The skies above Walt Disney World and Disneyland might soon have more than just fairies flying high above the castles. "Flixels" or "Floating Pixels" might soon become a reality for Disney park guests. Late in 2014 The Walt Disney Company filed 3 patents that revolved around the use of drones. However, a recent request from Disney to the FAA has people talking... Read on to find out more!
Picture yourself in front of Cinderella's Castle. Night has just fallen and the castle is illuminated in the most immersive colors imaginable. Suddenly the lights around you fade. Enchanting music lifts your eyes to the sky as beautiful tapestries are lifted high above you in a ballet of romance and choreography. (FG.6B) Then you hear it, those familiar notes... "A Whole New World" fades into the music and Carpet appears right above your head flying over and under on a Magic Carpet Ride. Carpet banks down Main Street U.S.A. and disappears in the distance.
Silently the tapestries have disappeared as well. You cant wait to see what comes next... (FIG.7)
"I see the Light" from Tangled starts to fade in. A single lantern can be seen being released from the castle window. Your eyes follow the lantern as it drifts up and over the crowd. Without even realizing it there are suddenly lanterns illuminating brighter and brighter all around you. Everywhere you look you can see lanterns naturally drifting and rising as the song plays. The lanterns drift near each other and slowly move behind the castle and fade to black as the song ends. Seconds later what appears to be balloons rise from behind the castle. Every color you can think of bunched together and rising higher and higher. You see something else. The top of a house emerging and you hear the theme from UP playing. A giant house, not a projection, but a balloon shaped like a house being guided by drones imbedded in the house itself. (FIG.4)
Silently the tapestries have disappeared as well. You cant wait to see what comes next... (FIG.7)
"I see the Light" from Tangled starts to fade in. A single lantern can be seen being released from the castle window. Your eyes follow the lantern as it drifts up and over the crowd. Without even realizing it there are suddenly lanterns illuminating brighter and brighter all around you. Everywhere you look you can see lanterns naturally drifting and rising as the song plays. The lanterns drift near each other and slowly move behind the castle and fade to black as the song ends. Seconds later what appears to be balloons rise from behind the castle. Every color you can think of bunched together and rising higher and higher. You see something else. The top of a house emerging and you hear the theme from UP playing. A giant house, not a projection, but a balloon shaped like a house being guided by drones imbedded in the house itself. (FIG.4)
As the balloons set the home down on a projection of Paradise Falls on the Tomorrowland Terrace roof you hear the familiar voice of Buzz Lightyear "To Infinity and Beyond!" There he is! Flying right over the crowd. His face is being projected on a screen through his helmet just like in Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin and he is actually moving his arms, pointing at people, saluting and looking right at you as he flies overhead!
Now, this is all just a fantasy in my head, but the reality of this could be right around the corner! Everything I described is possible with drones and the patents Disney has filed for. What would you like to see?