logo
Inside abandoned Disney World airport with its own singing runway where planes are banned from landing

Inside abandoned Disney World airport with its own singing runway where planes are banned from landing

The Irish Sun2 days ago

AN ABANDONED Disney World airport once welcomed visitors into the heart of the Magic Kingdom with a musical runway - but planes are now banned from the area.
Advertisement
Hidden just off the road into Disney World, the stretch of tarmac literally sang when jets went over it at around 45mph.
The small airport was made in 1971 to fly in Disney World guests and employees from Orlando International Airport and Tampa International Airport, on a journey that lasted just a few minutes, according to
For a short time, it was the only runway where you could fly directly into Disney's world-famous theme park.
The only jets to ever fly into the incredible airport were part of a now-defunct airline called Shawnee.
Advertisement
READ MORE TRAVEL NEWS
The airport, which rests south of the
next
to World Drive, was only big enough to operate four planes at a time.
The runway was also reportedly used for high-ranking Disney company executives until as late as 2006.
The concept was that the small airport would later be revamped into a much larger airport - but this idea never took off, and the fairytale flight service didn't last long before it was scrapped.
Lake Buena Vista STOLport was ultimately closed in the 1980s after the theme park built a
Advertisement
Most read in News Travel
This meant planes were no longer able to land there safely.
Ever since, the one-of-a-kind airport has been used as backstage storage.
Bus drivers were even reportedly trained on the tarmac, where they revealed the bizarre musical feature of the singing airstrip.
Tragically, the musical grooves were removed in 2008 - though the airport still stands.
Advertisement
There is actually another bizarre reason no planes are allowed to land there today.
And it is because
The park has a special
This means no planes can fly low or land over attractions such as Cinderella's castle - much to the annoyance of Florida pilots.
Advertisement
Disney has even tried to bend the rule too.
They recently applying for permission to fly their own drones in the zone.
Planes aren't the only things that no longer exist at Disney World -
Disney has a comprehensive programme for keeping the park mozzie-free, which is called the Mosquito Surveillance Programme.
Advertisement
But while the airspace is locked down tight, the legend of Disney's once musical runway still lives on.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Dad shares staggering bill after taking family for Disneyland ‘Princess Breakfast' & says ‘I nearly spat out my coffee'
Dad shares staggering bill after taking family for Disneyland ‘Princess Breakfast' & says ‘I nearly spat out my coffee'

The Irish Sun

time12 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Dad shares staggering bill after taking family for Disneyland ‘Princess Breakfast' & says ‘I nearly spat out my coffee'

A FAMILY breakfast at Disneyland has sparked widespread outrage after a dad shared a photo of his eye-watering receipt. John Tolkien said he "almost spat out" his coffee when he received his family's breakfast bill at Disneyland California. 2 A family of five were in disbelief when they received their mega bill Credit: X/@jrockandrollt 2 The bill totalled almost $1000 for two adults and three kids Credit: X/@jrockandrollt The Disneyland Princess Breakfast totalled almost $1000 for three children and two adults - just over 20 per cent of the pre-tip cost. John's post left thousands in disbelief with many jumping online to share their shock. 'Please tell me you have 35 kids,' one person commented. Another wrote, 'That's ridiculous. So torn about going to Disney — could literally go to Italy for a month for the same amount.' Read more on World The Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures costs $142 per person and is held at Disney's Grand Californian Hotel and Spa. Guests can enjoy a three-course meal while interacting with Disney Princesses and according to the Disneyland website, the experience also features tiered appetizer towers. Food options include lobster rolls, beignets, and cornbread. Children can enjoy mains like waffles and macaroni and cheese , while adults can choose from scrambled eggs, braised short ribs, and deviled eggs. Most read in The US Sun Despite the hefty price tag, John admitted the overall experience was enjoyable, saying: "Service was attentive and enthusiastic." Disney World fan weighing 334lbs left 'permanently disfigured' on water slide "Princesses were all trained pro-actresses and spent a lot of time with the kids. I enjoyed it," he added. The Disneyland saga comes as the firm's granddaughter has slammed the entertainment giant for turning its legendary late founder into a 'robotic grandpa'. Disney is unveiling an animatronic Walt Disney to celebrate Disneyland California 's 70th anniversary this July despite repeated pleas from his granddaughter Joanna Miller. Joanna Miller 'I think I started crying,' she said, recalling the moment she first saw the figure. 'It didn't look like him to me.' Miller said she voiced her concerns early on, sending a letter to Disney CEO Bob Iger when the idea was first proposed. She said she later met with Iger and the team responsible for creating the attraction, telling him: 'I strongly feel the last two minutes with the robot will do much more harm than good to Grandpa's legacy. "They will remember the robot - and not the man.' Despite Iger being 'very kind" and despite his promises to protect her grandfather's legacy, she said her request that they scrap the animatronic was ultimately ignored. Miller added it 'pains' her to call out the very company he created. The icon's granddaughter was speaking solely on behalf of her grandfather and mother, according to The LA Times.

