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You are here: Home / travel / Enjoy The High Life With a Hot Air Balloon Ride

Enjoy The High Life With a Hot Air Balloon Ride

April 20, 2014 by Beeb 42 Comments

Hot air balloon

All travel consideration provided by Experience Kissimmee.

On the last morning of my Florida trip, we had a very special activity planned as our grand finale: A hot air balloon ride! I’d never been on a hot air balloon before, so this was yet another first for me and something I was very excited about. Hot air balloon rides are very dependent on weather, so we crossed our fingers all week that we would be able to go. Luck was on our side and the conditions were right, so we left at 5:30 in the morning to watch the sun rise from a balloon!

Orlando at dusk

We arrived at Orlando Balloon Rides and went outside to watch the process of setting up and inflating the balloons while we waited to board. A few volunteers, including Melissa, helped hold the balloon in place while it inflated!

Melissa helps inflate the balloon

Balloon inflating

Me standing in front of the balloon as it inflates

Hot air balloon inflating

Once the balloon was inflated, it was time to climb in the basket and take off!

Inside the hot air balloon

Our hot air balloon pilot

Watching the sun rise from a balloon is simply gorgeous. We took off with two other balloons, and the captains would yell jokes at each other sometimes while we were in the air!

Hot air balloon at sunrise

Look at the spectacular views we were treated to during our ride:

Hot air balloon flies over trees

View of the ground and another balloon

Hot air balloon reflection in water

I’ve mentioned several times during my trip recaps that I have a healthy fear of heights. It was a little unnerving to me when we first launched because it takes a minute to adjust to being so far off the ground with just a basket between you and the sky. But I quickly acclimated! I did get some great shots with my Garmin VIRB camera, holding it with a death grip and pointing it down over the side of the balloon basket where my eyes didn’t dare to look (Or couldn’t see). I got a kick out of seeing the footage for the first time when I got home – my stomach lurches looking at this view!

The ride was smooth and simply lovely, with simply incredible sights. From this high up, Epcot Center looks like a marble!

Sun rising in the sky

The ground below

Two balloons

Beeb on the hot air balloon

I was coming down with a bad cold & had only gotten 2 hours of sleep when this was taken, so I’m not at my most photogenic, but you can see that I was there! Thanks Melissa for the photo!

Houses below us

Fog

Flying over water

Balloon coasting over water

Trees reflecting in the water

Sun shining down

Hot air balloon gliding along

Sun reflecting off water

The ride lasts for about an hour, and make a slow and gradual descent to the ground. Right before landing, you’re instructed to sit on the bottom of the basket and hold on to the handles in front of you – I was a little nervous about this part, but the land was completely effortless – you barely even felt it!

Getting out of basket

Once we landed and had the OK from our pilot, we climbed out of the basket. We landed in a field on a farm, and began the fascinating process of packing the balloon up.

Walking over the balloon

First, the pilot invited anyone who wanted to help to walk over the deflated balloon to flatten it! This was really interesting – at one point, the top of the balloon started falling back on us and we were cracking up!

Beeb kicking the balloon

Me kicking the balloon – photo courtesy Melissa.

Next, the pilot gathered the balloon up, and asked us to kick the sides of it so he could grab it more easily. What the photo above doesn’t show is that while I was doing this, I accidentally kicked the pilot. I’m so sorry!!

Holding the hot air balloon bag

Then, a group of volunteers held a large bag while the pilot and another group picked up the balloon and put it inside.

Putting the balloon in its bag

Once the balloon was in its bag, everyone leaned on it to help cram it in, just like it was an overstuffed suitcase!

U-Pick Citrus

Once the balloon was put away and loaded into its truck, we drove on the back roads from the farmland to a U-Pick Citrus grove right by the nearest major road. Here, we had a mimosa toast to our flight and looked around the storefront for a few minutes before driving back to Orlando Balloon Rides headquarters, where a breakfast buffet was waiting for us. We had to catch our flights home, so unfortunately we couldn’t stay, but I did have time to grab a piece of bacon and a Florida orange before driving straight to the airport to fly home!

Group photo with our hot air balloon pilot

With our hot air balloon pilot – photo courtesy
Experience Kissimmee.

Check out my video of the whole flight, from inflation to packing up the balloon:

I can’t think of a more phenomenal end to my unforgettable vacation than this hot air balloon ride – it was simply amazing, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!

For More Information:

Orlando Balloon Rides
1-800-586-1884
Price: $185 per person for adults, $95 each for children.
Website | Google+ | Facebook | Twitter

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Filed Under: travel Tagged With: A Hot air balloon ride, Florida, Florida Vacation, RockYourVacation, travel

About Beeb

Beeb is a British journalist living on the north Oregon coast. Blogging since 2008, she covers everything from coupons to contests in addition to running a network connecting UK bloggers with brands. In her free time, she loves to drink coffee, watch reality TV, and spend time with her fiancé, Jai. Join her on Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+BeebAshcroft/

Comments

  1. Veronica says

    April 20, 2014 at 9:25 pm

    That is so awesome!! That’s one of the things I would love to do, but absolutely scared to do because of the height

    Reply
  2. Mary Happymommy says

    April 21, 2014 at 3:54 am

    Wow, looks like a lot of fun! The view is amazing.

    Reply
  3. Amy Desrosiers says

    April 21, 2014 at 4:15 am

    Oh my gosh I’d freak out on one if these!! The view looks nice here, but oh I’d be shaking the how time!!

    Reply
  4. Lindsey @ Redhead Baby Mama says

    April 21, 2014 at 7:06 am

    SO COOL! On my bucket list, for sure. There was a balloon race the day my brother was born in NJ, it was beautiful soaring over the hospital.

    Reply
  5. Marina says

    April 21, 2014 at 8:29 am

    What amazing snaps. This would have been a awesome ride except heights aren’t really my thing. (I’m quite a chicken as you can tell from past comments!)

    Reply
  6. Autumn says

    April 21, 2014 at 10:08 am

    Wow! A hot air balloon ride at sunrise sounds like the perfect way to end your rock star vacation. You’re brave 🙂

    Reply
  7. Shop with Me Mama (Kim) says

    April 21, 2014 at 10:15 am

    Love all the beautiful pictures! Looks and sounds like you had so much fun!

    Reply
  8. Keikilani says

    April 21, 2014 at 11:11 am

    What a breathtaking experience! You got some beautiful shots!

    Reply
  9. Mr Thomas E Ticknor says

    April 21, 2014 at 1:23 pm

    Looks very exciting but I think I would be too scared to do it. Height is not my friend.

    Reply
  10. Robin (Masshole Mommy) says

    April 21, 2014 at 2:10 pm

    I have always wanted to go on a hot air balloon ride. We don’t see many of them up my way, though.

    Reply
  11. Aimee says

    April 21, 2014 at 2:12 pm

    I have always wanted to do this! What a beautiful experience!

    Reply
  12. Angela says

    April 21, 2014 at 3:31 pm

    A hot air balloon ride has been on my bucket list for the longest time. Your pictures are phenomenal. What fun!

    Reply
  13. Debi says

    April 21, 2014 at 3:37 pm

    That is simply amazing. Someday I will get to go on one.

    Reply
  14. Jessica says

    April 21, 2014 at 4:40 pm

    The whole experience looks breath taking! I would love to take a ride in a hot air balloon. I think it’s one of those things that everyone wants to experience at least once in there life. I need to get over my fear of heights first!

    Reply
  15. April @ My Real Food Family says

    April 21, 2014 at 5:05 pm

    I love seeing hot air balloons but have no desire to go up in one. I’m terrified of heights!

    Reply
  16. valmg @ Mom Knows It All says

    April 21, 2014 at 5:06 pm

    I’ve always wanted to go on one of those! Glad you had a good time!

    Reply
  17. Jenn @ The Rebel Chick says

    April 21, 2014 at 5:07 pm

    You sure did have a great day for it! What a fantastic view!

    Reply
  18. Felicia says

    April 21, 2014 at 5:07 pm

    This looks like so much fun! You got some really amazing shots as well.

