Helicopters over resorts??

[MCourtney]

Just got back from Boardwalk, had great time! My husband is a private pilot and has told me there are restrictions for planes flying over Disney property post 911; hence the only planes you see are way up. However.... I noticed this weekend one particular helicopter (red) 3+ times a day, plus a secondary one (red and gray?) flying over Boardwalk as well as MK - presumably going to/from somewhere. Anyone know what's up with this? Don't think these were tours. Is there a helipad on Disney property I don't know about? Always thought Disney should have their own landing strip anyway.... !

Seriously, anyone know what the deal is with the helicopters??

 

[cobia214]

I have noticed a red Jet Ranger flying over WDW before and believe that it is a tour helicopter.

 

[GalDisney]

I *think* the only flight restriction is a certain altitude above the parks(don't quote me, i may be wrong)so that would mean aircraft are not compleletely restricted from flying overhead. I dont see why there would be total restriction over WDW, it isnt a military base or cape canaveral or anything super classified, just a happy theme park area Actually, that beings said, i dont even know why there would be a flight restriction at all, as i said it is just a theme park complex.

 

[bdcp]

I *think* the only flight restriction is a certain altitude above the parks(don't quote me, i may be wrong)so that would mean aircraft are not compleletely restricted from flying overhead. I dont see why there would be total restriction over WDW, it isnt a military base or cape canaveral or anything super classified, just a happy theme park area Actually, that beings said, i dont even know why there would be a flight restriction at all, as i said it is just a theme park complex.

9/11 kind of affected the "just a theme park complex" idea. There are limits, and they are height restrictions, but I'm not sure what they are. The helicopters could be medical, tour, police, news, or corporate that were cleared to fly over. You should never see low flying jets or even small private airplanes over the parks, with possibly a couple of exceptions (overhead photography for mapping, or Disney owne aircraft).

 

[MCourtney]

Yes, could have been the Jet Ranger! I don't think there were restrictions prior to 9-11, but definitely after. Although I believe its been relaxed a bit (altitude restrictions v. no fly zone) its still somewhat restricted which is why I kept noticing the helicopters.

I asked my husband a few years ago to please fly me over WDW.
He couldn't do it at a level that I could actually SEE anything close (@ 2000 ft.). But the helicopters were much lower than that... maybe they have special permission. Anyhow, just found it odd!