Detailed question about Soarin' seating

[cigar95]

This is a question I used to know the answer to, and I've just forgotten. Bear with me - the description is longer and more painful than the question itself.

Each theater has three seating sections, for which the waiting areas are labelled concourses A, B, and C. B is the one in the middle, where most people want to be. As you face the screen, A is to the left of B, and C is to the right. (Caveat - this is for the theater you reach by turning left while entering the building - it may be flipped for the other(s).) So my question is about A and C.

In concourse A, if you are the first one in line in the concourse, and first to enter the theater, you will end up either at the very far edge of the seating area (not good, especially with the new film, I'm told), or you'll end up on the inner aisle, right next to the folks in the center section (quite good). I just can't remember which one, but I think in concourse A, you get the good seat, and in Concourse C, you get the bad seat.

So now that I have you thoroughly confused (one of those Robo diagrams would make my question so much better), anyone remember which sections you want to be first in line, and which you want to be last? (I'll see if I can make a diagram and add it to a follow-up post.) It really amounts to which concourse is A and which one is C, along with which side of the concourse the door is on. also comes down to if all this is flip-flopped for the other theater. (Plus, the new one, which I've not yet seen.)

Just as an aside, my favorite seats in the Soarin' theater are the two in the side sections, front row, and closest to the center sections. Those two seats are just a little bit in front of those in the center section, so that it's easy to pretend there's no one in the theater but you.

Thanks, and if all I've managed to do is give you a headache, my apologies.

 

[bbjunkie]

I actually think it's the opposite. I think when you enter for concourse A, your seat rows are to your left, so you would walk to the front and all the way to the end, thus in the bad seat. The photo shows us on concourse A, I (taking the photo) am on the end seat (the aisle, if on a plane). We were in the middle row, and we were the last ones into the "plane" in that row, so people before us had to walk all the way to the "bad side." I hope this helps. This is as complicated an answer as your question description.

 

[Huff]

I just tell the CM I want B1. Sometimes we have to wait one more showing and let other by.

 

[cigar95]

This is as complicated an answer as your question description.

you actually made the question much simpler for me - "when you enter the seating area, do you turn left to get to your seats, or right?" And since you described it as a left, that means you want to be last in line for Concourse A, and first in line for Concourse C. I don't even need to make the diagram now.

So then the only question left is whether that is flip-flopped for the other theater. (And then, which way is the new theater set up?) I figure we'll be on soarin' four times for our upcoming trip, so if all shakes out, I'll be able to try all three theaters, and this time I'll write it down. (Kids, don't get old - you start forgetting things. Or at least I think you do. Maybe you don't and I just forgot how much I used to know.)

 

[alliecat523]

The first in line in the row goes to the far seat, furthest away from the center. The last in the line is closest to the center.

 

[backformore]

Do the seats matter that much? Are there "bad" seats?
Not arguing, just want to know. We'll be there in a few weeks, and we're looking for tips.

 

[pooch]

so, just for clarification, regardless of whether it's Concourse A or C, you walk down the aisle between A/B or B/C and turn outward toward the wings of the theater. Correct?

 

[hiroMYhero]

So then the only question left is whether that is flip-flopped for the other theater. (And then, which way is the new theater set up?)

The theaters are loaded in the same manner. It's for consistency for the CMs who rotate assignments every few minutes.

 

[cigar95]

The first in line in the row goes to the far seat, furthest away from the center. The last in the line is closest to the center.

I don't think that works, just from the geometry. Assuming Hiro and bbjunkie are correct, everyone enters the theater, goes forward, and turns, . . . . . left, I guess it is. If you're entering from the far right end of the theater, first in line will be headed towards the center, but entering from the left, you'll be headed away from the center.
Dang, maybe I do have to finish that diagram.

 

[disneyAndi14]

I really noticed a difference with the new Soarin, we were first on concourse A and the movie was distorted in certain scenes, we then asked for concourse B row 1 and it really made a difference, it cut down on the distortions. It didn't matter to me which concourse with the old version.

 

[tinkerbella16]

We went on Soarin on Friday night and had the perfect seating position. We were in Concourse A theater, first row and right smack dab in the middle section of the seats. It was awesome! We brought someone on who had never ridden before and that made it even more fun for them to get the full experience of being in the first row.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I don't think it matters whether you are sent to A, B or C Concourse. What you want is the middle seating in the theater. (There are three concourses and each of them has three theaters). All you have to do is ask the CM doing the loading at the theater itself (where they line you up into rows 1, 2 and 3) if you can sit in the middle section. You may have to wait depending on how busy they are (especially if you want row 1 center) but they were not saying no.

Do the seats matter that much? Are there "bad" seats?

The further away you are from the center of the theater, the more the curvature of the screen causes distortion on straight angles in the picture. It's most noticeable in the image of the Eiffel Tower. Some riders don't mind it but many are bothered by the way it looks.

 

[cigar95]

We were in Concourse A theater, first row and right smack dab in the middle section of the seats.

Oh, dear, I've been using the wrong terminology, just to confuse things even more. I have been describing the three sections for each theater as Concourses A, B, and C. That should be *Gates* A, B, and C. I think you get to Concourse A by heading to the left, and concourse B by turning to the right. (Unless the new theater has changed this.)
So let me try my image (15 years on the DISboards and never tried this before):
If this diagram is correct, then one wants to be the FIRST to enter from Gate C but the LAST to enter from Gate A.
(Or just to confuse things further, are they Gates 1-3, rather than Gates A-C?)

 

[cigar95]

I don't think it matters whether you are sent to A, B or C Concourse. What you want is the middle seating in the theater.

In my case, that's not what I want. (My above post notes that I was using "Concourse" when I really meant "Gate".)
What I want is to sit in one of the two side sections, but right next to the middle section. That means lining up in Gate A or C, but I'm trying to figure out if I want to be the FIRST one in my line in the waiting area, or the LAST one. And that answer will depend on which gate I'm in. (And if I get it wrong, I'm not next to the middle, I'm at the far edge, which is decidedly not where wants to be now.)

 

[Klayfish]

If that's what you want, I think for A, you want to be last in your row and for C you want to be first.

 

[cigar95]

If that's what you want, I think for A, you want to be last in your row and for C you want to be first.

THANK YOU. After all my verbal gymnastics and feeble graphics, you reduced it to 20 words.

 

[hiroMYhero]

If this diagram is correct, then one wants to be the FIRST to enter from Gate C but the LAST to enter from Gate A.

I agree with this even without your diagram.

 

[tinkerbella16]

Oh, dear, I've been using the wrong terminology, just to confuse things even more. I have been describing the three sections for each theater as Concourses A, B, and C. That should be *Gates* A, B, and C. I think you get to Concourse A by heading to the left, and concourse B by turning to the right. (Unless the new theater has changed this.)
So let me try my image (15 years on the DISboards and never tried this before):
If this diagram is correct, then one wants to be the FIRST to enter from Gate C but the LAST to enter from Gate A.
(Or just to confuse things further, are they Gates 1-3, rather than Gates A-C?)

Yes I figured that is what you meant lol. I am not sure if they are gates 1-3 or gates A-C. I was gonna say that I swore Concourse C was in the middle and not to the right! Lol

 

[agavegirl1]

Detailed information about Soarin' seating and the distortions that can be experienced from Josh...

http://www.easywdw.com/easy/blog/so...es-fastpass-availability-strategy-and-review/

 

[WEDWDW]

I just tell the CM I want B1. Sometimes we have to wait one more showing and let other by.

Definitely-B1(and hopefully middle seat).

I am a B1 Snob!lol