Orange Stinger. Why did the ride close at Disney California Adventure?

[@briansieve]

Now that I'm older, I appreciate these so much more

[@jimhshull]

It’s easy to take for granted a ride. Thanks for watching.

[@PatrickNolte]

We called it the Giant Orange. My daughter was born in 98 and as she grew up her goal was to be tall enough to ride the Giant Orange. On the measure wall, a colorful arts and craft yardstick in her bedroom, we had drawn a little orange so she would know just how much she had to grow to ride in it. One of our best memories of DCA.

[@jamesl1130]

The 2012 Victorian version of Paradise Pier was the best version.

[@juliehitchcock5229]

I LOVED this video. It brought back so many memories. I was so excited to learn that you designed this attraction. Silly Symphony Swings was both of my daughters’ favorite attraction in DCA when they were young. I have pictures of them sitting in the swings waiting for the ride to start. My youngest was too nervous to ride by herself the first time so we sat in a double swing together. I also have fond memories sitting along the bay under the swings, enjoying the view and eating a pretzel. That shady spot is a gem in DCA. Thank you so much for designing such a fantastic theme and incorporating a restful place into this attraction.

[@silversun3133]

I was in DCA on Monday, it was a genuinely magical day....and I got to go on the "giant orange" swings as I've always called them. I remember the day DCA opened, I was there. Opening was the first and only time I ever got to go on the swings as no one in my group ever wanted to bother. I'm glad the swings are still there, even if the beautiful orange is gone.

[@jimhshull]

Thanks for your comment. I know people who miss the California letters too.

[@bbarber1974]

SSSwings was such a great idea! 300% better than the Orange Stinger. I, too, love the patio underneath. Thank you!!

[@jimhshull]

Thanks for your question. There are always constraints on any project. A good designer finds the solution to meet the schedule and investment while keeping the creative vision. It’s not easy but it is fun.

[@Legojunkie]

My family has so many good memories on the silly symphony swings. These videos are some of my new favorites on the internet. They are so insightful and I can see the love and passion that you have so clearly. Keep up the amazing work!

[@nascub]

My late husband and I would enjoy that seating area under the Swings during our Friday night date nights. I have many found memories from that spot. Thank you designing such a beautiful respite in DCA.

[@jimhshull]

Thanks for sharing a touching memory.

[@jarjarboujee]

Another great video Jim. Thank you so much for bringing your insight, knowledge, and history of this ride to the masses. ~ JJB

[@jimhshull]

My pleasure!!

[@jgatzby7798]

Great episode Jim. That was the first time I’d ever seen the bee wraps on the actual Orange Stinger seats, outside the concept art.

[@modelworksajt1301]

Thank you for sharing your story Jim, it is always interesting to hear the inside story of the design process for imagineering. I respect all of the creative decisions you made to bring forth as much imagination as you could with the parameters you were given, but I have to ask what did it feel like to be working under such constraints that were set forth by such limited creative choices from management from the first iteration of DCA??

[@jimhshull]

Every project that I’ve even worked on had limits. A good designer picks the battles they will fight in order to deliver a good show to guests. Thanks for your question and thanks for watching.

[@orionwatts9200]

I suport orange stinger orange is my favorite color

[@starlingwatch3921]

Thank you for these video diaries, you have a lovely style to explain your experience.

[@robertruffo2134]

Your sound has gotten better! Still love your content, and your work, and your vibe. Cheers from Montreal!

[@jimhshull]

Good that you confirm my sound is better. I continue to aim to improve my production methods. Thanks for watching.

[@DT2again]

Thank you again for sharing a very fun and unique story. These background tales are very interesting to hear about and very enjoyable too. Thank you again.

[@Snooziac]

No lie, I thought it was the peach from James and the Giant Peach. I also thought the "bear" mountain was a wolf howling at the moon (I still do).

[@philrabe910]

WDW and especially the Magic Kingdom need some new C and D ticket attractions.

[@yelazyy]

I miss paradise pier ♥♥♥

[@CountJeffula]

I always wondered why the orange was empty when I visited as a child. I wish they put the ride back with screens inside the orange! That would be so cool.

[@jasonbaylor9865]

Current day Disney seems to think people didn’t like DCA because it was California themed, but the reality is people didn’t like DCA because it was bad. We need to make it California again

[@jimhshull]

I’d settle for just making DCA good. Thanks for watching.

