Patriotic Flyover at Disney World
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (129650)
Gainesville, Florida
July 11, 2026 8:37am CST
I know we're a week removed from the 250th celebration of Independence Day here in the US, but I forgot to post about the military tribute flyover that the US Air Force did at Magic Kingdom and Epcot at Disney World.
The 920th Rescue Wing of the US Air Force, based out of Patrick Space Force Base (it still feels weird saying "space force") flew an HC-130 refueling tanker and two HH-60 Jolly Green Giant helicopters over Cinderella Castle in Magic Kingdom and Spaceship Earth (the giant ball) at Epcot in honor of our nation's 250th birthday.
One would think that flyovers at Disney World are common, but in actuality they are rare. In fact, prior to the flyover this 4th of July, the most recent one was back in 2023 when the famous Air Force Thunderbirds did a flyover at Epcot. In Disney World's 50+ years of existence, there have only been about a half-dozen military flyovers. I'm lucky enough to say I've witnessed two of those half-dozen flyovers.
The family and I got up early on the 4th of July to drive down and witness the flyover in person (it was at 10:30am and we got to the theme park at opening to ensure we got a good spot in front of Cinderella's castle to watch the flyover). Of course, we stayed the entire day and ended the night watching Disney's fireworks tribute to our nation's 250th birthday.
Have you ever witnessed an official military flyover at an event? They seem to be more common at major sporting events, but they also occur at other events as well.
10 people like this
10 responses
@Ineeddentures (46504)
•
11 Jul
Trump will shoot them down
He will think they belong to Ukraine
Then he will claim victory over the Iranians
YayforTrump
4 people like this
@moffittjc (129650)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jul
Speaking of victory over Iran, I'm pretty sure the official count is that Trump has declared victory 27 times. Pretty amazing that we've won one single war 27 times!
2 people like this
@Ineeddentures (46504)
•
11 Jul
@moffittjc
It's actually over 40.
Officially they have reduced the number of proclaimed victories to try to limit the damage to the office of POTUS
2 people like this
@moffittjc (129650)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jul
@Ineeddentures Wow, that's got to be some kind of record! Where else in history has there ever been one war that a country has triumphed in over 40 times!
2 people like this
@LadyDuck (509258)
• Italy
11 Jul
@moffittjc They usually do a great job when they participate at the Italian events.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (129650)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jul
@LadyDuck Are you suggesting that they do less of a great job when at other events that are not Italian? 
2 people like this
@moffittjc (129650)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jul
F1 races are very popular in European countries, and as such would be great opportunities for flyovers. I looked up the "Frecce Tricolori" and so some amazing photos and videos of the team doing flyovers at events.
2 people like this
@FourWalls (87630)
• United States
16 Jul
Ah, reminds me of boot camp in Orlando. We got the day off and got to go outside and sit by a lake to watch fireworks.
Glad you had a wonderful time!
1 person likes this
@FourWalls (87630)
• United States
22 Jul
@moffittjc — glad I went there instead of where the women go now: Great Lakes in Chicago! 
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129650)
• Gainesville, Florida
22 Jul
@FourWalls Why in the world would they close Orlando and keep open the one in Chicago?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129650)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Jul
I still remember way back when boot camp was still in Orlando!
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@wolfgirl569 (140311)
• Marion, Ohio
11 Jul
@moffittjc That would freak the neighbors out
2 people like this
@moffittjc (129650)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jul
@wolfgirl569 Do you get along well with your neighbors? If not, maybe it would be a good thing to freak them out with a flyover! lol
2 people like this
@moffittjc (129650)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jul
I'm going to call the Navy's Blue Angels and see if they can fly over your house for you! lol
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (100746)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
11 Jul
Yes, I have; it is a very exciting thing to witness.
3 people like this
@moffittjc (129650)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Jul
I agree, they are so exciting to watch. My favorite are when I can get the chance to see the Navy's Blue Angels or the Air Force's Thunderbirds.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (129650)
• Gainesville, Florida
11 Jul
Fighter jets have always been popular, but it seems lately that flyovers by our big bombers have been a crowd favorite. I have seen a formation of B-52 bombers flying high overhead before, but never as part of a low altitude flyover. Maybe someday I'll get to witness such an amazing sight.
2 people like this
@xstitcher (40202)
• Petaluma, California
18 Jul
So very cool.
Space force? O-kay then!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129650)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Jul
Yes, it's a real thing! We now have the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Space Force! The former Patrick Air Force Base in Cape Canaveral, Florida, is now named the Patrick Space Force Base.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129650)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Jul
I've actually seen fighter jets patrolling the skies in and near Disney, but not as part of flyovers, probably responding to air space threats when a plane accidentally (or purposely) flew into air space they were banned from. It's nice to know our fighter pilots can respond so quickly when there is a threat in the skies.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (129650)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Jul
That must have been fun to watch. I love flyovers!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (129650)
• Gainesville, Florida
21 Jul
I love watching fighter jets and bombers the best, but they go so fast it's usually over in a few seconds. But in this case, the big HC-130 and the two helicopters were flying low and slow, which gave us so much more time to admire them!
