Great Park balloon rides are free again

The giant balloon that soars above the Orange County Great Park in Irvine has been giving rides for more than a decade, but it now has one new draw for visitors: there’s no admission fee.
Originally a gift from developer Lennar Corp., the balloon was installed in 2007 as a point of interest and a landmark for people looking for a new home in adjacent neighborhoods or visiting the then yet-to-be-developed park.
It started out free to take a trip 400 feet up in the gondola under the 210,000-