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Irvine Spectrum Giant Wheel

4.2 (59 reviews)
Closed 10:00 am - 10:00 pm

Irvine Spectrum Giant Wheel Photos

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Temporarily Closed on January 11, 2026 until Summer 2026
Michelle S.

Just a quick heads up that the Giant Ferris Wheel at the Irvine Soectrum will be temporarily closed in a few days. The 11th or 12th I think. And will reopen during the summer of 2026 with a bigger better wheel!

Judy C.

Omg... finally, We get to finally make time for the Irvine Spectrum Giant Wheel, we pass by this wheel tons of time on the freeway. I'm so happy it finally happened and I wasn't afraid. I loved passing by the giant wheel and looking at it as a passenger, enjoying the colorful view of the wheel! It was a beautiful Saturday out at the OC, no crowds/line which is a plus. We were in a bit of a rush so this was perfect. I got our tickets and hopped right on the Wheel. Seat belts are required, one way in and the the other way out when you hop on and off the wheel. Tip, don't look down when you get to the top and have a fear of heights. I did not touch my phone at all, afraid I might drop it, or else I would have pics on top of the wheel, hehe. The ride is about 7 minutes, you go around about 3-4 times. Pretty worth if for $8. bucks and get to check out the highway view and this part of OC up high, offering breathtaking view of the surrounding area. This Iconic, Irvine Spectrum Giant Wheel stands out with efficient colorful LED lights, purchase tickets on line or at guest services kiosk up front. They are open from 10-9pm Sun-Thurs, and 10-10pm Fri. & Sunday. The Irvine Spectrum Giant Wheel also hosts various events and movies under the stars. I love that the wheel is close by the Hello Kitty Cafe so I remembered to make a stop before leaving. Overall, I had a wonderful time with the love of my life, no big kids- just us! You have to do this, check it out to see what the giant wheel is all about. (done, visited 5/2025)

View from the top
Tiffany C.

The Giant Wheel is a nicely maintained attraction and a very cool landmark at the Irvine spectrum. Rides are $8, and it will go around 3 times. It's a fun breezy ride and you can see all around the Irvine area. You can get a free ride on your birthday.

waiting in line for the ferris wheel!
natalie r.

Grant was so nice!! while waiting in line w my six year old daughter we met another family who was so cute; June & John. Grant was so friendly & helpful when it came out turn to board the gondola. honestly, this is the exact kind of person you want running an attraction like this.. genuine, competent & positive.. big shout out to Grant who was so sweet, kind & helpful while we enjoyed the most iconic attraction of the Irvine Spectrum.

Next stop... FUN!
Lynnann W.

What a fun treat. Cost $8 to go around three times and they pause you at the top for sensational views! Completely worth it!

Happy thanksgiving
Winny H.

Came here to ride with my eldest one. He wanted to ride this as a graduation present so I said sure! The cost for adult rides is $8 each and since we came around 3pm, there wasn't a line. We got to do 3 full revolutions and it was such a pretty sight. Nice views with clear blue skies. Can see very far to the beach areas as well as Peter Canyon area. Friendly staff at the giant wheel. Will come back again soon.

Joseph T.

Friendly staff Line was 30 mins on a Saturday evening around 6pm $8 per person, loved it!

Heather H.

Fun area, and it was a cool experience to be able to look over the whole area. Stay was friendly, and the cars were clean. Price wasn't too bad it was 8$ per person, and they offer a military discount. No food or drinks allowed on the ride, but they had a little table to hold our stuff while we rode. The wheel goes around 3 times once it is loaded with people. Very relaxing and chill experience.

Jenni M.

