Faster, faster, faster…
Written: Aug 12 '01
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Ability to control speed; Old-fashioned carnival-type atmosphere
Cons: Somewhat monotonous; Not for those with weak stomachs
The Bottom Line: Try this out if you find pleasure in a temporary loss of equilibrium. On the other hand, if you want to avoid the risk of nausea, stay away completely.
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| cactus_matt's Full Review: Mad Tea Party |
Only so many Disney rides have managed to firmly cement themselves into our pop culture. Even fewer have gone about doing so by being well-known for making riders aimlessly dizzy. The Mad Tea Party is one of these rare cases.
This attraction sits in the far corner of Fantasyland, some distance away from the nearest restaurant. And there’s a good reason, too. If, by chance, you’re not quite familiar with what the Mad Tea Party entails, allow me to elaborate. Envision a large, spinning circular platform. Imagine three smaller platforms placed atop it, also spinning. Then arrange a number of teacups along the edges of each of the smaller platforms. The teacups spin, too. Install seating and a wheel about the axis of each cup to allow passengers to control the speed. Throw in a number of overzealous children, and then you’ll understand why there’s no restaurants nearby.
It’s a simple ride concept, a throwback to something out of a place like Coney Island, but creatively tied-in with a well-known scene from Disney’s Alice in Wonderland. This was one of the original attractions at Disneyland, and, if I’m not mistaken, at Disney World as well. There’s no arguing that it’s a classic, regardless of its somewhat dubious reputation.
The ride runs in roughly 1-2 minute cycles. The host will open the queue gate, and you’re free to run across the platform and occupy whichever pastel-colored teacup you desire. Each cup provides a circular seating arrangement that fits about 3-4 adults comfortably. I’ve seen people get creative and stuff about 5-6 people in. The rule is typically ‘one party per teacup,’ so the host probably won’t make you scoot aside and ride with someone you don’t know.
The ride slowly starts moving and gains momentum. Music starts playing. In the center of the platform is a large teapot from which the dormouse from Alice in Wonderland will occasionally emerge. You might not be able to see him, depending on how fast you’re going. Disneyland’s version doesn’t have a teapot or a dormouse. They also don’t have a roof over their version, something that the Magic Kingdom added later on. One thing that both eventually lost, however, was a set of extremely psychedelic swirls painted on the platform. What happened?
You’ll get a fairly moderate ride if you sit back in your teacup and let the platforms do all the work. Take hold of the wheel, however, and within your hands lies the potential to experience some pretty heavy g-forces. The faster you turn the wheel, the faster the cup will spin. The strength of one person can only spin the cup so fast, but the combined strength of many people can wield frightening results.
Personally, this ride has never done much more to me than make me a little dizzy afterwards. I’ve known others to be affected on a much greater scale. Yes, there’s the occasional stench of vomit about this ride. Custodians are usually standing by to combat the aftermath of a weak stomach so that the attraction doesn’t experience an excessive amount of downtime. The custodians are armed with a dust-like solution that absorbs the offensive material and allows it to be easily swept away. Honestly, if you’ve got even the slightest worry that you might not be able to handle the Mad Tea Party, I’d recommend that you simply don’t attempt it. There’s no use in feeling miserable for the remainder of your visit.
The ride is short, but I’m not complaining. Spinning is spinning, and it doesn’t get any more interesting, even if you’re going blazingly fast. The ride slows to an anticlimactic halt and you walk off the platform and out the gate. Or stumble out. A lot of the time they’ll have Alice in Wonderland characters poised outside the exit to pose for photos with woozy guests. There’s a decent capacity on the ride, and because of the short running time, you shouldn’t have to wait too long in line on a regular day. On a more crowded day, though, the stop-start fashion of this attraction may force you to sit through numerous cycles before you can fight your way on.
And so, the final verdict on the Mad Tea Party? Well, it’s oldschool fun that I’ve always enjoyed. It’s got a strange appeal to our masochistic side. On the other hand, there’s just not much to it and it can be a bit too intense for some. As far as kids liking it, I’d say it’s split down the middle. I see a lot of little kids who’re afraid to go on it and others who lend a hand turning the wheel. This was one of the few rides that I as a little kid wasn’t afraid to go on. So, basically, it’s not for everybody, but it’s a great time for people who enjoy this sort of thing.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
cactus_matt
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Location: Florida
Reviews written: 40
Trusted by: 24 members
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