Has anyone done the balloon yet?

Brad, Not only have we been on the balloon, we have been on it three times. The first time we did it , it was in the evening and it was dark, it gave us a great view of DTD and of all the lights for quite a ways around. We were so impressed that we went back the very next day to ride it again during the daylight and compare the view, which was again spectacular but in a completely different way. In fact we loved it so much that when we returned to WDW in October, we made it a point to go on it again. I know someone who was afraid of heights but was talked into going and she LOVED it. One thing I would advise is to call ahead to see if they are "flying" because they stay grounded if there is a lot of wind. And be sure to bring your camera.

Yes Brad Scrappy & I have been on it 3 times also. We went on it in January, I went on solo the first time and when I got off, I talked Scrappy & our friends into going on it and we went right back up. That was my 2nd time in 30 minutes. When we went in Sept Scrappy and I went on it again. And just to let you know, Scrappy is extremely afraid of heights, so to get her to go on it, that should tell you how great it is, and very safe. You do get a wonderful view up there.

Oh, and we will go back on it in January!

How much does it cost and how long do you go up for? I haven't been to WDW since 2007 and I'm pretty sure they didn't have it then.

Pegosaurus, it's $16 I think and it about 10 minute round trip, depending on how many people are waiting to get on. We have never had more then 8 people on at a time and our last trip they kept us up longer because no one was waiting to get on.

yup i've been too

hmm, considering stayin on resort gets you a discount that price isn't too bad. Do you have to call ahead or just turn up?

Well its best to call just to see if it is going up, but we have justed done it when we were at DTD and saw it going up.

Peg. all you have to do is show up and purchase your tickets at the booth. I do not think there are any discounts if I remember correctly. The attraction is not run nor owned by Disney, it is owned and run by a company from France. Last year they gave a discount for a second ride if you showed your receipt from the previous ride, but this year they even stopped doing that.

oh right! With my hopper pass it says there's a bunch of discounts included with it, and one of them for 20% for something called "Characters in flight", which I presumed was the balloon thing you were talking about, but it must be something else! I shall investigate...

Pego. That balloon indeed is called Charecters in Flight so apparently they do give discounts. I stand corrected.

Oh, okay, great! Investigation cancelled

Such positive reviews. I'm impressed. Robyn, did you like it? Was it in your TR?

We LOVED it and would definately do it again - would love to go up when the fireworks are on! It will be in the TR bu only justonto the second week and wedid it on our last day.... will get on and try and get the TR finished

HOLY COW we are missing out! We debated last time we were there and in the end passed. Now I'm mad at myself! If we don't fit it in this weekend, we'll definitely do it next visit. Great question, Brad, and thanks everyone for the insight!

I haven't been since it opened up but I am dying to try it!
This will be one I'll have to do on my own. Dave would rather ride a spider bareback (his other great fear) than be more than two feet off the ground.

A slight change of topic, but Jeff I just noticed you only have 1 day left until your trip!!! Jealous! Have a great time!

Thanks! We're packed and ready to go! Cannot wait!!!! Oh, I have to work today?? Crapola....make it go fast!

Jeff, I'm very very , I want to go too! And what makes it worse is one of my co-workers is down there right now and keeps sending me pictures on my phone.! Uuuugggggg! He's paying me back for doing it to him in September. Oh well, maybe I'll put up the Mickey Christmas Tree in our bedroom. Have fun Jeff. Will be waiting for that TR.

Have fun Jeff!

Hmmmmmm.
I finally had a chance to do the balloon Presidents weekend and they said they weren't giving any discounts. I guess they lied to me. Still it was fun. When I wanted to go up in March it was too windy so they weren't doing the balloon.

I'm going to try to sqeeze this in when I go this year.