Pixar Pal-A-Round[1] (formerly Mickey's Fun Wheel and Sun 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 in Coney Island [3], it features both sliding and fixed gondolas. Mickey's Fun Wheel took its name from the large Mickey Mouse face at its center, meant to evoke the title cards of classic Disney shorts.
Sun Wheel (February 8, 2001 - October 14, 2008)
Mickey's Fun Wheel (May 4, 2009 - January 8, 2018)
Pixar Pal-A-Round (June 23, 2018 - Presents)
This renovation was a part of the 2009 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'.
When Pixar Pier was announced, it was announced that Mickey's Fun Wheel would again be rebranded, though still retain the iconic Mickey Mouse face.
Description
Pixar Pal-A-Round 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][4] 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][4]
Former attraction and renovation
The former Sun Wheel at Disney's California Adventure Park
Disney California Adventure underwent a $1.1 billion (US) renovation between 2008 and 2012.[5]
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 The ride experience has not been significantly changed, but the sun face has been replaced by a giant Mickey Mouse head, the color scheme was changed from mainly yellow to mainly red, and each gondola now has a picture of Mickey, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, Pluto, or Goofy (each done in a style resembling their opening face cards from the cartoons) 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.[6]
On November 2nd, 2017, Disney announced that Mickey's Fun Wheel would be updated to include Pixar Characters on the gondolas with Mickey's face remaining on the side facing Paradise Bay. The attraction was scheduled to be closed on January 8th, 2018 along with other Paradise Pier offerings scheduled to be transformed as part of Disney's Pixar Pier.[7]
Gallery
References
- ↑ https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2018/04/pixar-pal-a-round-to-debut-at-pixar-pier-at-disney-california-adventure-park/
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "General information". originald.com. Retrieved on 2010-05-15.
- ↑ "Disney's California Adventure - Anaheim, California". city-data.com. Retrieved on 2010-05-15.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Mickey's Fun Wheel Paradise Pier". allears.net. Retrieved on 2010-05-15.
- ↑ Krantz, Matt (June 14, 2012). "Disney revs its motor with revamped California Adventure". Retrieved on June 18, 2012.
- ↑ Template:Cite av media
- ↑ Glover, Erin (November 2, 2017). "Pixar Pier to Bring New Incredicoaster and More to Disney California Adventure Park Summer 2018". Disney Parks Blog. Retrieved on November 3, 2017.
