Ballooning in Orlando-Disney World

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Ballooning

It's hard to imagine a more inspiring way to enjoy the beautiful Central Florida outdoors than with a hot-air balloon ride.

Bob's Balloons offers one-hour rides over protected marshland and will even fly over Disney World if wind and weather conditions are right. You meet in Lake Buena Vista at dawn, where Bob and his assistant take you by van to the launch site. It takes about 15 minutes to get the balloon in the air and then you're off on an adventure that definitely surpasses Peter Pan's Flight in the Magic Kingdom.

From the treetop view you'll see farm and forest land for miles, along with horses, deer, wild boar, cattle, and birds flying below you. Bob may take you as high as 1,000 feet, from which point you'll be able to see Disney's landmarks: the Expedition Everest mountain, the Epcot ball, and more. Several other balloons are likely to go up near you -- there's a tight-knit community of ballooners in the Orlando area -- so you'll view these colorful sky ornaments from a parallel level. There are seats in the basket, but you'll probably be too thrilled to sit down.

Landing places are somewhat arbitrary since your direction depends on the wind. You may even land on a private farm. Fortunately, Bob has a relationship with most of the landowners in the area. After Bob and his assistant, who follows the balloon in the van, wrap everything up, they treat you to a lovely champagne picnic brunch (minus coffee, so don't forget to have a cup before you leave). Late fall through early spring is prime time for ballooning. The air is typically too hot in summer for the balloons to get aloft. 407/466-6380 or 877/824-4606. www.bobsballoons.com. $175, $90 per child under 90 lbs or 12 years. D, MC, V.