I, for one, am still hopeful that this is another step toward taking care of the little ones in a different way than the Geyser Gulch (which is also, sadly, called a treehouse). If that can then be removed, and maybe some elements relocated, the skyline could then be dramatically changed with the major ride (and take care of the thrill seekers among us).
I am also happy to see that HFE is not seeking to turn the park into a teenage rampage in one flail swoop. Family is still the focus. Now, I want to see some things done for the elderly. It does my soul good to see older folks still enjoying the same place where they brought their own kids 30, 40, and 50 years ago.
SDC: the Next 50 Years!
Now...no, the balloons don't fit with the theme...unless they are raised to rise above the forest and renamed the Canopy Balloons. I'm not sure how that could be done without an expensive re-engineering of a low-impact attraction. Actually, they could be rethemed with some wood-patterned paint, but they wouldn't be as effective. They should reappear, at some time, in the GE, with repainted balloons. My vote is to replace those elephants, which are too similar to the flying elephant icons of another park. The balloons would be an obvious addition to the "transportation" theme of that part of GE.
I'll be interested in seeing how big this attraction will really be and how they handle the slope of the land.