About Us

"Sunrise Balloon Flights in Central Florida"

About Us

Founded in 1998 by Bob Carlton, Balloons & Beyond is backed with over 30 years of industry experience.

Balloons and Beyond provides personalized hot air balloon rides. We fly 7 days a week in the Walt Disney World Resort area of Orlando as well as Kissimmee, Polk City, Auburndale, Lakeland, Winter Haven, Tampa, Haines City, Cypress Gardens & Sebring.

Through our Commitment, Experience, and Expertise... Balloons and Beyond has established a memorable relationship with our customers that will last a lifetime!

Bob has been flying balloons since 1976 and is one of the most experienced pilots in the state of Florida having amassed thousands of hours flying all over the United States and the world. He has flown over many countries such as Australia, New Zealand, UK, France, Switzerland, and Canada.

From 1978 to 1980 he flew the Budweiser, Black Angus and Westinghouse balloons for World Balloons in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Bob then moved to Tampa to head a repair station and fly the Tampa Tribune and Freedom Savings bank balloons.

Since 1986, Bob has flown for Walt Disney. He has flown the Mickey, Donald, Cinderella's Castle, and most recently in 2000, Spaceship Earth balloons. Besides his experience Bob is also a wonderful entertainer and really can make his passengers feel at ease as he maneuvers his balloon over the beautiful Central Florida landscape.

Staff Pilots:

Jon Thompson:

Jon has been involved in ballooning since the early seventies and comes from a family of balloonists; his oldest brother Jeff and his father Jim also fly hot air balloons. Jon has been a licensed plot for over 25 years and has logged thousands of hours flying balloons all over the United States, Canada, Mexico and Japan. For many years he traveled the U.S. with different corporate balloons such as Pepsi, Kellogg's, General Motors, ACDelco, and Jose Cuervo Tequila. He retired from the road just a few years ago and now does most of his flying in Central Florida. Jon can really make his passengers feel at home in the skies and is a great addition to Balloons & Beyond.

Bill Moran:

Bill is a retired Orange County Fire Battalion Chief that now enjoys flying hot air balloons Full Time. He has been a licensed pilot for over 20 years and also was a part of the Disney Balloon Program with Bob. Bill has flown extensively all over central Florida and is a joy to fly with. He comes from a family that enjoys ballooning, even his wife Debbie is a balloon pilot.

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Mike Braddock:

Mike has been flying balloons since the mid seventies originally from North Carolina and has been flying with Bob for many years. Mike was a part of the Disney Balloon Program and has flown all over the country amassing thousands of flight hours in all types of balloons. We look forward to all the lucky passengers that will have the opportunity to fly with Mike!

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Crew Chief:

David Stubbs: "Super Dave"

Super Dave has been Bob's Crew Chief for many years and is a vital part of the balloon ride program. Dave is one of the hardest working crew chiefs in the industry and we are very fortunate to have him working with us!

Call Balloons & Beyond at (813) 240-4844 Today!

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