Orange Stinger: A Carnival Ride Dressed Up for Disney
Written: May 07 '04 (Updated Jun 21 '06)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: The orange setting is cute.
Cons: Basically, the Orange Stinger is a carnival ride you could do anywhere
The Bottom Line: The Orange Stinger has a cute setting but it really is just a basic carnival ride.
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| modernmarvel's Full Review: Orange Stinger - California Adventure |
The Orange Stinger is, at its most basic, one of those spinning swing rides that has been around forever. Disney hasn't done much to change the ride itself. They have, however, added a cute theme and setting for the ride.
LOCATION
The Orange Stinger is located in Paradise Pier. It is next to the lake and the 4 story orange housing the ride is hard to miss. I found Paradise Pier to be the most disappointing experience of all Disney parks. This area is supposed to be themed like an old-fashioned amusement park and that is just what it looks like: an old, boring, uninspired collection of basic rides. The other thing I don't care for is that there is very little shade and the ground is mostly concrete in the entire Paradise Pier area. On hot days, this area can be unpleasant.
THE RIDE
The Orange Stinger is made up of individual swings suspended on chains from a tall base. The swings are very narrow and, although I am not overweight, I found them narrow and confining. Each swing has a bar that comes down over your lap to secure you in the seat. The other thing I didn't like is that individuals can't ride together. Each person gets their own seat making this ride an individual experience, rather than a more fun shared experience.
When the ride starts, you are lifted up quite high and spun around. The ride tilts so, in addition to the spinning motion, you also get an up and down motion. It seems like it would be gentle ride but I got a little seasick and wasn't interested in riding again. My 7 year old loved it. The ride seems to last about 2 minutes or so, but I didn't time it.
The Disney touch to this basic ride is that it takes place inside a giant orange. The orange has some peel removed so you can see glimpses of the outside and the inside has natural light. I had heard that the orange gives off an orange smell but didn't notice one during my turn. According to the Disney web site, the swings are supposed to be buzzing bees. This level of theming was lost on me since the swings don't look anything like bees. However, to further the theme, you can hear bees buzzing when the ride starts.
THE WAIT (WITH STAIRS)
There is no unique waiting area to this ride. The ride itself takes place toward the center of the orange, so you must hike up a considerable flight of stairs to get to the inside line and, ultimately, the ride. There is a place to line up outside the orange, but I have never seen the line get that long. Instead, we hiked up the stairs and waited in the inside line.
The inside line is shaded because you are inside the orange, but the only view is of the ride itself. There is nothing else to look at or pass the time with. There is also no place to sit. I found this disappointing. Disney usually has lines for every ride, but they at least make the lines interesting. Just standing around waiting for your turn can get tedious.
On a busy day, we had to wait two ride cycles before our turn. On a slow day, my husband and daughter waited one ride cycle before their turn. There are no fast passes for this ride, but the line never seems very long.
RESTRICTIONS
You must be 48 inches to ride. You can not weight more than 200 pounds. Expectant mothers should not ride (I think this is because the safety bar would not fit over a pregnant belly).
FINAL RECOMMENDATION
I wasn't impressed with this ride. The ride itself wasn't very special, although the theming was cute. Based on my experience, I am giving it three stars, but my daughter loved it and rode it several times. If she were writing this review, she would probably give it four stars.
MY REVIEWS OF THE DISNEY THEME PARKS IN CALIFORNIA
Disneyland
Disney's California Adventure
MY REVIEW OF THEME PARK HOTELS IN CALIFORNIA
Disney’s Grand Californian
Marriott Suites Anaheim
Residence Inn Anaheim
MY REVIEW OF THEME PARK RESTAURANTS
Storyteller’s Cafe
Blue Bayou
Wine Country Trattoria
Goofy’s Kitchen
MY REVIEWS OF INDIVIDUAL RIDES AND ATTRACTIONS IN DISNEY’S CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE
Soarin’ Over California
Grizzly River Run
The Sun Wheel
Mulholland Madness
Jumpin’ Jellyfish
Playhouse Disney Live on Stage
Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
Monster’s Inc. Mike & Sully to the Rescue
Jim Henson’s Muppet Vision 3D
It’s Tough to be a Bug 3D
Princess Dot Puddle Park
Heimlich’s Chew Chew Train
Tuck and Roll’s Drive ‘Em Buggies
Flik’s Flyers
Francis’ Ladybug Boogie
Misson Tortilla Factory Tour
Boudin Bakery Factory Tour
MY REVIEWS OF INDIVIDUAL RIDES AND ATTRACTIONS IN DISNEYLAND
Pirates of the Caribbean
Indiana Jones Adventure
Storybook Land Canal Boats
Snow White’s Scary Adventures
Pinocchio’s Daring Journey
Peter Pan’s Flight
Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride
Alice in Wonderland
Matterhorn Bobsleds
It’s a Small World
Tarzan’s Tree House
Aladdin’s Oasis
Splash Mountain
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
Autotopia
Honey, I Shrunk the Audience 3D
Astro Orbitor
Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters
MY REVIEWS OF OTHER THINGS TO SEE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Legoland
SeaWorld San Diego
Birch Aquarium at Scripps
The San Diego Zoo
The San Diego Wild Animal Park
Balboa Park
Cabrillo National Monument
San Diego’s Old Town
The Museum of Making Music
Anza-Borrego Desert State Park
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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modernmarvel
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