Aerophile – The World Leader in Balloon Flight Disney Springs West Side


Characters in Flight Balloon 2017

Aerophile – The World Leader in Balloon Flight gives you an eagle's-eye view of the Disney Springs area, with sweeping, 10-mile panoramas of Lake Buena Vista and environs, as seen from a giant tethered balloon – the Aero 30 – that takes guests 300 feet into the air from the waterfront. The 72-foot-diameter balloon, which was redesigned in early 2017, can lift up to 29 guests at a time on an 8- to 10-minute "flight," by day or night.

Riders can catch the flight daily for $20 ($15 for ages 3-8). NOTE: If you visit before 10 a.m., tickets are only $10 per person, regardless of age.

The location opens daily at 8:30 a.m., weather permitting.

Characters in Flight by Aerophile debuted at Downtown Disney's West Side in April 2009. The "Characters in Flight" portion of the name was dropped in 2017 after the balloon was updated to a blue, characterless pattern to fit in with the new theme of Disney Springs.

Have you ridden this balloon? Share your experience HERE!


Archive Information

JULY 2012: The original Characters in Flight Balloon Rides operated by Aerophile were suspended, but returned in October of that year. According to General Manager Todd Jolley: "After an incident at Ocean Park in Hong Kong, Aerophile decided to suspend operations of the balloons at Downtown Disney Walt Disney World and Disneyland Paris, so we can conduct inspections."

Characters in Flight Balloon

Characters In Flight
Characters In Flight
Characters In Flight
Characters In Flight

Characters In Flight

approaching Downtown Disney from Saratoga Springs

Characters in Flight
aboard the balloon

Characters in Flight
Looking up into balloon

Characters In Flight

Looking down into center of basket

Characters In Flight
View from halfway up

Characters In Flight
Looking toward Epcot

Characters in Flight
Overlooking Downtown Disney

Characters In Flight
Looking toward Swan/Dolphin

Characters in Flight View

Overlooking Saratoga Springs

Characters In Flight

from the UK pavilion looking toward Norway

Characters In Flight
from Crossroads at Lake Buena Vista