There are a number of special rules that apply to Disney World, but some of those could be CHANGING.
Mickey’s Ready to Fly!
We’ve shared a lot about the dissolution of the Reedy Creek Improvement District and what that could mean for the future. But there’s another change that one U.S. congressional representative wants others to consider.
Airspace over Disney World is typically a no-fly zone. During the extended closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, one pilot did actually get the chance to fly over the area and shared some pretty incredible photos of the empty parks.
©Jonathan Michael Salazar
But what if Disney’s no-fly zone were to go away entirely? That’s what one member of the U.S. Congress is suggesting. Representative Troy Nehls, a Republican member of the House of Representatives for the state of Texas, has recently sent letters to end Disney’s no-fly zone status.
According to a press release posted to Congressman Nehls’ website, Nehls sent letters to the House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi, as well as the Transportation Secretary, Pete Buttigieg on this matter.
In the press release, Nehls says that the letters “call[] out blatant favoritism towards The Walt Disney Company” and urge those in charge to “reconsider the appropriateness of Disney’s designated ‘no fly-zone’ over their resorts.”
©Jonathan Michael Salazar
In 2003, Congress passed a law that was later amended — together the law and amendment created “permanent ‘ temporary’ flight restrictions in the airspace over Disney’s resorts in Florida and California,” according to Nehls’ letter to Buttigieg.
Nehls said that the FAA’s flight restrictions “add complexity and restrict freedom — and they should be reserved for compelling national security and safety needs.”
The press release on Nehls’ website notes, “While most flight restricted areas in the United States reside over places of high security or hazardous regions, Disney is the only theme park that benefits from the restriction for the commercial gains of eliminating banner ads and disruptive aircrafts from their parks.” He specifically pointed out that competitors like Universal Studios don’t have this same restriction.
In the letter to Buttigieg, Nehls says that “special interests” have “hijacked” the mandate of the Federal Aviation Administration in the “sheep’s clothing of national security, for commercial gain.”
©Jonathan Michael Salazar
Nehls says that the Federal Aviation Administration’s official “Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) references ‘Special Security Reasons’ as a justification for the restrictions, but safety regulators at FAA have questioned the need for these restrictions.” Nehls notes that in 2013, the FAA Administrator, Michael Huerta, “testified that Disney’s ‘no-fly-zones’ do not meet standard requirements and would not be in place had Congress not enacted special legislation.”
Nehls then goes on to discuss others that have questioned the no-fly-zones, specifically discussing reports from the Orlando Sentinel. According to Nehls, a 2003 article from the Orlando Sentinel shared that the decision “angered pilots across the country who accuse Disney of manipulating the nation’s terrorism fear for one clear commercial aim: to close public airspace over its parks as a way to ban competitors’ aerial advertising planes and sightseeing helicopters.”
©Jonathan Michael Salazar
Nehls also says that in 2003, a Disney spokesperson said that the no-fly-zone would “promote the ‘enjoyment’ of their guests by eliminating ‘banner ads from trial lawyers’ and aircraft ‘buzzing the parks.'”
Nehls goes on to say, “Measures designed for protecting our national security and public safety must not be co-opted by companies looking to gain.” He notes that he is “inquiring as to whether the Biden administration supports the continued preferential treatment of Disney Resorts,” given that it has been nearly 20 years since the passage of the law granting the no-fly-zone and the “long-standing controversy around their creation.”
On his website, Nehls shares that he is asking that the “House reconsider their appropriateness.”
©Jonathan Michael Salazar
According to Fox Business, Nehls told Fox News Digital “Major corporations should not get unreasonable privileges just because they have the ability to bankroll Congress, especially when they are trying to force their ideology on our children.”
This is a developing situation. We’ll keep an eye out for more updates on this situation and let you know what we find.
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these politicians really must have other things to be working on besides giving Disney world and all of its visitors a hard time. makes me think they don’t have enough to do and probably aren’t right for their positions.
Aerial tour helicopters routinely fly over Walt Disney World each and every day. If there is still a “No-Fly Zone” over Disney, all the local helicopter tour companies violate it multiple times EVERY day.
No special privileges period!
We have enough politicians in Florida we really don’t need this one adding his two cents.
Post 911, I would think that a no fly zone enhances security over a highly populated area. It should be extended to all theme parks during operating hours.
It takes a lot for me to feel sorry for Disney, but I get closer every day. They have been a left-leaning corporation for decades, and why some have decided now’s the time to hold it against them is beyond me.
Again! First special district now air fly space and all under special interested persons and claims of brainwashing people so they should be allowed to run ad’s over Disney. Logic states: out side of Advertisements would commercial airplanes really need to fly over Disney? If so would it effect noise cause more pollutants and disturbances for the guests. If it is Ad’s or pay by ride helicopters. I personally would not want to see or here it. I will say that last time I went there was an ad banner by plane and I saw it while on the resort beach 🏖 it said Jesus loves you. So not sure how the no fly thing is no fly? Personally I do not want to see ad’s or hear helicopters on my vacation- do we the customer not have any rights? Well I guess the consumers rights according to some politician is not go, because the Ad lobby is more important? We have bigger issues that need our government officials attention like affordable health benefits and higher wages, jobs and housing along with farming, soil, crime – etc.
This law was passed for protection of people post 9/11. If terrorists are willing to fly into building in a city they would certainly do it to the most visited theme park in the world. Given the current administration’s ineptitude I wouldn’t trust them to have an effective response to another terrorist attack at any theme park much less Disney. I understand some of the arguments against the no fly zone. However, this is still the most visited park in the world. Literally 10s of thousands of people in a few square miles. That’s a target rich environment