You'll know you're at the Irvine Spectrum Center when you see the Giant Wheel. It's visible from Interstate 5. Plenty of free parking... try a parking garage - they're free as well. To buy a ticket, find said 108-feet tall Giant Wheel. The booth is on the west side of the ferris wheel. As of 4/10/22, tickets per person were $5 for about two full rotations. If you have younger kiddos, the carousel is so cute and well-maintained with some interesting animals from which to choose. Tickets may be purchased at the same booth for $3 per person. We waited approximately 10 minutes to get on the wheel and virtually no time for the carousel which is a relatively short walk away (less than 1,000 feet). My 7 and 8-year-olds loved both of them even though they agreed that the wheel was super slow. The friendly staff ensures that your seat belts are fastened. Credit cards accepted. We went during the day, but the LED lights at nighttime look amazing.

Beautiful mall & very clean!
Toni M.

One of the cleanest mall. Plenty of parking and lots of great food choices surrounding areas.

Audrey C.

Cute ride and a hit with my toddler. $5 per person isn't bad for 3 rounds (2 rounds if there's an event going on). They have seatbelts for this ride too which I found interesting but also cool. Haha NORDSTROM is the closest entrance to the wheel.

Cinthia S.

Everytime we visit Irvine Spectrum we gotta have to go on the Giant wheel with the kiddos. Whether it's daytime or nighttime you will always get a beautiful view once you get to the top. Most of the time there will be a waiting time to get on. Ride price is inexpensive, I paid a total of $24 to ride on it.

View on the Giant Wheel
Angelica L.

My husband and I were at Irvine Spectrum near sunset time so we decided to ride the Giant Wheel. It costs $8/person and goes around in 3 loops. There's no food or drinks allowed on the ride so you have to finish it or they have a place for you to put it. The ride was really nice since you get a great view of Irvine. I'm afraid of heights but this ferris wheel was super stable and moved slowly. The line wasn't long and the wait was short for a Friday evening.

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staff is friendly, price is somewhat reasonable, ride is nice, rode could be longer or go around 2 more times for the price.

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Ask the Community - Irvine Spectrum Giant Wheel

How much does it cost to ride?

It is $8 per person for a single ride. Military/senior admission is $7. If you would like to reserve your ride time with, tickets are $12 per person with the Spectrum Speed Pass.

Can I ride with an infant?

Infants in baby carriers are permitted to ride.

How many ppl can go in one?

The Giant Wheel holds up to six (6) people per car.

Is the giant wheel randomly closing on weekday nights depending on passenger flow? It was closed last night 8/24/2022 at 8:15 ish?

The Giant Wheel remains open until center closing hours.

I'm a 31 year old adult who is only 60" (5 ft) tall. Your guidelines say that children under 63" must be accompanied by an adult, does this mean that I will never be able to ride the wheel?

The height requirements only apply to those under 18 years of age so any adults under 63" are able to ride the Giant Wheel.

What hours is the wheel open this Sat and Sun?

Currently, the Giant Wheel is open from 10am - 9pm Sunday - Thursday, and 10am - 10pm on Friday & Saturday.

Are small dogs allowed on?

Pets are not allowed on the Giant Wheel unless they are service animals.

Do you know when you'll be open for business?

The Giant Wheel is scheduled to open on June 15.

Is the Ferris wheel open right now with COVID?

The Giant Wheel is not open at this time.

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Review Highlights - Irvine Spectrum Giant Wheel

Just a quick heads up that the Giant Ferris Wheel at the Irvine Soectrum will be temporarily closed in a few days.

Mentioned in 5 reviews

Read more highlights

K1 Speed Irvine - A F1 car hangs on the wall at K1 Speed Irvine

K1 Speed Irvine

3.2(746 reviews)
6.3 mi

Great place for teens who enjoy a little adrenaline and adventure go carting! We've brought our…read moreteens here for birthday gatherings and it's always a blast! Parking is spacious. The venue is roomy, clean and safe. There's a bar/ restaurant area you can order food and plenty of space with couches to watch racers. Staff is friendly and service is great! The teens opted for 3 races at $70/racer. They also had a package where you can get a K1 tshirt & 2 races at $70/racer. Great team building event space for employers & adults too! Definitely coming back!