Inside abandoned Disney World airport with its own singing runway where planes are banned from landing
Inside abandoned Disney World airport with its own singing runway where planes are banned from landing

The Irish Sun

time2 days ago

  • The Irish Sun

Inside abandoned Disney World airport with its own singing runway where planes are banned from landing

AN ABANDONED Disney World airport once welcomed visitors into the heart of the Magic Kingdom with a musical runway - but planes are now banned from the area. Advertisement Hidden just off the road into Disney World, the stretch of tarmac literally sang when jets went over it at around 45mph. The small airport was made in 1971 to fly in Disney World guests and employees from Orlando International Airport and Tampa International Airport, on a journey that lasted just a few minutes, according to For a short time, it was the only runway where you could fly directly into Disney's world-famous theme park. The only jets to ever fly into the incredible airport were part of a now-defunct airline called Shawnee. Advertisement READ MORE TRAVEL NEWS The airport, which rests south of the next to World Drive, was only big enough to operate four planes at a time. The runway was also reportedly used for high-ranking Disney company executives until as late as 2006. The concept was that the small airport would later be revamped into a much larger airport - but this idea never took off, and the fairytale flight service didn't last long before it was scrapped. Lake Buena Vista STOLport was ultimately closed in the 1980s after the theme park built a Advertisement Most read in News Travel This meant planes were no longer able to land there safely. Ever since, the one-of-a-kind airport has been used as backstage storage. Bus drivers were even reportedly trained on the tarmac, where they revealed the bizarre musical feature of the singing airstrip. Tragically, the musical grooves were removed in 2008 - though the airport still stands. Advertisement There is actually another bizarre reason no planes are allowed to land there today. And it is because The park has a special This means no planes can fly low or land over attractions such as Cinderella's castle - much to the annoyance of Florida pilots. Advertisement Disney has even tried to bend the rule too. They recently applying for permission to fly their own drones in the zone. Planes aren't the only things that no longer exist at Disney World - Disney has a comprehensive programme for keeping the park mozzie-free, which is called the Mosquito Surveillance Programme. Advertisement But while the airspace is locked down tight, the legend of Disney's once musical runway still lives on.

Decapitated, disfigured and crushed to death… the most gruesome Disney disasters to hit beloved theme parks
Decapitated, disfigured and crushed to death… the most gruesome Disney disasters to hit beloved theme parks

The Irish Sun

time5 days ago

  • The Irish Sun

Decapitated, disfigured and crushed to death… the most gruesome Disney disasters to hit beloved theme parks

