Golden Zephyr

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Golden Zephyr
Disney California Adventure
AreaParadise Pier
StatusOperating
Opening dateFebruary 8, 2001 (2001-02-08)
General statistics
Designer Walt Disney Imagineering
Theme Seaside Boardwalk, 1940's Era
Height 90 ft (27 m)
Vehicle type Rocket
Vehicles 6
Riders per vehicle 12
Rows 6
Riders per row 2
Duration 1:30
Must transfer from wheelchair

Golden Zephyr is an attraction at Paradise Pier in Disney 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 centripetal 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[1] rides of the early 20th century, 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 (16 km/h), or gusts over 15 miles per hour (24 km/h). Neither this attraction nor Jumpin' Jellyfish will be removed or changed as part of the ongoing billion-dollar expansion.

References

  1. "Traver Circle Swing". flatrides.com. Retrieved September 12, 2011. 

External links

Coordinates: 33°48′21.46″N 117°55′20.09″W / 33.8059611°N 117.9222472°W / 33.8059611; -117.9222472

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