Aerophile reopened at Disney Springs on February 25 with a completely new hot air balloon after the original was removed six days earlier without explanation.
WDWMagic reported the reopening on Wednesday and posted a photo on Facebook showing the replacement balloon in flight. The new balloon appears identical to its predecessor, custom-built for Walt Disney World Resort by Paris-based Aérophile S.A.
Six-Day Closure for Replacement
Disney Fanatic reported on February 19 that Aerophile closed abruptly when crews removed the balloon and basket entirely, replacing them with heavy equipment on the platform. A digital sign cited “maintenance” as the reason, though Walt Disney World Resort made no official announcement and did not update the attraction’s operating hours on its official website.
The closure eliminated one of Disney Springs’ most visible skyline features for six days while the balloon replacement occurred.
Identical Specifications
The new hand-painted balloon holds 210,000 cubic feet of helium and rises to 400 feet during eight-minute flights. The basket accommodates 29 passengers plus one certified pilot, offering views up to 10 miles on clear days.
Rides cost $29.99 for adults (ages 10+) and $24.99 for children (ages 3-9). Guests 12 and older can ride alone; those under 12 must be accompanied by an 18+ companion. The balloon won’t operate if the winds exceed 22 mph.
Aerophile markets itself as “The World Leader in Balloon Flight” and describes the attraction as the world’s largest hand-painted hot air balloon.
Quick Turnaround
The six-day closure was a remarkably fast replacement timeline for removing an entire balloon and installing a new one. The speed suggests Walt Disney World Resort had planned the swap rather than responding to an emergency failure.
Why Disney replaced a functional balloon remains unclear. Possible reasons include scheduled balloon rotation, wear requiring replacement, or aesthetic updates, though the new balloon looks identical to the original.
Did the Aerophile closure impact your recent visit to Disney Springs? Disney Fanatic would love to hear from you in the comments!
