Soarin Sneak Preview

[mmapwright]

We got a chance to ride the new Soarin in Epcot today. For much of the day they were taking in groups of 90 at a time through a side entrance and testing the ride. It was pretty neat. The front row was my favorite as you went the highest and the ride operations were least visable. They were very adamant about not taking any pictures with still, video, or camera phones. There is some cosmetic work still to be done, i/e moldings, kick plates, and such, so I am sure they do not want any unflatering pictures on the internet.

[Macca1111]

How did the smells work? It seemed from the reports from California like they started mixing and not really smelling distinct. You might be the only group who will smell it as intended. :earboy2:

[mmapwright]

The smells were working. The most distinct were the pine trees and orange trees.

[Moobooks]

I've always found the smells at Soarin' Over California at DCA to be perfectly distinct: pine in one area and orange scent in another. I have never smelled a third, and the two have always seemed different and well timed.

[grinningghost]

I think the smells in California are right on. I suppose if you REALLY pay attention the pine and the orange might mix a bit, but all in all, it works great.

I'm happy that Epcot is getting it's own Soarin'. It was one of the best attractions in all of DLR IMHO. :sunny:

[StephaBabe50]

I have heard that you sit in a theater, but I have also heard you ride in like a cart with a track above you. Wich is it?


Thank you :cool1:

[Plus4206]

The seats are "Hang Gliders". You are flying into an immense IMAX type screen.

It is nothing like sitting in a theater.

[StephaBabe50]

Thank you :)
That is what I orginaly thought.

[All Aboard]

I think the third smell is that of the ocean.

We had a chance to experience it a few times last week. It really is a great attraction. But, the experience is so much better in row 1 than it is in 2 or 3. It was virtually impossible not to notice the line of dangling feet (some of them bare) above and in front of you when you were not in row 1. Also, when you are in row 3, you can easily see where the screen ends at the bottom, and you do notice it.

But, from row 1, the experience is absolutely fantastic. Luckily, that's where we sat for our first trip through.

[WolfpackFan]

We were able to ride Soarin last week. I was a little disappointed in that we were in the bottom tier and could see the people's feet in the tier above us. IMO this kind of detracted from the ride experience. I would like to ride again and be on the top tier and see how that is. Other than that though it's a great ride.

[SoCalKDG]

We were able to ride Soarin last week. I was a little disappointed in that we were in the bottom tier and could see the people's feet in the tier above us. IMO this kind of detracted from the ride experience. I would like to ride again and be on the top tier and see how that is. Other than that though it's a great ride.I''ve been on the one at DCA about 15 times. Lately, if I'm not in the first row and I'm wearing a hat I'll pull it down so it blocks the shoes above while still letting me view everything else. Works very well.

[FANTASMIC!]

How do you get to do this? Go up and ask a CM who is standing there. I'm going April 18-23, will I be able to do this, or will it be softly open? I hope it's the second one! And Smells, cool! I never heard of smells. Do they have wind effects and other, eviorment matching effects? Like a water splash over the ocean? You see I have never gone to DL (hoprfully one day!) because I up here in MA. But the time share I have will help!

[All Aboard]

Fantasmic, we were at Epcot most days last week. We'd do a check to see if the queue ropes were set up along side of the Imagination Pavillion. Sometimes it was obvious that they were testing (there'd be a big line.) Otherwise, we'd if the queue ropes were up and no one was in line, we'd go over and ask a CM what the plan for the day was. They were very helpful. Sometimes they'd start guest previews in the early afternoon. On Monday (I believe) they were doing previews for most of the day.

[cheerdancer11]

gcurling , so do you think if i talked to a cast member near soarin i could definitely get on the ride? From what i'm hearing, a lot of people saw it- i havent heard anyone saying "yea we walked by and no such luck for us". thanks for your help.

[RadioNate]

Just bumping for new news - We'll be at WDW April 20-25. Dh is an AP holder but I haven't seen preview info. Anyone know soft opening info?

