What's with all the love for spinners?

[AngieTink27]

It just dawned on me how many spinner rides are in Florida. You have two Dumbos, magic carpets of Alladin, Astro Orbitor, triceratops spin, Dr. Seuss fish spinner at IOA, new alien spinner at Uni Studios, plus not sure if any at Legoland, SeaWorld or Busch? So there are at least seven spinners I can think of just between Disney and Univesal. While i do not have a problem with spinners, just curious as to why so many? Do people really love these types of attractions so much that they are needed at most parks? Is it just that they are an inexpensive way to use space and help crowd control? Once again I am not hating on these types of rides, and I am certainly a fan of classic Dumbo. But wondering why so many in the region?

 

[Tom]

They're cheap to build and operate and take up very little space. Easy way to add a ride to the line-up while fitting it into otherwise unused space.

For the record, I am in no way defending the use of spinners in theme parks. I almost think stroller parking would be less of an eyesore.

 

[wdwfan4ver]

One of the reasons for the spinners is its a family friendly ride and is an attraction that little kids can get on.

I am not defending the amount of spinners in theme parks on the record though.

 

[Sweet Melissa]

In addition to the reasons stated above, there's also a cult following. Just ask the Disney Hipsters:

 

[Britt]

I've wondered that too :/ haha

 

[MickeyisMyBestFriend]

I think at Disney they have Dumbo and Aladdin(and triceratops spin) because little kids enjoy them.

 

[mcurtiss]

yeah, kid love being able to raise and lower the cars on their own.

 

[bethymouse]

Let's have some fun! They make mostly little kids happy. The classic ones are OK- DUMBO and ASTRO ORBITER, but I could do w/o Triceratop and Aladdin.

 

[FettFan]

Spinners are so boring that they weren't even included in Roller Coaster Tycoon.

Unless you count the Tilting Gravitron ride, that is.


EDIT -- That being said....I do ride Dumbo each trip out. Because going to Disney and not riding Dumbo is like going to Paris and not visiting Notre Dame.

I don't bother with any of the rest of them.

 

[morningstar]

yeah, kid love being able to raise and lower the cars on their own.

Yeah, for kids too short to reach the pedals on the Tomorrowland Grand Prix, it's a ride they can control.

Also easy to fit into the theme of any land you want to add it to. Anything that flies. Wait, a triceratops? Okay that one is ridiculous.

 

[AndyS2992]

Cheap, don't take up much space and kids love them.

They're all different though

Dumbo is a plain slow spinner
Astro Orbiter is faster and your rocket is tilted for more thrill
Magic Carpets also tilt back and forth
Seuss Spinner is a game where you get wet if you get it wrong
etc

 

[TubaGeek]

I'd love to rag on 'em, but the Universal ones are innovative and the Disney ones always have a long wait...

 

[gooftroop5]

My kids love all the spinner rides and just HAVE to ride them all......even though they are all the same.

 

[NiarrNDisney]

Spinners are so boring that they weren't even included in Roller Coaster Tycoon.

Unless you count the Tilting Gravitron ride, that is.

I actually love this type of a spinner! Back when I was a kid there was an old version of a theme park in Denver called Eliches Gardens which had a ride like the one above but looked like a roulette wheel and was names "The Gambler" or something like that and I remember riding that thing over and over again.
I kinda wish the Mouse could figure out a way to theme this ride and build it in one of the parks!

Oh and move Aladdins Magic Carpets to either Epcot or the DHS! MK has enough with the 2 Dumbos and Astro Orbitor!

 

[alissafalco]

Both of my toddlers love them and it's something the whole family can do. However, I wouldn't bother with them if I didn't have my kids with me.

 

[DManRightHere]

I would agree. Spinners are cheap(er) but have terrible capacity, so they need more than one. Would the carousel be considered a spinner?

It's not so bad it's just 3 (or 5) of them are in MK for obvious reasons.

Dumbo is well themed and astro orbiter is just plain awesome. Fish is cool too.

 

[marni1971]

I wouldn't call it love..

 

[Disneyhead'71]

I know that Universal is adding them to help address the issue of their lack of toddler friendly attractions. They just added one to USF and are building one now at USH. For parks short on toddler friendly attractions, I'm ok with them. The MK having 4 is a bit of overkill.

 

[The Magical Genie 123]

There are WAY too many spinners, especially at Disney World. Plus, you have 3 of them at the Magic Kingdom. At least move Astro Orbiter to Epcot or just get rid of it completely. And do we really need that TriceraTop Spin at AK? Nobody rides it anyways...

 

[docdebbi]

i have to echo the above posters. we start taking the little guys shortly after birth, these are something that they love doing! i can't guess the thinking of a 1 or 2 year old, but the adult in me thinks
1- they are pretty and interesting to look at from outside, so the kids want to touch (they love to touch EVERYTHING!)
2- when they are old enough to understand, yes, it is something they can control
3- there is absolutely no fear factor for their timid little hearts
4- the feeling of freedom and height and movement are exciting

from the adult point of view- i'm glad they are there, we split into groups and someone takes the littlest ones on these while the older ones do something more exciting that the little guys can't and then we trade.

when we take kids from 9 months old to 5 years old, it's not just about the 5 year old, we also want to 9 month old to be entertained and excited. even though we know he clearly won't remember or have any concept of what went on, he was happy while waiting for his siblings. we want them all happy!
so keep our silly little spinners