LP Lotion: PanoraMagique at Disneyland Paris Resort
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As of April 2005, Lake Disney in Disney Village will be home to the largest tethered balloon in the world, the PanoraMagique. Guests will be able to soar upwards into the skies to admire the superb landscape of Disneyland Resort Paris and the surrounding countryside.
Designed by Aerophile, the tethered balloon specialist, PanoraMagique will be the very latest Aero 30 "hot air" balloon. It will have a rapid mooring system and a landing pad especially designed for its Lake Disney location. In terms of size, it is the largest balloon of its type in the world. Like all other Aero 30 balloons, it will be pollution-free, can be easily dismantled and is totally silent - a real technological gem!
The Aero 30 is a large gas-filled tethered balloon constructed from a helium-filled envelope, a net and a gondola connected to the ground by a cable and operated by a hydroelectric winch. The Aero 30 is renowned for its reliability (the only system of this type in the world to be certified and approved as an aircraft) and its performance (high speed winch, capable of approximately eight trips an hour).
PanoraMagique will take intrepid guests on a six minute trip into the skies above Disneyland Resort Paris. Rising a hundred metres above the ground, the balloon will provide magnificent views of up to 20 kilometres in all directions to those on board. 30 visitors will be able to ride on each balloon flight.
Balloon tickets will cost 12 Euros per adult and 6 Euros for children from three to twelve years old, with children under three riding for free.
Able to fly both night and day, PanoraMagique will be the first flying aircraft in a Disney Theme Park, and is a tribute to France's historical "Ballooning" tradition.
It should not be forgotten that the first human flight in a hot air balloon, designed by the Montgolfier brothers, took place in Paris on 21 November 1783. A century later, Jules Verne, who died exactly one hundred years ago, made this sport popular for both young and old through his books Five weeks in a balloon and Around the World in 80 days. Each visitor will be able to relive these timeless sensations above Disneyland Resort Paris thanks to PanoraMagique.
View of the PanoraMagique construction from Disney's Sequoia Lodge
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View of the PanoraMagique construction from the Disney Village, with the pontoon clearly taking shape
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Full design schematics for the ticket booth and launch pad - (c) Disney
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An aerial artist's impression of the attraction - (c) Disney
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The Gaumont IMAX screen will open April 9 2005 and is looming over the McDonald's at Disney Village
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Discuss It
-- Posted February 8, 2005
-- Story and Pictures by Lee MacDonald