Does Disney World Really Have a No Fly Zone?

If you visit Disney World and you look up in the sky, you might find fireworks, Tinker Bell, or people screaming from inside the Tower of Terror.

Hi, Tinker Bell!

What you won’t usually find are drones, helicopters, or airplanes buzzing Cinderella Castle or Spaceship Earth. If Disney World is so incredibly popular, why is it that it’s not bombarded by people constantly giving bird’s eye view tours or trying to spy backstage? Is it possible that something is preventing people from flying over the theme parks day and night? Yes, there actually is!

If you look at a sectional map designed for aircrew of aircraft, you’ll see a very bold and very red circle right around the area of Walt Disney World.

Red circle around Disney World ©SkyVector

This red circle means that there is a TFR (Temporary Flight Restriction, but this one is designated as permanent) or “No Fly Zone” around Disney World. This no-fly zone is here, thanks to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The FAA has deemed this area as a no-fly zone for special security reasons. It is defined as “National Defense Airspace,” and anyone who violates the airspace without the proper waivers or permission will be in some very serious trouble.

Don’t fly near Cinderella Castle, even with a drone!

But you’re probably thinking that if you do look up in the sky while you’re at Disney World, there’s a very good chance that you’ll see an airplane flying over you, likely from Orlando International Airport on its way to its next destination. True, that is absolutely likely. The Disney World no-fly zone has very specific dimensions. No one is allowed to fly from the surface up to 3,000 feet above the ground within a 3-nautical mile radius of the center of the circle. So, as long as aircraft are above 3,000 feet of the ground, they are good to fly right over Disney World.

EPCOT

There are very few exceptions to the rules of the no-fly zone, including air ambulances, the Department of Defense, and law enforcement. However, personal drones and other aircraft will need to stay outside of the dimensions of this no-fly zone. (Perhaps Tinker Bell gets away with flying over Magic Kingdom each night because she’s a fairy and not flying a personal aircraft. 😉) We hope this helps clear the air (pun intended) about the no-fly zone!

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