Aircraft (Helicopter?) Near Epcot

[tealmonorail]

Hello everyone! I think this counts as a "rumor"? I wasn't sure where else to talk about it. So tonight at Epcot's firework show (can't remember the name, I'm still stuck on Illuminations), there was an aircraft that must have been a helicopter flying back and forth throughout the duration of the show. It's smoky from the fireworks now, so I'm not sure if it's still there. It just went back and forth, left and right if you're staring straight at World Showcase.

The only time I've seen aircraft from a Disney property is planes seen from All Star Sports that were flying off property and usually writing things in the sky ("God Loves You," stuff like that), but never anything from a park. It had a light on the front that was going straight out when it was facing us. It was really weird. As far as I'm aware, Disney is a no-fly zone. I thought it might have been a life flight at first, but with it just going back and forth, it couldn't have been. Has anyone else seen anything like this before? Any rumors about what's up? I can't upload the picture I got of it now, but can later if anyone wants to see.

 

[BrianL]

Hello everyone! I think this counts as a "rumor"? I wasn't sure where else to talk about it. So tonight at Epcot's firework show (can't remember the name, I'm still stuck on Illuminations), there was an aircraft that must have been a helicopter flying back and forth throughout the duration of the show. It's smoky from the fireworks now, so I'm not sure if it's still there. It just went back and forth, left and right if you're staring straight at World Showcase.

The only time I've seen aircraft from a Disney property is planes seen from All Star Sports that were flying off property and usually writing things in the sky ("God Loves You," stuff like that), but never anything from a park. It had a light on the front that was going straight out when it was facing us. It was really weird. As far as I'm aware, Disney is a no-fly zone. I thought it might have been a life flight at first, but with it just going back and forth, it couldn't have been. Has anyone else seen anything like this before? Any rumors about what's up? I can't upload the picture I got of it now, but can later if anyone wants to see.

They may have been filming for Disney. They shot from helicopters when they were filming the new ending for Soarin' Around the World. I'm sure they do it from time to time.

 

[princesscinderella]

There’s also a helicopter tour company off of international drive that offers rides for $25 a person. They annoyingly circle all around Disney springs animal kingdom area. There’s only a portion of WDW property around the magic kingdom that’s a no fly zone.

 

[HopperFan]

The no fly zone does not cover all of the WDW property. It actually skirts right by Epcot so not unusual to see helicopters, especially the tour copters. And perspective often makes it look like things are closer than they are. You can see here on the no-fly zone where Epcot is.

 

[Mickeysduck]

FAA Guide to Low-Flying Aircraft:
91.119 Minimum safe altitudes; general
Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft below the following altitudes:
(a) Anywhere – An altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface.
(b) Over congested areas – Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open-air assembly of persons, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the aircraft.

The area around Disney Springs is a congested area, and 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle? The tethered hot air ballon, and Circue du soleil building are high obstacles. These copters are way below that limit, within a horizontal radius of 2000 feet. I've seen them as low as 100 to 200 ft above the tree line.

Also saw them flying over EPCOT, over the Italy buildings, not 1000 feet over them either.
It's not likely they could make an emergency landing without hazard to persons or property in these areas.

 

[cedricandsophie]

We go to OKW every March for a couple weeks, we are mainly at the pool. We see several helicopters a day flying overhead. I always figured it was security or maybe shuttling executives etc.

 

[k5xs]

WDW is not a "No fly zone" (prohibited airspace) per se.

From the aeronautical "sectional" chart (supplement) that covers WDW. Note the part I highlighted in red:

DISNEY WORLD THEME PARK
Notice
Pursuant to Public Law 108–199, Section 521, aircraft flight operations are prohibited at and below 3,000 feet AGL within a 3
nautical mile radius of the Disney World Theme Park (282445N/081342W or the Orlando (ORL) VORTAC 238 degree radial at 14.8
nautical miles). This restriction does not apply to: (A) those aircraft authorized by ATC for operational or safety purposes, including
aircraft arriving or departing from an airport using standard air traffic procedures; (B) Department of Defense, law enforcement, or
aeromedical flight operations that are in contact with ATC; Those who meet any of the following criteria may apply for a waiver to
these restrictions: (A) for operational purposes of the venue, including the transportation of equipment or officials of the governing
body; (b) for safety and security purposes of the venue.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

FAA Guide to Low-Flying Aircraft:
91.119 Minimum safe altitudes; general
Except when necessary for takeoff or landing, no person may operate an aircraft below the following altitudes:
(a) Anywhere – An altitude allowing, if a power unit fails, an emergency landing without undue hazard to persons or property on the surface.
(b) Over congested areas – Over any congested area of a city, town, or settlement, or over any open-air assembly of persons, an altitude of 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle within a horizontal radius of 2,000 feet of the aircraft.

