Walls Go Up for Construction After Nine-Month Absence

After nine long months, Universal Orlando Resort is preparing to welcome back a familiar sight: the Hemisphere Dancer plane. The iconic seaplane, a centerpiece outside Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville at CityWalk, was removed in June 2024 for renovations.

Its absence left a conspicuous gap in the area’s signature aesthetic. Now, with construction walls up around the Lone Palm Airport Bar, all signs point to its imminent return.

The Hemisphere Dancer, registered N928J, is a real Grumman HU-16 Albatross that once belonged to Buffett himself. It is a twin-engine, amphibious flying boat that was previously used by the military for search and rescue missions.

Buffet and the Hemisphere Dancer had a lengthy history, even taking gunfire from Jamaican Authorities in 1996 when they believed the aircraft belonged to a drug runner. Buffett let them know that he had “only come for chicken” and released ‘Jamaica Mistaica’ about the incident.

Buffett retired the Albatross in 2003 and left it to the ‘Lone Palm Airport’ at his Orlando, Florida, Margaritaville location.

While its presence never directly impacted ride wait times or show schedules, many were surprised to see an empty lot where a plane used to be. Questions circulated about whether it would return at all, with some wondering if it had been permanently retired. Fortunately, it appears the brightly colored aircraft is set to reclaim its rightful place, ensuring CityWalk’s tropical theme remains fully intact.

For now, no official date has been announced for the plane’s reappearance. However, the construction activity around Lone Palm Airport Bar suggests the wait won’t be much longer. Guests who have spent the last several months snapping photos of an empty space near the Lone Palm Bar can soon return to taking pictures in front of the fully restored plane, drink in hand, just as nature intended.

FMI: www.universalorlando.com