Worked here. Aerophile (Owners not Disney) care more about $$$ then safety. Had an issue years ago and was told not to operate it “too hard” and not to tell Disney. Then got Fired for shutting down ride in high winds. They got a new Balloon 2 years later. Bunch of failed airplane pilots were running it last I checked. Will tell everyone to avoid.
We were sitting at the boathouse and saw the whole thing. The balloon tipped sideways and went over the bridge toward planet Hollywood. The wind came out if no where and was very strong
Wind doesn’t “come out of nowhere.” Winds aloft are a very real and predictable force. Windspeed is also very easily detected both at the site (you can buy windspeed detectors very cheaply) and through the FAA and/or local airport “Notices to Airmen” (NOTAMs). Balloon pilots also have to be licensed by the FAA. It seems someone inexperienced and/or unlicensed was operating the balloon that day. Had anyone been hurt, the FAA and NTSB would have been all over Disney investigating.
Then again, Disney seems to be in “Self-Destruct” mode lately…
I guess people leave their brains at home when they go on vacation. Balloons are unpowered, and are thus at the mercy of the winds. You can feel when the wind is blowing strongly. Therefore, if you go up in a balloon on a windy day, this is what happens, and you have only yourself to blame for PAYING to be at the mercy of strong winds. No sympathy here. However, whoever made the decision to put the balloon into operation on such a blustery day should be publicly flogged for recklessly endangering passengers.
As a lifelong aviation expert (I still fly for the Coast Guard), aerospace engineer and having experienced this particular lighter than air flight experience at Disney Springs I can highly recommend it. Even though I’m possibly a little jaded with respect to flying and survived a plane crash coming back from a mission in 2014 I still enjoyed my ballon flight last year very much.
Aviation is not everyone’s cup of tea. Each individual should do do their best to understand the situation and assess the risks of any activity for themselves. My personal, experienced assessment of this balloon ride is that it is appropriately safe and a noteworthy, unique, fun ride. After watching the video from that particular evolution and hearing about the weather reporting that day I do not think the pilot and support personnel did anything incorrectly. It is unfortunate that powerful wind gusts can manifest unexpectedly but the design, pilot actions and general procedures kept everyone safe when this particular flight ‘went a little sidewise’.
If money is not too tight and the line is not too long I highly recommend this balloon ride. Assess your own risks and be aware that this IS flying up to 400 feet. This isn’t CGI or in any way simulated. If physical adventures involving unexpected aspects are not within your comfort zone perhaps adventures in the air, or in/on the water or underground, etc. may not be for you.
First, the is a helium balloon.
Secondly, these are not Disney Cast Members operating the balloon. They are trained professionals. As the video shows and the witnesses tell, the gust of wind came out of nowhere. The pilots measure the wind continuously throughout the flights.
It is because of their excellent training that no one was hurt.
I have personally flown in the balloon more that 150 times and never felt in danger.
Comments for Disney Hot Air Balloon Takes Off Uncontrollably as Strong Winds Take Over, Guests Shriek
Mike Hunt
You do realize that this balloon is helium, not hot-air?
Jg
Helium not hot air
Former Manager
Worked here. Aerophile (Owners not Disney) care more about $$$ then safety. Had an issue years ago and was told not to operate it “too hard” and not to tell Disney. Then got Fired for shutting down ride in high winds. They got a new Balloon 2 years later. Bunch of failed airplane pilots were running it last I checked. Will tell everyone to avoid.
Tim
Its helium. Matter of fact its the largest helium balloon in the USA. Please correct
Kat
We were sitting at the boathouse and saw the whole thing. The balloon tipped sideways and went over the bridge toward planet Hollywood. The wind came out if no where and was very strong
FL-Dad
Wind doesn’t “come out of nowhere.” Winds aloft are a very real and predictable force. Windspeed is also very easily detected both at the site (you can buy windspeed detectors very cheaply) and through the FAA and/or local airport “Notices to Airmen” (NOTAMs). Balloon pilots also have to be licensed by the FAA. It seems someone inexperienced and/or unlicensed was operating the balloon that day. Had anyone been hurt, the FAA and NTSB would have been all over Disney investigating.
Then again, Disney seems to be in “Self-Destruct” mode lately…
FL-Dad
I guess people leave their brains at home when they go on vacation. Balloons are unpowered, and are thus at the mercy of the winds. You can feel when the wind is blowing strongly. Therefore, if you go up in a balloon on a windy day, this is what happens, and you have only yourself to blame for PAYING to be at the mercy of strong winds. No sympathy here. However, whoever made the decision to put the balloon into operation on such a blustery day should be publicly flogged for recklessly endangering passengers.
Skeeter
Padre
Victor Nazarian
As a lifelong aviation expert (I still fly for the Coast Guard), aerospace engineer and having experienced this particular lighter than air flight experience at Disney Springs I can highly recommend it. Even though I’m possibly a little jaded with respect to flying and survived a plane crash coming back from a mission in 2014 I still enjoyed my ballon flight last year very much.
Aviation is not everyone’s cup of tea. Each individual should do do their best to understand the situation and assess the risks of any activity for themselves. My personal, experienced assessment of this balloon ride is that it is appropriately safe and a noteworthy, unique, fun ride. After watching the video from that particular evolution and hearing about the weather reporting that day I do not think the pilot and support personnel did anything incorrectly. It is unfortunate that powerful wind gusts can manifest unexpectedly but the design, pilot actions and general procedures kept everyone safe when this particular flight ‘went a little sidewise’.
If money is not too tight and the line is not too long I highly recommend this balloon ride. Assess your own risks and be aware that this IS flying up to 400 feet. This isn’t CGI or in any way simulated. If physical adventures involving unexpected aspects are not within your comfort zone perhaps adventures in the air, or in/on the water or underground, etc. may not be for you.
Glynn
First, the is a helium balloon.
Secondly, these are not Disney Cast Members operating the balloon. They are trained professionals. As the video shows and the witnesses tell, the gust of wind came out of nowhere. The pilots measure the wind continuously throughout the flights.
It is because of their excellent training that no one was hurt.
I have personally flown in the balloon more that 150 times and never felt in danger.
Walt's Ghost
The balloon may not be full of hot air, but some of the arm chair aviation experts in these comments sure are.
Julian H
Thats funny :7)
Comments are closed.