Sun Wheel in DCA-noone said it was the SCARIEST ride in both parks!!

[Sunobo]

I love thrill rides and they don't bother me at all. I've been in the swinging gondolas twice (once with each child) and I didn't like it because it made me queasy. I'm not sure if it was just the swinging or the slight vertigo I had from an inner ear infection I was getting over. I will give the stationary gondolas a try next time I'm at DL and if I'm feeling brave, I might try the swinging ones again. I will say that I won't even attempt the ride if the line is long. It is a slow ride that loads slowly so the line moves slowly.

 

[bumbershoot]

I like the swinging gondolas. For first timers the the first time the car moves and swings is a bit disconcerting but after that it is pretty relaxing and calming...however I get motion sick very easy and sometimes this affects me and sometimes it doesn't. If it wasn't for the motion sickness (and long lines) I would do it more often.

Well, I've heard that there are "sickness bags" on the swinging gondolas, so being a bit motion sick isn't as big a problem on them as it is on a roller coaster.

 

[Mommy2PrincessAbby]

Oh you all now really have me on the fence about going on the Sun Wheel of Death.

Would I not be afraid if I am one who:
1) Loves roller coasters
2) could go on Tower of Terror multiple times in a row
3)Loves those "pirate ship" rides which go up and down so you constantly feel that dropping sensation

?????????????????????????????

I think the big difference between all those things you mentioned and the Wheel of Death, is that there is nothing to hang on to and no seat belts on the Wheel of Death.... so you feel really insecure...

--Lisa

 

[spaddy]

I don't really care for the swings gondolas. It's a very weird sensation. I wanted to share some photos of my son just to show you that some people like them. I wish he didn't like this ride so much. The line moves SLOW.

 

[Michelle2]

we just got back from DL DCA
had a fantastic trip

just had to say
we rode the sun wheel
and were SCARED OUT OF OUR MINDS

we were on one of those that REALLY went back and forth
we could see that it did it from the ground
but MUCH different than being up in the air
and having NO idea *when* it was going to happen...
one time we REALLY felt like it was going to flip over
(w/ no seatbelts!)

anyone else have a similar ride?

it was so bad
we asked to get off after one go around!!!

I totally agree! My mom and I freaked out so bad on our first ride (and she is a thriller coaster junkie) that it made the trip for everyone else. They were laughing so hard and still say it was their fav ride because of us.

My mom to this day refuses to go on it again. I went on it on a different trip without her thinking that she was the one making it worse for me and in turn freaking me out more, but no, I freaked out just as much the second time. My friend laughed so hard, it made HER trip too. We shared our box with a dad and his shy little boy (probably about 2 years old) and even HE was smiling and laughing at my freaking out. I was trying so hard not to make it worse for a little baby, I was trying so hard to tone it down, but he got a kick out of it, so I did not feel so bad. I am glad to give others joy

 

[tortugaverde]

I love "scary" rides, roller coasters etc. The height of a roller coaster does not make me nervous in the least, I am good with carnival rides as well... but they generally make me sick and I have not been on one in YEARS! I like "drops" of any kind.

However, when I SAW the sun wheel... I knew it was a bad idea. Luckily, our group decided to get on the stationary seat line. It was an hour wait for the moving seats... and a walk on for us It was a bit confusing... but you basically go down the exit line. There are signs the whole way.

Even the stationary seats terrified me. It was a long way up AND all of the moving carts were constantly swinging towards us (or so it looked). As long as we were moving, it was ok... but the loading process, !!!

I will never ride it again, stationary or not.

 

[Michelle2]

I think the big difference between all those things you mentioned and the Wheel of Death, is that there is nothing to hang on to and no seat belts on the Wheel of Death.... so you feel really insecure...

--Lisa

That's what it is!!! My mom was clutching at the caging, trying to hold on to ANYTHING....LOL

 

[pixiewings71]

Spaddy, he is too cute!!!! Thank You for sharing!!

