am sure Disney can or has figured it out, I'm just not sure what it is.

 

[rteetz]

I understand that, my questions are mostly where those take-off areas actually could be. Whenever I have seen Illuminations, people completely encircle the water. I just can't personally picture an area the drones could take off from that wouldn't require them to fly over people, without shutting down major current viewing areas. Any insight on that? I am sure Disney can or has figured it out, I'm just not sure what it is.

They very well could shut down a piece of walk way. Yes that might take away viewing space but illuminations has plenty of it. I think they will have those problems worked out before it debuts.

 

[bluecruiser]

I understand that, my questions are mostly where those take-off areas actually could be. Whenever I have seen Illuminations, people completely encircle the water. I just can't personally picture an area the drones could take off from that wouldn't require them to fly over people, without shutting down major current viewing areas. Any insight on that? I am sure Disney can or has figured it out, I'm just not sure what it is.

For the show at Disney Springs, they shut down the walkway from Cirque du Soleil that goes to Saratoga Springs. I came across a CM on the walkway and more CMs in boats in the waterway to Saratoga Springs when I was heading back to Saratoga Springs after the show. The walkway was open by the time I got there, but from what the CM said, they close it during the show due to the proximity of the drones.

 

[McCoy]

For the show at Disney Springs, they shut down the walkway from Cirque du Soleil that goes to Saratoga Springs. I came across a CM on the walkway and more CMs in boats in the waterway to Saratoga Springs when I was heading back to Saratoga Springs after the show. The walkway was open by the time I got there, but from what the CM said, they close it during the show due to the proximity of the drones.

Yeah, since they use that parking lot over there to launch the drones, that makes sense to me they'd shut down part of that area during the show, and that seems to me it would be of relatively little impact to walking traffic. At Epcot, I'm not really sure what area they can close off to visitors that wouldn't significantly affect traffic flow. I think of it more of as a joke, but I have visions of them shutting down the America pavilion and clearing out all guests from the area and launching the drones from the sidewalk. Just not very practical. Perhaps the area right in front, at the entrance of the World Showcase, there seems to be a clearing they could launch from and not really impact walking paths; I think it may be the current fastpass area. Anyway, it's just a curiosity to me, as mentioned I am sure they have a plan, or will, it's just fun for me trying to figure it out.

 

[pjweaver]

How large of an area would they need in Epcot? Could it be done from a rooftop like the American theater or the outdoor restaurant in Mexico without needing to block any of the walking area? Maybe even multiple locations like the rooftop of the Rose & Crown and WoD too so it is spread around the World Showcase.

 

[rteetz]

Yeah, since they use that parking lot over there to launch the drones, that makes sense to me they'd shut down part of that area during the show, and that seems to me it would be of relatively little impact to walking traffic. At Epcot, I'm not really sure what area they can close off to visitors that wouldn't significantly affect traffic flow. I think of it more of as a joke, but I have visions of them shutting down the America pavilion and clearing out all guests from the area and launching the drones from the sidewalk. Just not very practical. Perhaps the area right in front, at the entrance of the World Showcase, there seems to be a clearing they could launch from and not really impact walking paths; I think it may be the current fastpass area. Anyway, it's just a curiosity to me, as mentioned I am sure they have a plan, or will, it's just fun for me trying to figure it out.

They could close down the bride where the barges come in during the day and send the drones in that way.

 

[rteetz]

How large of an area would they need in Epcot? Could it be done from a rooftop like the American theater or the outdoor restaurant in Mexico without needing to block any of the walking area? Maybe even multiple locations like the rooftop of the Rose & Crown and WoD too so it is spread around the World Showcase.

It could be a roof top but it really depends on how many drones they end up using.

 

[savello]

I was surprised at how short it was! Barely five minutes. Hopefully we will see them do more with drones as they perfect their techniques!

I thought it was short as well. But I'm sure this is still in a testing phase