We took three 12 year old boys here and they had an absolute blast. We went on a Saturday afternoon…read moreand we didn't have to wait much at all. When you walk in, it's a little confusing at first since it's not super clear where to go and the place is pretty spacious. We initially went to the cashier, and they directed us to the computers on the side to sign the waivers first, then come back to pay. After we paid, they told us the wait would be about 30 minutes, but surprisingly they called our names within just 2 to 3 minutes while we were still walking around. That was a nice bonus. :) They provided headsocks for free, and we didn't have to pay extra or sign up for any annual membership. Each race is supposed to be 12 laps, but if someone finishes early, you might end up doing less. One of the boys completed 11 laps, but didn't affect the experience at all. As we were exiting, we saw a podium area so kids hopped on for a quick photo. I've been here before for birthday parties and even with coworkers, and every time has been consistently fun. The staff was friendly and everything ran smoothly. Not really sure why this place gets some negative reviews. I haven't experienced anything negative. Would definitely come back.

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K1 Speed Irvine - 100% electric go karts speed by the Paddock Lounge inside K1 Speed Irvine

100% electric go karts speed by the Paddock Lounge inside K1 Speed Irvine

K1 Speed Irvine - There are two indoor go kart tracks at K1 Speed Irvine

There are two indoor go kart tracks at K1 Speed Irvine

K1 Speed Irvine - Our go karts are all-electric and capable of reaching speeds of up to 45 mph

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Our go karts are all-electric and capable of reaching speeds of up to 45 mph

Round1 Arcade - Mission Viejo - How do I find Round1 after the mall closes?

Enter the mall through the food court entrance and go down the center escalator or elevator!

Round1 Arcade - Mission Viejo

3.2(53 reviews)
7.6 mi
Kid friendly
Large group friendly

Amazing place with fun awesome things! Had so much fun playing the games and doing the claw…read moremachines. Super nice staff and super yummy food! Sugoi! I'd especially like to shoutout Kiyo, me and my 5 year old son were struggling on a claw machine for a hot minute until he taught us the proper technique and we got it so quick!

Did you know this location has been opened for 1 year?!…read more And wow first round1 I have ever experienced closing before 2am! One of the literally most smallest round1 I have ever been to. When I went there (March 25, 2026), they were rearranging the chibi games so I thought they were closed. Interestingly, there doesn't seem to be an exterior entrance either. ***first round1 I have ever been to that promotes $3.99 beer all day*** I was saddened by the lack of turkey legs but at least they still had ufo games? Their claw/crane games were so flipping hard--Winnable but definitely high payout. Plushies and figures in line with other locations. Likely due to the size, they don't have the latest/all of the coin pushers. Happy workers and mechanics kept to themselves. Redeemed 2 sets in which manager gave no trouble. Victory center was small with most electronics gone. Brownie points that they didn't/don't clean the machines and kept them loaded... didn't have any errors during my time there, yay!

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Round1 Arcade - Mission Viejo - Great for celebrations, team building, families, & kids of all ages!

Great for celebrations, team building, families, & kids of all ages!

Round1 Arcade - Mission Viejo - Hot, delicious pizza & snacks!

Hot, delicious pizza & snacks!

Round1 Arcade - Mission Viejo - We've got Arcade Games everyone will love!

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We've got Arcade Games everyone will love!

Once Upon An Island - Mermaid hair

Once Upon An Island

4.5(216 reviews)
9.4 mi

We had Elsa for my daughter's birthday on 05/09, and she was absolutely amazing! First, she arrived…read moreright on time. Second, she looked just like Elsa from the movie -- if not even more beautiful! Most importantly, she was so engaged and connected with my daughter the entire hour. I truly appreciated how professional and wonderful she was throughout the whole experience. When I asked my daughter what her favorite part of her birthday was, without any hesitation she said, "Meeting Elsa!" Thank you, Elsa, for coming all the way out to Irvine on 05/09. Everyone had such a blast with you, and you made the day so special for our daughter. Thank you so much!!

