Is a helicopter tour safe if you've never flown before?
Yes—the video crew includes two first-time helicopter passengers who felt nervous before boarding but relaxed completely once airborne. One passenger notes that it's essentially like flying in a small plane without 300 people around you, making it a manageable experience even for anxious flyers.
At a glance
Length
11 min
Channel
Your Experience Guide
Video from
Dec 2024
Rating
⭐⭐ Great video · 2/2
Best for
Theme park visitors wanting an aerial view of Orlando during a rest day; nervous first-time helicopter passengers seeking honest reassurance.
What this video answers
Is a helicopter tour safe if you've never flown before?
What's the best time to book this tour?
How much does Orlando Heli Tours charge?
Will I feel scared during the flight?
Is the tour worth the cost?
Reads the guide aloud in your browser — free, no account.
What to Expect on an Orlando Aerial Sightseeing Tour
This video captures a helicopter tour over Orlando's major theme park attractions, filmed in late 2024 by the Your Experience Guide team. The flight departs from Orlando Heli Tours and covers SeaWorld, Universal Orlando Resort, and construction views of the new Epic Universe expansion. Three passengers share their real-time reactions—from pre-flight nerves to mid-air wonder—making this a practical introduction to what a short scenic flight actually feels like.
The tour suits anyone curious about aerial views of Orlando's attractions but hesitant about helicopter safety or unsure whether the experience justifies the cost. Whether you're a nervous first-timer or someone considering booking between theme park days, the video shows exactly what happens from the moment you board through landing, with candid feedback on comfort, thrills, and value.
Key Moments
Highlights of the Orlando Helicopter Route
SeaWorld Orlando viewed from above, showing the park's full layout and attractions
Universal Orlando Resort's three theme parks spread across the landscape
Aerial perspective of Epic Universe's ongoing construction and development site
The sensation of takeoff and initial climb, with genuine first-timer reactions
A sharp left turn over water, capturing the moment passengers feel the helicopter's movement most acutely
Full descent and landing back at the operator's base
Practical Details for Your Orlando Helicopter Flight
Cost: $65 per person plus tax (tip to the pilot recommended and appreciated)
Operator: Orlando Heli Tours, conveniently located in Orlando
Group size: Tours carry three to four passengers per flight
Booking: Available for last-minute booking; the video crew booked on short notice during a quieter day
Duration: Specific flight length not stated, but presented as an afternoon activity suitable for a rest day between theme park visits
What to expect physically: Initial sensation of instability on the ground before takeoff; once airborne, passengers describe it as similar to flying in a small plane but with fewer people around you
Pre-flight nerves: First-timers report anxiety at the boarding stage, which typically resolves once the helicopter is airborne and stable
Frequently Asked Questions About This Orlando Helicopter Tour
Is a helicopter tour safe if you've never flown before?
Yes—the video crew includes two first-time helicopter passengers who felt nervous before boarding but relaxed completely once airborne. One passenger notes that it's essentially like flying in a small plane without 300 people around you, making it a manageable experience even for anxious flyers.
What's the best time to book this tour?
The video crew booked last-minute on a quieter day and got immediate availability, suggesting that spots may fill up faster during peak season. If you're interested, booking as soon as possible during your Orlando visit increases your chances of securing a preferred time slot.
How much does Orlando Heli Tours charge?
The base price is $65 per person plus tax. The video crew tipped the pilot generously to ensure safe return, so budget for gratuity on top of the ticket price. When taxes and tips are added, expect to spend closer to $80–90 per person.
Will I feel scared during the flight?
Initial ground-level anxiety is normal and common, particularly during boarding and the moment the helicopter starts moving in wind. However, all three passengers in the video reported that fear dissipated once they were airborne and stable, with one describing the experience as "something that I'll never forget" and enthusiastically recommending it to others.
Is the tour worth the cost?
Both returning and first-time passengers in the video affirm it's worth the expense, especially if you're already in Orlando on a rest day between theme parks. The combination of unique perspective, compact group size, and memorable views makes it a worthwhile splurge if aerial sightseeing appeals to you.
This video is genuinely helpful because it shows the unscripted reality of a helicopter tour—real nerves, actual reactions, honest cost breakdown, and candid post-flight reflection. The crew doesn't oversell the experience or hide the initial anxiety; instead, they demonstrate that fear typically disappears once you're safely airborne, which will resonate with hesitant travelers.
What stands out most is the crew's willingness to admit they were terrified beforehand and to emerge enthusiastically recommending the flight anyway. The aerial views of SeaWorld, Universal, and Epic Universe are striking, but the genuine transformation from nervous to thrilled makes this a helicopter tour review that actually helps you decide whether to book. I'd absolutely recommend this to anyone considering an aerial tour of Orlando.
