Reports have it that the Characters in Flight Balloon at DTD is indeed being installed at the present time and will soon be extensively flight tested before starting to take passengers up to see the sights of DTD and the surrounding area from it's lofty basket.
At the end of the game, pawns and kings go back into the same box.
yay!! I was so disappointed when I found out it wasn't there anymore! Will have to add this to my list! 
http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/forum/karli-and-marks-honeymoon-pre-trip-report
http://www.facebook.com/KarliInWonderland - A Facebook page with live updates of our upcoming Disneymoon! In the world, from the world!
YES! I have to do this when I am there next eyar. I've always wanted to do it and this gets to be my trip so I'll get to do it. YAY!
Follow me on Twitter: @WDWInsider, @CHardySports
I think it's a fact that Magic Kingdom (and Disney World as a whole) is the most magical place on earth. I absolutely love Disney World, and everything about it. I hope to one day become a sports reporter. When you wish upon a star!
Next Disney trip: Senior Trip - February 6th, 2014 - February 17th, 2014
Glad to see it coming back! 
It's great Karlipants, you'll love it.
Who's going to WDW or DL this year ? / Your most artistic Disney photo's /My Disney Fix /
Tikiman Pages / Mrhubs Disney FaceBook Page
Hoorah! This should be a brand new balloon too. I wonder if it looks the same or will have a different design on it.
Hoorah! This should be a brand new balloon too. I wonder if it looks the same or will have a different design on it.
Reports are that this indeed is a brand new balloon but I have not seen any pictures of it as yet so I can not say wether it is a new design or the same design as the former balloon.
At the end of the game, pawns and kings go back into the same box.
As we will be there next week *ahem - next week!* I can report back if no one reports back sooner 
will try to take a pic if I can xxxx
http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/forum/last-minute-bargain-trip-may-2013 TR May 2013
http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/forum/sys-big-30-trip-report Oct 2012 TR with a cruise!
http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/forum/holiday-budget-ish TR on a budget May - June 2011
http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/forum/game-all-family TR Sept - Oct 2010
EVERY time we have been in DTD the balloon was closed for weather. I have never seen it up in the air.
As we will be there next week *ahem - next week!* I can report back if no one reports back sooner
Thanks Robyn I am curious to see if they have the same graphics on the balloon, and I am sure many others are also.
At the end of the game, pawns and kings go back into the same box.
YESSSS! That is great news! I wanted to do this sooo badly on our trip, but it was never opened due to weather.
*ooo** BeLiNdA **ooo*
There is a picture in this article which states "it appears to be the same balloon"
http://behindthethrills.com/2012/09/characters-in-flight-at-downtown-disney-readies-for-reopening/
The balloon was scheduled to be replaced in November due to normal operational wear and tear. They just did it earlier because of the accident at the other park with a similar balloon. So there was always going to be a brand new balloon.
The old balloon wasn't striped like his pictures show this new one is. So, it does appear that there is a new design, no matter what the author's text says.
Correct!
| Preview | Attachment | Size |
|---|---|---|
| p5240010.jpg | 118.48 KB |
Who's going to WDW or DL this year ? / Your most artistic Disney photo's /My Disney Fix /
Tikiman Pages / Mrhubs Disney FaceBook Page
I don't know what the old balloon looked like...but this one does have some characters around the bottom of the balloon with a blue background and it does have thick red and yellow stripes coming down the sides. i took pics last night but can't get them on here till I get home...I walked by it..it's still closed and I didn't see anything that indicated ....when it might open....
"you know what they say...an APPLE a day keeps the Queen away"
Disney World October 2012 MNSSHP POFQ
Disney World December 2013 MVMCP
Found this on WDWMagic.com
| Preview | Attachment | Size |
|---|---|---|
| capture.jpg | 120.2 KB |
Who's going to WDW or DL this year ? / Your most artistic Disney photo's /My Disney Fix /
Tikiman Pages / Mrhubs Disney FaceBook Page
Yes that's it! Now....I'm off to Epcot 
"you know what they say...an APPLE a day keeps the Queen away"
Disney World October 2012 MNSSHP POFQ
Disney World December 2013 MVMCP
Well that is definitely different from the previous one.
At the end of the game, pawns and kings go back into the same box.
Yes, that is a different design. Hrmmm... I'm not sure what I think of it. I wonder if that trail of blue pixie dust around the top leads to Tinkerbell.
I always thought the old was lame looking. I understand how well black contrasts on the yellow, but it wasn't Disney standards to me. I like this one much better.
Oh! Scrappy I think you just nailed what I don't like about it. It looks like it belongs at a circus to me. Not what I generally think of when thinking about Downtown Disney. I found the other one to be more modern.
That's the same as the Paris one 
http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/forum/last-minute-bargain-trip-may-2013 TR May 2013
http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/forum/sys-big-30-trip-report Oct 2012 TR with a cruise!
http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/forum/holiday-budget-ish TR on a budget May - June 2011
http://www.wdwforgrownups.com/forum/game-all-family TR Sept - Oct 2010
That's the same as the Paris one
They probably bought them on sale 2 for 1 
At the end of the game, pawns and kings go back into the same box.
RobynPrincess wrote:That's the same as the Paris oneThey probably bought them on sale 2 for 1
Hey, you never know!
Who's going to WDW or DL this year ? / Your most artistic Disney photo's /My Disney Fix /
Tikiman Pages / Mrhubs Disney FaceBook Page
Kristen K...yes you are correct...the pixie dust leads to Tinkerbell on 2 sides...the bottom does have pictures of Peter Pan and Dumbo...
"you know what they say...an APPLE a day keeps the Queen away"
Disney World October 2012 MNSSHP POFQ
Disney World December 2013 MVMCP
Who's actually been up in it?? I think the hot air balloon qualifies to be on my "too chicken to ride" list.
Not me Nancy, I hate heights!
We have several time, and it is not hot air, it is a helium balloon. It's great.
Who's going to WDW or DL this year ? / Your most artistic Disney photo's /My Disney Fix /
Tikiman Pages / Mrhubs Disney FaceBook Page
I'm sooooooo glad to see they're bringing this back. We did it last year at Christmas time and it was so much fun.
Who's actually been up in it?? I think the hot air balloon qualifies to be on my "too chicken to ride" list.
We also have been up several times and in fact one time we went up twice the same day, once in the daylight and once after dark so as to "compare" and they were both great, different but great.
At the end of the game, pawns and kings go back into the same box.
They are having that special 10 dollars before 10 am. I might go on it. Maybe not I don't like heights.
