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[Rocketeer]

The Federal Aviation Administration has granted Walt Disney Parks & Resorts permission for "Night small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) operations" and "Operations of multiple small unmanned aircraft systems within Special Security Notice Flight Restriction Areas and Class G airspace."

...

    Flixels are to accompany entertainment at the Walt Disney World® and Disneyland® Resorts, including during each resort's nightly Fireworks Spectaculars. Deployed from a monitored platform designated as the launch/land area in restricted access areas of each resort, Flixels will be "magically" incorporated into Disney story elements that engage and inspire children and their families.

    The Flixels' fleet consists of four, six, or eight propeller multicopters. Flixels operate within assigned subnetworks for communication to the ground and each other, where each subnetwork comprises five multicopters. Each Flixels weighs less than ten pounds. Each multicopter includes a special effects element (e.g., LED lighting), battery, and wireless signal receiver/radio. Flixels will flyslower than six knots groundspeed during a short (e.g., five minute) airborne segment. All Flixels flights are restricted to an airspace no more than 600 feet in diameter and Flixels' maximum flight level will be no higher than 150 feet AGL.

-WDWNT.
http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/11/breaking-faa-approves-disney-worlds-nighttime-show-drones-flixels/

[DisneyRon]

The Federal Aviation Administration has granted Walt Disney Parks & Resorts permission for "Night small unmanned aircraft system (sUAS) operations" and "Operations of multiple small unmanned aircraft systems within Special Security Notice Flight Restriction Areas and Class G airspace."

...

    Flixels are to accompany entertainment at the Walt Disney World® and Disneyland® Resorts, including during each resort's nightly Fireworks Spectaculars. Deployed from a monitored platform designated as the launch/land area in restricted access areas of each resort, Flixels will be "magically" incorporated into Disney story elements that engage and inspire children and their families.

    The Flixels' fleet consists of four, six, or eight propeller multicopters. Flixels operate within assigned subnetworks for communication to the ground and each other, where each subnetwork comprises five multicopters. Each Flixels weighs less than ten pounds. Each multicopter includes a special effects element (e.g., LED lighting), battery, and wireless signal receiver/radio. Flixels will flyslower than six knots groundspeed during a short (e.g., five minute) airborne segment. All Flixels flights are restricted to an airspace no more than 600 feet in diameter and Flixels' maximum flight level will be no higher than 150 feet AGL.

-WDWNT.
http://wdwnt.com/blog/2016/11/breaking-faa-approves-disney-worlds-nighttime-show-drones-flixels/

That should give them access to more magical "real" light effects by incorporating drone flight patterns with the evening shows, could work quite well. Especially with the lightshow being separate from the fireworks like they are at WDW. The drones could enhance the show performance and be back on the ground safely before all those firework launchers start firing.

If something similar is done at DLP they'll need to carefully coordinate the drone flights with the fireworks timing to prevent the rockets from becoming accidental anti-aircraft artillery.

[Rocketeer]

It'd be great if they could add this to DLP as well. Maybe even WDS?

[Rocketeer]

Well that didn't take long. First "sneak peak" of the tech in action, apparently for the Christmas season at Disney Springs.
(via Disney Parks Blog)
https://youtu.be/ZjnXWe-cDFo

[Rocketeer]

Well here we go, the first show of 'Starbright Holidays'.

https://youtu.be/k6voEnoOBRI

Have to say, it seems that its probably one of those "you have to be there" things.