May seem like too personal of a question but...

[Camping Griswalds]

We are going to disney this Aug specifically to remember the baby that we lost last year. My question is, on his one year birthday my husband and I plan on doing e-night and releasing some baloons in front of the castle for his birthday. Do you know if this is allowed? I will be pretty emotional, and certainly don't want to cause any trouble, but this is the only way I have been able to have anything to look forward to with his anniversary approaching . ( planning the trip for our family has actually eased some of the grief) I know this is probably too much info for this kind of forum but I didn't want people to think I was asking this question about the baloons if it wasn't important. Thanks

 

[poohfan33]

I can't answer your question, but I just wanted to let you know that I think your idea is a beautiful one! My husband & I lost our infant son two years ago and I know anniversaries can be rough. So glad that planning this trip is giving you some joy!!! Hope they let you release all the balloons you want!!!

 

[PRINCESS VIJA]

I don't have an answer for you, other than maybe calling Disney directly and explaining your situation. Otherwise, I am sure you could buy the balloons there at the park and let those go. This sounds like a beautiful tribute.

I am so sorry for your loss, and send prayers for you. Hoping that this trip helps heal some of your pain.

 

[TLinden16]

I'm sorry to hear about your loss. I can't even begin to imagine the pain involved in losing a child.

As for the balloons, I don't think that anyone would object to it. I don't think they'd let you walk in with a whole bunch of balloons, but if you buy them at the Magic Kingdom and let them go, I don't think anyone would object to it (not to trivialize what you are planning to do, but think about how many kids have balloons get away from them each day).

So, go ahead and and release the balloons. I hope that they bring you comfort on a very difficult day. I'm going to at least one e-ticket night in August, and if I see any balloons flying through the air, I'll stop and say a prayer in the memory of your son.

Karen

 

[Tinkbell]

That is very touching. I'm sorry for your loss. I would call or email Disney if you are planning on releasing a lot of balloons. I don't think there are any posted rules about releasing balloons but I would hate to have your private, beautiful moment interrupted by a CM telling you that you did the wrong thing. If it is just one or two, I'm sure nobody would have a problem with it. Take care. I hope you have a wonderful vacation.

 

[Disney845]

I am very sorry about the loss of your baby. I can not even imagine the pain it must cause you nearing that anniversary. I am glad that you have found some emotional release in planning for a trip to WDW for your family. As far as your idea of a balloon release, I do not know if they would allow you to walk into the theme park with balloons of your own, but you could most definitely buy the disney balloons that they sell in the MK. As others have said, many balloons probably do get away from children (as well as adults) so you might not even be noticed by cast members. I only wanted to relay a few words of caution at your idea. I am sure you are not intending to cause any damage or hurt any living creatures what-so-ever with your memorial balloon release, but lost balloons can travel many miles up into the atmosphere where they explode due to the temperature and pressure, falling back to the ground in fragments. Others can semi-deflate and fall down to the Earth. Either of these situations can cause serious issues for animals who may ingest the balloon pieces. I am not trying to tell you not to perform your balloon release (as I do think it is a wonderful acknowledgement to your lost baby) only trying to inform you of an angle you might not have considered.

You might want to check out this site about the effects lost balloons can have on the environment. Balloon Releases

 

[Camping Griswalds]

Thanks so much to everyone who replied,I have tears of comfort and sorrow right now. I was worried that I would get blasted for this post.
I think I will talk to someone directly at Disney to find out about the rules if there are any.
Sincerely thank you so much for aknowledging my son and for your empathatic thoughts. All of you have fullfilled your "random act of kindness" as far as my family is concerned. Bless you.

 

[mickeysaver]

I work in the medical field and I can tell you that you are not the first with such a plan. Grab a hanky folks. This is a true account of a story one of my familys told me.

One family I know of lost a child just hours after she was born. The baby had many health problems, but the mom wanted to deliver her full term and then send her to the angels because this child would never be able to live more than a few hours. And this mother did just that after carrying the child for 4 months knowing her fate was sealed. I have great respect for this mother. She has incredible strength. For the child's first birthday, last month, she took her hubby and her 3 adorable and totally healthy children to WDW as a surprise. Her husband thought that she had lost her mind, but she had a plan. On the birthday night she let them in on the plan. They went to MK and each got 2 balloons just before the fireworks. Just as the music started before the fireworks, they released one balloon and said a prayer sending the baby girl a balloon in thanks for having been even the briefest part of their family. They saw Tinkerbelle fly over and watched the fireworks and sang "Happy Birthday" to her. After the fireworks ended. They released the last balloons one by one with a wish for her to get her angel wings as her first birthday present since Tinkerbelle had spread pixie dust on them during the fireworks, they wanted to send it to the baby in hopes that it would help her get her wings.

