Calling all Soarin' Buffs!

[disneyaggie]

HELP! I have a terrible fear of heights. Let's just say I had to change the battery out of the smoke detector and could only step up to the 3rd step. That was enough for me.

A dear friend of mine and I are going to WDW next month and she just swears I will love Soarin'. I can handle Soarin' if I had a bar to hold onto (like in Dinosaur), one that goes across my middle, but one little seatbelt is not going to build my confidence!

What do you Soarin' experts say? Also, if we ride on the bottom row, how high up is it really. I have heard everything from 8 feet to 30 feet (that's quite a difference, folks!).

Thanks for any and all input.

 

[cmwade77]

I hate heioghts myself, but I love Soarin', the actual height does depend on if you count to the bottom of the extra little pit (which in the back row you would not be over) or not, not counting the pit, about 8', counting the pit, probably about 20'.

 

[my2tinkerbells]

I have a terrible fear of heights, and I don't like motion simulator kind of things. On Soarin you really can't tell how high you are, but you feel like your flying, which is high in the air. A few times I felt scared, I just turned my head to the side and closed my eyes for a sec or turned my head and looked at the side of the screen/wall so I could pshych myself up to know I really wasn't moving. I'm a big chicken! Overall it was fun, def. not my favorite ride. I probably won't ride it on our next trip just because I'll have to stay with our toddler, and I don't want to ride without my dh. You should try it at least once.

 

[CathrynRose]

Im scared of heights too....

That being said - I really like Soarin' ! I'd be lying if I said ride #1, I wasnt nervous... and I'd have to look to the sides to "tell myself" I wasnt REALLY hanggliding.....

Since that first ride though, Im fine.

Do it - its super fun!

 

[dbm20th]

It depends on 2 things. How pertrified of heights you really are, and how much "fake" heights make a difference. You can't really tell how high you are in the seat, but you do feel like you are high up because of the film. But is a film going to freighten you? If so, and you a REALLY out of control scared, then I'd say skip it. But keep in mind you are skipping one of WDW's absolute best experiences

 

[disnut8]

I also am afraid of heights. I attempted a ferris wheel once and we had barely left the loading platform when I froze. My husband thought I was going to pass out before the car in front of us loaded. My first time on Soarin', I couldn't begin to relax until about halfway through but then there was a scene that unnerved me again. Since then, I've been on it quite a few more times.

Ask to sit on the lowest level. It's much better. I thought the first level, while obviously higher, went up a heck of a lot faster than the lower one. I relaxed much faster from down there. You still can't see the floor but it's not that bad. You can also ask for either the first seat to board in the lower bench or for the last seat. You'll have supports either on your left or right side. I did the same thing when I was able to go on Tower of Terror.

 

[cornflkgrl]

I have to tell you it was pretty scary for me and I'm not even afraid of heights. It is kind of like flying way up in the air in a lawn chair!
That is what the seat felt like, a lawn chair.
If you are really afraid of heights or if you get motion sick you might want to skip it.
I loved the ride but it scared me to death the whole time.

 

[DisneyMim]

I am HUGE baby when it comes to most thrill rides and I too am terrified of heights, but I love Soarin'. For your first time you may want to ask for the third row as it is the one that goes up the least. Believe it or not I love the first row even though it goes up the highest, but I think you may do better the first time in the third row. As others have said, just close your eyes if you get scared or it starts to bother you. The seats are very comfy. I think you will do OK. I say to try it at least once, you may surprise yourself and get right back in line and go for the first row!!

Have Fun!!

 

[orljustin]

The actual height off the floor doesn't really matter, because you aren't going to be looking down.

It's a perceived sense of height from the film. I have discomfort at heights, but Soarin' has never bothered me.

 

[Trio]

You will be looking at stuff that is so darn purty, you will forget your fear of hts.

