Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Resorts have received approval by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to introduce unmanned drones in the theme parks. They will be using a new system called Flixels, and it could be rolling out by the end of this year.
Walt Disney World was established as no fly zone in 2003 after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, but the FAA has now granted a waiver to allow the drones saying that they do not “interrupt national airspace activity.”
The Flixels system that they are using means that they will be incorporating drones covered in LED lights into their shows. This might show up as drones simulating fireworks instead of having actual fireworks, or just performing to the music.
The drones will be run by a computer system, and they will only fly up to about 150 feet off the ground at any given time so that they will be totally visible to guests.
Disney is planning to introduce the drones for a Christmas event at Disney Springs, and then if everything goes as planned they will continue to expand the shows elsewhere.