[Lil_Tink]

I love soaring but I think it is quite pointless to have a "Soaring over California" in Flordia.. wouldn't you say? They should have made a soaring of flordia

[ChrisFL]

It's not called Soarin over California at Epcot, just "Soarin", and I've heard rumors that they'd eventually add other footage from different areas.

[mickeyfantroy]

I rode it (twice!) last Monday and went in with the attitude "why would I want to soar over California?" But thoroughly enjoyed the experience. With all the vistas and landscapes I do feel that 'Soarin'' fits the attraction fine. There's only so many swamps or condos here in Florida to soar over. What I think would be interesting yet know would never happen do to the cost would be to have a film soaring through the various countries of World Showcase.

[FANTASMIC!]

Just Back and Soarin' has had a soft opening. The Land has also opened early. Aperently, on Friday Epcot was having some "power surges". At first, the Fastpass wasn't up, (yes, Soarin' is distriputing FP) then, when me and my family were next to get on, the ride broke down, bad luck! But 40mins later, I was on the ride, It was awsome! My mom said she liked it as much as TEST TRACK, and that's her favorite ride! We were even in the cheep seats!
Bye! :wave:

[mitros]

DW is afraid of heights, would this ride not be for her? Also, is there much movement in the cars, say, like the swinging motion of a ferris wheel? And, how high off the floor is the ride at it's highest point?

[Metro West]

DW is afraid of heights, would this ride not be for her? Also, is there much movement in the cars, say, like the swinging motion of a ferris wheel? And, how high off the floor is the ride at it's highest point?

I think the front row seats are 40 feet off the ground. Ask to sit in row 2 or 3 if you think it's going to be a problem.

[FANTASMIC!]

To answer about the movement part, I think they move, I know back and forth, but while watching the video, they move side to side, but they do move. And, you'll forget about the heights on the ride, It is amazing! :cool1:

[Peter Pirate]

Soarin' over Florida??? You've got to be kidding me!!! Geez that would be as exciting as watching paint dry. What would the highlights be? Buzzing aligators in the everglades? Buzzing topless sunbathers in South Beach? Maybe buzzing the Dolphin Stadium of Dolphin mall?

California offers great variety and the movie is great. Maybe someday they'll do an update of the whole Country...Or maybe the whole world, but please not just Florida. pirate:

[WebmasterCricket]

...California offers great variety...
Yeah, wonderfully diverse sights like the skyline of Compton. They could even add the smell of burning tires and spent smokless red dot. ;)

[Peter Pirate]

LOL WC! Thankfully they chose the likes of Big Sur, Carmel & Yosemite just to name a few...
pirate:

[Luv2Roam]

We rode Soarin' twice at the WDW AP preview.
We had been on CA Soarin' not long after that had opened.
By luck of the draw we had always been seated in the first row -- except our last ride in Epcot. We were in the second row.
Other's feet were not that much of a distraction for me. I noticed the top of the screen a few times while sitting in the front. That was almost more of a distraction for me.
I thought the scents were much stronger in the second row than when we rode in the front.

[Darth Eisner]

Bump!

[Metro West]

The fact that the movie was the Left coast didn't really bother me at all. I just loved the ride in general. It would be nice to see some of the East coast as well..maybe in time. :)

[Buzz2001]

Had a chance to ride it twice last week on 04/19/05. It was a great ride. The CM told us that the queue was designed to hold 3 hours of stand-bys in doors. Longest queue at any Disney park. The ride was incredible. Much better than I expected. You tilt front and back, side to side but nothing scary. We sat in row 1 and 3. 1 is the row to be in because it goes the highest.

[mitros]

Hey! I wonder if they took the smell-o-vision unit out of the Horizons ride for the orange scent when they destroyed that one, and put it in Soarin' ? Heck, it would be right in line with Ei$ners nickel and dime-in everything at the parks. :teeth:

[ChrisFL]

After riding this a few weeks ago, I have to say that this is one of the few new attractions that both adults and kids find "thrilling" without being rough or fast at all. It is nearly a perfect ride in Walt's vision of having an attraction that the whole family can enjoy.