The UFO consists of twelve, four-person gondolas, mounted in a circle around a central drive hub.

The ride is rotated to produce enough centrifugal force to stick the riders to the wall of the gondola furthest from the centre.

Once this is achieved, the hydraulic arm is used to move the entire ride from the horizontal position to near-vertical.

There are no safety restraints on the UFO; the centrifugal force is strong enough to prevent riders from experiencing any major movement while the ride is not at horizontal, and in the event of a rotational or power failure, the size and spacing of the bars that make up the gondola 'cage' (along with enforced height and safety restrictions), prevents riders from falling out.

Nevertheless, minimum rider height requirement is usually 54 inches (140 cm) or taller, as much as some extreme roller coasters.