BENEATH the sparkle of Sleeping Beauty's Castle and the cheery tunes of Main Street USA, Disneyland and its sister parks have endured moments of sheer horror. Over the decades, a series of gruesome incidents - from decapitations to crushing deaths have hit the beloved attractions. 17 A decapitation in Disneyland's Matterhorn Bobsleds is one of the park's most harrowing episodes Credit: Disney 17 Disneyland has made efforts to modernize its safety system over the years Credit: Alamy 17 A Disneyland employee turns away a family from the closed Roger Rabbit ride after a boy was critically injured on the attraction in 2000 Credit: Getty Tragic deaths and injuries have hit the parks in the past - but Disney has worked to modernize safety systems. Accidents are rare these days at the attractions. But these shocking incidents remain a sobering reminder that even in the most magical place on Earth, things can go terribly wrong. Here is a roundup of some of the most gruesome disasters to hit Disney parks. Read more Disney stories Decapitated on the Matterhorn Bobsleds The snowy peaks of the Matterhorn turned into a scene of horror on January 3, 1984. Dolly Regene Young, 47, was thrown from her bobsled and decapitated when fatally struck by another oncoming vehicle. According to Her absence wasn't even noticed until the ride concluded and the grisly discovery was made. Most read in The US Sun Disney was not held legally responsible, but the shock and brutality of the incident continue to haunt the ride's history. Crushed to death at America Sings 17 Deborah Gail Stone was crushed to death on July 8, 1974 Credit: Facebook 17 The rotating wall of the America Sings attraction closed in on her, trapping her between a moving and stationary section Credit: Facebook It was supposed to be a fun summer job. But on July 8, 1974, 18-year-old Deborah Gail Stone, a promising student and new Disneyland employee, was crushed to death in front of stunned guests. The rotating wall of the America Sings attraction closed in on her, trapping her between a moving and stationary section. It is unclear whether a misstep or insufficient training led her to the fatal spot, according to David Koenig's book 'Mouse Tales'. The attraction shut down for two days while emergency safety modifications — including warning lights and breakaway walls — were installed. No official blame was cast on Disney, but the case cast a long shadow over park operations. Dragged under Roger Rabbit ride 17 Brandon Zucker slipped from a Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin vehicle on September 22, 2000 Credit: FindaGrave 17 He was dragged beneath the car, sustaining devastating internal injuries, brain damage, and cardiac arrest Credit: FindaGrave A trip to Toontown turned into a medical nightmare for four-year-old Brandon Zucker, who slipped from a Roger Rabbit's Car Toon Spin vehicle on September 22, 2000. He was dragged beneath the car, sustaining devastating internal injuries, brain damage, and cardiac arrest. According to the After two years, Disney settled with the family for an undisclosed amount, without admitting fault. The settlement's terms were not made public, but guaranteed the boy would receive medical treatment for the remainder of his life. Brandon remained severely disabled until his death in 2009 at age 13. He was found unresponsive at his dad's home in Anaheim and died at Children's Hospital of Orange County, the Deadly derailment on Big Thunder Mountain Railroad 17 Marcelo Torres was killed during the derailment of the Big Thunder Railroad Credit: FindaGrave 17 10 others injured on Disneyland's Big Thunder Mountain Railroad Credit: Alamy 17 A picture of the scene after the tragedy in 2003 Credit: ABC A routine thrill ride became a fatal wreck on September 5, 2003, when Big Thunder Mountain Railroad derailed. Marcelo Torres, a 22-year-old graphic designer, suffered massive internal bleeding and blunt-force trauma when the ride's locomotive detached and slammed into his passenger car. As Ten others were injured in the crash. Though Disney settled the lawsuit with Torres' family, the park was widely criticized for what some called a "cost-cutting culture" in the maintenance department during the early 2000s. 17 Carmen Torres, the mother of 22-year-old Marcelo Torres who was killed at Disneyland Credit: Getty Fatal blow on the Sailing Ship Columbia A Christmas Eve cruise around the Rivers of America ended in death and chaos when a metal cleat tore loose from the Sailing Ship Columbia and struck two guests and a cast member in 1998. One man, 33, later died from head injuries. According to California's OSHA (Division of Occupational Safety and Health) fined Disney $12,500 for inadequate training and misuse of materials. The company paid the victim's family an estimated $25 million in a settlement. 17 The Columbia sailing ship was closed following an accident on Christmas Eve in 1998 Credit: Getty 17 At least three people were injured when a rope cleat pulled loose from the front of the ship Credit: Getty Foot crushed on Alice in Wonderland ride A 15-year-old boy from Mesa, Arizona, left Disneyland with broken bones after his foot became wedged between a moving ride vehicle and a guardrail on December 21, 2000. Emergency responders were called after the teen's leg was crushed while riding the Alice in Wonderland attraction, the Investigators found that the boy had likely been dangling his leg outside the vehicle — despite visible signage and lap bar restraints advising against it. Anaheim Fire Division Chief Kent Mastain said 'the car did exactly what it was supposed to do,' stopping automatically. Disneyland reopened the ride just hours later and was not found liable for the accident. Space Mountain ejection leaves teen paralyzed 17 One guest was left partially paralyzed after allegedly being thrown from his seat on Space Mountain Credit: Disney Parks In 1983, 18-year-old James Higgins was left partially paralyzed and brain-damaged after allegedly being thrown from his seat on Space Mountain. Higgins sued Disney, claiming a flawed lap bar design was to blame. His attorneys sought $3.3 million in damages. The case hinged on the ring-shaped lap bars then in use, which a physicist testified could be removed by guests, according to the However, under cross-examination, the expert admitted gravity and proper positioning should have kept riders in place. The jury sided with Disney in 1985, 9–3, determining Higgins may have stood up mid-ride despite warnings. The lap bar was eventually replaced, but no fault was ever assigned to Disney. 'Permanently disfigured' after Blizzard Beach horror 17 A Disney World fan weighing 334lbs was left 'permanently disfigured' after 'going airborne' on popular water slide 17 He was allegedly allowed on the ride despite being too heavy at Blizzard Beach in Orlando, Florida Meanwhile in Florida, a Eugene Strickland filed a lawsuit in Orange County on May 29, seeking over $50,000 for 'permanent catastrophic injuries' he claims were caused by Disney's negligence. Strickland says he was allowed to ride the Downhill Double Dipper, despite exceeding the 300-pound weight limit set by ASTM guidelines. At the time, he weighed 334 pounds. A jury trial is scheduled for May 2027. Disney has not yet commented on the case. The Sun reached out to Disney for comment. Disabled woman dead after Jungle Cruise fall 17 A disabled woman died of septic shock after falling while trying to exit the Jungle Cruise in 2021 Credit: Alamy In one of Disneyland's most recent cases, a disabled woman died of septic shock after falling while trying to exit the Jungle Cruise in 2021. According to The 66-year-old suffered a broken leg that later developed into a fatal infection. The case is still pending, with no final ruling on Disney's liability. The allegations have raised serious questions about how the park accommodates disabled guests.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store