Spotting Parks from the plane?

I've attempted it many times, spotting a thrill park from the window of my plane. Flying into Orlando, and across country, I had always hoped to spot one, but I have never been successful. The only time I've spotted a structure to a theme park was flying out of Orlando 3 years ago, I swear I saw Disney's Contemporary Resort. Other than that though, I've never spotted a park from the sky? Has anybody on the boards done so?

------------------
Warning: I do not think like the average person. My remarks have plenty of thought behind them. Take it for what it's worth, if you disagree, please, feel free to express it, but don't put me down because of it.

According to the Disney World Explorer, pilots can see Spaceship Earth on a clear day. Thats all I know.
------------------
"Please stand behind the yellow line as the gates in front of you will be closing"
Clear for launch............. ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!
*** This post was edited by SFGAMan 6/18/2003 6:13:21 PM ***

On my way to SRM when I was arriving in Louisville I saw SFKK. It is really right across the interstate though.

------------------
-Sean Newman

I've spotted Astroworld and SFStL from the air before. Both times it felt kind of bizarre, because it wasn't that different from trying to find parks by scanning the aerial photos on mapquest or globexplorer.com. The tip-off is the same every time - look for a huge parking lot.

In Astroworld's Case, the Astrodome makes finding it a lot easier, too :)

I flew into Houston at night and couldn't see anything at all.

------------------
--Maddie--
What do I Listen-To?

I've seen SFStL flying into St Louis before. I've also seen Dorney when flying out of Wilkes Barre. Sometimes I wish the captains would let us know where we're flying over so I would know what to look for. Oh well, guess they're too busy flying the plane to worry about it. :)

------------------
I sing sometimes for the war that I fight, 'cause every tool is a weapon, if you hold it right. -Ani Difranco

I had no problem seeing everything near Orlando (Universal is really small). I've seen Cedar Point on approach to Cleveland many times. At one point I could see CP, Cleveland and the Canadian shore.

------------------
Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com - Sillynonsense.com
"Pray that your country undergoes recovery!" - KMFDM

If you're ever flying into Atlanta from the west headed east, chances are you'll fly just south of Six Flags Over Georgia. Easy to spot next to the interstate and the Chattahoochee River.

We came in at night from Las Vegas and saw the park. The giveway? GASM's tracer lights.

------------------
Is that a Q-bot in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?

Yeah, CP is no sweat at all when you're on approach to Hopkins from the west. (Especially if you're in a low-ish flying regional jet...)

I could NEVER find anything in Florida, Jeff. I'm not doubting you, but I'm always on the wrong side of the plane or something.

------------------
"Well, I'm sure I'd feel much worse if I weren't under such heavy sedation." - David St. Hubbins, Spinal Tap
http://www.loopscrew.com

I've flown to Orlando 5 or 6 times and I have NEVER seen anything, all though it would have been fun and I am sure neat for those of you who have.

Taking off and landing from Lehigh Valley International (formerly ABE) you always see Dorney Park---at least I have.

I used to try flying airplanes on flight simulator over where I thought certain parks would logically be and I never saw anything either (not that I was real great at the game :oP)

If you're asking if I've seen parks while flying...I've seen Epcot from the 300 foot skycoaster. ;>)

--Ryan

You can alwyas spot Great America from flying out of San Jose. Amazing how small the park looks from above. I've also managed to see Coney Island flying out of JFK.

Antuan said:
You can alwyas spot Great America from flying out of San Jose. Amazing how small the park looks from above. I've also managed to see Coney Island flying out of JFK.

Amazing how small the park looks? Its amazing how small the park IS!

When I flew from Madison to Cleveland for SRM '01 I could easily pick out Cedar Point from the plane, but the only think I could really make out (besides the parking lot and such) was Millennium Force. That was impressive.

-Nate

flying into LAX i spotted Disney land anaheim. What you really have to look out is for the tunnels which go around 'screamin' california', and it is really small lol

------------------

Colossus [1]
Nemesis: Inferno [6]

Taking off out of Dallas-Fort Worth, sit on the right side of the plane. You can see SFoT quite easily (and this was pre-Titan).

Later,
EV
-----
Remember that if you're one in a million, that means that there are 5000 other people on Earth just like you.

I have seen Spaceship Earth and Tree of Life from the air as well as the NASA launch pads and Vehicle Assembly Building.

As stated earlier, Cedar Point is very obvious into Hopkins from the west.

The last time I flew out of Atlanta to Columbus, I was on the right side of the plane as it did a 90-degree banked turn right around SFoG. I got to stare at it for a good 2 minutes, long enough to pick out all the coasters.

I'll be flying into Detroit here in a couple of weeks, so hopefully I'll be able to see CP.

------------------
A day is a drop of water in the ocean of eternity. A week is seven drops.

Spotting a few of the piers along the Jersey shore was easy on a flight down to Orlando from Newark last summer... I think I even saw the Giant Wheel in Wildwood.

------------------
-Rob

I see Six Flags Great America just about everytime I fly out of Milwaukee, unless I am flying Northwest through Detroit. I have seen the lights of Cedar Point on approach to Detroit a few times flying back from Tampa. I have also seen PKI and SFKK from a plane as well. I have tried looking for the parks from the plane leaving from Orlando but they always seem to take off towards the south and land from the south and wheel around almost out to the gulf.

------------------
Bob Hansen
Resident Airtime Whore