Buying notes for the Animal fun merry go round
An animal merry go round sells the figures, not the seats. Two rides with the same platform and the same drive can be completely different businesses depending on whether the carousel carries horses, a sea-life set or a zoo of land animals, because the figure set is what the visitor photographs, remembers and comes back for.
This page is about choosing that set with the same care as the platform: which figures fit which venue, how the parts are made and finished, what the sizes cost, and how the set can be changed later without replacing the ride.
Animal merry go round: the figure set is the product
The frame and the drive decide whether the carousel works. The figures decide whether it gets remembered, and they are the part a buyer can make uniquely theirs.
A zoo orders the animals its visitors came to see. A seaside operator orders the ocean set. A park with a character licence orders the characters. None of those choices is decoration added at the end – each one is the reason the ride photographs well and the reason a family chooses it over the next attraction.
Every set below is built on one of the platforms in the carousel range, so the size question and the figure question can be settled in the same conversation.
Choosing an animal carousel figure set
Four families of figures cover most orders, and they can be mixed on one platform.
The zoo direction
Lion, tiger, giraffe, deer, rabbit and ostrich figures painted in colour, sized to the platform the set goes on.
The ocean set
Seahorses, seals and fish, usually on a blue palette with coral and seagrass detailing in the cornice.
Swan and unicorn figures
A swan set reads well on a pastel platform and suits a resort or family park; unicorn figures carry a younger audience.
Duck, rabbit and circus builds
Where a venue already has a character, the platform is built around it. Our own character directions are the duck, rabbit and circus sets.
Figures can be combined with carriages on the same platform, which is what most family buyers end up doing: lifting figures along the outside, fixed or carriage seats where two riders sit together. Tell us the audience before the set is chosen – a ride for younger children and a ride for mixed ages read differently even when the platform is identical. The kids carousel page covers the sizing question; this page is about the set that goes on it.
How animal carousel figures are made
Figures are moulded in glass-reinforced plastic in our own FRP workshop, then finished by hand. The process is what decides whether a figure still looks right after two seasons outside.
- Fiberglass and resin are laid layer by layer over the mould, which is what gives the shell its strength without weight
- FRP parts are checked for bubbles, poor impregnation and delamination at the cut surface before they leave the workshop
- Each part is polished, then putty and varnish are applied so the paint has a flat surface to sit on
- Painting runs in a bake-paint booth, then the assembly is inspected again before the figures are numbered for shipping
- Figure mounting is rated for a rider load of 120 to 150 kg, and the mounting points are matched to the platform rather than added afterwards
The steel structure under the figures is welded to the same standard as the platform: joints cleaned before welding, matched welding rods, and an inspection record issued for the frame and the drive. That record travels with the ride and is the document an operator is asked for first.
Animal merry go round sizes and prices
Five builds carry figure sets, from a compact park ride to an IP character platform.
| Build | Riders | Platform and height | Power | Shipping | Price band |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Animal theme carousel | 16 | 6 m, 5.5 m high | 380 V, 5 kW | 1 x 20GP, about 2,500 kg | From US$12,400 |
| Ocean theme carousel | 16 or 24 | 8 m, 5.5 m high | 380 V, up to 10 kW | 1 x 40HQ, about 4,800 kg | US$13,400 – 32,900 |
| Longines carousel | 24 | 8.5 m, 5.5 m high | 380 V, 5 kW | 1 x 40HQ, about 4,800 kg | US$24,650 – 45,200 |
| Dream Star carousel | 26 | 8.5 m, 5.5 m high | 380 V, 5 kW | 1 x 40HQ, about 7,300 kg | From US$45,000 |
| IP character carousel | 16 | 7.5 m, 7.3 m high | 380 V, 3 to 6 kW | 1 x 40HQ, about 3,000 kg | From US$28,700 |
The 16-seat animal theme carousel is the entry build: a 6 m platform, 5.5 m tall, 5 kW, in one 20GP container. The 8 m ocean platform takes 16 or 24 riders and is the one most parks order when the carousel becomes the centre of the grounds. The 8.5 m Dream Star carries 26 riders on a 5 kW drive. The IP character builds stand 7.3 m tall on a 7.5 m platform, so they suit a park with a theme to carry rather than a hall with a low ceiling.
Where an animal carousel works best
The figure set usually points at one of four venues, and each one changes what we specify with the ride.
Figures that match the collection
A zoo orders the animals its visitors came to see, which makes the carousel part of the visit rather than an add-on near the gate.
Position on the walking route
An animal set works hardest where families already pass it. Size the platform from the plot first – the kids carousel page runs that arithmetic.
The photograph point
A swan or sea-life set photographs well against landscaping, and guests spend longer on the terrace while children ride.
Ceiling first, then the set
The standard builds stand 5.5 m, so a covered venue needs about 6 m of clear height. The character builds stand 7.3 m and ask for a taller void – the indoor carousel page covers those limits.
Peak trade on all four follows the same calendar: weekends, school holidays, festivals and evenings. Plan the figure set and the lighting together, because the evening trade is where a themed carousel separates itself from a generic one.
Replacing and adding figures later
Figures and carriages are available as parts, so a damaged figure is replaced rather than the ride stopping. Adding figures later is also possible: the platform is designed with the mounting positions to hand, and a set can be extended with a new animal, a carriage or a seasonal figure in a later order. Planning the set with the original order is still cheaper than shipping figures separately, and it avoids a mismatch in paint and finish between production runs.
Where a venue owns a character, the whole set is produced as one direction rather than assembled from stock. The character builds we already produce are the LT DUCK, Crazy Rabbit and circus sets.
Animal merry go round questions buyers ask
Can we choose which animals go on the ride?
Yes. Figures can be picked from the land, sea, bird and character families, and mixed with carriages on the same platform.
Can animals and horses be mixed?
Yes, and most family buyers do exactly that: lifting animals along the outside of the platform and horses or carriages where two riders sit together.
How long do the figures last outdoors?
The FRP shell and the baked paint are specified for outdoor use. Cover the figures if the venue closes for a wet season, and keep the paint codes for touch-ups.
Which sizes carry an animal set?
From the 6 m platform with 16 riders up to the 8.5 m platform with 26. The character builds stand 7.3 m on a 7.5 m platform.
Can figures be replaced or added later?
Yes. Figures and carriages are available as parts, so a damaged figure is replaced on its own, and a set can be extended in a later order.
How do we clean the figures?
Warm water with a mild soap and a soft cloth. Abrasive cleaners and solvent take the gloss off the finish, and the coating cannot be restored without repainting the part.
Next step
Send the venue, the audience you expect and the animals or characters you want on the ride. We will confirm the platform, the figure set and the finish, and come back with the layout drawing and the price band.
- Country
- Site size or plan
- Indoor or outdoor
- Rides you have in mind
- Opening date
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