Years on the front lines of helicopter tour coordination — not as a travel blogger, but as the person responsible for making every guest experience go right. Managed 2,000+ cruise guests weekly as Shore Excursions staff aboard the Pride of America in Hawaii
Personally coordinated with helicopter tour operators to confirm age, weight, and safety requirements.
Take a flight with us over Universal Epic Universe, Universal Orlando Resort and MORE theme park resorts in this Orlando Helicopter Tour video! In late 2024, Scott, Stephen and Andy wanted to take a look at Epic Universe and the ongoing construction from the skies above Orlando, so on one of our quieter days in Orlando we booked the helicopter tour at short notice, and had a great experience doing so.
We booked and flew with Orlando Heli Tours whilst creating this video.
0:00 Intro
0:10 Orlando Helicopter Expectations / Fear
1:31 Orlando Helicopter Tour inc Epic Universe
8:41 Orlando Heli Tours Review
11:14 Outro
Video transcript for “Flying OVER Universal Epic Universe! | Orlando Helicopter Tour Winter 2024” Accessibility
A full written transcript of this video, provided for accessibility. Select any timestamp to jump the video to that moment.
[Applause] it's a very good day or afternoon from Orlando Heli tours we're doing something a little bit different here on your experience guide and I I would say I'm excited but I'm a little bit nervous cuz I've never been in a helicopter before for you never never how are you feeling
about this very terrified very terrified very terrified by only experience of helicopters is on GTA on the PlayStation and normally I don't do a very good job of Landing them so hopefully the guy that's taken us up will do a better job than I do and we've also got Andy with us who has done this before should we be
nervous no or not at all it's an absolute brilliant experience yeah it looks scary but once you're on it and it takes off you don't even know you're there absolutely Brant and the views are a bre taking absolutely breath but I've really enjoyed it when I've done it before we paid
$65 each plus a little bit of tax we're going over SeaWorld Universal and we will get a glance at Epic universe but for now it's time to go and have a a soft drink don't calm your down and we'll see you in the [Applause] helicopter oh
[Laughter] [Music]
be like [Laughter]
[Music] yeah I'm all right [Music]
[Music] it's [Music]
oh [Music]
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for [Music] [Music]
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[Music]
well we're back in the hotel after the um helicopter experience and uh it's taking us back in town it's a pleasure of each experience Vlog on the Telly Stephen how was it you know what I've never been in a helicopter before that was quite something wasn't it and I think it was just a strange sensation
when it kind of just goes up and it it kind of feels unstable isn't the word but you know there's a feeling of like you first but once we actually started to go up into the air I relaxed a lot more and it was actually really fun uh highlight of it was seeing all the them well not all
the theme parks but the universal and SeaWorld theme parks from above and just seen it all below and oh it was brilliant absolutely brilliant I'll never forget it would you do it again let's go yeah definitely I think if you're here and you know it's a little bit steep but I feel like it's well worth
the money if you've never been on an experience like that before you're on holiday have a bit of a rest day and you know it's a great thing to do for an afternoon yeah I'd agree it's it's something that I've considered doing a few times but I've always been just a little bit too nervous about doing it
but today with were actually going to go somewhere else but time has just not really worked on our favor so we were like right let's do it the tours available do it now and then we did it and like Steven says it it's quite expensive once you add taxs and tips onto it but we tipped the pilot really
well cuz we wanted to get back so but oh yeah absolutely brilliant if you are ever here in Orlando and you go past the Orlando Heli TS and think you know what I won't mind doing that just do it it's well worth it I was really nervous at first especially when we sat in it and you can sort of feel the helicopter
moving in the wind but once we got up in the sky I was fine until he did a big left turn and I was on the left hand side I was like ooh there's water down there but yeah all in all it's just like flying on a little plane basically so if you've been up in a plane it's it's not it's a bit like that but without 300
people with you just three or four of you so uh yeah absolutely brilliant and I would fully recommend it so uh thanks to Andy who's off camera for the recommendation that we should do it and uh thanks for the pilot for getting us back and yes definitely do it if you have enjoyed this video please hit the
like button little thumbs up below please comment please have a go in a helicopter you'll love it see you in the next video [Music]
Every video on Helicopter Tour Videos is hand-picked and reviewed by Justin — nothing is added automatically. Each one gets an original written guide and an honest rating: ⭐ 1 out of 2 means a good video worth your time, and ⭐⭐ 2 out of 2 means a great one we would recommend to anyone. The videos belong to their creators — every page links back to the original channel so you can subscribe and support them.