[@DrStarlander]

Thank you Jim, you and your colleagues did a great job on that project, in my opinion it's the most elegant element in the Paradise Pier/Garden areas. It exudes a particularly classic, quality feel. I am curious, given your work on DCA, if you know if there much discussion of trying to hide the power lines behind California Sceamin'/Incredicoaster? I'm always taken aback when I see them, and if they bother me I would think they would have been an irritation to the Imagineers! I wonder how feasible a "scenic backdrop" would have been to block them out, or if it was ever considered? Thank you!

[@jimhshull]

The power lines could be buried however that would be at great cost. The heat from buried power lines would require cooling which would be many many dollars that the city of Anaheim would need to pay for. Thanks for watching.

[@DrStarlander]

@@jimhshull Thanks Jim, very interesting. Hopefully someday they get buried and engineers can find a way to use that excess heat energy for good purposes, as in a heat pump, or to create energy or heat water for the Convention Center, so it's a "feature" not a "bug." 🙂

[@maxickingdom]

I always end up enjoying the Silly Symphony more than I think! I don't think I ever rode it as the Orange Stinger. I was wondering, will you eventually do a video on Tiana's Bayou Adventure and your thoughts on that?

[@Worldize]

I could be totally wrong about this but isn't that Orange inspired by a really old building somewhere in Eastern Europe?

[@jimhshull]

I don’t believe there is a direct connection. I could be wrong but often similar buildings are in different locations without there being any direct connection. Thanks for watching and for your question.

[@adammakesstuffup]

Hello, and first-time viewer - this channel just showed up in my recommended list. Oh, and subscribed. There's a story that I heard, that Orange Stinger would release an orange scent during the cycle, and that the scent would attract real bees, and on rare occasion, a rider would be stung. Do you know, was that an actual thing, or is this an urban legend?

[@jimhshull]

Orange scent yes but the stung bit is an urban legend.

[@stephenfreitas8546]

Will Silly Symphony Swings be rethemed again to a Pixar IP? I guess is could only be a matter of time. But, I personally think the Silly Symphony Swings is Disney’s “best” C-Ticket spinner attraction…anywhere. I believe it is in the pantheon of Dumbo.

[@jimhshull]

I doubt it because the idea of Pixar Pier didn’t connect with guests. Thanks for watching.

[@samuelwitwicky3900]

Loved the Orange Stinger as a kid until when real bees swarmed the swings because of the ride’s orange scent.

[@gridley]

I realize it's hard to do good things on a budget, but I've always felt that DCA's biggest problem was not a lack of money but a lack of good judgment. Both creative/conceptual and financial/tactical mistakes. Even the "California" theme was mediocre in a Six-Flags-type way. So if the 2nd Disney park in Anaheim couldn't get even that part down right, everything else was vulnerable

[@frauwolftherehorse]

Mr Jim, did the Orange Stinger really "close", 😁 '.' (it was obviously just rethemed)

[@jimhshull]

The idea that the Orange Stinger was based on was retired and the ride system transformed. I’d say that qualifies as making the Orange Stinger a closed ride. Thanks for watching.

[@toddhensley880]

Do the retired Imagineers stay in touch with each other?

[@jimhshull]

Yes we do and when we meet we’re shocked that we’ve aged. Thanks for watching.

[@VegasSavageKing]

It makes me sick Paradise Pier is no more. Had you stuck with the theme it would be paying dividends now. With everything being ip now. An original land ....wow..... but oh wait....Disney wants there 10 bucks from a jack jack cookie sale........😢

[@jimhshull]

I admit to never eating a Jack Jack cookie. Is the cooking any good?

[@VegasSavageKing]

@@jimhshull It's not bad. But I'd give anything to have Paradise Pier back !!! They really need to change the name of the park from California Adventure to I.P. Park 🤣

[@ShockerTopper]

Orange County must have been beautiful decades before I was born. I've seen a lot of pictures of it since I was born and raised in Yorba Linda (the furthest east city of Orange County, one of the top 10 most desirable cities to live in). In particular, in Yorba Linda they had the railroad go through at one point and take the oranges from the groves there to the rest of the country. I remember as a kid, there were a lot more trees and greenery, but as I've gotten older (I'm 40), it's become just endless apartments/condos. I'm finally about ready to leave, I'm not going to spend my entire life here, despite it the being the only oasis in California from the lunatic commies.

[@goofyrulez7914]

I was there on opening day. DCA was made on the cheap and it showed. Disney had to pour billions of dollars into its un-Disney feel just to bring it halfway up to the Disneyland standard. Pretty pathetic (and it's still not that magical). The only thing I took away from that day was how delicious cheddar cheese cheeseburgers were (I'd never had one before then).

[@jimhshull]

Cheese makes any meal better. Thanks for watching

[@goofyrulez7914]

@@jimhshull - Mind you, I was talking about opening day and not what the park has evolved into since.