The refurbishment of Lone Palm Airport Bar may have concluded earlier this year, but Jimmy Buffett’s plane, a.k.a. the Hemisphere Dancer, has just returned to its usual spot.
Jimmy Buffett’s Plane Returns
The Lone Palm Airport Bar, which is located in Universal CityWalk Orlando just across from Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville, closed in March for a construction project. The bar officially reopened in April, though there were some remaining construction elements until early May. However, when we returned in May, Jimmy Buffett’s plane was still missing.
The Hemisphere Dancer was temporarily removed from its outdoor location for refurbishment back in 2024, as later confirmed in a statement from Universal, “The Hemisphere Dancer has been temporarily removed from Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville for refurbishment. She will return to CityWalk Orlando next year.” The website for the Lone Palm Airport Bar was later updated to say:
Jimmy Buffett’s airplane, Hemisphere Dancer, is being refurbished under the care of Buffett’s personal team for the next several months. It will return to its home at Universal CityWalk once completed.
As of May 29, 2025, the Hemisphere Dancer has officially returned to its location to the right side of the bar seating area. The plane appears unchanged from a distance, though the paint on the front does appear to be a bit brighter than before its extended refurbishment.
The bar section closest to the plane is not open just yet. It appears the plane is still getting properly installed on its concrete support posts, so guests are stopped from getting too close by construction walls.
Looking around the side of the bar, the plane appeared to still be mounted on a trailer for transportation.
There is still some seating open at the Lone Palm Airport Bar on the other side of the walls. The tables have all been pushed over to this side, so the area is a little more crowded than normal. We expect the seating to be spaced out again once the walls are taken down.
The Hemisphere Dancer is a Grumman HU-16 Albatross seaplane manufactured in 1955 and originally used by the U.S. Navy. Jimmy Buffett purchased and restored it in 1995, which is when he named it the Hemisphere Dancer. The plane is specifically mentioned in the song “Jamaica Mistaica” and also heavily featured in Buffett’s memoir “A Pirate Looks at Fifty.”
Are you glad to see Jimmy Buffett’s plane returning to CityWalk? Let us know in the comments.
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