Anyone Else Disappointed by Soarin Around the World?

[OhioStateBuckeye]

I rode it 3-4 times on my trip. I was disappointed in this one a bit. For me the scents were not as specific and unless you travel the globe were not as easy to link to the scene or know what they were. I also disliked the distortion, I rode the original one at least a dozen times over a few trips to Epcot and for me it had a much more relaxed feel, this felt rushed. While the Eiffel tower is easily recognized I would have preferred them flying over a field of lavender in Provence or a pineapple field (dole whips anyone?) instead of the generic ocean scent near the island scene. It was like sniffing a bunch of yankee candles quickly without seeing the name. I will still ride it when I got back but I don't think it was a huge improvement considering the time they put into it.

Also my husband is from India and he noted that the Taj scene was just too perfect when he saw it, he said normally there would be mobs of people and I believe not too far outside it is some unpleasant scenery but they cleaned it up a lot for this scene.

That is because the Taj Mahal scene is complete CGI, nothing real there.

 

[Robinjay]

I LOVED the old version. Absolutely adored it.

I liked the new version...... when I sat in the middle. I did not like it at all from the far side. It actually made me nauseous. The Tower and castle were horribly distorted like a hook (bent so bad that people around me were laughing and joking about how bad it was, and they were right). The only Disney ride before this that I have felt sick on was Mission Space Orange at Epcot (never again). The feeling passed fairly quick, but it was due to the distortions. It was that bad for me. Next time I ride it will have to be in the center.

 

[danceanddisney2010]

When I first heard they were changing it I was super sad since I loved the original California version, but after seeing the new world version I actually really liked it. Honestly I would be fine with either, but I wasn't disappointed with the new one.

 

[StormyCA]

We really liked it. It's not the original but it was still really beautiful. We thought that the majority of the transitions were better than in SoC.

But we agree that some of the shots, and not just the Eiffel Tower, were 'curved'. We were in the upper tier right side (facing screen), the three seats closest to the center, so we weren't 'that far off' the center of the screen for the film to be as 'distorted' as it was.

 

[bethbuchall]

I find it interesting that a number of people didn't notice the distortion. I wonder if our brains can work differently to "clean" some of that up. The distortion was very distracting to me, and I saw in a number of scenes. It was better the time that we were able to ride near the center, but it still didn't disappear. I never noticed it in the original and now want to re-ride that to figure out why.

I would definitely ride Soarin' Around the World again and again, but I preferred the original. I think that they tried to cram a few too many scenes into the new version. I also missed the scents from the original.

A little funny tidbit: I'd heard from a friend that the new Soarin' ended in Epcot, so I thought it was fun that my first trip to California Adventure would leave me in Epcot. I was surprised to see that the ending was back in Disneyland there.

 

[richmo]

I think I'd lean towards liking the original better. Some of the photography is spectacular in the new version and its nice to see the digital presentation as the old films were getting a bit dirty. The distortions of the Eiffel Tower and Matterhorn are a bit distracting, but the overuse of CGI was a bit much. I'd much rather watch that skier fall down...

What I'd really like to see is a random flight taken from a set of films, similar to what Star Tours does. Whether that is technically feasible I don't know, given there are seating motion and scent issues...but that would be fun.

 

[Jedi Mouse]

I've seen it a few times now and find that the experience is much better in the middle section (bravo) because the distortion is much less noticeable.

The new HD images are great and while I loved the familiar sights of CA that I've grown up with, I like the new film as well.

I do love the idea above about showing different flights, I'm sure it won't happen but it would be great if they would make it happen.

 

[kkmcan]

I quite liked it actually. The only thing that bothered me was the bent Eiffel Tower. But otherwise it was a lot of fun to see something new and different and all the things that caught me by surprise especially the whale!

 

[Winnowill]

Last time we went, we sat in section B every time, but, since we waited for the next cycle, one of us was always on the end, and the distortion is pretty noticeable. Even four seats in, in section B, there is some. I can only surmise that, unless you're sitting dead center, you get distortion. The Eiffel Tower is the worst, but even the Taj Mahal is bent.

 

[Nevada Jen]

I'm really bothered by the distortion. I can't believe Disney can't do better than that. On the end sections, the Eiffel tower and arches are so distorted it really pops the illusion bubble the ride is aiming for. Even in the middle, not once did I feel like I was actually hang gliding. ANd perhaps that is because the scenes are too fast (or there is one too many scenes). Interesting idea that the distortion from the same seat may look different to different people because of how their eyes work.

 

[azdisneylover]

Disney needs to quit making things the same and keep the parks unique. Bring back the old soaring, the people mover, the chocolate covered pretzel rod, the orange flavored coating on the tigger tails, items made for Disneyland and Disney California Adventure not Disney Parks. Make things special again.

 

[pblack]

I actually like it better than the original. Maybe just because it's new places and things to see. I always felt like "if you live in CA, then Soarin' over CA is not as exciting." But I do agree that since it is DCA, it should have stayed "Soarin' over CA" for the people who are visiting from other places other than CA.

 

[StormyCA]

Update; DS and I went on Soarin' and we were top row, center. There was no distortion. So your experience is definitely tied to where you sit.

 

[PrincessShmoo]

Update; DS and I went on Soarin' and we were top row, center. There was no distortion. So your experience is definitely tied to where you sit.

Which makes the experience a bad one for over 90% of the people who see it.

At least, with the old one, everyone had pretty much the same experience.

 

[GenGen22]

I also miss the old Soarin. I liked the smell of the oranges and trees and the scenery as well.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I liked the new one, but I only saw Soarin Over CA one time and it was a LONG time ago... maybe 10 years ago? Maybe longer actually. I don't even remember it.

The one thing I was really surprised at was the bent Eiffel Tower. I am really surprised Disney left that in. It looks ridiculous honestly.

 

[Disney Rose]

I loved the old one and in one trip we rode it multiple times a day. Couldn't get enough of it. It really felt to me as if I were hang gliding over fields, and over the ocean. Loved it.

The new one we saw once and that was enough. It seemed like watching a regular imax movie. I just didn't get the same feeling of connection between the movements and the visuals and didn't get the same 'I'm flying' feel. And, yes, the distortion was worse and made me feel slightly sick, which I never got with the original.

I hope that they bring back the old one at some point.

 

[MinnieMouse84]

I never did the old one, but I did the new one last night and thought it was spectacular. I loved every second of it.

 

[GeneralTso]

I love both versions. I wish they would have showings of the original as well.
With the new one---make sure you are in the Center/Top Row. If you are off to the side, everything bends and is messed up.
We always ask to wait for top row, center anyway. It completely changes the experience. We hate seeing feet dangling too, so we will wait the extra cycle to get perfect seating.

 

[Branflakes]

New one is good not great. The old version was better imo. There should be a fly over at ALL disney parks. But at the very least, California. It all started there after all.