Characters in Flight missing balloon and other Downtown Disney updates

We took a walk around Downtown Disney last week and recorded some observations. The balloon is missing entirely (no surprise there). They deflated the original one and are waiting for a new one to be built before they inflate the new one. It will be weeks and months, not days, before this is operating again (unless, of course, they later decide to not offer it any more).

The Splitsville bowling alley going into the former Virgin megastore / former Princess Diana exhibit / former RIDEMAKERZ shop is still under construction. If you peek over the walls, it doesn't look like much beyond "destruction" has occurred yet. Didn't there used to be signs on the construction walls talking about a Fall 2012 premiere? They aren't there now. Was there a delay or problem with financing?

The former 8-Trax dance hall is now painted a nondescript color, and is not used for anything.

The volcano at Rainforest Cafe is being rebuilt.

At World of Disney, there are signs for a Brazil-themed Duffy for sale. Smacks of both opportunism (it's definitely the season for Brazilian tour groups) and desperation (sales of Duffy aren't great) at the same time.

Inside the store, I ran into these upgraded "just wed" Mouse ears - pretty neat!

Nearby were these "circus afro" Mouse ears, obviously inspired by the Madagascar movie (not a Disney movie, mind you).

Lastly, a look at some of the newest Vinylmation releases.

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Kevin Yee is the author of numerous independent Disney books, including the popular Walt Disney World Earbook series and Walt Disney World Hidden History.

Characters in Flight balloon grounded (historical pics)

An accident in Hong Kong (at the Ocean Park theme park) happened earlier this week with an Aerophile  balloon (executive summary: a 3-meter gash ripped open while it was airborne with people aboard, and there was a "rapid descent"), prompting the mother company to close all other balloon around the world for inspections (this included at Disneyland Paris, Orlando's Downtown Disney, and the Great Park in Irvine California).

No one knows if the balloon (Characters in Flight) will return to Downtown Disney. In the meantime, I offer these historical pictures, snapped in 2009.

EDIT July 5: Orlando Attractions Magazine is reporting that Aerophile has contacted them and said the Orlando balloon will be replaced with a new one (which they say was planned anyway), so it may be some time before it's back.


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Kevin Yee is the author of numerous independent Disney books, including the popular Walt Disney World Earbook series and Walt Disney World Hidden History.