ORLANDO, Fla. – It had a change in latitude a year ago, now a Margaritaville icon is back at Universal CityWalk Orlando.
Parked alongside the Lone Palm Airport Bar across from Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, guests can once again sip on a cocktail beneath the wings of the Hemisphere Dancer.
On Sunday, Margaritaville and Universal Orlando held a christening ceremony for Jimmy Buffett’s 70-year-old newly refurbished seaplane, a “Fins Up” salute that would no doubt merit the captain’s approval.
“This plane has lived on so many lives, but it’s clear she’s back where she belongs for now at Universal CityWalk,” said Savannah Buffett.
[VIDEO BELOW: Savannah Buffett speaks about her father’s legacy]
Buffett purchased and restored his famous seaplane in 1995. The Grumman HU-16 Albatross was originally built in 1955 and served as a long-range search and rescue aircraft for the U.S. Navy.
In 2003, Buffett entrusted the Hemisphere Dancer to be parked safely at CityWalk, with one condition: it had to remain fly-worthy. For two decades, maintenance teams kept that promise, changing oils and caring for the engines.
But after 20 years filled with harsh summers and hurricanes, it was time for a full refurbishment.
The restoration journey began with three years of careful planning built by a Buffett brain trust led by Margaritaville Enterprises and its Universal Orlando partners.
In June 2024, the aircraft was removed from Universal CityWalk and transported to Melbourne, where it was repaired by ESI Aviation.
Ryan Johnson, the company president, worked closely with Buffett prior to his death in September 2023 to ensure the singer-songwriter’s legacy would shine like the plane’s new paint job.
“We definitely made it a point to not miss the details throughout the restoration project and made sure that it’s something he’s proud of," said Johnson.
The Hemisphere Dancer’s most well-known flight took place in January 1996, when Buffett piloted the plane to Jamaica. There, Jamaican authorities mistakenly fired on the aircraft, thinking it was involved in drug smuggling. No one was hurt, but the plane suffered damage that became a notable characteristic.
Buffett later recounted the incident in the lyrics of his song “Jamaica Mistaica”.
“It is such an amazing piece of history. Come to the airplane and find the bullet hole," Johnson said.
Learning to fly
The Hemisphere Dancer’s homecoming celebrated a rich history intertwined with the life of legendary musician Jimmy Buffett.
For Savannah Buffett, her dad’s plane was more than just a flying boat. It was a vessel of adventure, dreams, and memories.
“My dad used it to take me back to school,” said Buffett. “So not only was it an adventure plane to go all around the world, but it was also kind of my school bus at one point, my high school school bus."
Jimmy Buffett’s passion for the sea and sky was evident in the names he gave his vessels, including the Strange Bird, Lady of the Water, the Continental Drifter, the Last Mango, and, of course, the Hemisphere Dancer.
Buffett’s love for aviation has inspired his daughter to one day earn her wings.
“I really do want to get my pilot’s license. It’s a goal of mine. My dad started his path to aviation as a pilot in his 40s, so maybe my 50s are going to be my prime decade.”