The Disney Parks Balloon: Classic Souvenir or Problematic Waste?
There’s one Disney merchandise item that I see during every visit to the Magic Kingdom. It’s something I’ve always wanted, but never purchased – a main street balloon. I mean, look how gorgeous they are. No matter the season, they just sing “festive” to me.
I’ve never purchased one of the balloons for purely practical reasons. I have to fly to visit Walt Disney World and I stay in hotel rooms, which means they would take up space in the tiny confines of my room, and that I’d have to murder them at the end of my stay (too sad) or deflate them to get them home (which I understand is possible, but not something I’d realistically do).
The price point has been another deterrent for me. The basic balloons are $13.00 each and the specialty balloons are $17.00 each. That’s about the price of a ceramic mug that I could enjoy my coffee in for many years. Seems silly to end up on the disposable end of that equation.
But more important than my personal concerns, there are several environment issues with balloons. We’re in the middle of a global helium shortage. While The New York Times says that party balloons aren’t the problem, they’re not helping either, and is it ethical to use a scarce resource for entertainment when it could be used for medical or scientific purposes.
Additionally, balloons, like the plastic straws that are now vanishing from theme parks, are designed to be used only briefly and then discarded forever. Plastic and mylar take a looooong time to decompose.
And if you do buy a helium balloon and it escapes from your clutches, it can become a danger to wildlife who may inadvertently consume it (part of the reason you can’t bring balloons to the Animal Kingdom or Animal Kingdom Lodge).
The list of reasons to avoid balloons is clearly long, but they do so much to add to the joyful mood at the parks. Is that worth keeping them? Should they be purely decoration and not an item to sell to guests? Should they go the way of the plastic straw?
What do you think, balloon sales yay or nay? Let us know in the comments.
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For $13.00 – $17.00, that’s money towards a shirt, another kind of souvenir or food.
I would have to admit that I would buy one if I had a child in a stroller so that I could use it as a marker but as a childlike adult, I say no to The Disney Balloon.
I find it interesting because in Disneyland they don’t seem to sell the actual mylar balloons anymore and it seems to be the bubble ones only and I’m not sure why since I forgot to ask someone. I remember when lilo and Stitch came out wanting a Stitch shaped balloon but because I’m in a huge family I was told no and I was crushed. I went in 2013 hoping to find Sulley since not only Monster’s university came out but I also figured out how to deflate mylar balloons but they only had the bubble ones and plastic ones shaped like the Deathstar. I just came back last week and they didn’t even have Starwars ones but they were all Christmas themed.
Because we drive, we’ve always brought the balloons home with us. They really do last a long time. So for us, they’ve been worth it!
Disney got rid of straws (and lids) because they cost money, under the guise of “saving the environment.” If they really cared about the environment they would stop selling the balloons, which are more wasteful and can cause just as much, or more, harm. But at 13 to 17 bucks apiece? I think the balloons are here to stay.
The balloons are really cool to look at horrible for the environment. We need to do away with things like this that are destroying the environment. We are such a disposable generation it’s gross. I shamefully include myself in that group but I’m trying to be better. To have something for a few minutes hours or days and then just toss it away because you don’t want it any more is mind set we need to change. Plastic doesn’t go away and latex balloons are only sort of biodegradable- they take forever to breakdown and are detrimental to marine and wildlife. I think the balloons are beautiful but my conscience won’t let me vote to keep them.
Great points. I feel like the helium aspect isn’t getting enough consideration from people.
Back in the days of yore when I worked balloons they were .50 each!! Eventually balloons will become as much a part of lost Disney as affordable entry into parks…how very sad indeed.
Balloons are one of the greatest joys in life! I would be sad if Disney stopped selling them. Of course, I may be biased since I’m a Professional Balloon Artist!
FYI Latex balloons are 100% Biodegradable (breakdown rate is about the same as an oak leaf).
The helium shortage is a real problem. Fill Disney balloons with hydrogen! you Could work the release and ignition of the balloons into all of the night time spectaculars. Are you with me?
Oh the humanity!
Coo what a sight
They have brought great joy to our kids over the years. Yes, they may be cumbersome to bring around the park, but, I think worth it! At the end of our trip we always find someone with little kids in our hotel lobby to give the balloon to, which also brings us joy. And if your balloon is deflating you can bring it back and they will give you a new one.
The balloons will disappear as soon as Disney Parks finds a profitable alternative, like those crazy straws that will *definitely not* wind up in the trash after a trip when someone finds them filled with gross crap.
Good points. I have seen people take them home on the airplane inflated. I was shocked no one stopped them!!