This is one of the primary family activities I love doing with both my children…read more Since Ariel turned 3, she has never been more star struck by the princesses that make her over and have tea parties with her. Every event is so personalized and special, it has helped us through monumental milestones of family transition, deployment, etc. They have something nice for the parents as well so that they can also enjoy the experience like champagne, lattes, and a lovely seating area. My son Wilder also really enjoyed being a pirate and finding treasure and has joined Ariel for the Elsa and Anna event last year as Olaf, also enjoying the fondu and fun activities the kids were there to enjoy. These experiences are so wonderful because even an hour makes such a big difference to their lives and we don't have to schlep around giant parking lots or worry about extra expenses and lines like at Disney. They just feel special and get the greatest experience for a lot less expenses and hassle. The location by the beach with the nicest folks also makes it great. Sometimes we walk around after or take the ferry and have ice cream. The park across the street is inviting as well.

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Once Upon An Island
Once Upon An Island
Once Upon An Island

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Bubblemania And Company

Bubblemania And Company

4.8(411 reviews)
46.6 miMar Vista

Bubblemania was so much fun to have at my nephew's 6th birthday…read more They came right on time with all the supplies: kiddy pools, wands of many shapes, and a ton of bubble solution. The kids LOVED it! And it was great for the adults because the kids never left the bubble stations. There were so many different wands and ways to make bubbles. The lady who came did such a nice job. She was very friendly and so sweet to the kids. Any time someone had trouble, she would patiently show them how to make the bubbles. As the activity went on, she introduced other bubble making tools like a rope. Each new item captivated the kids. In particular, a few of the kids were timid at first. I thought the lady was very kind and encouraging. All of the kids warmed up to her and took part with the bubbles. I was happy to see some adults getting in on the fun as well. And even some parents teaming up with the kids to try to make the biggest bubble possible. It was a ton of fun all around. At the end, everything was cleaned up and taken away. It was a very effortless way to have an outdoor activity for kids. Highly recommend!

Bubblemania was absolutely incredible and the clear hit of the party for our 4 and 2 year olds and…read moreour guests. From the start, scheduling and putting down the deposit was very simple and straightforward. Nat reached out ahead of time to confirm timing, location, and all the details, which made everything feel easy and well organized. During the party, Nat did an amazing job showing the kids how everything worked, demonstrating some seriously impressive bubble skills, and most importantly were incredibly thoughtful about how to engage with each child. Some kids wanted hands-on support, others preferred to jump right in on their own, and Nat handled that balance perfectly. Nat also did a great job keeping the space tidy and ready for the next kid, which made the whole experience feel calm and well run. We received so many compliments from other parents. My 67-year-old dad said it was the best birthday party he's ever been to. Honestly, I don't know how we could have another party at a local park without Bubblemania. Truly incredible and worth every bit.

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Bubblemania And Company - Kids bubble activity

Kids bubble activity

Bubblemania And Company
Bubblemania And Company

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Dino Encounters - Dino Encounter at a birthday party at Skyzone Van Nuys

Dino Encounters

3.1(33 reviews)
10.8 mi

I have never had such a quick rude interaction with a company. I was googling fossils for purchase…read morehaving bought a number online before and actually been to a number of fields and dug up fossils myself came across. This guy seemed an amazing deal price was killer and I thought maybe it just didn't have a lot of fossils and it was a lot of reconstruction. Nowhere on that piece or any of the other pieces if you go through their website, does it say replica the only way you find the word replicas if you go to their website the very first time and go as if you're going to try to book an event and then it says Shop our replicas. I was asking a very simple question when I found out it was a replica. I wasn't rude. I said, cancel my order and they jumped down my throat. It was the rudest thing I've ever experienced and I hope no one ever has to deal with them after reading this.

