Disney California Adventure Park Guests Control the Action with the Fun Wheel Challenge

If you’ve been in the “World of Color” audience lately, you may have noticed that some of your fellow Disney California Adventure park guests have been really focused on Mickey’s Fun Wheel. Yes, some of our observant guests have discovered the Fun Wheel Challenge, which officially begins nightly starting November 16.

I recently talked to Jeff Voris, executive R&D Imagineer and Todd Bennett, director of Experience Development at the Disneyland Resort. The two and their teams have been working on this project for the past year – even giving guests a demonstration at the D23 Expo in August. Jeff told me that the idea behind the Fun Wheel Challenge is to give guests the opportunity to interact with each other and their surroundings while they wait for “World of Color” to begin.

“It’s about giving guests the chance to play. For us, that was the main purpose,” he said. “It’s about engaging with your environment and the people around you.”

So how does it work? It’s pretty simple. Once you’re in the “World of Color” viewing area, just join the PierGames Wi-Fi network from your mobile device, and the game plays within your device’s web browser. This special Wi-Fi network is available 45 minutes before the start of the first “World of Color” show each evening. No apps, no downloads.

“Our goal is to make it as simple as possible,” said Jeff.

Once you’re on, you are playing against other guests, with Mickey’s Fun Wheel as your giant game board. The Fun Wheel Challenge is a matching game in which you compete to match specific sequences of colors on Mickey’s Fun Wheel using your mobile device. And here’s my favorite part – if you win, you get to control the lights on Mickey’s Fun Wheel right from your mobile device.

And don’t forget your “Glow With the Show” Ears! Todd told me that the game has been designed to incorporate those as well.

Check out the Fun Wheel Challenge for yourself, beginning November 16 at Paradise Pier in Disney California Adventure park.

Disney California Adventure Park Guests Control the Action with the Fun Wheel Challenge by Erin Glover: Originally posted on the Disney Parks Blog