    Reply
  19. Chelsea says

    April 21, 2014 at 9:08 pm

    This looks seriously AMAZING, but I don’t know if I could ever get myself into one. I’d be way too scared, haha! For now, I’ll live vicariously through your photos 🙂

    Reply
  20. Pam says

    April 21, 2014 at 9:45 pm

    That was amazing. I have never been but I think I might like to go on a hot air balloon ride. What beautiful pictures and what a great way to end a trip.

    Reply
  21. Liz Mays says

    April 22, 2014 at 4:30 am

    I’d be really scared, but I would totally do it. The view is breathtaking!

    Reply
  22. Nancy Loring says

    April 22, 2014 at 4:43 am

    You must have had so much fun. Riding in a balloon is on my bucket list of things to do.

    Reply
  23. StacieinAtlanta says

    April 22, 2014 at 5:00 am

    How exciting! You got some really great pictures. It looks like you had a blast!

    Reply
  24. Christie says

    April 22, 2014 at 5:29 am

    Oh my goodness, how thrilling! I don’t know if I could ever do that though

    Reply
  25. Debra says

    April 22, 2014 at 5:52 am

    What a wonderful ride – the views were spectacular. I’ve always wanted to do this, but have been scared – but it looks like so much fun!

    Reply
  26. Beth@FrugalFroggie says

    April 22, 2014 at 6:25 am

    I would love to take a balloon ride. Looks wonderful!!

    Reply
  27. krystal says

    April 22, 2014 at 7:12 am

    These images are beautiful. This weekend is a hot air balloon event in my town. I sadly will miss it, but I hope I Can see them floating in the clouds.

    Reply
  28. April at Two Chic's Blog says

    April 22, 2014 at 9:18 am

    How fun! A hot air balloon is a great way to end a vacation! Great photos!

    Reply
  29. Theresa says

    April 22, 2014 at 9:57 am

    I am so scared of heights, but this is something that I really want to do at some point! You got some really beautiful shots!

    Reply
  30. Toni says

    April 22, 2014 at 10:53 am

    I love love love hot air balloon rides. YOu get to see so many beautiful thing way up there.

    Reply
  31. Ashley M says

    April 22, 2014 at 10:58 am

    I’ve never rode in a hot air balloon but these look amazing. I’m so jealous! That picture is awesome btw.

    Reply
  32. Amy @ Marvelous Mommy says

    April 22, 2014 at 11:22 am

    Awesome photos! I love the reflection in the first one! A friend of mine was wanting to do a hot air balloon ride for her birthday!

    Reply
  33. Cam | Bibs and Baubles says

    April 22, 2014 at 12:14 pm

    I have always wanted to take a hot air balloon ride!!! Your experience just makes me want to do it even more!

    Reply
  34. Erica says

    April 22, 2014 at 3:15 pm

    I’m not a big fan of heights but I think I would actually do this! Looks like you had a great time and beautiful views!

    Reply
  35. Raya says

    April 22, 2014 at 6:12 pm

    Kudos to you for taking this trip. I would be TERRIFIED that high up.

    Reply
  36. Dawn says

    April 22, 2014 at 10:53 pm

    I have never been in a hot air balloon before. Those views are spectacular!

    Reply
  37. Amber K says

    April 23, 2014 at 5:28 am

    I have never been in a hot air balloon. I’ve been a little scared honestly but it looks amazing.

    Reply
  38. Amanda Her says

    April 23, 2014 at 6:14 am

    Oh my goodness! I would be so nervous to go on a hot balloon ride. Beautiful views though!

    Reply
  39. Tamra H says

    April 23, 2014 at 6:46 am

    What an exciting adventure, and beautiful photos! Officially jealous! 🙂

    Reply
  40. Dina says

    April 24, 2014 at 9:32 am

    Great shots. I’m afraid of heights so I’m very impressed you did it anyway. I’m not sure I could have.

    Reply
  41. Shell says

    April 24, 2014 at 2:34 pm

    I would love to do this some day! Even with my fear of heights.

    Reply
  42. Amy Orvin says

    April 27, 2014 at 7:55 am

    I love all of the beautiful pictures, but don’t know if I could do it. It’s just too high for me!

    Reply

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