Another Soarin' Question . . . how "high"?

[disneyaggie]

OK -- I am still thinking about trying this new-fangled ride. However, I am not keen on heights.

I have learned through you Dis'ers to sit on the bottom row. However, how far from the ground is the bottom row when it is up in the air? I have heard everything from 3 feet to 30 feet. Not sure about you, but I find that a bit of a gap in feet!

So, how high up is the bottom row from the ground?

 

[bradk]

hmm.. i always heard it was more like 7 feet or so.

but even as a sufferer of severe acrophobia and vertigo, the only way i'd even do soarin ever again is to be in row 1 (yes, the top row).

 

[rlovew]

It is about 10 feet up from the ground but you are moved somewhat forward so if you look down it looks like you might be over a n area that is dropped down that is about another 10 feet up.

Rebecca

 

[Robo]

This all becomes less important when you compare it to the position of a second-story window in a typical house... about 10 feet above the ground.
Most folks wouldn't jump out of that.

Many people with a fear of heights get very nervous on the third rung of a step-ladder (only about THREE feet high).

Soooo...
just rest assured that, while even the lowest row in Soarin' is still much too high to safely "jump down out of," everyone (even the folks in the highest row) are securely seat-belted in, and the ride and the seats are not designed to "buck you out" even WITHOUT the seat belt.

 

[Kewz1]

To be honest, it doesn't matter how high up you are because you won't be leaning over looking down -- not if you're scared of heights! Just relax and enjoy it!

I have a fear of heights and I really like this ride! Hope you will too!

Kristen

 

[skier_pete]

First of all, the top row of Soarin' is more than 10 feet above the ground. Heights like that really bother me, and I rode both the top row and the bottom row. The bottom row has you sitting about six feet off the ground, the top row is closer to 20 feet. (probably between 15 and 20 feet). I've posted this before, but Soarin' is the only ride that bothers me at all in all of Disney, but my phobia for heights is a little strange. That said, I still immensly enjoy this ride, and the top row is the best experience (no distracting feet hanging in your field of view) but if you are worried, ask a CM to be seated in the back row. It's really not far off the ground at all.

Peter

 

[orljustin]

To be honest, it doesn't matter how high up you are because you won't be leaning over looking down

This is right. You may have issues with your percieved sense of height due to the film, but it won't be because of how far your row is off the floor.

 

[Robo]

The bottom row has you sitting about six feet off the ground, the top row is closer to 20 feet.

While I agree with your suggestions and sentiments, your numbers are pretty far off.

The screen-area (pit) actually is several feet below the "loading floor" (there is a railing surrounding this pit to keep guests away from it when unloading) and once guests are "airborne" in the show, they are flying above the dropped screen-pit area, so this adds more distance below even the lowest row to the floor.

The top edge of the screen is about 60 feet from the bottom of the pit area.

Guests in the top row are not nearly at the top of the screen, but they are more than half-way up from the center.

Soarin' is a wonderful, gentle attraction that has a very wide appeal (it has been consistently voted the most popular attraction at WDW since it was introduced there.)

Its not designed to "scare" guests, but to fill them with a sense of awe and wonder.

You are "belted into" comfortable safe-feeling seats, not moved very quickly at any particular time, and the majestic musical score, by one of Hollywood's top composers can make this a truly magical and "secure-feeling" attraction.

 

[Eljay]

This ride is very much worth riding even if you have to gather up some courage to do so! You will be securely belted in and there is actually an extra loop that you can pass the belt through to feel even more secure. Sit between other people in your party so that you can link arms if necessary. If you can ride in a plane, you can certainly ride Soarin! I was trying to do a search on the ride statistics and had no luck. I seem to remember from when it was being constructed, that the top row is 40 feet off the ground, the bottom row is 10 feet up. I've ridden it many, many times and that seems about right. Try it, it is beautiful and sooooo worth it!

 

[disneyaggie]

As always, you guys ROCK!

 

[Amapola]

I'm quite acrophobic, but I was determined to go on Soar because it just sounds so neat. After I was buckled in, I had a bit of panic and tried to unbuckle... but no luck, once you're buckled in, you can't undo it until the ride ends! The CM came over to check on me, and assured me I was on the lowest tier, blabla, and you know what? After a few seconds of fear when the seat started moving, I realized that it really wasn't scary, and in fact I can't wait to go again -- and I'd like to graduate to the middle row!

 

[skier_pete]

While I agree with your suggestions and sentiments, your numbers are pretty far off.

The screen-area (pit) actually is several feet below the "loading floor" (there is a railing surrounding this pit to keep guests away from it when unloading) and once guests are "airborne" in the show, they are flying above the dropped screen-pit area, so this adds more distance below even the lowest row to the floor.

The top edge of the screen is about 60 feet from the bottom of the pit area.

Guests in the top row are not nearly at the top of the screen, but they are more than half-way up from the center.

Soarin' is a wonderful, gentle attraction that has a very wide appeal (it has been consistently voted the most popular attraction at WDW since it was introduced there.)

Its not designed to "scare" guests, but to fill them with a sense of awe and wonder.

Robo, I generally find your comments excellent, so please take this as no insult. I agree that the "pit" that is in front of the riders goes much deeper than the ride floor, but when you are in the lowest row, and you look straight down beneath you, it is only about 6 feet to the pavement where the ride floor is. If you were to fall out of your seat, and that would take some extreme effort since you would have to have a very sharp knife and cut your seat-belt off, you would drop the six feet to that pavement, not into the further pit. As I said, my phobia of heights is odd in that some things, like roller coasters don't bother me at all, but something like Soarin' I notice and have to concentrate on ignoring. My first ride on this I was on the top level on the end seat. Though it didn't stop me from enjoying the ride, I had to purposefully not look down (after initially looking down of course.. ).


SkierPete

 

[safetymom]

The top row is about 40 feet off the ground. We have asked several CM's here and in CA and got that answer.

 

[Tricia1972]

I am very excited to ride this ride, heights or not!

 

[disneyaggie]

The top row is about 40 feet off the ground.

And the bottom row is . . . ?

 

[disneyaggie]

I'm quite acrophobic, but I was determined to go on Soar because it just sounds so neat. After I was buckled in, I had a bit of panic and tried to unbuckle... but no luck, once you're buckled in, you can't undo it until the ride ends! The CM came over to check on me, and assured me I was on the lowest tier, blabla, and you know what? After a few seconds of fear when the seat started moving, I realized that it really wasn't scary, and in fact I can't wait to go again -- and I'd like to graduate to the middle row!

I think we were seperated at birth! Great answer! Thanks!

However, if you hear on CNN that some lady from Texas passed out from fear on Soarin' . . . well don't ask who!

 

[safetymom]

I didn't ask.

 

[LilGMom]

According to AllEarsNet the bottom row is about ten feet off of the floor and the top row is about forty feet off of the floor. You get the sensation of being much higher, regardless of where you are, because the screen starts lower than the floor elevation.

I'm not a fan of heights but really love this ride - as long as I sit back, don't look down and lose myself in the ride.

 

[disneyaggie]

I didn't ask.

That's ok -- you always have the best information!

 

[safetymom]

Thank you. I asked because I am not thrilled with heights. Soarin doesn't bother me. Even the first time I rode in CA I wasn't sure what I was in for. I had a 3-4 year old kid sitting next to me so I figured it couldn't be too bad.