At a Glance
Duration: 1 minute, 20 seconds
Look Out For: motion sickness due to spinning, whipping, and whirling motion
Opening on June 30th, 2018, Alien Swirling Saucers is a spinning flat ride with a lot in common with a local fair ride. But how scary is Alien Swirling Saucers? Let’s take a look at the stats:
1. Ride Length
Alien Swirling Saucers has a ride duration of 1 minute and 20 seconds. However, you can expect a few extra seconds in the ride vehicle due to slight delays with loading and unloading.
2. Height Requirement and Warnings
Alien Swirling Saucers has a height requirement of 32 inches but no official warnings from Disney. However, if you or anyone in your party struggles with motion sickness, you may want to reconsider this one.
3. Ride Vehicles and Restraints
The Alien Swirling Saucers ride vehicles consist of individual cars (or space ships) towed by a Toy Story alien in his saucer. Each car seats approximately 2 guests who share a lap bar.
4. How Does Alien Swirling Saucers Work?
Alien Swirling Saucers works a lot like a local fair ride, the scrambler, with some slight changes. Each car is attached to a green Toy Story alien and “whips” and “whirls” around him with every turn. The ride vehicles follow a figure-8 pattern for the entire duration – making for a unique spinning ride with some similarities to Mad Tea Party.
5. Is Alien Swirling Saucers Scary?
Alien Swirling Saucers is not intentionally scary whatsoever. It’s certainly marketed as a family-friendly attraction and lacks any scary theming. visuals, or sounds – much like Mad Tea Party. However, the spinning and mild thrill elements might make it less suitable for some riders, so be sure to check out the sections below for more details.
6. How High is Alien Swirling Saucers?
Alien Swirling Saucers does not involve heights. Contrary to its name, these flying saucers never leave the ground. Like many other spinning flat rides, there is no elevation whatsoever.
7. How Fast is Alien Swirling Saucers?
Alien Swirling Saucers does not go particularly fast. Much like a carousel or other flat rides like the Mad Tea Party, the actual ride vehicles don’t travel very fast. The real thrill comes from the spinning and “whipping” motion in this attraction.
It is worth noting that – unlike the Teacups or Dumbo – riders don’t have any control over the speed or spinning mechanics of this attraction. That being said, if you feel that it might be a bit intense for you, don’t count on being able to take it down a notch like you can on other flat rides.
8. Does Alien Swirling Saucers Have Drops?
Alien Swirling Saucers does not have drops. Aside from the obvious spinning and “whipping” motion, there are no other thrill elements on this attraction.
9. Does Alien Swirling Saucers Cause Motion Sickness?
Alien Swirling Saucers can certainly cause motion sickness for some riders. As a spinning ride at its core, I can’t recommend this ride to guests who are especially prone to nausea. While it’s not quite as dizzying as Mad Tea Party (which spins in a tight circle), the slinging and whipping movement while traveling in a continual figure-8 could be an issue for some riders.
Aside from this, there are no large screens or other 4D effects to exacerbate the experience. In addition, the outdoor setting of this ride could definitely take the edge off with some fresh air. Fortunately, you can see the entire attraction from outside the queue – so if you struggle with motion sickness, just take a moment to observe and consider if this ride is right for you.
10. Is Alien Swirling Saucers Claustrophobic?
Alien Swirling Saucers should not feel claustrophobic for most riders. With its entirely outdoor queue and track as well as its short ride duration, the only aspect of this ride that could feel confining is the lap bar.
11. Are There Animatronics on Alien Swirling Saucers?
There are no animatronics on Alien Swirling Saucers. While each ride vehicle is attached to a big green Toy Story alien, they are static fixtures that don’t move at all – and you simply stare at the back of their head as you ride.
Alien Swirling Saucers Queue Walkthrough
The queue entrance is located outside in the Toy Story Land section of Hollywood Studios. Once entering the line, you will simply wind around the outside of the attraction until you get to the loading station. This queue is very similar to the Mad Tea Party in Magic Kingdom and does include some cover from sun and a few fans. Even so, I would not recommend spending too long in this line on an especially hot summer afternoon.
Alien Swirling Saucers Ride Walkthrough
Once boarding the cars, the lap bars will be lowered before the ride can begin. It’s worth noting that there can be pretty significant delays on this attraction while other guests get in and out of the ride vehicles. Often, you will spend more time waiting for it to begin than riding the actual attraction.
Once you start moving, the saucers will simply follow a figure-8 pattern and sling and whip your car around every turn. The whole experience lasts for about a minute and a half (again, much like Mad Tea Party or Dumbo the Flying Elephant) and then comes to an end – allowing for the next guests to begin boarding.
That’s it! Remember, everyone’s riding experience is a little bit different and only you can decide whether to hop on that ride vehicle or not. I just hope this guide helps you be prepared and enjoy every second of your Disney experience!
So what do you think? How scary is Alien Swirling Saucers? Leave a comment to help keep this guide up to date!
For a full visual of the ride and queue, be sure to check out this video from 4K WDW:
