Thompson Aire Inc. Disney area Balloon rides.

Active Adventure

A hot air balloon flight is simply one of the most incredible journeys you will ever take in your life. Floating along in what most people describe as "Absolute peaceful bliss". Our program begins just before dawn with a pre-flight briefing. During the briefing your pilot will explain how the balloon is inflated and when to get in along with all the common questions most first time passengers will have. We have found that you will enjoy the flight even more when you know how everything is going to work. Next we step outside and launch a small helium balloon to determine wind directions. Balloons go with the wind and we would like to be headed into an area where we know there are landing fields. Next it is off to the launch site where passengers are allowed to join in as part of the crew as we prepare for flight. A quick chance for photos and then off we go! We fly for about an hour as your pilot will explain about the area and help spot the wildlife. We see deer, alligators, eagles, bore, turkey and even a bear or fox now and then. Upon landing we will discuss the history of balloon flight and how the tradition of the champagne toast began. After our Champagne ceremony we will return for an all you can eat full buffet breakfast where each of the morning’s adventures will be awarded their first flight certificate. The entire adventure will last from 3 to 4 hours. We start at 6 a.m. and you should be finished before the theme parks even open! Reservations are required and seats are limited so book this one in advance. Flights are weather permitting so pick a day near the front of your time so you may have a day for backup should the weather be unsuitable on your first choice of days.

Typical Day

A balloon flight makes a great GIFT for any special event. Booking a balloon flight for a special occasion like; Weddings Birthdays, Anniversary’s, Honey moons and even proposals will make you a hero in everyone’s eyes. You may schedule a flight as a surprise or purchase a gift certificate to present on that special day. The nice part about a gift certificate is the certificate is two gifts in one. First you can enjoy giving the certificate and watching the face of your special guest. Second you get to take the flight and again enjoy the thrill you have created for your lucky person.

Occasionally we are entered in balloon competitions around the area. We do take passengers in these events. You can check our online calendar for upcoming events and choose seats on a day when there will be many many balloons in the sky at once. There is no extra charge for these flights however; our meeting time may be adjusted much earlier to accommodate the driving time to get to the event.

Age range, type of group

We currently have NO restrictions on our passengers but we do have recommendations.

First we do not recommend a balloon flight for children under the age of 5. The burners on the balloon tend to frighten ADULTS never mind a child. Second when we come in for landing everyone must hold on. Parents have a tendency to try to help small children instead of holding on for themselves.

We want to know about any disabilities or people who are elderly. We can still fly these passengers but we will be more cautious about the weather conditions for their flight.

We suggest you dress as if you were going for a walk in the park. You will not be colder in the balloon! You will in fact be a few degrees warmer than if you had stayed on the ground. Comfortable shoes are a must. We will be walking around in open fields and pastures.

Restrictions

We recommend you schedule your flight about two weeks in advance. We often can make arrangements in shorter amounts so don’t hesitate to call if you need a flight in less time. If you have a special day in mind, book it early. We have an online booking form to make it easier to pick a day in advance. All flights require a reservation. Balloon flights are weather permitting. Passengers are asked to check in the night before the flight to get a weather brief as well as reconfirm their driving directions or pick up time.

Rates

This is an early start. We want you to be comfortable on your flight. A great suggestion is to get a small snack before you fly. We do not eat breakfast until after the flight and this much activity on an empty stomach can make you feel a little light headed. A cup of coffee and a Danish or juice is perfect.

We meet just outside the main entrance to Disney World. We start at the Black Angus Steak House located three traffic lights west of the entrance to Disney on Hwy 192. We do start promptly so be a little early just in case. There are maps and directions on our website.

Other Information

Everything is nearby! We are less than 5 minutes away from Disney World. We are 10 minutes away from Sea World and 15 minutes away from Universal Studios. Our flight program is normally finished before the parks even open so you can fly in a balloon and still be first inline at the parks.

You will only get this tip here on this site. On our pricing page click on the word Discount. This will take you to a separate page with more information about our internet special.