Posted on December 29th, 2009

Downtown Disney’s newest attraction is hard to miss! Flying high above the Disney landscape floats a yellow and red balloon that can be seen from I-4 and beyond. Tethered to a platform at the water’s edge is a ginormous helium balloon that measures 72 feet in diameter and 105 feet high. Featuring Disney’s flying characters such as Marry Poppins, Peter Pan, TinkerBell and more; the balloon floats nearly 400 feet above onlookers below. 

From the ground looking up, the huge balloon floating back and forth on the tether looks a little precarious, but don’t fret — once aboard the ride is smooth sailing. Unlike a traditional hot-air balloon, the basket (did we mention, it’s tethered) is safe enough for children of all ages - even infants. While the ride is the highest at Disney, it is one of the tamest. Besides a few bumps on the way up, passengers enjoy a quiet float with a beautiful 360-degree view.

It was a sunny, cool December day when my family took to the sky, and even our toddler enjoyed the ride. If you still have family in town that you are looking to entertain or even some extra time off from work, the balloon ride followed by lunch (or dinner) at one of the many restaurants at Downtown Disney make for a relaxing outing for all. (I hear that the balloon is also a great way to watch the nightly fireworks display.)

Characters in Flight lasts about 10 minutes, costs $16 for adults and $10 for children ages 3-9, and the balloon carries approximately 30 passengers each ride. The tethered-balloon experience flies daily until midnight, weather permitting.