The area around Disney Springs is a congested area, and 1,000 feet above the highest obstacle? The tethered hot air ballon, and Circue du soleil building are high obstacles. These copters are way below that limit, within a horizontal radius of 2000 feet. I've seen them as low as 100 to 200 ft above the tree line.

Also saw them flying over EPCOT, over the Italy buildings, not 1000 feet over them either.
It's not likely they could make an emergency landing without hazard to persons or property in these areas.

Don’t forget (d)(1) of the same subsection.

(d) Helicopters, powered parachutes, and weight-shift-control aircraft. If the operation is conducted without hazard to persons or property on the surface -

(1) A helicopter may be operated at less than the minimums prescribed in paragraph (b) or (c) of this section, provided each personoperating the helicoptercomplies with any routes or altitudes specifically prescribed for helicopters by the FAA; and

 

[acarsme123]

I also found it funny the helicopters flying over Batuu in HS.....way to take us out of the immersion!

 

[Mickeysduck]

You need to go through metal detectors and tight security to get into any park including Disney Springs, but it's ok to fly over a few hundred feet in a helicopter? Doesn't make much sense.

 

[TinkB278]

The helicopters fly over riviera nonstop. Really takes the relaxation out of my pool day.

 

[dfb]

Temporary Flight Restriction TFR which is actually permanent. 3 mile radius circle centered about the Contemporary resort defining airspace from the ground up to 3000 feet.

You can fly with in the TFR with ATC authorization. Helicopter tours would not normally be authorized into the TFR.

There is a lot of DIsney property not included within the TFR. Basic flight rules and clearances are followed there. No specific authorization required.

 

[rlk]

We were told by a CM that a lot of those helicopters are looking at crowd patterns/ bottlenecks in the parks. I don't know how much truth to this there is, but it does sound semi-plausible.

 

[Kennywood]

You would thing that, by now, Disney would be using drones to analyze crowd patterns and bottlenecks.

 

[unbanshee]

We were told by a CM that a lot of those helicopters are looking at crowd patterns/ bottlenecks in the parks. I don't know how much truth to this there is, but it does sound semi-plausible.

Lol, wait. So the idea here is that Disney (?) is looking for bottlenecks in their own theme parks?

 

[dioxide45]

They may have been filming for Disney. They shot from helicopters when they were filming the new ending for Soarin' Around the World. I'm sure they do it from time to time.

I would think the use of drones would be much easier and cheaper?

 

[dioxide45]

Temporary Flight Restriction TFR which is actually permanent. 3 mile radius circle centered about the Contemporary resort defining airspace from the ground up to 3000 feet.

You can fly with in the TFR with ATC authorization. Helicopter tours would not normally be authorized into the TFR.

There is a lot of DIsney property not included within the TFR. Basic flight rules and clearances are followed there. No specific authorization required.


View attachment 658793View attachment 658795

And World Showcase is right on the edge of this TFR.

 

[_19disnA]

Most likely explanation is one of those 3rd party helicopter tours. If Disney wanted to get a sense of the crowds, seems a far more cost effective/efficient way would be to analyze the data they get from Magic Bands since most people wear them. I seriously doubt Disney would be flying helicopters in the dark to check for bottle necks........that sounds like one of those bizarre things CM's tend to say when they don't know the real answer and just make up some wild guess. Most of the time we have been at Epcot for fireworks, the area around the lake is wall-to-wall people standing in one place to watch the show.

 

[Stratman50th]

Disney doesn't need helicopters or drones. Look on the top corners of the buildings. Disney has more live cameras than a Vegas Casino!

 

[dfb]

And World Showcase is right on the edge of this TFR.

Yep. EpCot and Hollywood studios are on the edge of the TFR. I think much of Animal kingdom and Disney springs are outside the TFR.