Is WDW still a "No Fly Zone"?

[minnie61650]

Is WDW still a NO Fly Zone?

I thought it was but someone said the No Fly Zone was recently lifted.

Does anyone have any up to the date info?

Any thoughts for or against the No Fly Zone at WDW ?

Thanks!

 

[Skylarr29]

I know that it was a no fly zone. I haven't heard anything about weather or not it is still in effect. I think it is a good idea. You just never know.

 

[peter11435]

WDW is still considered restricted air space.

 

[sunking]

I can recall being in Disney and seeing a couple of helicopters fly over the parks a couple of times. I had asked about them and I was told that they were sightseeing tours that you can charter right outside of the park. If I recall correctly, they were always red. Anyone know about these?

 

[goofie4goofy]

Planes can fly over WDW but they cannot fly lower than 3000 feet.

It is not restricted air space like when the President is in town and aircraft is not allowed anywhere within a certain limit.

 

[minnie61650]

I can recall being in Disney and seeing a couple of helicopters fly over the parks a couple of times. I had asked about them and I was told that they were sightseeing tours that you can charter right outside of the park. If I recall correctly, they were always red. Anyone know about these?

There use to be Sightseeing helicopters before 9/11 that flew over Disney.
I did not think they were around anymore.

I know the Orange County Sheriff's department uses helicopters to provide security for Disney, but I do not know what color they are.

Anybody?

 

[DMRick]

I called a friend who lives in Orlando who is retired serviceman. He called someone he said would know, and got back to me just a short while ago, and said they still have a no fly zone . As goofy4goofy said, he also said, there is a limit on how low the planes can fly. He told me 3000 feet. I know I've seen them lower..but maybe that is security..I don't know why, since it seems by the below article that it's all about Disney not wanting advertisers to fly overhead.

He sent me this, which shows the argument..I only skimmed it..it's an older article (seems Disney got the no fly in March of 2003 by an act of congress)..apparently it's about Disney wanting the no fly zone to keep out advertisers. I then went on a search on google and it looks like people are still arguing about it..and are pretty mad. :
http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2003/030511-disney01.htm

 

[minnie61650]

I called a friend who lives in Orlando who is retired serviceman. He called someone he said would know, and got back to me just a short while ago, and said they still have a no fly zone . As goofy4goofy said, he also said, there is a limit on how low the planes can fly. He told me 3000 feet. I know I've seen them lower..but maybe that is security..I don't know why, since it seems by the below article that it's all about Disney not wanting advertisers to fly overhead.

He sent me this, which shows the argument..I only skimmed it..it's an older article (seems Disney got the no fly in March of 2003 by an act of congress)..apparently it's about Disney wanting the no fly zone to keep out advertisers. I then went on a search on google and it looks like people are still arguing about it..and are pretty mad. :
http://www.globalsecurity.org/org/news/2003/030511-disney01.htm

Thank you so much for looking into it for me.
I did not want to give out false info.
I had read some articles in the past that Disney wanted the No Fly Zone to stop advertisers.

Perhaps that was part of the reason but I still think part of the reason may be safety and security especially since SOG is a Military Resort.
No proof just my thoughts.

 

[annameg]

DH is a pilot and looked up air restrictions on th AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association) website. It quotes the restrictions mentioned above. Specifically, within a 3 nautical mile radius of the Disney World Theme park, you cannot fly below 3000 feet without air traffic control clearance. He flies us into a small general aviation airport in Orlando. His GPS will flash to let us know the restrictions around the park upon our arrival in the area.

 

[WesM]

The no-fly zone exists solely to prevent any banner-tow companies and/or flightseeing companies from attracting park visitors (and their money) away from Disney properties. It is called a "Temporary" Flight Restriction (an oxymoron, if ever there was one) and was enacted some time after 9/11 under the guise of national security. Just think about it for a bit. Is a three mile ring around Disney going to stop a terrorist? It does a darn good job of keeping out the competition though. It is funny that Universal Studios doesn't have the same protection from terrorists that Disney has. FWIW, I am just a pilot that once thought the nation's airspace belonged to us all. I have no connection to any of the parties involved.

 

[cabanafrau]

I remember seeing a plane towing a banner advertising Sea World in '97 and I thought that was just bad taste. I don't think any of the parks there should advertise that way to infringe on the guests of their competition -- JMO.

 

[cabanafrau]

WesM, received and tried to reply to your message, can't get the system to send replies in the PM forum. Appreciate and respect your opinion, think the issue is a deep one w/ lots of viewpoints.

 

[TSR6]

I remember seeing a plane towing a banner advertising Sea World in '97 and I thought that was just bad taste. I don't think any of the parks there should advertise that way to infringe on the guests of their competition -- JMO.

Not only that, but there are a lot of banners that fly around the WDW / Orlando area advertising a lot of different things.

I am very happy with the flight restrictions around WDW. WDW is meant to be a place to get away from the "real world" - When I am at WDW, I don't care that "So-and-So Surf Shop - 50% off," I don't want to see Pro or Anti-Abortion banners, none of that. I want to enjoy WDW and get away from all that "real life" crap.

 

[DMRick]

Although it doesn't seem fair that only Disney is able to get the banners stopped. I'm sure the people at the other parks would rather not see the banners in their pictures either

Not only that, but there are a lot of banners that fly around the WDW / Orlando area advertising a lot of different things.

I am very happy with the flight restrictions around WDW. WDW is meant to be a place to get away from the "real world" - When I am at WDW, I don't care that "So-and-So Surf Shop - 50% off," I don't want to see Pro or Anti-Abortion banners, none of that. I want to enjoy WDW and get away from all that "real life" crap.

 

[David R]

I still see the red helicopter over Disney almost every time I go. From time to time I also see a sky writing plane that writes religious stuff with white smoke.

Maybe they are flying right off the edge of the property though, it's hard to tell.

As for the place to charter the helicopter ride, it seems to be right off the I-4 Eastbound as you head towards Sea World, right by that Nascar type restaurant (or some other race car theme restaurant type of thing, you can't miss it once you see it, it's not my thing so I've never paid much attentiont to it.)

 

[The Mick]

I was at Blizzard Beach last September, and there was a helicopter there flying around the park. It looked to be a tour copter of some kind. When I heard it at a distance, first thing I figured was that it might have been a med-evac copter or something. But when I saw it, it was definitely something else. I'm almost sure it a tour ride.