***edit*** Since the owner replied and said I waited to call…read moreback for 4 days I thought I'd post "evidence" of that not being true. I called and spoke to her Monday, June 21st. She did not tell me to go online to book. She did say I had to have a $750 minimum since she'd be coming to San Diego, and I was ok paying the extra. Again, no mention to go online to do this while talking. I can't go back to Tuesday the 22nd on my phone to screenshot my log. But I've posted the 2 calls I made to her Wednesday and the call I made on Thursday. I left messages asking for a call back and that we'd spoken. Let's be clear, they were not booked. I've been looking for a Dino encounter type of company for my sons 4th birthday party. After speaking with several companies who were unavailable, this was the only one who was available. I believe her name is Carrie (maybe jeri?) who owns it. When I originally spoke with her before other companies, the first thing I thought was, she doesn't sound very charismatic nor entertaining. When I learned she was one of the "presenters" is when I searched for another company. Unfortunately no one else was available for my date so I called back. I spoke with her Monday about booking and she confirmed availability but said she was in the car and would call me back later to finish booking. Ok, great. She didn't call me back. I called her back Tuesday afternoon and left a message. Same thing Wednesday, I called a few times to follow up and pay. No response. Today, Thursday, I called and got a hold of her. She apparently has booked someone in my spot since we spoke. I am sooo angry. When we hung up Monday, I would have paid if she'd told me how instead said she was driving and we'd handle later. So I assumed we had our spot. When I reminded her of this, she told me I needed to understand she speaks to a lot of people every day and she had car troubles which she had to fix and handle. Quite frankly, I do understand things happen BUT how do you confirm someone else when you already told someone else they had that spot. Im furious but it may be for the best as I can not imagine her type of personality entertaining a bunch of 4 year olds. Terrible way to run your business. Look for a different company!!! I do NOT recommend. If you follow my reviews, I do NOT typically give out 1 star reviews and I'm very fair. But this review deserves it as they completely left me hanging for a party!

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Dino Encounters - Receipts

Receipts

Dino Encounters - No where does it say replicas

No where does it say replicas

Dino Encounters - The rudest customer service ever

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The rudest customer service ever

Legendbrush Name Painting - Star Wars!

Legendbrush Name Painting

5.0(6 reviews)
4.6 mi

I had the pleasure of working with Christopher for my sons 2nd birthday. He was so amazing and…read moreflexible to work with- not to mentioned all my guest adored his artwork. My sons birthday theme was MFL (Mickey football league) draft party. To keep with the theme I asked him if he could only do Mickey/Minnies in a team uniform of the child's choice. He not only researched all the teams, he printed out a detailed picture list to reference during his paintings! I had changed the venue location and time a week before the scheduled date and he was able to accommodate me with no hesitation. Not to mention that he diligently worked in the raining weather (under a canopy of course). Even with the rain and humidity none of the pictures were affected and looked amazing. Christopher had an upbeat personality and award winning customer service the whole time I worked with him. He comes highly recommended!!

We highly recommend Christopher for any party, he is super talented, most professional, courteous,…read morekind, trustworthy, thoughtful and just simply amazing! From the very beginning of our email exchanges, we knew we could rely on Christopher and just had a really positive feeling about him. He added such a special element to our baby girl's 1st birthday, and he arrived early to get set up, began on time, managed to create name paintings for all the kids at our parties (we had a lot of kids!), stuck around even after the party ended to ensure all the remaining name paintings would properly dry and be ready for release. Christopher also customized the name paintings to match the party's theme, and he did it so perfectly! We also loved the fact the name paintings were individually packaged in a frame and plastic slip! Thank you LegendBrush!!!

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Legendbrush Name Painting
Legendbrush Name Painting
Legendbrush Name Painting

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Irvine Spectrum Giant Wheel - amusementparks - Updated May 2026

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