Balloon Flights in Orlando

[katiec]

Has anyone done this? I quite like the look of it and am thinking of surprising DH with a balloon trip.

Would be interested to know your experiences/thoughts.

Cheers

 

[willibobs]

I have done Blue Water Balloons (or what used to be) and couldn't fault it at all. Think most of them are very similar and well worth doing.

 

[wilma-bride]

We did a balloon flight with Orange Blossom in 2004 and it was not a pleasant experience - there is a review in my honeymoon trip report in my signature (day 11 part 1).

 

[Pegasus928]

I've just read your report Joh and you certainly had a rough time of it. At the very least they should have told you, before selling you the package, that the weather plays such a big part in it and that you have to share a basket.
We went on our balloon flight, with Orange Blossom, in 2005. To be honest we had a bad flight but this was due to the fact that there was next to no wind at all. By the time we landed about an hour later we could still see where we took off from. I can also sympathise about the way that it is sold. The champagne breakfast was some cheap plonk in a plastic flute once the balloon had landed. Then when we got back to the meeting point for breakfast we also got the hard sell with regards to pictures and t-shirts.
DW enjoyed it as she had wanted to go in a balloon for as long as I can remember. And the kids loved it as it was something new for them.
But speaking personally as someone who has done free fall parachuting, bungee jumping and abseiling out of helicopters I found it a bit of an anti climax

 

[wayneg]

.
But speaking personally as someone who has done free fall parachuting

We have considered a Hot air balloon for years never got around to it but this is what I really want to do. Almost went skydiving it in Vegas a few years ago but Karen told me she would kill me if I broke a leg and couldn't drive.

 

[2Tiggies]

... and as the person who probably footed the bill for the excursion

I also think that skydiving is much more fun, but my 8 year old would rather do a helicopter. If she was keen on a balloon then I would certainly go for it. They were doing short (and I mean SHORT) balloon flights from DTD - not sure if that is still happening though.

 

[2Tiggies]

Almost went skydiving it in Vegas a few years ago but Karen told me she would kill me if I broke a leg and couldn't drive.

Were you afraid she meant it?

I went out with an Airforce pilot for a few years in my 20s. He too thought anyone wilfully jumping from a perfectly servicable aircraft had to be examined from the neck up. I was also threatened and warned about skydiving. I went anyway. He ended the relationship. Yep, seriously! Anyway, my point is, if you really want to do something, go for it. If you fancy a hot air balloon ride, then do it if you can arrange it. It is an experience and somehow you can't always put a price tag on those.

 

[scottish mum]

We went on a hot air balloon trp booked through virgin a couple of years ago. Think the company used was orlando haot air ballon company. We loved the whole experience and would do it all again in a heartbeat. My dd was only 4 and she and my other kids 7 and 11 at the time loved it too. The only hard bit as the early start, thinbkwe got collected about 5am

 

[Pegasus928]

They were doing short (and I mean SHORT) balloon flights from DTD - not sure if that is still happening though.

Do you mean the Characters In Flight?

 

[2Tiggies]

Do you mean the Characters In Flight?

No clue what it was to be honest. I wasn't really interested when I saw something about it being really short. It seemed like a waste of time to me, so it could well have been something totally different to what I thought it was. I just recalled because at the time my DD had requested a helicopter ride and I came across it in a search .... somewhere.

 

[Pegasus928]

No clue what it was to be honest. I wasn't really interested when I saw something about it being really short. It seemed like a waste of time to me, so it could well have been something totally different to what I thought it was. I just recalled because at the time my DD had requested a helicopter ride and I came across it in a search .... somewhere.

Characters In Flight is the only one that I have ever seen at DTD, and as it is a short balloon ride it could possibly have been this one.
We did this in October and it is OK. It gives a good view over DTD and the pilot does a good job of pointing out all the local landmarks while you are up there but it isn't really comparable to a proper hot air balloon flight.
As far as I know it also a permanent fixture.

 

[Chilly]

We did it in December and I loved it. Here is the link to that day of my TR:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2378032

 

[staciemkg]

I was thinking about the Charaters in Flight in DTD. It is not a true balloon ride. It just goes up and comes back down (its anchored) It still looks neat. Was wondering how long it did last and what people thought about it.

 

[wayneg]

I was thinking about the Charaters in Flight in DTD. It is not a true balloon ride. It just goes up and comes back down (its anchored) It still looks neat. Was wondering how long it did last and what people thought about it.

I haven't done it but I believe it lasts about 8-10 mins for about $16pp. Personally I wouldn't pay $50 for the 3 of us for 10 mins. Been up sky tower at Seaworld numerous times free which gets to a similar height.