Silly Symphony Swings

Silly Symphony Swings
View of the attraction as seen from Paradise Park
Disney California Adventure
Land	Paradise Pier
Designer	Walt Disney Imagineering
Manufacturer	Zierer
Attraction type	Wave Swinger
Theme	Disney's The Band Concert; Victorian
Soft opening date	May 28, 2010
Opening date	June 11, 2010
Hosted by	Mickey Mouse
Music	William Tell Overture
Ride duration	1:30 minutes
Total height	40 ft (12.2 m)
Height requirements	48" (122 cm)
Capacity	48 guests per ride
Preceded by	Orange Stinger
Sponsored by	Walt Disney Records
Must transfer from wheelchair

Silly Symphony Swings is a "wave swinger" attraction in Paradise Pier, at Disney California Adventure, at the Disneyland Resort in California. Themed to Disney's The Band Concert^[1] conductor Mickey Mouse conducts the attraction from high atop, synchronized with the music. Although "The Band Concert" was not part of the 'Silly Symphonies' film series,^[2] the name was applied to the attraction due to its apparent symphony storyline. Closely following the plot of "The Band Concert" the main column of the ride rises revealing a tornado which spins the riders to the tune of the William Tell Overture and William Tell's "Storm". Once the tornado safely passes, the music comes to an end and the ride slows and lowers riders to the ground. It is speculated that the new voice of the Silly Symphony Swings is that of the fictitious Mr. Tinkershmidt, the supposed new owner of Paradise Pier. Tinkershmidt and the Silly Symphony Swings update is part of the multi-year, $1.1 billion (US) expansion plan for Disney's California Adventure Park.^[3] Previews of the attraction are offered at California Adventure's Walt Disney Imagineering Blue Sky Cellar.

The attraction was originally slated to replace the Orange Stinger on May 28, 2010. Although the attraction soft opened on May 28, 2010, it had an Official Grand Opening on June 11, 2010.^[4]

Previous Attraction History

The Orange Stinger reflected in Paradise Bay

The Orange Stinger, the predecessor of "Silly Symphony Swings", was an off the shelf Zierer Wave Swinger enclosed in a large orange and themed as bees. Riders swung on suspended seats inside the enclosure which offered views of nearby Paradise Pier and Paradise Bay through large openings in the walls. These openings were made to look like peeled sections of an orange peel. The original bumblebee seats were removed on February 10, 2001 due to damage during use. After removal, the seats were unthemed swing seats. Initially an orange scent effect was introduced into the attraction giving it the smell of a 'real' orange, but was later removed because it attracted real bees.

The giant orange was a tribute to the orange fields that Disneyland was built on, as well as Orange County, where the Disneyland Resort is located.

References

1. ^ "Silly Symphony Swings". http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/parks/attractions/detail?name=SillySymphonySwingsAttractionPage. Retrieved 12 September 2010. 
2. ^ "The Encyclopedia of Disney animated shorts". Index - B. http://disneyshorts.org/index/b.html. Retrieved 12 September 2010. 
3. ^ "Disney's California Adventure". Paradise Pier. Go.com. http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/disneyscaliforniaadventure/index?name=DCAPreview&CMP=FY09BSC_DisneysCaliforniaAdventureCom#p=BigPlansParadisePier. Retrieved 12 September 2010. 
4. ^ "Silly Symphony Swings Grand Opening". Forum. MouseInfo.com. http://www.mouseinfo.com/forums/dca-expansion/92002-silly-symphony-swings-grand-opening.html. Retrieved 12 September 2010. 

External links

• Silly Symphony Swings attraction page

Coordinates: 33°48′20.34″N 117°55′21.55″W / 33.80565°N 117.9226528°W / 33.80565; -117.9226528