Soarin' is Amazing!
Written: Oct 22 '05 (Updated Oct 22 '05)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Beautiful video, great simulator, good choice for all ages!
Cons: Waits can be long
The Bottom Line: This is a Don't Miss attraction!
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| chelledun's Full Review: Soarin' over California at Walt Disney World |
Soarin’ is an attraction I have been anticipating for a long time in planning my Orlando vacation. This ride is very popular at Disneyland California Adventure and has recently been duplicated at Epcot Center’s “The Land” pavilion with much fanfare. The pavilion has been closed for our last couple visits to prepare for this incoming attraction. I heard very positive things about this attraction and my mother and I couldn’t wait to ride. Did it live up to the hype?
General Information
Soarin’ is an attraction designed to simulate a hang glider flight over California. It is the newest addition The height requirement for Soarin’ is 40 inches. Children will be measured before entering the line and sometimes again for riding. Soarin’ opens at park opening with the other Future World attractions and is one of the last attractions at the park to close. Soarin’ opened earlier this year and is the newest addition to the Land. This pavilion is the second major building to your left upon entering Epcot.
Waiting, waiting, waiting…
Sit back and relax, because you will have to wait almost as long as for a real plane flight. Soarin’ is Epcot’s most hyped attraction at the moment and posters for it are everywhere. Combine this with a relatively long length of show and small capacity and you have some serious waits. The queuing area for Soarin’ is loosely themed as an airport. Employees are dressed as airline flight attendants. One long wall has a series of pictures of scenic views around the world (deserts, rainforests, mountains, etc.) and trivia questions pop up to go with each picture. Soothing music plays in the background in an attempt to ease the wait a little.
I was able to ride Soarin’ twice, once using a Fastpass and once without. Fastpasses are slips of paper which can be obtained using your park ticket. The pass basically gives you a ‘reservation’ to ride the attraction later in the day with minimal wait time. The first time I rode without the pass and the line was posted at 90 minutes. However, our actual wait time was only 45 minutes. With the Fastpass the wait was about 15 minutes. Soarin’ is relatively new at Epcot so this could be why wait times aren’t quite accurate yet. From my experience a line stretching to the end of the scenic pictures in the waiting area was about 45 minutes. In any case, either getting a Fastpass early in the day or walking straight to this attraction at park opening is your best course of action.
Preparing for Takeoff
Guests are taken into the attraction in several groups of twenty-five or so. Lines are formed in front of doors for entry into the simulator. The setup is very similar to Star Tours at Disney MGM Studios. A safety video from the captain instructs about seat-belt use and storing your belongings under the seat. When the doors open riders enter the theater and are seated on flight simulator vehicles. The vehicles are seats where your feet dangle and are suspended from above much like Batman, The Ride at Six Flags theme parks. If you can possibly arrange to be in the front row of these vehicles your experience will be considerably better.
Soarin’ over California
There are three rows of ride vehicles which are basically ‘stacked’ on top of each other during take-off. The front row is at the very top, providing an unobstructed view. If you ride in the second or third row your vehicle will be in the middle or the bottom. This means you can see the feet of those above you dangling in front of the screen. Its not a huge deal but it was a little distracting for me. The film plays on a large screen in front of you and the hang glider vehicles move slightly to give the sensation of being in flight.
The scenes you fly through are beautiful and the ride really gives an illusion of flight. This is a wonderfully done video and it would be satisfying to watch even without the accompanying simulator movement! Scenes include a Napa valley vineyard, desert, hot air balloons, a golf course, and a sparkling finale of flying over Disneyland itself. I’ve never been to California so I loved seeing the beautiful landscapes and Disney park in particular. The wind moves in your face and a few smells accompany the sights. Make sure to move your head from side to side to check out the scenery on the full screen. Most will find this ride absolutely delightful. My mom really enjoyed it even though she dislikes thrill rides in general. However, the realistic simulator sensations might bother you if you absolutely dread flying or heights. I saw only happy faces afterwards both times I rode. If you’re like me, one ride will not be enough to fully enjoy all the scenery.
Overall…
I found Soarin’ to be a welcome addition to Walt Disney World. It is great to have a new attraction that the whole family can ride together and enjoy and the ride exposes people like me to the beautiful sights of California. I predict Soarin’ will become a Disney classic that remains popular for years to come.
*My top ten Don't Miss Attractions at Walt Disney World!
*While you're there, don't miss Epcot Center's Hidden Treasures
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
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