Trust me

 

[tiff211]

I am so afraid of heights, when I am in the mall on the upper levels, I walk near the stores and not the railing and forbid DDs to look over the railing but I loooooove Soaring, it's in my top 5! The first time, I didn't realize I was up at all. The next time, I looked down and saw I was about 20-30 feet in the air and was scared for a few minutes until I got distracted by the scenery.

I say take your chances. It's too cool to miss!

 

[GreyStr0ke]

I love heights but I hate Soarin...

 

[disneyaggie]

As I knew, y'all are the BEST! Thank you so much for your ideas . . . I especially like disnut 8's idea about sitting on the far left or right for that added support.

Thank you all again so much.

 

[CBoysMomLovesDisney]

I do not like heights, or looking over the edge of a mountain or very tall bridge.

Anyway we went on soarin since everyone said this was the best ride. DH, DS5, DS4 and me. Well, we got the first row, which i think was probably the scariest. There is no harnest, only a loose fitting seat belt. I was most scared of my ds4 who was next to me and could have fallen right out. When the movie is on you can't really tell how high you are. But after the movie stopped I couldn't belive how high we were. Based on what i've read it was
30' or so.

During the movie some parts made me scared - so i just closed my eyes or looked the other way. So parts were so beautiful. I am not sorry i went on. dh & both sons loved it, and were not scared a bit. But if I were to go again - it would't be in the front row.

 

[heatherlynn444]

good luck in whatever you decide, I LOVED soarin, my new Favorite ride! and I am terrified of heights and flying. I thought it was going to be all bumpy and rough, but it was very very smooth and just basically tilted with the screen, it was so much fun!

 

[disneyaggie]

good luck in whatever you decide, I LOVED soarin, my new Favorite ride! and I am terrified of heights and flying. I thought it was going to be all bumpy and rough, but it was very very smooth and just basically tilted with the screen, it was so much fun!

When it tilted with the screen, do you mean we tilt forward? I will pass out sure enough if that's the case!

I also heard that the seats mostly have you leaning back a bit so you don't feel like you are going to fall out. Is this true?

Oh, and I love your picture in the carriage!

 

[MycatlovesEeyore]

I just took my 4yo DD this weekend for the first time on Soarin'. She loved it! We started out slow and sat in row three (the lowest) after two times in row three we moved up to row two and then finally row one. I would say row 3 only goes a few feet above the theater ground level and you can probably add 8-10 feet for each row you move forward. With your discomfort of heights, I would try row three and maybe move up later if that goes OK. Definately do not start in row 1. While it is the best row IMHO, it does leave the least to orient yourself.

 

[ILVPOOH]

My husband is afraid of heights. He wanted to try it anyway. He was in the seat and then got real nervous thinking about sitting with his feet dangling. He wanted off before the ride started. He was locked in and starting to sweat. I waved for a CM to release the bar so that he could get out. I don't think he would have liked it. You might not be that high up in the air, but it feels like you are and if you are afraid of heights, I would say you should skip it.

 

[neshanicguy]

I too don't like heights and am prone to motion sickness (lets just say I won't be on EE ever again) but I had alot of fun with Soarin. I was in row C (the lowest one). Anytime I got nervous, I just focused on the row of shoes hanging down in front of me instead of the scenery. I only did this 1x as I quickly became very comfortable with the ride. As to the question about tiliting, we tilted slightly backwards at one point I believe. I do not ever recall tilting forward. I had a small child next to me (just cleared 40") and I would have freaked out if I thought he might pitch forward at any time. This was not the case.
For the record, the CM states the ride portion lasts 5 minutes. I asked just in case my son had problems with the ride. He didn't have ANY problems with it (and this child is too frightened to ride Dumbo mind you!).

I hope you like it.

 

[disneyaggie]

I asked just in case my son had problems with the ride. He didn't have ANY problems with it (and this child is too frightened to ride Dumbo mind you!).

Thanks for this info. This makes me feel somewhat better -- I won't even attempt Dumbo . . . and I am in my mid-40's! The Magic Carpets of Aladdin almost sent me into therapy! Go figure!