Lets talk about the Sun Wheel

[HydroGuy]

Are there separate lines? One for the swinging cars and one for the stationary ones????

Yes.

 

[JennyW]

It sounds like most people hated the swinging part. Other than the one poster, does anyone out there love the swinging part? It looks like such fun to me, and we're going in two weeks.

Thanks.

 

[HydroGuy]

It sounds like most people hated the swinging part. Other than the one poster, does anyone out there love the swinging part? It looks like such fun to me, and we're going in two weeks.

Thanks.

I have only ridden the swinging gondolas, and we thought it was great. It was time consuming as mentioned by others - we did it within the first hour and it was not too bad for duration.

Although there have been a lot of "complaints" on the swinging ones here, I think most would say they are better than the non-swinging ones because it is a much more interesting experience. They are not really that scary - just more so than one would expect from the ground. We laughed the whole time.

 

[DangerMouse]

My kids don't call it the Sun Wheel. We have our own family name for it:
"PURE EVIL!"

 

[Amy&Dan]

The problem with the swinging cars is that once you are on them, you are stuck. Its a very long time until you get off and since you are moving away from the loading area, there is no way for them to let you off. My son has ridden every ride at DL and WDW. He and I can do Expedition Everest many times in a row (up to nine times one day) and that backwards part can really get to some. But never us. Ditto with Mission Space, he can ride that multiple times even right after eating with no queasiness or ill effects. However, the swinging cars really got to him. He was very close to vomitting, in fact I just ended up emptying my backpack on the floor for him to breathe into which helped (and gave him a place to barf which thankfully he did not). There was something about that sensation that very much got to him. He can ride the non swinging ones fine but never again for the others. Its just one of those things you don't know until you try and it can be a very long ordeal if it doesn't work out too well!

Its not just a scary thing but rather a feeling that can really get to some people. I don't agree that the swinging cars are better, this ride is about the view and that is just as spectacular from a non swinging car as a swinging one.

 

[HydroGuy]

Its not just a scary thing but rather a feeling that can really get to some people. I don't agree that the swinging cars are better, this ride is about the view and that is just as spectacular from a non swinging car as a swinging one.

As they say, there is a first time for everything. I cannot ever remember Amy disagreeing with me before , but it sounds like her family's experience was negative and memorable.

In our case, no one ever felt anything close to sickness - just unsettled. We had our four kids with us (ages 13, 12, 10 and 9 at the time). Mostly there was a lot of laughter, with some of it nervous laughter. And we only did it once. I think the fact that it was so time consuming would make it a low priority for us in the future.

 

[AskTheChief]

It's very unnerving (to say the least!), but I have to admit, I keep going on the swinging cars because it's pretty exciting. I can't wait for it to be over, but I still go.

 

[DLR29]

I think the Sun Wheel is THE most overrated ride at DLR. It always has a long line due to slow loading and the wheel stops every 5 seconds. Been there, done that. Never again will waste my time.

 

[tracer]

Are there separate lines? One for the swinging cars and one for the stationary ones????

Yup and I will stick to the stationary ones!

 

[michellelovesthemous]

My DD9 calls it the "Sun wheel of Death" but we love it anyway!!!

 

[XTinabell]

That ride is sooooooo scary! I went on it the first time three years ago and I started to tear up I was so scared. My sister video taped the whole thing and everyone laughs at me when they see it but it was freakin scary.

If you're not scared on that ride you're likely sitting on the side where your back faces the water, because otherwise it looks like you're going to plummet into the water.

I decided this last trip with my DH that I'd be brave and I took him on that ride and told him to sit on my side so I could squeeze his clothes. Well that was a mistake because the weight wasn't very balanced and so we had extra swinging power and I screamed louder this time than the first time I went on it. Never again will I be so stupid to brave the swinging gondolas again.

But I must say I'm glad I"m not the only one that finds this ride scary, lol.

 

[Amy&Dan]

As they say, there is a first time for everything. I cannot ever remember Amy disagreeing with me before , but it sounds like her family's experience was negative and memorable.

In our case, no one ever felt anything close to sickness - just unsettled. We had our four kids with us (ages 13, 12, 10 and 9 at the time). Mostly there was a lot of laughter, with some of it nervous laughter. And we only did it once. I think the fact that it was so time consuming would make it a low priority for us in the future.

I am telling you hydroguy it was killing me to disagree! It was only my son who was unsettled, it wasn't a height thing but he was so pale and shaking and terrified I thought he would pass out! DD and I already have a date to "swing" in June. Ds needless to say won't be joining us!

 

[Twinprincesses]

I am glad I am not the only one. I remember thinking that our gondolah was malfuntioning and we were headed straight into the water. Then I was trying to plan my escape route since we were locked in there.

I am a gluten for punishment though and probably would go on it one more time now that I know what to expect.

 

[sweetascanbee]

Well now I am realy glad Ive never gotten on the sun wheel. I am one who does NOT do heights. I am ok if the ride is moving quickly...
I am also one who believed in doing every ride at least once, you pay all the money and come all the way you gotta do it all.
Three trips ago was our first with DCA, I took one look at the Sunwheel and the Maliboomer and SAID "NOT A CHANCE IN HELL"
Well DS who was 10 at the time and DH and FIL were all going on, I felt I couldnt let DS go without me. I was terrified. When we hit the top I looked at FIL and said the F word quite loudly and other than that I never screamed or made any other sound. After wards no one was interested in the Sunwheel because to them it looked boring. I was happy about that. On our last trip DH and I were alone and I said...you know what, lets just go on the sunwheel and get it over with. As long as we are not in a swinging car I should be fine. We got into the line and stood there for a long time, I noticed that it was just turning while it was loading so it would take FOREVER to go around. I got more and more nervous. Then we wondered if we were even in the right line, it seemed to be the only line but it wasnt clear as to which cars our line was loading into. We changed to a different path and then after several mintes my fear took over and we walked away. After reading this thread Im glad I did. LOL

I'll stick to the tower of terror....

Becky

 

[HydroGuy]

I love these posts! The next time someone says something about the Sun Wheel being "lame" or "a cheap carnival ride", I will send them to this thread.

 

[Amy&Dan]

I love these posts! The next time someone says something about the Sun Wheel being "lame" or "a cheap carnival ride", I will send them to this thread.

Yeah I agree (see we do agree on Sunwheel facts ). I have never had to physically carry my son off any other ride at DL or WDW! Or any other amusement park for that matter. I think Sun Wheel and Maliboomer make the PP area of DCA not quite as lame as others do. And of course CA Screamin too. And the view on that Sun Wheel is so incredible. Night or day.