Mickey Wheel - swinging vs. non-swinging

[Aurora06]

OK, so I guess I know the difference between two ride options. I watched videos on Youtube, and I figured out I don't like swinging option for Mickey Wheel

When I check phone app, it is showing separate wait times for swinging vs. non-swinging option. So that confused me.

Can someone please explain how does it work? How did they arrange this ride so I don't end up riding the swinging option?

I know that question might sound silly, but i could not figure it out myself.

 

[lana772]

There are 2 clearly marked lines. They board on different sides of the platform.

Lana

 

[disneychrista]

There are two separate lines for MFW. Get in the non-swinging line and you will be fine. The non-swinging line is usually much shorter than the swinging.

Personally I like the swinging and don't think they are nearly as "scary" as everyone says.

 

[Aurora06]

Oh, so that means we all ride at the same time????

Like half of the Wheel swings and other half does not? I would not imagine that it works that way

Thanks!!!!

 

[lana772]

Every other gondola is fixed. The swinging gondolas are on a track. They roll with the movement of the wheel.

Lana

 

[disneychrista]

Oh, so that means we all ride at the same time????
Like half of the Wheel swings and other half does not? I would not imagine that it works that way

Works exactly like that. One-Third of the gondolas are stationary, they can not swing. Only the other two-third of the gondolas swing.

The swinging ones can never be stationary. The stationary ones can never swing.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Oh, so that means we all ride at the same time????

Like half of the Wheel swings and other half does not? I would not imagine that it works that way

Thanks!!!!

Yep, there are 24 gondolas. Eight of them are fixed to the outer edge of the wheel and don't swing. The other 16 (two between every non-moving gondola) hang from guide wheels on individual oval tracks that extend from the outer edge of Mickey's Fun Wheel to the center. As the fun wheel turns, these 16 gondolas roll along their oval tracks and when they get to the edge of the fun wheel, they swing.

The ride loads three gondolas at a time--two swinging gondolas and one non-swinging gondola. That means the line breaks a second time so that you end up with three lines: one for the fixed gondolas; and one each for the non-swinging gondolas.

Or you could just YouTube it If you do, also search for Deno's Wonder Wheel. It's the ancient and *far* scarier ride in Coney Island (Brooklyn) that Mickey's Fun Wheel is based on.

 

[lana772]

There are two separate lines for MFW. Get in the non-swinging line and you will be fine. The non-swinging line is usually much shorter than the swinging.

Personally I like the swinging and don't think they are nearly as "scary" as everyone says.

I don't consider them "scary", but if anyone is under me (if I were ever crazy enough to put my motion sensitive self in one again) they should be scared.

I like to explain to people that the fact that there are barf bags on board should clue people in.

Lana

 

[anonymousegirl]

I did Mickey's Wheel O'Death swinging gondola once and that was once too many. I wasn't scared, I was nauseous. If I ride it now, it is non swinging all the way. It is a beautiful ride when you aren't busy fighting nausea.

 

[bumbershoot]

I found that even in the non-swinging ones I had a problem, because you can see the moving gondolas moving. And they don't just swing, they seriously MOVE. And that was making me ill just to watch.

Yeah, I'm not a fan of Mickey's Wheel of Nausea....

 

[SMD]

To me, the non-swinging gondolas swing quite a bit. No, it's not the huge drops on the swinging ones, but you're definitely up there swaying in the wind.

 

[halfgirlhalfmouse]

Yep I agree with everyone. Overall it's pretty simple.. if you like a little extra thrill (and are not prone to nausea) then the swinging ones are pretty fun. If you just want to check out the sites and not worry about if swinging will be something you'll hate, then the non swinging are great, too, and usually a shorter line. After going on it quite a few times now, I am pretty much over it. The lines are usually long and boring no matter what side you pick and the wheel stops every few seconds to let people on so I get pretty bored up there.

 

[jenergy]

LOL @ Mickey's Wheel O'Death! Although I'm not a fan of Ferris Wheels, I let my friends talk me into the swinging gondola once. Keyword being ONCE. I don't get nauseous easily and my fear of heights is nothing out of the norm but it was still a horrific experience which of course wasn't helped by my friends rocking it. I felt like I was going to fly off into Paradise Bay at any moment. Horrific, I tell ya.

You have been warned.

 

[Mama Who]

I'm not especially nausea prone but just watching the swinging ones makes me queasy. I don't think it would be scary, but I suspect it would be very uncomfortable. I'll stick to the sissy gondolas and leave the swinging ones to the iron stomach crowd for the sake of the custodial staff.

 

[PoohsFan1]

We will be trying out this ride for the first time in June. DH and DD11 have already said that they want to go on the swinging gondolas (they are huge daredevils) while DD9 and I said that the only way we will go on it is if we are on the non-swinging gondolas. I am so thankful that the OP asked this question because I too was wondering how this all worked. Now I know that DD9 and I will be heading towards a separate line than DH and DD11 .

 

[TinkLoverSam]

Mickey's Fun Wheel of Death... I cannot call it anything else! I was not but I was terrified, from the ground you couldn't see how much the gondolas moved but once we were in the air... I have literally never been so scared in my life. Now rationally I know that I have never heard of an accident on the ride and I'm pretty sure the gondolas can't fall off the ride but while on the ride I was sure our gondola was going to fly off of the wheel. Not helped at all by the fact that both DH and I were sitting on the same side of the gondola. In short - NEVER AGAIN!

 

[KristinRiess]

I'm going to say we will probably do the non swinging ones because without watching a video my stomach already has the fear butterflies. My cousin and I did the Ferris wheel in Niagara Falls (canada) last year and just clung to each other for life the whole time. Lol

 

[ValpoCory]

If you have ever gotten an upset stomach on a ride, don't ride the Swinging Gondolas. Just when the nightmare appears to be over, they send you around for another big loop.

I might try the non-swinging gondolas next time, but it won't be on my list of must-dos.

 

[alvernon90]

If you do, also search for Deno's Wonder Wheel. It's the ancient and *far* scarier ride in Coney Island (Brooklyn) that Mickey's Fun Wheel is based on.

Mickey's Fun Wheel of Death... Now rationally I know that I have never heard of an accident on the ride and I'm pretty sure the gondolas can't fall off the ride

I am curious, does the fact that the Coney Island version is so ancient make it far scarier? Or is the ride physically different somehow?

The Wonder Wheel at Coney Island has been operating over 90 years without an accident. I'd say that Mickey's Fun Wheel is probably one of the safest places to be in the parks, safer than even the walkways.

But there is NO WAY you will ever see me ride in a swinging gondola.

 

[E&Cmom]

One our trip last month, we did it once but the next time we stuck to the non swinging one. My 9 year old wanted to do the swinging one and since I didn't want her to be fearful of rides I agreed, I am afraid of heights but usually fine if it is enclosed. Unfortunately my 6 year old clung with dear life to my DH the whole ride. It is definitely Mickey Wheel of Death to her. When I got in and saw the barf bags, I began to worry. LOL. It felt like the longest ride ever. When I thought we were done, it went around again. We rode it again a few days later but on the non swinging gondola.