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The Trick: An unexpected slowdown and then a gigantic loop

The signature visual of Disney California Adventure is, of course, the Ferris wheel. The second most recognizable landmark from a distance is a part of California Screamin’. Originally, the face of Mickey Mouse stood as the least hidden Mickey at the park.

Imagineers constructed the coaster tracks of California Screamin’ in a way that it had the giant circle beneath two adjoining circles on the left and right, the classic Mickey Mouse structure. Some enterprising park planner invented the idea to take coaster carts on a journey through the Mickey face. Their idea became the second Disney attraction in North America to feature an inversion, a full 360-degree loop that takes place within the Mickey face.

Several aspects of this design are novel. First, California Screamin’ has at times held the record as the longest ride with an inversion. Overall, it’s one of the eight longest coasters in the world, with 6,072 feet worth of track. Specific to steel roller coasters, it’s currently the third longest of its kind. It’s also the only outdoor looping ride at a North American Disney park.

One of the important elements of the ride is the slowdown prior to the inversion. Disneyland is an extremely small park by modern standards. At 85 acres, it’s smaller than either Universal Studios Florida (108 acres) or Islands of Adventure (101 acres). Imagineers have to maximize the space whenever possible.

Image: DisneyMany of the tracks on California Screamin’ circle the same space, a fact Disney hides well for the reasons above. Something it can do to add to the illusion of a bigger park is slow down the roller coaster at the right moment. Halfway through the ride, it comes to almost a complete stop as the coaster cart climbs a hill. The purpose of this delay is to let riders catch their breath. It’s also a way to let them enjoy the grandeur of the Happiest Place on Earth before the inversion takes their breath away.

California Screamin’ has changed a bit over the years, After the initial version of Disney California Adventure failed to strike a chord with theme park tourists, Disney rebranded in 2009. One of their oddest choices was to trade two park signs. The Mickey Mouse face switched to the Ferris wheel, in the process changing the name of it from the Sun Wheel to Mickey’s Fun Wheel.

Simultaneously, the Paradise Pier sign received a slight modification in colors to match popular attractions such as Toy Story Midway Mania! More importantly, it became an integral part of California Screamin’. Today, theme park tourists take a ride through an inverted loop. As they go upside down, they get to look at the Paradise Pier sign in a way that nobody ever can until they ride the most badass attraction at Disneyland.

 
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Please edit this story. The monorails are not mag lev...

Let's be honest... the support structure doesn't look like wood at all

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