Here's my ?? When you're in line watching those gondolas swing don't you realize that you probably don't want to ride them? LOL We were walking to Ariel's Grotto and I could see them sliding across the water.....I said "NO way am I riding those swinging things....NO way!!!!!" LOL I knew then that I was not going to be able to handle that......LOL

 

[spaddy]

Thanks, Pixiewings. I swear he would make us ride that over and over. It was the longest line we waited in for all of Disneyland or CA. He was just over 2 and now at 3.5 he still knows the Sun Wheel if he sees it in a picture.

We arrive at DL tonight (I hope). I am sure there are several rides in my future.

 

[SunBunny23]

I am so glad I'm not the only person! I couldnt wait to get off. Never again!

 

[mermaidwannabe]

We're going to DL for the first time this summer and have no idea what the SunWheel is. Is it a ferris wheel with swinging seats?

 

[daannzzz]

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0eXsMuXFnco

 

[Donald's Fan in PHX!]

The view is amazing and worth the wait for the swinging ones. I always dare my wife to go through the entire ride without holding the seat or cage. lol She can't make it, but its fun to watch her try.

 

[mom4princesses]

Yes its a huge Sunwheel with some moving seats. My family of 5 at the time (this trip was before I found Dis Board) decides to ride the moving seats with DH on one side and 3DDS on other side. Needless to say as soon as we started 2DDs jumped between DH and me leaving 1DD all alone. Tried to move to sit with her but was to scared to even move myself. I love the big rides but will never ever ride this one again. Hear you are thinking a nice quiet fun ride and you get a heart attack. I felt like the door was going to fall open, all you see is the water, you are sooo high, try not to move so it won't swing more than it is already swinging and have nothing to hold on to. Thank goodness we only did one rotation. I almost forgot about this experience, until I read this thread . Guess its the bodies defensive system at work.

 

[mommy2allyandaveri]

Worst ride ever. Could not enjoy the view because I was holding onto my baby for dear life.

I will NEVER NEVER NEVER go on that ride again!

 

[Donald's Fan in PHX!]

Sun wheel scary though...puuuuhhhhllllleeeeaaasssseeeeee, maybe if your not expecting it, but you can see it swinging, you know your going be high off the ground.
We ride it just to rest our feet from walking all day.

 

[wendylady36]

I just do not like this ride at all. It is the only ride I will hesitate to go on.

I remember when the park first opened and I went on it with my family, I was so worried for my mom that I couldn't scream as much as I felt the need to. My mom screamed so loudly and she had her eyes closed almost the entire time. After one time around she screamed at the CM to let her off and he just laughed. When the ride was over and they let us off my mom yelled at the CM, " WHEN I SAY 'LET ME OFF' YOU LET ME OFF!" My dad and sister just laughed at her the whole time.

I went back on one more time after that about two years later and I still did not like it. What you see from the ground is totally different from what you experience when you're actually on that evil thing. I agree with everyone that says they would feel safer with seat belts. I doubt I'll ever go back on it again, not even if it's a stationary one.

 

[**Tinker*Bell*7**]

Wow...I had convinced myself that we would ride all the rides, even California Screaming...and I am NOT a roller coaster person....

Now! This thread scares me!

For the stationary gondola line, do you wait with everyone else and then it splits off or are their 2 totally separate lines? Are they clearly marked?

Ack...this may be a ride we don't hit....

there are two marked lines. the one for the stationary seats is around behind where you get in line for the moving seats, down toward the water. personally i had planned to ride both but decided against the moving ones. i liked the stationary ones. view is great. plan on doing it at night on next trip!

 

[pixiewings71]

I can handle it but ONLY if I'm on the stationary cars, the wait for them is usually less too. Of course the whole time I'm riding I'm still at the top with my fingers laced thru....scared to DEATH of heights....and falling...LOL Yes it is evil but if you really want to do it, do the stationary cars!

 

[VegasMike21]

wow, i guess i'm one of tghe few that actually likes the swinging gondolas of the sun wheel. i won't dare go on tot or maliboomer but the sun wheel is just a fun ride for me anyways.