Mickey's Fun Wheel
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| Mickey's Fun Wheel | |||
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| Mickey's Fun Wheel at Disney's California Adventure. | |||
| Disney's California Adventure | |||
| Land | Paradise Pier | ||
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| Designer | Walt Disney Imagineering, Intamin AG | ||
| Attraction type | Ferris Wheel | ||
| Theme | Boardwalk; Victorian; Disney | ||
| Opening date | May 4th, 2009 | ||
| Vehicle type | Gondola | ||
| Vehicle capacity | 6 | ||
| Ride duration | 9 minutes | ||
| Former | Sun Wheel | ||
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Mickey's Fun Wheel is a 160-foot-wide (or 48.8 meters) Ferris wheel at Disney's California Adventure, at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Inspired by Coney Island's 1927 Wonder Wheel, the attraction features swinging and stationary gondolas and features a large replica of Mickey Mouse's face in the center. The attraction was formerly known as the Sun Wheel (February 8, 2001 - October 14, 2008). Mickey's Fun Wheel was expected to open April 24, 2009, but due to delays the attraction opened May 4, 2009. This renovation is a part of the new Paradise Pier placemaking including the Silly Symphony Swings, Disney's World of Color, Goofy's Sky School, The Little Mermaid: Ariel's Adventure, Games of the Boardwalk retheming, the removal of Maliboomer, and enhancements on California Screamin'.
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[edit] Description
Mickey's Fun Wheel differs from a conventional Ferris wheel in that its 16 gondolas ride on interior rails so that they slide inward and outward as the wheel rotates. This results a more intense experience than this type of ride normally provides. Motion sickness bags are even provided in each of the gondolas due to the disorienting nature of the ride. There are, however, eight separate gondolas on the outside of the wheel that do not slide on rails. Guests may choose to ride either the swinging gondolas or the stationary ones upon entering the queue.
[edit] Former attraction and renovation
Disney's California Adventure is currently undergoing a $1.1 billion (US) renovation. 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 The ride experience has not been significantly changed, but the sun face has been replaced by a giant Mickey Mouse head, and each gondola now has a picture of a smiling Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto, or Goofy to be consistent with the introduction of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.
