Family Travel Forum
04-21-2006, 11:06 PM
On April 11, a 98-foot-tall hot air balloon shaped like Mickey Mouse rose over the rim of the Grand Canyon (pictured at left); it was launched at Grand Canyon West, home of the Hualapai Tribal Nation.</P><P>
Part of the company's world-wide 50th anniversary celebration, it has been named "The Happiest Balloon On Earth." </P><P>
You can't miss it: weighing approximately 410 lbs, Mickey's inflated nose is 5.5-feet-wide and his golden ears span 53 feet. The spectacular one-of-a-kind inflatable has already flown over Arizona's cities of Tucson and Phoenix as well as San Diego, California, and will continue to travel throughout the western United States and Canada during its 11-week tour.
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Keep reminding the kids to look up! Future stops include San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Sacramento, Fresno and Vancouver on its way to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where it will land in May.</P><P>The Mickey Balloon was launched in conjunction with the <a href=http://www.disneyland.com>Disneyland Resort's actual 50th anniversary celebration</a>. </P><P>At Disney's original theme park in Anaheim, visitors will be able to enjoy all the classic rides plus other new attractions, such as Turtle Talk, Buzz Lightyear and a faster, improved and darker Space Mountain ride.</P><P> "The Happiest Place on Earth" celebration continues at all the Disney parks through September of 2007.</P><P>
<p align=right><em>Photo c. Paul Hiffmeyer/Disney Enterprises</em>
Part of the company's world-wide 50th anniversary celebration, it has been named "The Happiest Balloon On Earth." </P><P>
You can't miss it: weighing approximately 410 lbs, Mickey's inflated nose is 5.5-feet-wide and his golden ears span 53 feet. The spectacular one-of-a-kind inflatable has already flown over Arizona's cities of Tucson and Phoenix as well as San Diego, California, and will continue to travel throughout the western United States and Canada during its 11-week tour.
</P><P>
Keep reminding the kids to look up! Future stops include San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Sacramento, Fresno and Vancouver on its way to Albuquerque, New Mexico, where it will land in May.</P><P>The Mickey Balloon was launched in conjunction with the <a href=http://www.disneyland.com>Disneyland Resort's actual 50th anniversary celebration</a>. </P><P>At Disney's original theme park in Anaheim, visitors will be able to enjoy all the classic rides plus other new attractions, such as Turtle Talk, Buzz Lightyear and a faster, improved and darker Space Mountain ride.</P><P> "The Happiest Place on Earth" celebration continues at all the Disney parks through September of 2007.</P><P>
<p align=right><em>Photo c. Paul Hiffmeyer/Disney Enterprises</em>