The world’s first drone superhighway will open in the UK between June and early July, allowing pilotless drones to make high-speed deliveries across the country. Developed by drone software provider Altitude Angel, the 165-mile-long Skyway network will connect Coventry in the Midlands to Milton Keynes in the Southeast. However, sceptics have warned that the drone […]
DroneShield has been awarded an approximately $900k R&D contract from a Five-Eyes Government*. The contract is notable in that it specifically aims to leverage the potential of the DroneSentry-X Mk2 and aims to provide an initial set of software tools to enhance end-user capabilities in the Counter-UAS Electronic Attack domain. This contract aligns closely with […]
Ukraine is using a network of thousands of mobile phones deployed across the country to track incoming drones and missiles. The project, which Ukrainian sources have said is too secretive to discuss in detail, was disclosed by the US Air Force’s most senior officer in Europe at a recent event. General James Hecker, head of […]
Tele2 and foodora’s Innovative Drone Delivery Service Tele2, a key player in telecommunications, and foodora, a q-trade platform, have unveiled a new service for delivering food using drones connected through IoT and 5G technologies. A press release from Tele2 reveals this venture aims to use advanced technology to offer efficient food delivery directly to customers’ […]
Ninox Robotics and NSW Rural Fire Service’s Groundbreaking Partnership Enhances Bushfire Detection and Management with Advanced Drone Technology by DRONELIFE Staff Writer Ian J. McNabb Australian drone operator Ninox Robotics recently announced a joint operation with the New South Wales Rural Fire Service to fly long-range drones for surveillance of bush and grass fires across […]
Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida just announced a brand new drone show called “Disney Dreams That Soar” thats set to run through the summer. Even better? It’s free to watch.
Kicking off on May 24, 2024 and running nightly until September 2, 2024, this high-tech spectacle will feature drones lighting up the sky above Disney Springs, which is the free-to-visit shopping and dining district on Walt Disney World property. A curated soundtrack will accompany the whole experience.
Rather than flying over places where people walk, the drones will fly over Lake Buena Vista, which is the lake that borders the shopping center. Expect the best views from the skies above the West Side of the massive outdoor retail district, which spans 120 acres.
A history of Disney World drone shows
It’s been more than seven years since Walt Disney World last hosted a drone show. Back during the 2016 winter holiday season, Disney Springs hosted another drone show. Called ‘Starbright Holidays’, the show was done in partnership with Intel, which at the time was among the most robust drone light show companies in the world. That Disney Springs holiday drone show ran twice every night and lasted six minutes. Re-live the 2016 show on YouTube, here:
But while this is only the second-ever drone show to arrive at Walt Disney World in Florida, the company is no stranger to drone shows. Among its biggest and best drone shows yet is the Disney Electrical Sky Parade. Held in France over at Disneyland Paris, the drone show pays homage to the iconic Main Street Electrical Parade. That parade launched at the original Disneyland theme park in California in 1972. In that French show, drones resemble iconic parade floats (albeit in the sky) including a train and Elliott from the 1977 film “Pete’s Dragon.” Check out that show here:
And it’s no secret that The Drone Girl is a huge Disney fan. Alas, that here means this drone show necessitates its own blog post. But this nightly summer series is just one of hundreds of drone shows around the U.S. in 2024. Major festivals, sporting events and community holiday celebrations are set to include drone light shows this year. That includes a show for the popular Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, a show at the Albuquerque International Balloon Festival, and shows at various MLB baseball games (check out my recap of last year’s Star Wars drone show at the Oakland A’s game in August 2023).
Other theme parks including Dollywood and Universal Studios have also embraced drones. Unlike Disney World, those parks have actually held drone shows inside the gates.
How to watch the Disney World drone show
The Aerophile balloon at Disney Springs
Simply head to Disney Springs, which is free to visit. Even standard self-parking is free at the Disney Springs area.
You’ll best see the show on the West Side. That’s also where you’ll find Aerophile, the massive, hand-painted helium balloon. Aerophile is tethered to the ground but also floats over the water. Since there’s a massive walkway along the water, it should be pretty easy to find a viewing spot. Plus, the show is in the air, so you likely won’t worry about someone blocking your view.
And while the Disney World drone show is free to watch, know that Disney World trip costs aren’t cheap. Especially if you stay at a Disney-owned hotel and end up buying theme park tickets (and on-property food, too), budget at least $300 per person per day. That figure includes food, a hotel room and theme park tickets.
A collaboration between professors at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW) School of Engineering and Aurora Swiss Aerospace, a Boeing company, is streamlining the development of EVTOL aircraft. Aurora Swiss Aerospace, located in Lucerne, is a subsidiary of US-based Aurora Flight Sciences. Aurora Swiss first joined forces with ZHAW in September 2023, aiming to […]
Hermeus, the company operationalizing hypersonic aircraft, has unveiled its first aircraft — Quarterhorse Mk 1 — which will take flight later this year. Designed, built, and integrated in just seven months, this is the company’s second fully-integrated vehicle in the past year, following Quarterhorse Mk 0 which completed its test campaign in November 2023. This […]
The world’s first drone superhighway will open in the UK between June and early July, allowing pilotless drones to make high-speed deliveries across the country. Developed by drone software provider Altitude Angel, the 165-mile-long Skyway network will connect Coventry in the Midlands to Milton Keynes in the Southeast. However, sceptics have warned that the drone […]
