Pixar Pal-A-Round, Ferris wheel at Disney California Adventure, US
The Pixar Pal-A-Round is a Ferris wheel at Disney California Adventure in Anaheim that rises 46 meters (150 feet) into the air and features 24 gondolas decorated with characters from different Pixar films. The structure offers wide views across the park and surrounding areas as the gondolas slowly rotate around the central axis.
The attraction opened in 2001 as the Sun Wheel before becoming Mickey's Fun Wheel in 2009 and receiving its current name in 2018. These transformations each reflected new thematic directions for the park and brought updated character designs with them.
The central Mickey Mouse face displays traditional pie-eyes from early animation, connecting modern entertainment with classic cartoon heritage. This design reminds visitors of the first decades of animated storytelling and creates a bridge between generations of Disney fans.
Visitors can choose between two types of gondolas: stationary cars that remain fixed or swinging cars that slide along interior tracks. The swinging gondolas create more movement during the ride and are clearly marked at the entrance.
The ride system operates below Paradise Bay water level, making it an engineering achievement in theme park construction. This arrangement required special waterproof chambers and mechanisms hidden beneath the surface of the artificial lagoon.
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