UPDATED JANUARY 2020

Hey guys! Rachel here…. way up here, actually. I’m in an Orla hot air balloon!

February was a heckuva month. I got a tattoo, went to Israel, rode a camel, swam in the Dead Sea, got baptized in the Jordan River…WOW. Maybe I should take the rest of March off to relax…I don’t think my boss would mind. (;

Bucket list item No. 1 in February: riding in a hot air balloon in Orlando!

Turns out, there’s more here than theme parks, so why not celebrate Aven and my 1 year anniversary with something different than our usual roller coasters and parades?

Nothing says I LOVE YOU I just wanna be friends like waking up at 5 a.m. 

I know taking a hot air balloon flight is on many bucket lists, including mine, but I never really thought about what it entails until we started our early morning drive to the takeoff site at Orlando Balloon Rides. I started thinking, “How does a hot air balloon even work? Is this safe? It’s just air…who invented this? We’re about to be in the sky…I SHOULD HAVE PAID ATTENTION IN SCIENCE CLASS.”

Thankfully, all my fears floated away as soon as we lifted off the ground.

AND IT WAS SO COOL.

What You’ll See

If you’re unfamiliar with Orlando’s landscape, there are no towering mountains or beaches to see. It also depends on the weather! But on a clear day, you might get a birds’ eye view of Walt Disney World, swamps, golf courses, my house, the Orlando Eye, and the headwaters for the Florida Everglades. You’ll most likely see a few alligators swimming below, too.

4 Things to Expect on Your Orlando Hot Air Balloon Ride

No two hot air balloon rides are the same.

There’s no motor, so you’re at the mercy of the wind. As such, we literally landed in someone’s backyard. It was rather interesting having a group of strangers welcome you back to the ground, “Good morning, nice house, don’t mind us or this giant hot air balloon….”

Be prepared to get a little dirty

The folks from Orlando Balloon Rides ask for assistance putting the hot air balloon back inside the bag. It is not required, but if you do assist, you’ll get a bit dirty.

Enjoy some champagne!

You’ll be treated to snacks and champagne after your return. Cheers!

Be prepared to wake up SUPER early.

You’ll arrive half an hour before sunrise and the entire experience lasts 3-4 hours. Our wake-up call was around 5 am!

What to Wear for a Hot Air Balloon Ride

• Definitely not a dress. You climb in and out of the basket so pants or shorts are a safe option. It’s Florida, so it’ll still be quite warm in the morning!
• Close-toed shoes.
• Avoid wearing anything that could fall off like sunglasses, hats, or bracelets. If you’re bringing a camera, make sure you hold on extra tight or invest in a wrist strap.

How to Book a Hot Air Balloon Ride

We were guests of Orlando Balloon Rides and would highly recommend. Just check out all their reviews on TripAdvisor if you don’t believe us!

Explore More of Orlando

• Universal Orlando | How to Spend Your Day The Jet Sisters’ Way
• A Guide to Universal Orlando’s Onsite Hotels
• 5 Places to Experience 500 Years of Florida

Have you ever been on a hot air balloon ride? Where did you do it? If not, is it something you would try?

PIN ME

Special thanks to Orlando Balloon Rides for hosting us and helping me check this unique Orlando experience off my bucket list!