Mickey's Fun Wheel - is it scary for toddlers ?

[letthembelittle]

I think this is another ride that totally depends on your kid. My 5 yr old dd HATED the ride, she cried and hung onto dh for the whole ride but she LOVES SM and BTMRR. My 3 yr old ds LOVED it though. We did ride in the stationary car cause I would have been a mess in a moving car, I thought the view was wonderful.

 

[JoRo]

We were there in June for our sons 2 year birthday - he loved it. Of course he sat right there next to us and we didnt face him in the direction the swing was going so he didnt know what was happening.

Our daughter has been on it too she was 3.5

It really was their favorite ride this last trip - but they are growing going to disney so maybe that helps.

If you get a chance try a local fair as a tester.

 

[pearl12970]

That's what I wanted to know !! So they DO sway but not swing. thank you. I just wasn't getting the correct word to describe it. Gosh - I get butterflies in my stomach with that swaying at heights ! accckk !
But I am still gonna try it out unless I chicken out when I see the wheel in person .LOL
It's goidto know , however , that most of the kids and parents didn't find the stationary gondolas scary or doable .
Thank you all .

We rode it in August in the stationary cars. I did NOT like it and my DD4 didn't like it either. While they are called "stationary cars" do not be fooled. They may not "swing" along an oblong track like the swinging cars, but they do SWAY back and forth from their attachment point at the very top of the car.

While it was generally a smooth ride, I did not enjoy the swaying sensation at the top of the wheel. The only reason I rode it to begin with was to get a better view of the park. And man does it offer a great view!

As far as the time of the ride, when we were there they unloaded/loaded the entire wheel and then let it spin one full time before it was unloaded/reloaded. I enjoyed it much more when it moved than when it was still. You could see the swinging car next to you and at times it looked like it would crash right into your car!

The party in front of us was told to board with another small party and they declined. The CM didn't have a problem with it. YMMV.

 

[pearl12970]

Ok so I braved it out we all went on Mickeys Fun Wheel ( DH, me and DS 3.5 yrs ) in the Non swinging gondolas. Its not SCARY one bit. Didnt feel the gondolas swaying either.
I could put it in the same category as Dumbo !! The view from up there was fantastic !! And this coming from a person who feels a little scared too look down from the balcony of my friends apartment on the 13th floor of a high rise

 

[blackjackdelta]

Ok so I braved it out we all went on Mickeys Fun Wheel ( DH, me and DS 3.5 yrs ) in the Non swinging gondolas. Its not SCARY one bit. Didnt feel the gondolas swaying either.
I could put it in the same category as Dumbo !! The view from up there was fantastic !! And this coming from a person who feels a little scared too look down from the balcony of my friends apartment on the 13th floor of a high rise

Good for you!!

Jack

 

[jtown]

Now you need to go on the swinging one!

That 13th floor thing reminds me of my first interview in the big city. It was on the 6th floor (less than halfway up) which was higher than any building in the entire county where I was from. I felt like such a hick. Glad I didn't end up working there 'cause I'm looking at that building right now and the company's name is gone.

 

[pearl12970]

*GULP *

Now you need to go on the swinging one!

QUOTE]

 

[Amommy21]

ok, the swinging ones DON'T JUST SWING! They are a whole ride unto themselves! I didn't realize a diffeerence. DS was three. There was NOTHING to hold on to so I could hold onto him! I just kept imagining him getting scrambled or face planted on the other side of the car... i don't even think i got a chance to look at the view!?!?!

 

[amamax2]

Do toddlers find Mickey's Fun Wheel to be fun or scary ? I am not too happy at such heights but I am willing to brave it just for my 3.5 year old provided he enjoys it too ! Half way through the ride if he is screaming and crying to get off there's nothing I will be able to do !! In general - what is the consensus ? How do younger kids handle it ?

TIA ~

I haven't read this entire thread, but wanted to respond to this part....

I hate this ride, but have gone on several times with my family (always stationary side). One trip, my younger DS was sick, so my DH stayed at the hotel with him while I went to the parks with my older DS. He wanted to go on this ride, and since I have been on it before, I said OK.

