Golden Zephyr
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Golden Zephyr is an attraction at Paradise Pier in Disney's California Adventure Park. Themed to the Buck Rogers and Flash Gordon style rocket ships, it takes park guests on a relaxing trip. Unlike its cousins Dumbo and the Astro Orbitor next door in Disneyland Park, the Golden Zephyr rockets are controlled by centrifugal motion over Paradise Bay and can not be automatically controlled to go up and down.
The Golden Zephyr's design comes from the Harry Traver Circle Swing rides of the early 20th cenury, specifically the Aerostat / Strat-O-Stat ride that operated at Riverview Park in Chicago. In designing the ride, Disney engineers visited Pleasure Beach in Blackpool, England to examine the Captive Flying Machines, a similar (but much larger) ride designed by Sir Hiram Maxim, and which has operated there since 1904.
Unfortunately, the ride cannot operate at constant wind speeds over 10 miles per hour, or gusts over 15.
[edit] Attraction facts
- Grand opening: February 8, 2001 (Opened with Disney's California Adventure Park)
- Designer: Walt Disney Imagineering
- Vehicles: 6 (each seat 12 people)
- Vehicle theme: 1940's era rocket
- Attraction height: 90'
- Ride duration: 1:30
- Boarding requirement: None - Small children must be able to sit in a seat themselves, no lap sitting
- Environmental restrictions: Light winds
- Ride system: Rocket Spinner
