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Disneyland Resort >> Disney California Adventure >> Paradise Pier

Mickey's Fun Wheel

This Ferris wheel, has a diameter of 150 feet, is actually not modelled after a California classic but rather the Wonder Wheel at New York's Coney Island. In addition to the traditional Ferris wheel gondolas that are stationary and simply go around with the wheel, the Mickey's Fun Wheel also has mobile buckets that move around smaller loops built into the big loop. As the wheel spins, these gondolas move around there inner loops creating sudden drops and plenty of swinging. There are two separate lines for the two kinds of cars, so make sure you are in the right one. One interesting feature is that the loading area is actually a few feet under the surface level of the surrounding lagoon.

General Information - Hide Section
  • Location: In the water along the boardwalk section of Paradise Pier.
  • Date Opened: February 8, 2001
  • # of Ride Units: 24 gondolas, 8 stationary and 16 free-swinging.
  • Ride Capacity: Up to 6 people per gondola
  • Restraint Method: None
  • Ticket Rating: D Ticket
  • Ride Photo: No
 
Time Commitment Information - Hide Section
  • Open/Close: Opens with the park and closes shortly before the day's first performance of World of Color. The ride may close during bad weather.
  • Wait Times: 15-20 minutes, mostly due to slow loading times and which line you are in.
  • Length of Ride: 10 minutes
  • FastPass: No
  • Single Rider: No
  • Queue Description: An outdoor corral at the base of the Sun Wheel. Note which queue to get into depending on whether you want a moving or stationary gondola.
Access Information - Hide Section
  • Health Restriction: For the stationary cars there are none. The moving cars rock and may make sudden changes in direction that would be best avoided by people with back or neck problems. Guests with a fear of heights may prefer to avoid this ride.
  • Ride Access: The queue is wheelchair and ECV accessible.
  • Wheelchair Transfer: Wheelchairs can be taken into both the moving and stationary gondolas (reducing the capacity to three additional adults). It is recommended, however, that if on a moving gondola the wheelchair user transfer out of the chair. ECV users will need to transfer into the gondola seats.
  • Service Animals: Yes, on stationary gondolas
  • Audio: None
  • Weight and Size Issues: Plenty of room inside the gondolas.
Parenting Information - Hide Section
  • Height Restriction: No
  • Child Swap: No
  • Other Issues: The rolling gondolas may be very frightening for children. There are no restraints in the gondolas, even the rolling gondolas. Some parents have reported their children falling off of their seats in the rolling gondolas. You may want to keep a hand on children in the rolling gondolas.
History and Trivia - Hide Section
  • The Attraction's History: Mickey's Fun Wheel opened witht he park in 2001 but did so with a different name and different theming. Known as Sun Wheel the ride didn't have Mickey's smiling face but rather a giant sunburst design. The new design is part of the massive redesign of Paradise Pier and the Sun Wheel closed on October 14, 2008, to reopen as Mickey's Fun Wheel on May 4, 2009.


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