I cried right there in the office like a baby myself when she told me. But, you could tell that it really brought the whole family a great deal of peace. So, I wish you and your family peace as you mark the anniversary of your own little angel's birth and passing. Love and Pixie Dust.
Mickey

 

[SueM in MN]

I know a lot of places discourage intentional balloon releases - I realize a lot just "get away" from people at WDW each day (that's quite a link that Disney845 posted, plus I've heard of problems when mylar [the shiny silver] balloons touch electrical lines or transformers).
If Disney says no when you call, here's something else I heard of people doing at a child's funeral. They wanted to use balloons, but didn't want to do something environmentally unfriendly, so they used bubbles instead. They got the bubble necklaces that are sold as party favors to pass around to the people at the funeral and then they all blew the bubbles and watched them rise into the air at the same time.

 

[hookedup]

I hope that you will plan and do something - if it can't work out with the balloons then maybe there is something else you can do of significance to you at WDW with some special symbolism. I am personally not a big fan of balloon releases for environmental reasons. That being said please know that I support your need for something special and therapeutic for your family on this anniversary.

I am very sorry for your loss - I hope being at the Magic Kingdom can help ease some of your pain and soothe your sad hearts.

 

[melomouse]

Hi -

What a beautiful idea! I was so moved as I read your post and would like to share some of my story....

- my husband passed away during our first WDW vacation nearly 2 years ago. We sent up each of my kids' Mylars from our hotel balcony in memory before leaving Fla., and then at the service when we returned home to NY, each child attending sent up a white balloon to the kids' Dad to send a prayer to heaven.

We have returned to WDW 3 times since - and the fireworks and the castle make me cry, still. We go in his honor and enjoy.

What a lovely tribute you have planned. Check, as the others have suggested - I am sure they will accomodate you somehow. Good luck - please let us know how it goes for you - you are in my thoughts and prayers.

melomouse

 

[Harambe]

So sorry your little one is in heaven. I think it is a beautiful thing to do something at MK. I would imagine if you each bought a balloon (so there would only be a few), no one would say anything if you let them go. I probably wouldn't ask anyone, if I really wanted to do this.

I hope this trip helps with your healing. God love you!

 

[Geoff_M]

As a father of three kids, I can't imagine a loss like that. I'm sorry that anyone has to go through that. On the ballon front... just go for it. In your case, unless you talking about LOTS of ballons, I wouldn't even ask. If you're gonna release ~4-6 ballons I think it'd be a lot easier to simple ask forgiveness if someone says anything after the fact. And I doubt, after hearing the reason, anyone would press the issue any further. There's no doubt that dozens of ballons get away at WDW each day... and I think the environment can handle your rememberance.

 

[wdwdvcdad]

in 1999, we lost a baby. I decided to set up a vacation during my spring break in 2000, which would also be the baby's birth/due date. It was our 1st trip with the kids, & it was so wonderful. We also brought my wife's grandmother, who just passed away on tuesday, so that trip is FULL of memories....

 

[momxx5]

All our thoughts and prayers will be with you and your family. You are very brave and have a great spirit - keep shining!

The balloons released to heaven is a great idea - good luck.

 

[nativetxn]

I don't see how releasing balloons could be a problem unless you plan to release like 1,000 or something.

{{{HUGS}}} sweetie. I'm sorry to hear about your little angel. I hope this trip helps ease your heartache.

Katholyn

 

[Jiminy102]

I just wanted to stop in and give you a big {HUG}}

 

[Rajah]

I also don't see why releasing just a few would cause a problem. But if you're planning a lot, do check with them.

If you do check and they say no, then I like the suggestion of the bubbles, or maybe (depending on the time of year) you can release butterflies or ladybugs? I'm not sure how you go about doing either of those, but I'm sure *something* can be arranged.

*HUGS*

 

[1HourAway]

CG - first let me say I am sorry to hear about your loss.

To answer your question...

The Florida law is considered to be the most restrictive of the four laws passed in 1990. That law disallows the release of 10 or more balloons filled with helium or other lighter-than-air gas within a 24-hour period and the balloons must be biodegradable or photodegradable as determined by rule of the Marine Fisheries Commission. The commission doesn’t tell you which balloons they approve of, which makes balloon releases almost impossible in Florida.

This is from the Ballon Council website.

www.balloonhq.com/BalloonCouncil/goodhabits.html

Hope this answers your questions.

 

[tiggerlover]

What a beautiful tribute to your sweet little baby. I am not sure the official answer to your question, just wanted to say how sorry I am to read about your loss and to offer you some cyber {{{HUGS}}}.