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Great Park Balloon

20080809-balloon-001Free Flights All Year!

The Great Park Balloon is the Orange County Great Park’s first major attraction. With the ability to hold up to 25 to 30 visitors and soar up to 500 feet above the surrounding landscape, passengers can watch the Great Park’s development unfold as construction activity increases. And yes, flights really are free all year!

Questions/Concerns? Please email or call the Visitor Centers at 1-(866) 829-3829 (toll-free).

GENERAL HOURS OF OPERATION

Note that all flights are dependent on winds and weather conditions. Availability to fly is on a first-come, first-serve basis. Map & Directions
 2010 HOLIDAY OPENINGS & CLOSURES

The balloon will follow its general schedule (unless noted otherwise) including days that fall on holidays (pending winds and weather).
Thursday–Friday
10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday
9:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., 7:00 p.m.–10:00 p.m.		 Holiday Openings: Memorial Day 5/31; Labor Day 9/6
Holiday Closures: New Year’s Day 1/1; Columbus Day 10/11; Thanksgiving Day 11/25
icon_error Saturday, January 30, 2010: The Great Park Balloon will open at 11:00 a.m. to coincide with Snow Day. As usual, operations will halt at 3:00 p.m. and reopen for night flights from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (pending winds and weather).

Parking & Registration

The parking lot opens 30 minutes before normal operating hours (see above). Registration for day flights begin at 9:45 a.m. on weekdays and 8:45 a.m. on weekends; registration for night flights begin at 6:00 p.m. All flights are on a first-come, first-serve basis and there is limited availability to fly on a daily basis.

Every potential passenger must sign a waiver at the registration desk in the Visitors Center prior to getting a boarding pass. Waivers for Children under the age of 18 must be signed by a parent or guardian. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

icon_information Best times to fly: Conditions for flying are generally best before 12 noon and after sunset.

Did You Know?

The Great Park Balloon is one of the largest tethered helium balloon (not hot air) and the first of its kind in the United States. It is environmentally safe, non-polluting, and virtually silent. The Balloon is always tethered to the ground with a steel cable and is never in a state of free flight, making it both a safe and fun experience for everyone.

General Restrictions & Passengers with Disabilities. There are no age, height, or health restrictions to fly on the Great Park Balloon. The Balloon is wheelchair accessible allowing guests with wheelchairs and Electric Convenience Vehicles (ECV) no larger than 25″ wide and 48.5″ long to remain in their seat during flight. Should the wheelchair or ECV exceed the prescribed dimensions, passengers will have to the option to transfer to a standard wheelchair provided by the Visitor Center, or to a folding chair placed in the Balloon’s gondola.