I rode the NP Ferris Wheel for the first time last week.

I was underwhelmed.

The city of broad shoulders is deserving of something much grander than this. I know McPier plans a larger one, but who knows when that will happen.

Agree, disagree?

I found Navy Pier itself to be a disappointment and basically a tourist trap to suburbanites and a big babysitter for parents.

I found Navy Pier itself to be a disappointment and basically a tourist trap to suburbanites and a big babysitter for parents.

^ Yeah, but you can walk around and drink so I'll let it slide..

^ Yeah, but you can walk around and drink so I'll let it slide..

I did not know that...maybe being drunk on Navy Pier might be better.

I found Navy Pier itself to be a disappointment and basically a tourist trap to suburbanites and a big babysitter for parents.

I totally agree with you. My visiting nephew who's 14 says navy pier sucks. There are people at Mc Pier who believe that it's successful and, it is. Over the past decade it has been the number one tourist destination in the city, maybe the state but, it really could be greatly improved with a little though.

The museum and the winter fun festival (both for little kids) are nice, but that's all I've ever cared for. I know the history behind it, but I've always hated that ferris wheel. Maybe if they replaced it with an uber-modern one, without all the blinking lights.

I found Navy Pier itself to be a disappointment and basically a tourist trap to suburbanites and a big babysitter for parents.

Yup. I went there in 8th grade for a field trip and even then though the whole pier was lame. I've been there only once before for the I-Max. It's a tourist trap, plain and simple. That's why I NEVER recommend it to people who ask me things to do in Chicago.

^ I get it, we're all too cool for NP.

By calling NP a cheesy tourist trap you're kind of stating the obvious here. Point is, everybody sees the Ferris Wheel. In a sense, it's kind of emblemetic of the city, given its prominent location.

My focus is on the ferris wheel itself, not Navy Pier. And I think it needs to be bigger; a lot bigger, whether you intend to ride it or not.

And I think it needs to be bigger; a lot bigger, whether you intend to ride it or not.
I guess...but who are we trying to impress? People don't visit Chicago to be awed by our Ferris wheel...we're aren't London and it isn't the Eye.

I guess...but who are we trying to impress? People don't visit Chicago to be awed by our Ferris wheel...we're aren't London and it isn't the Eye.

Of course they don't.

Because our Ferris wheel sucks.

What if it were something much, much, larger, and much more visually impressive?

Of course they don't.

Because our Ferris wheel sucks.

What if it were something much, much, larger, and much more visually impressive?

I guess it would be one other thing Chicago could offer...but I really don't see it as a major concern or priority. It's never bothered me. I didn't realize some people felt it...inadequate?

Ugh. I hate Navy Pier. It's so trashy. Such a letdown. I'd rather see them do something about everything around the Ferris Wheel first. I mean, right now it basically feels like a really lame mall. It needs a raison d'etre.

^What it needs is a sick roller coaster that's unique and utilizes the pier into its design - perhaps like this one (http://www.rcdb.com/1845.htm?p=3730)in Tokyo that goes on top of buildings and through a ferris wheel.

And replace those swings and minigolf course with some better thrill rides

The one good thing about navy pier is the imax theater they have.

Though, as someone who's terrified of heights, I'm glad that the ferris wheel isn't larger than it already is :)

^What it needs is a sick roller coaster that's unique and utilizes the pier into its design - perhaps like this one (http://www.rcdb.com/1845.htm?p=3730)in Tokyo that goes on top of buildings and through a ferris wheel.

And replace those swings and minigolf course with some better thrill rides

I think that's a great idea. Also, I wasn't aware so many people had a problem with the ferris wheel. Navy Pier in itself, yeah, we had a class trip there on a cold and rainy day, enough said.

The one good thing about navy pier is the chicago shakespeare theater they have.

Corrected that for you. :)

I rode the NP Ferris Wheel for the first time last week.

I was underwhelmed.

The city of broad shoulders is deserving of something much grander than this. I know McPier plans a larger one, but who knows when that will happen.

Agree, disagree?

agree 100%. we need one like London.

Corrected that for you. :)

Thank you for fixing that I was about to fix that too. =)

Have some culture people!

As a tourist who got trapped... I agree with everyone here. haha

The ferris wheel could be a lot bigger. In addition though, there needs to be a lot more to the place. it feels like half the place really doesn't have much going on half the time!

^What it needs is a sick roller coaster that's unique and utilizes the pier into its design - perhaps like this one (http://www.rcdb.com/1845.htm?p=3730)in Tokyo that goes on top of buildings and through a ferris wheel.

And replace those swings and minigolf course with some better thrill rides

That's exactly what I would suggest. plus put some rides on that little island part next to the pier. Wouldn't it be cool to have a theme park on the lake!!! :nuts::nuts::nuts: I would be over there every weekend if it did... (maybe six flags should consider transfering down a mini version down here...)

The ferris wheel is just a tourist attraction, like the rest of Navy Pier. However, I don't think it's downright terrible.

http://img130.imageshack.us/img130/5930/dsc0218g.jpg
http://img2.imageshack.us/img2/9818/dsc0203bt.jpg

Oddly enough I was at Navy Pier yesterday evening and I was thinking the same thing about the Ferris Wheel. I go to Navy Pier mostly for the views of the lake and skyline during the warmer months and also what they have there for Christmas is pretty nice.

I havent been on the Ferris Wheel for years. To me what sucks the most about it is even though the Navy Pier brochures make it out to be so spectacular I know that 117 years ago in Chicago there was a Ferris Wheel that completly blew it out of the water.

I am of course refering to the original Ferris Wheel at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/de/Ferris-wheel.jpg
Chicago is the birthplace of the Ferris Wheel and compared to that original one and other big wheels around the world it is very underwhelming. If I had tons of money I would commission the construction of an exact duplicate of the 1893 Ferris Wheel. It was nearly twice as high as the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel and had cars the size of a bus, there were 36 passenger cars, each fitted with 40 revolving chairs and able to accommodate up to 60 people, giving a total capacity of 2,160. The Ferris Wheel took 20 minutes to make two revolutions, the first involving six stops to allow passengers to exit and enter and the second a nine-minute non-stop rotation, for which the ticket holder paid 50 cents.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferris_Wheel