Flying Saucers

The Flying Saucers ride is a type of "gentle" ride that is a modified version of Dodgems.

Construction
Air is kept under pressure beneath the floor, entering the flying saucer cars through valves in the floor. The cars then float on the cushion of air this creates.

Other Information

 * The Flying Saucer ride is functionally equivalent to the Dodgems, but since it does not have a roof, guests will shun it during a rainstorm. Still, it makes a great novelty ride.

In Real Life
The Flying Saucer ride is based on the similarly named Flying Saucers ride that once existed in Disneyland. Open for 5 short years from 1961 to 1966, this ride used an innovative air-powered system to effectively create a hovercraft-like version of the standard bumper car ride. Constant breakdowns and mechanical issues lead to its closing.

Years later, Disney's California Adventure opened Luigi's Flying Tires, a Cars themed attraction seen by many as a spiritual and technological successor to the classic Flying Saucers. It too, however suffered from design issues that lead to its early closing in 2015.