PHOTOS - New look Characters in Flight balloon takes to the skies above Disney Springs

Gallery / 4 Photos
New look Characters in Flight balloon

Posted: Monday January 16, 2017 8:15am EST by WDWMAGIC Staff

The Characters in Flight balloon ride has a brand new look for Disney Springs.

New look Characters in Flight balloon

Following a short refurbishment, the tethered balloon attraction has an all new balloon, featuring shades of blue, and no more characters.

New Characters in Flight design

The old Characters in Flight look

Custom-built for Disney by Paris-headquartered company Aérophile S.A., the Aéro30 balloon is filled with 210,000 cubic feet of helium. The balloon’s 19-foot-diameter basket holds up to 29 people plus one Aérophile-certified pilot per flight.

The 10 minute flights cost $18 for adults, and $12 for ages 3-9.

New look Characters in Flight balloon

Discuss on the Forums

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wdwmagicJan 25, 2017

If you want that, there is the Marketplace. The Town Center is trying to offer something different.

PixieRDJamesJan 25, 2017

I think much of the new addition suffers from the same identity crisis. I want to shop in a Disney-fied ambience. Once you enter the new section the music etc...is same-old "I could be anywhere" mall feel.

MarkTwainJan 24, 2017

Maybe the guests are the characters now. ;)

Monorail_Red_77Jan 23, 2017

I wonder if they are working on changing the name to something more fitting as well. Maybe give it a retro flying ride type of feel?

GhostHost1000Jan 23, 2017

I like the look...very nice - but it does seem to have an identity crisis considering the name of the attraction

Monorail_Red_77Jan 23, 2017

I like the new color scheme. Plus now there's a blue light on the bottom of the basket. Here are a few pics from Fri night 1/20/17. It wasn't' that windy on the ground, but, I sure would not have wanted to be up in the balloon then. It was listing quite a bit back and forth as they were reeling it back down.

The Empress LillyJan 23, 2017

That looks so much better! Much more stylish, less clownesque.

sxeensweetJan 17, 2017

Love the new color scheme!!! So pretty. But yes I would of loved to see maybe Dumbo etc on it. It's a welcome change. ;)

disney4life2008Jan 17, 2017

They got that fixed quickly. Now if only they could get ROL ready lol.

FigmentJediJan 17, 2017

And the eateries with Disney character puns in them.

Kman101Jan 17, 2017

The blue definitely seems like a nice change. True on the fading. I was there a few weeks ago and the fading was terrible so it seemed like good timing for a change out, but that's to be expected with our sun and weather. Blue may fare a tad better by not by much.

71jasonJan 17, 2017

Saw it today, it looks sharp. Of course, it will be faded all to hell by September. Sun and rain are not kind to fabric (umbrella on my lanai doesn't last a full Summer either).

flynnibusJan 17, 2017

Three words... FAA Minimum altitude

Mouse DetectiveJan 17, 2017

Save Pleasure Island posted a couple pictures of the balloon at night along with other information. http://savepleasureisland.blogspot.com/2017/01/ds-update-new-balloon-flying-high.html