Flight of Passage: Overrated?

[coast2coastmickey]

Rode it for the first time last trip. Was it awesome? Sure.

Was it markedly different from Soarin in Epcot or California Soarin in California Adventure? No. My opinion is that the only major change is that you're hunched over a barrel in FOB, whereas you're in a comfy ride seat with a lap bar for Soarin. At the end of the day, you're moving around in a seat in front of a big screen.

If we get a FP for it in the future, I'll definitely ride it again, and I'll enjoy it again. But, I think I was expecting some sort of life-changing experience based on how cast members and other folks talked about it. For me, it didn't happen. It's now on my list of "it'll be nice if we can ride it, but I'm not going to be disappointed if we can't."

 

[AllieBoo]

I love Soarin, but in my opinion it doesn't come close to FOP. I personally don't think FOP is overrated at all. It is hands down the best ride I've ever ridden.

 

[zebrastreyepz]

It's overrated to those who don't care for it.

It's rated just fine for those who love it.

It's all subjective.

 

[disneyvoice]

I'm one of those crazy people who tears up during the ride because it is so intensely emotional for me, so I think it is amazing - it is my favorite ride by far. But everyone has different opinions and preferences.

 

[mrswillson]

I really have no idea how you compare the advancements and ride experience of FOP to Soarin' as they are not even in the same ballpark.

I personally think it is the best ride I have ever been on and therefore worth the hype... but does that mean I will wait in line for two to three hours for it? Absolutely not.

 

[hedberg1661]

IMO I think it is not overrated. The ride really pushes the limits of what Universal is doing with Harry Potter. I think Disney took that and did it a little better while using a different delivery system.

Regardless of how any of us think about the "overrated" part of this, I think we all can agree that we should be EXTREMELY EXCITED for the future of attractions at both Disney and Universal. Let's hope that they keep pushing each other for the next bigger and better thing so that in the end we the paying customer/fan are the ultimate winners.

 

[mousehouse23]

I'm one of those crazy people who tears up during the ride because it is so intensely emotional for me, so I think it is amazing - it is my favorite ride by far. But everyone has different opinions and preferences.

This.

I've never experienced that kind of *awe* on a ride before. Soarin' came closest, but FoP brought actual tears. Not running-down-my-face tears, but definitely a lump in the throat. Such a beautiful experience.

 

[skyblue17]

It's overrated for people who like to broadcast that they aren't as excited by something as other people clearly are.

 

[wdwjeffc37]

Not over rated at all! It is a ride experience unlike any other that I have ever been on. Soarin', while great (especially before the new film) pales in comparison, but it is a different type of attraction. JMHO. Cheers!!!!

 

[DOOM1001]

It's not overrated,I will say that I have ridden it like 8 times and there's no way it's as good the 7th time as it was the first time but it's still an amazing ride.It's clearly the greatest simulator ride ever built,incredibly realistic.

 

[gatorlisa]

OP, I actually kind of agree with you. It's a good ride. But at the end of the day, it's a well done simulator. I will take a dark ride with actual sets and moving vehicles over a simulator any day.

 

[KevM]

The ride itself was awsome. However, I’m really happy I rope dropped it. There’s no ride, including this one, that I’d be willing to stand in line for over an hour to ride.

 

[ars0525]

I need to ride it again to fairly decide.

I rode it once last October. Waited in line the 2+ hours at RD which I knew & planned for. I didn't mind as it gave me time in the new area & to see everything as I waited & the line wound around. I don't know if maybe my glasses were blah or cause they kept falling off my face I was missing being "in" the ride...I just didn't get it? I walked out feeling underwhelmed by it. I've had friends tell me how amazing it is so I think I need to try again. Now I do enjoy walking thru the new area & the theming is really good (especially at night I feel) so it's not like I am trying to hate the ride or anything. The boat ride is good but waaaaaay too short for the wait time it takes. I don't know what else they could have done in there, but it needs to be double the length in ride time. And not just cause the boats get jammed up waiting to unload.

 

[PSUGuy]

The most intense and realistic virtual motion ride I've ever ridden. I wouldn't wait in the lines I've been seeing but with FP+ we'll do it at least twice every trip.

Bill From PA

 

[sturner324]

The Soarin ride seat is comfy? This is news to me. I find something about that seat very awkward.

However, I haven’t even ridden FOP yet, and I have no business commenting here for about 200 more days.

 

[randumb0]

I think 90% of the people that have ridden would disagree with the OP

 

[coast2coastmickey]

It's overrated for people who like to broadcast that they aren't as excited by something as other people clearly are.

I'll give more background that maybe helps explain my point of view:

Let's take the Radiator Springs Racers in California Adventure. The first time I rode that, I FELT SO HAPPY! Some Disneyworld fanatics would just say that it's a Cars themed Test Track, and leave it at that. But the Cars theming, the animatronics, the ride itself...all awesome. I'd rate it far above Test Track, especially after TT went through the super corporatized Chevy makeover.

But for FOP, I think the lack of it being a "true" Disney movie took away some of the magic for me. I wasn't vested in the story (arguably just a reboot of Ferngully), so for me, yes, I enjoyed how the graphics are better than Soarin, but that's about it. The sensation on my body, though, felt just like Soarin. So for me it's a positive and a negative (great effects, uninspired non-Disney story), that make the ride fun, but not over the top remarkable.

I guess that you can say I was comparing it too much to Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey (Universal's flagship ride). That ride does a great job of mixing animatronics, large screens, and ride effects to create a truly awesome experience (for me).

 

[Harlaxton]

Yep - totally over-rated. Hear that everyone? Please go ahead and book all your FP's for Primeval Whirl so I can begrudgingly ride this over-rated simulator multiple times with no wait...

 

[coast2coastmickey]

Yep - totally over-rated. Hear that everyone? Please go ahead and book all your FP's for Primeval Whirl so I can begrudgingly ride this over-rated simulator multiple times with no wait...

***wink wink*** maybe I (OP) have ulterior motives...

I don't, but just like to look at things from all angles as I look back on what were fun vacation times.

 

[ArielSRL]

My DH rode Soarin and FoP for the first time on our last trip and says FoP is far and away better than Soarin. It is his favorite ride at Disney.

Definitely subjective.