Mickey's Fun Wheel
| Mickey's Fun Wheel | |
|---|---|
|
Mickey's Fun Wheel during World of Color in 2010 | |
| Disney California Adventure | |
| Area | Paradise Pier |
| Status | Operating |
| Opening date |
February 8, 2001 (as Sun Wheel) May 4, 2009 (as Mickey's Fun Wheel) |
| General statistics | |
| Attraction type | Eccentric wheel |
| Designer | Walt Disney Imagineering, Waagner Biro |
| Theme | Boardwalk; Victorian; Disney |
| Height | 160 ft (49 m) |
| Vehicle type | Gondola |
| Riders per vehicle | 8[1] |
| Duration | 9 minutes |
 Wheelchair accessible | |
Mickey's Fun Wheel is a 160-foot (48.8 m) tall[2] eccentric wheel at Disney California Adventure, at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Inspired by Wonder Wheel at Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, Coney Island,[3] which also features both sliding and fixed gondolas, Mickey's Fun Wheel has a large Mickey Mouse face at its center.
Formerly the Sun Wheel (February 8, 2001 - October 14, 2008),[2] it was expected to open on April 24, 2009, but this was delayed until opened May 4, 2009.[4]
This renovation is a part of the new Paradise Pier placemaking including the Silly Symphony Swings, World of Color, Goofy's Sky School, The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Undersea Adventure, Games of the Boardwalk retheming, the removal of Maliboomer, and enhancements on California Screamin'.
Description
Mickey's Fun Wheel is an eccentric wheel, differing from conventional Ferris wheels in that 16 of its 24 gondolas ride on interior rails so that they slide inward and outward as the wheel rotates.[2][5] This results in a more intense experience,[2] and motion sickness bags are provided in each gondola due to the disorienting nature of the ride. The other eight gondolas are fixed to the rim of the wheel and do not slide. Guests may choose to ride in sliding or fixed gondolas, each of which can carry six people.[2][5]
Former attraction and renovation
Disney California Adventure Park underwent a $1.1 billion (US) renovation between 2008 and 2012.[6]
One of the subprojects was to retheme the former Sun Wheel as the new Mickey's Fun Wheel. The ride experience has not been significantly changed, but the sun face has been replaced by a giant Mickey Mouse head, the color scheme was changed from mainly yellow to mainly red, and each gondola now has a picture of Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto, or Goofy to be consistent with the introduction of classic Disney characters into Paradise Pier, the area where the attraction is located. In addition, new LED lighting effects now illuminate the attraction, and some Victorian theming echoes the elaborate architecture of the nearby Toy Story Midway Mania! attraction.
In 2013, additional lights were installed around the back of Mickey's Head on the Fun Wheel for World of Color: Winter Dreams along with a huge LED lighting package that was installed on California Screamin behind the Wheel. Steve Davison revealed during an interview after the premiere of Winter Dreams that the new lights installed on Fun Wheel and California Screamin' are a permanent addition and will be used in future World of Color updates. [7]
References
- ↑ Mickey's Fun Wheel - Ferris Wheel - Paradise Pier Attractions - Disney California Adventure Park
- 1 2 3 4 5 "General information". originald.com. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
- ↑ "Disney's California Adventure - Anaheim, California". city-data.com. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
- ↑ "Mickey's Fun Wheel at Disney's California Adventure Re-Opens". dailyearful.com. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
- 1 2 "Mickey's Fun Wheel Paradise Pier". allears.net. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
- ↑ Krantz, Matt (June 14, 2012). "Disney revs its motor with revamped California Adventure". USA Today. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
- ↑ "World of Color - Winter Dreams" with Steve Davison. 15 November 2013 – via YouTube.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mickey's Fun Wheel. |
Coordinates: 33°48′18.39″N 117°55′19.87″W / 33.8051083°N 117.9221861°W