Although the flight to Orange County made me a little nervous the week after 9/11, the short (or non-existent) lines at Disneyland made it worthwhile. Unfortunately, Haunted Mansion was closed for Halloween changeover (or something--my luck on the fave place--thanks Murphy). So now it's a ghost no-fly zone mansion? And those Tomorrowlanders' ships, they're going to get up 3k ft? I'm so there.

bless all in harm's way
mmw

I found it very amusing that while reading this entry, I had the following thoughts several times:

"Wow, Cory needs to know about this. (beat) Oh, this is Cory's blog."

Brian, that was one of the obvious flaws I declined to describe. If you're not willing to blow the plane out of the sky, then you won't stop any hijacked plane from crashing into space mountain and detonating itself. So, since we're *not* willing to do that, no-fly-zones are pointless as a defense against suicide bombers.

Michael Bernstein: "The thinking goes like this: If all non-terrorists obey the 'no-fly-zone', then obviously anyone violating it is a terrorist and can be shot down with impunity. Ergo, an increase in security."

Right, because it has been the U.S. policy to shoot down airplanes with impunity if they violate a domestic no-fly-zone.

What a plane violating a no-fly-zone does get is a helluva lot of extra attention. By limiting the number of airplanes over a potential target like Disney, you reduce the number of planes where you have to wonder "gee, has that one been hijacked by terrorists."

Well, yeah. You gotta' have a sense of humor in this mess. Otherwise, you'll go mad.

Anyway, IBLIS, I heard that Tinkerbell was caught spouting anti-American, pro-Neverland propaganda to a handful of kids over at Epcot.

Jeebus H. Crikey. The war has started, people are being bombed and dying RIGHT NOW and all you care about is goddam Disneyland.

Haven't you heard? Tink was on Ashcroft's list of suspected terrorists and is cooling her pointy little heels in solitary without a lawyer.

iblis }()+

Edited by author 03-19-2003 02:50 PM
Now looks like the best time to go to Disney World, to avoid all the lines! Just be sure to pack a gas mask in your fanny pack.

I remember years and years ago, when Orlando International still gave tours of their ATC, looking at the radar dishes and stuff at the base of the (now defunct) tower and saying, "how come there aren't any flights in this space here?"

The controller flipped on a switch, and the outline of Mickey appeared over the space in a really freaky green luminous. "That's why," he said. "We try not to route traffic over them unless we can't help it."

How is this new no-fly any different? I can't remember ever hearing or seeing a plane go over WDW (never been to Disneyland, so I have experience there).

Wow, KnitWit and I entered those SIMULTANEOUSLY.

I guess Tinkerbelle will be grounded for the duration.

Does this count for Tinkerbell flying around the castle too?

It's not the first order effect (ie. keep bad guys away) that is the point with restrictions like these. It's the second order effects.

The thinking goes like this: If all non-terrorists obey the 'no-fly-zone', then obviously anyone violating it is a terrorist and can be shot down with impunity. Ergo, an increase in security.

Don't bother pointing out the flaws with this approach, I know what they are, I was just explaining that the supposed security is an indirect effect, mot a direct one.

Strictly speaking, the Disney flight restrictions are "within 3NM _AND_ below 3000AGL". I'm not sure what "3NM or below 3000AGL" would mean.

This sort of flight restriction is kinda silly. It doesn't really increase actual safety on the ground. Small aircraft are really pretty harmless, and anyone willing to try and do real harm isn't gonna worry about this sort of restriction. I suppose it might make some people "feel" safe, but obviously not in this case.