Mad Tea Party in Disneyland is one of the funny rides of distinguished style. This party is served by brightly colored oversized cups that keep spinning on a platform. There is a wheel in the middle for riders to increase speed of rotation.
Usually three people of a family participate to enjoy spinning. But, despite of provision, guests should increase the spinning speed to such extent as to not get hurled out. Cups are set on a huge turntable, and the whole ride itself turns.
There are three smaller turntables on top of the main and these small ones also turn. The handle less cups are in set with saucers. In all eighteen cups make complete set of this ride.
A disk inside each cup also spins. Inner disk is hand operated and can be set for faster rotations. Fantasyland section of Magic Kingdom theme park houses the party ride, located beside Alice in wonderland ride.
Mad Tea Party ride has borrowed the idea in 1951 from a party scene from Disney's animated film Alice in Wonderland. There are versions of this ride, different one in each country by names - Alice's Tea Party in Tokyo Disneyland, Mad Hatter Tea Cups in Hong Kong Disneyland, and Mad Hatter's Tea Cups in Paris.
Florida's Fantasyland has all the versions of the ride. Prior to 1983, this ride was located in the backside of sleeping Beauty Castle, where King Arthur Carrousel is located now.
This particular ride is a continuously loading one because of riders seeking to come out frequently. Each cup can accommodate three average size people, but there is no restriction on numbers. There is a shutter that closes after people are in.
Problem associated with this ride is motion sickness suffered by a large number of ride users due to fast spinning action. Since tea cups rotate with the turntable, chances of dizzy feeling are far high. Riding is better avoided immediately after taking food.
Locations of other versions of Mad Tea Party ride located in different places in fantasyland, sell different types of Disney exclusives. For example variety of character hats are sold in Mad hatter along with Peter Pan hats and Mickey ears, all with personalized embroidery.
Disney character T-shirts, and other souvenir are sold in La Petit Chalet, which is situated across Matterhorn Way. Charm of cup drags many; those who can tolerate spins to certain extent repeat visit to the ride. Definitely it has its own charm; all are welcome to try out their spin tolerating capacity, of course with valid tickets. |
