Walt Disney World and Disneyland Flight Restrictions Disappear From FAA's Active List
Why It MattersA published restriction list and the guidance pilots hear on frequency can diverge, so operators flying near theme parks must weigh controller statements alongside the official notice when planning approaches.
What happened
As of November 10, the Walt Disney World and Disneyland flight restrictions no longer appear on the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) public list of active temporary flight restrictions. Both entries had previously been listed with a permanent end date.
The restrictions generally keep unauthorized aircraft out of a three-nautical-mile radius around the parks, from the ground up to 3,000 feet.
BlogMickey reported that pilots flying near Walt Disney World are still being told the restriction is in effect. A post citing Orlando International Airport (MCO) air traffic control said the same.
Industry impact & what to watch
Park-adjacent airspace is an area where the published notice and the instruction a pilot receives in flight carry equal practical weight. When the two disagree, crews and flight planners are left reconciling a list that shows nothing with a controller who describes an active restriction.
The entries had carried a permanent end date, which makes their removal from the active list notable on its own terms. What would settle the matter is an FAA statement on whether the listing was dropped deliberately or changed for another reason, and a matching update to what controllers tell pilots.