I don't know if you know how the ride works, but to load/unload all the cars, the wheel makes a complete loop, stopping each time to load/unload. Then the whole thing goes around once without stopping once every car has been loaded with new people.

We are the first car loaded. When we get to the top of the wheel, I start freaking out. Something I think about not having my DH there for me to hide my face in his shoulder. I start to cry, but figure I just have to to get around one more time...as we get towards the bottom, my sweet DS suddenly yells to the CM (and really, for all of DCA to hear), EXCUSE ME PLEASE, BUT MY MOM NEEDS TO GET OFF THIS RIDE.

So they stopped the ride, and I slunk off, head down, face red, tears streaming down my cheeks. I was so embarrassed, but so relieved too.

Now, I do not know if they would do that always, or just because we had been the first car loaded so they hadn't started the wheel on its final non-stopping round. So, it may be the case where you could get off.

I do want to say, though, that most kids seem to love it - I just have this fear of heights that I can sometimes control, but not always. I have never seen a child come off crying or upset, and I have stood there by it watching many times while my family goes on it.

 

[gaucho2000]

My DD LOVEd the swinging gondolas at age 3. Mommy was the one holding onto her for dear life!


Here she is with Auntie. Mommy is taking the picture (with one hand while the other one is clutching DD)

 

[disneychrista]

I don't find the swinging cars to be scary at all. Both my teenagers won't go on it AT ALL, even the stationary cars.

 

[noga]

The 3 year old would not be scared LOL
We took our not yet 3 year onld on the swinging one and she love it. DH and I were scared to death. LOL

 

[Mugglemama]

I've only been on this ride once, and that was 8 years ago. We chose a swinging car. Ugh! We all hated it. DH and I were trying to hold onto a baby, a toddler, and reassure our then 9 year old.

I think it's so absolutely stupid that there are no handlebars or anything. I mean, just simple handles mounted to the walls of the car would enable a lot of people who hate it, to actually enjoy it (myself included).

I just don't get Disney's logic in refraining from putting in any kind of bar to hold onto in the swinging cars.

 

[Friendly Frog]

I didn't find it scary but it really made me SICK! I watched it for a while and never thought it would make me so motion sick, but I could not get off of it fast enough. NO WAY would I ever ride it again. Same degree of illness as the tea cups.

 

[disneychrista]

never thought it would make me so motion sick, ... Same degree of illness as the tea cups.

Funny...I can't ride the teacups, dumbo, or even the carousel because I can't do "circles" without getting motion sickness...but I didn't have a problem at all on the this ride.

 

[JustAKid]

Ok, so please forgive my laziness but I too did not read this entire thread. Some people's ideas of "stationary" may differ, so this may seem like a stupid question but...would anyone mind telling me if the stationary cars move back and fourth at all like most fair/carnival ferris wheels?

 

[Mom2aJessieGirl]

We rode it in August in the stationary cars. I did NOT like it and my DD4 didn't like it either. While they are called "stationary cars" do not be fooled. They may not "swing" along an oblong track like the swinging cars, but they do SWAY back and forth from their attachment point at the very top of the car.

While it was generally a smooth ride, I did not enjoy the swaying sensation at the top of the wheel. The only reason I rode it to begin with was to get a better view of the park. And man does it offer a great view!

As far as the time of the ride, when we were there they unloaded/loaded the entire wheel and then let it spin one full time before it was unloaded/reloaded. I enjoyed it much more when it moved than when it was still. You could see the swinging car next to you and at times it looked like it would crash right into your car!

The party in front of us was told to board with another small party and they declined. The CM didn't have a problem with it. YMMV.

Ok, so please forgive my laziness but I too did not read this entire thread. Some people's ideas of "stationary" may differ, so this may seem like a stupid question but...would anyone mind telling me if the stationary cars move back and fourth at all like most fair/carnival ferris wheels?

Here you go.

 

[gkrykewy]

I'll tell you what's scary: that recurring announcement voice.

HAVE A FUN RIDE!