Fantasy Of Flight Closing Doors To Public...

[RandolphB]

Fantasy of Flight owner, Kermit Weeks, announced today that effective Sunday, April 6, the attraction will be closing its doors as a public attraction and will focus on its private event business and the design and development of a new future destination attraction. “Although we are located just 20 minutes west of Walt Disney World, we’re currently outside the center of mass tourism and not perceived of as a destination. We have a great product, but people have a misperception of what we offer,” said Weeks. “After 18 years of being in operation, it’s time we close the attraction and move forward toward creating the vision for what I know Fantasy of Flight can become,” Weeks told employees today.

Fantasy of Flight will close the daily attraction and focus on its successful events business. It will also turn the facility into what it was originally designed for, which is a restoration and maintenance facility that will be needed to build future attraction elements. For those who wish to enjoy the historical aspects of aircraft, plans are to open an aspect of the collection in a reduced capacity and admission price later this year.

While saddened that closing the attraction will necessitate a reduction in workforce, Weeks is optimistic that his long-term vision and future product will mean far more jobs and greater impact to Polk County. “We have great employees,” said Weeks, “and will be working with several local, state and private agencies in the upcoming weeks in order to offer our employees assistance and training for the transition.” An event-focused staff will be retained as the facility continues to host weddings, meetings and corporate events, including team building and birthday parties via the Wing Walk Air Confidence Course & Zip Line.

Weeks assured, “This isn’t the end of Fantasy of Flight, it’s just the next step on the company’s journey to become what it was always meant to be – a quality attraction that uses entertainment as a means to an end for self-discovery and self-transformation. Think of this as a caterpillar going into its cocoon. We expect to re-emerge as a brand-new butterfly!”

Groups that are currently booked for admittance to the attraction after April 6 will be issued refunds (including deposits). Groups currently contracted for Wing Walk Air only and/or private events will not be affected by these changes. Annual pass holders will receive a pro-rated refund based on the date of purchase, and refund checks will be mailed to the pass holder’s address on file via USPS beginning April 8. If you are an annual pass holder with questions or to update your mailing address, please contact Brittani Taylor at btaylor@fantasyofflight.com.

[John Kerr]

Just read on facebook. A sorry day, but business is business. Glad I have been there 6 or 7 times over the years. Thanks Kermit for keeping it open as long as you did.

[Warbird Kid]

It sounds like they'll reopen eventually. Probably just going through a major renovation / re-imagine. We've known for a little while that Kermit wanted to change up FoF. Hence the new plaques all the "Light that Spark" stuff. So Im excited to see what will become of this.

[Enemy Ace]

I'm confused.... every time I have been to FoF there has been a pretty good number of people around.... Not crowded but the daily gate take must be pretty good. Fire some of those silly actors and that will save a bundle.

[Jerry O'Neill]

The visitors numbers are probably not the numbers he was originally hoping for. Sounds like he wants it to be a real "destination" as opposed to an attraction. Time will tell if it this will be a good move or not.

[Randy Haskin]

So, what is Kermit's vision for the end-state of the "attraction"?

[Pat Carry]

[Pat Carry]

With 2 museums recently thinning their collections and the Evergreen Air and Space Museum apparently on the way to locking their doors, its not a good time for aviation museums. I'm sure there will be many others closing up in the near future. Lots of planes across the US will be headed for the smelters in the not to distant future.

[Pat Carry]

With 2 museums recently thinning their collections and the Evergreen Air and Space Museum apparently on the way to locking their doors, its not a good time for aviation museums. I'm sure there will be many others closing up in the near future. Lots of planes across the US will be headed for the smelters in the not to distant future.

[JohnTerrell]

Curious too to see what the future evolution/iteration of FOF will look like. I did take note of the comment about how the plan is to open the doors to the public again later this year, but in a limited capacity - for those that just want to see the planes, it sounds like.

[Thomas Reilly]

Sad to hear of the close, but it will interesting to see what has changed when it is done.

-Thomas Reilly

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Warb ... ef=tn_tnmn
http://warbirdwatcher.blog.com

[tom d. friedman]

I can understand some govt. run museums taking the pipe regarding sequestration / budget cuts of the u.s. govt., scaling down, etc, but not simultaneously w/ the private sector of museum ownership!! what the heck is going on here?? weeks, evergreen. I know there are others. maybe I should go into the scrap business.

[TAdan]

Kermit has just posted a video about the closing. I think it bodes well for the future and look forward to seeing what he comes up with.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DC4G4E227Ck#t=197

[fotobass]

I've been meaning to get my sons over there forever on our Disney visits (we're kinda Disney junkies as a family), but we never made it.

Wanna guess when our next trip down is?

March 29th.

Plans adjusted.

[Warbirdnerd]

I've been meaning to get my sons over there forever on our Disney visits (we're kinda Disney junkies as a family), but we never made it.

Wanna guess when our next trip down is?

March 29th.

Plans adjusted.

I'm in the same boat, but this year I insisted we go to FoF, this was before the closing was annouced. We will be there Sunday the 30th...