Walt Disney World, Universal Parks Subject Videos Posted On YouTube

A 16-year-old Canadian got some spectacular video of fireworks at Florida's Walt Disney World on New Year's Eve, as well as shots of the new Avatar attraction under construction in Disney's Animal Kingdom, and swimmers in Typhoon Lagoon. There was also footage flying over the 14-story-tall Contemporary Resort Hotel.

The teenager also flew his aircraft, a DJI Phantom quadcopter he received as a holiday gift, over the entry arch of the Universal Studios theme park, then hovered above one of the parks roller coasters.

Some who saw the footage before it was taken down by the teen say it's 'beautiful'. It may also be illegal.

Television station WKMG says on its "Click Orlando" website that the flight over the Disney park may have violated the permanent TFR that is in place over the park, as "all [UAVs] are aircraft, according to the FAA," said Orlando aviation lawyer Guy Haggard. The TFR was put in place in 2003 officially as a protection following 9/11, but some say is merely to prevent airplanes from towing banners over the park. The Disney TFR was updated in 2014 to specifically prohibit "unmanned and remote controlled aircraft."

The teenager, who has remained anonymous, said he was not aware of the U.S. restrictions on flying his quadcopter at Disney or other parks. The official Disney rules do not specifically mention UAVs, or drones, but the website does say that the park may ban "items that we determine may be harmful or disruptive."

A company spokesman said that if an employee sees a UAV, he or she is to report it to security, who will notify the FAA. Universal also forbids UAV overflights, which it says could be originated from roads around the resort.

The videos have been taken down from YouTube by the teenager, according to the report, who said in a comment on the site that he knew he could get in trouble for having taken the videos. Neither Disney or Universal has filed an official complaint. The FAA has not taken any official action.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.faa.gov