We’ve all seen the YouTube videos of unsuspecting Disney guests who step onto the swinging gondolas of Pixar Pal-A-Round told by their friends & family that “it’ll be fun”. It starts off great, the new riders nervously laughing and admiring the view until the gondola starts sliding forward (or backward) depending on which side you’re sitting on and starts swinging back & forth.
Nervous laughter turns into looks of terror that say “Get me off this thing!”, now second-guessing their life choices, as they grip the mesh on the side of the gondola while hanging on for dear life. But it’s too late, and they have to wait until the wheel does a full round. You hear friends & family members that actually love the feeling of being hurled from side to side 150 feet in the air while hysterically laughing as their unsuspecting “victims” scream at the top of their lungs. I love you Mickey Mouse, but that’s a big nope from me.
ADMIRING MICKEY MOUSE FROM AFAR
I am a roller-coaster enthusiast, I love going down steep drops, loops, corkscrews, and just any thrilling ride. I love the drops of Tower of Terror (now Guardians of the Galaxy), the speed and thrill of the Incredicoaster, and the intensity of Space Mountain. However, I believe I’ve met my match with Pixar Pal-A-Round. I STILL refuse to ride it. The 150-foot Ferris Wheel is notoriously named “Mickey’s Wheel of Death” by riders who vow never to go on it again.
I’m not a huge fan of heights, that feeling of the wind rushing at you, and seeing how far up you are, but I have ridden Ferris Wheels. The one thing that creeps me out about Mickey’s Fun Wheel is that while you’re sliding & swinging back and forth, there’s nothing to hold onto, except the mesh sides of the gondola OR if you want to make your friend or family’s arm numb, you can do the death grip on them too. Either way, you have those 2 choices, or you can just close your eyes until the ride is over and you’re back on solid ground. From far away, the wheel is absolutely gorgeous and is the crowning jewel of Disney’s California Adventure. It looks especially beautiful at night when it’s lit up and as a backdrop for the World of Color show.
PIXAR PAL-A-ROUND FUN FACTS
Mickey’s Fun Wheel, also known as Pixar Pal-A-Round on February 8, 2001, is located at Pixar Pier. It used to have a golden sun instead of Mickey’s face on it from 2001 to 2008 and was called Sun Wheel. In 2009, it was rethemed to Mickey’s Fun Wheel, then in 2018, the gondolas were re-painted with Pixar characters on them and renamed Pixar Pal-A-Round.
There are 24 gondolas in total, 16 are swinging, and 8 are stationary. They can carry a maximum of 6 people. So, when you’re in line, make sure you pick the right one or you may regret it. Barf bags are provided in the gondolas in case you get motion sickness. Riders are loaded 3 gondolas at a time, 2 swinging, and 1 stationary.
I’m sure one day I’ll be brave enough to go on Pixar Pal-A-Round, and I’ll start off in the stationary gondolas for sure. I bet the views from the top of the wheel are amazing. But I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the view if I were being swung back & forth high in the air in a gondola with no restraints. One day I’ll conquer my fear.