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!
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!
Once the balloon was inflated, it was time to climb in the basket and take off!
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!
Look at the spectacular views we were treated to during our ride:
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!
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!
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!
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.
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!
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!!
Then, a group of volunteers held a large bag while the pilot and another group picked up the balloon and put it inside.
Once the balloon was in its bag, everyone leaned on it to help cram it in, just like it was an overstuffed suitcase!
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!
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.
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That is so awesome!! That’s one of the things I would love to do, but absolutely scared to do because of the height
Wow, looks like a lot of fun! The view is amazing.
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!!
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.
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!)
Wow! A hot air balloon ride at sunrise sounds like the perfect way to end your rock star vacation. You’re brave 🙂
Love all the beautiful pictures! Looks and sounds like you had so much fun!
What a breathtaking experience! You got some beautiful shots!
Looks very exciting but I think I would be too scared to do it. Height is not my friend.
I have always wanted to go on a hot air balloon ride. We don’t see many of them up my way, though.
I have always wanted to do this! What a beautiful experience!
A hot air balloon ride has been on my bucket list for the longest time. Your pictures are phenomenal. What fun!
That is simply amazing. Someday I will get to go on one.
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!
I love seeing hot air balloons but have no desire to go up in one. I’m terrified of heights!
I’ve always wanted to go on one of those! Glad you had a good time!
You sure did have a great day for it! What a fantastic view!
This looks like so much fun! You got some really amazing shots as well.
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 🙂
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.
I’d be really scared, but I would totally do it. The view is breathtaking!
You must have had so much fun. Riding in a balloon is on my bucket list of things to do.
How exciting! You got some really great pictures. It looks like you had a blast!
Oh my goodness, how thrilling! I don’t know if I could ever do that though
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!
I would love to take a balloon ride. Looks wonderful!!
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.
How fun! A hot air balloon is a great way to end a vacation! Great photos!
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!
I love love love hot air balloon rides. YOu get to see so many beautiful thing way up there.
I’ve never rode in a hot air balloon but these look amazing. I’m so jealous! That picture is awesome btw.
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!
I have always wanted to take a hot air balloon ride!!! Your experience just makes me want to do it even more!
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!
Kudos to you for taking this trip. I would be TERRIFIED that high up.
I have never been in a hot air balloon before. Those views are spectacular!
I have never been in a hot air balloon. I’ve been a little scared honestly but it looks amazing.
Oh my goodness! I would be so nervous to go on a hot balloon ride. Beautiful views though!
What an exciting adventure, and beautiful photos! Officially jealous! 🙂
Great shots. I’m afraid of heights so I’m very impressed you did it anyway. I’m not sure I could have.
I would love to do this some day! Even with my fear of heights.
I love all of the beautiful pictures, but don’t know if I could do it. It’s just too high for me!